January 2010 Grocery Challenge

ragz_2

jollymummy wrote: »

Hi there
Please can I join in ? I've worked out our monthly budget. I feel more in control now I have the figures. I am recording everything and have allocated £360 per month to start and have been working to this. This includes everything and we're cutting down on the I'll just pop to the shops for some bread moments
Thanks ever so.

Best solution to the bread thing is keep some in the freezer, pref that you bought reduced
then no popping to the shops and ending up with loads you didn't need. This is what I've done this month and it really helped.

Keiss_21

poohbear59 wrote: »

What can I do with seven opened jars of jam?

Since your family like jam tarts, why not make lots and freeze them...I am doing this today. I have defrosted some pastry I made before Xmas, making pasties with some it, using roast beef leftovers, lentils and veg. The rest I will use to make jam tarts and freeze some if I end up with lots!!

The fruit loaves in the oven are nearly done, and the pastie filling is cooling, so back to baking in a mo!

Trying to live out of the freezer and cupboards atm, though going out tomoorow night. It's DH's Astronomy Society Annual meal, which we paid for last year...so will seem like a freebie! DS2 will be having pasta cheese from freezer (ofcourse!), still in its glass dish so only will need heating up together with some veg.

Tonight planning on having HM fish & chips...yumm!!

Sarah2490

I really need to get my monthly shopping under control to help clear my debt. Could I join??? for Feb please?

At the moment it works out at around £240 a month so am hoping to cut to £200 for Feb and then lower it until I can manage on £150.

There is only me and my little girl in the house and I know some people will think £200 is a lot but it cost around £50 just for baby formula/nappies/wipes/ext

PennyGrabber

Ragz - good luck with the whole baby-having thing. Hope you don't go too far overdue!! I was two weeks over with both of mine, and it really cheesed me off!

Can't for the life of me remember what is for dinner tonight, but that doesn't matter as it's written down on my monthly planner so I know it's sorted. Having been off work with depression recently for 2 months, things like that are really helpful. If stuff is planned out for you, you don't need to think about it or stress about it. Just look at it the night before, to get anything out of the freezer you need to, then you're sorted. And you don't keep needing to go to the shops loads, or go out for dinner cos there's nothing in!!
Anyhoo, back to work!!
PG x

SunnyGirl

PennyGrabber wrote: »

Not related to GC, but SunnyGirl (or someone else who knows!), could you please tell me where to find patterns for the charity knitting you are doing. Worthhile cause, not too expensive to contribute, as my time is free!!!
Thanks.

No problem The thread is Knit Your Square to Give Your Share It is a long thread but please don't be put off. Everyone is very friendly and helpful. The first post has a link in it to a post with lots of patterns for premature babies where you just choose which item you want to knit. Everyone is also knitting or crocheting 8" squares at the moment for blankets to be made up and given out to various charities. I'll see you over there

Grocery Challenge Stuff now!

Back from shopping and it came to £94.03 leaving me £8.36 for a chicken from Asda so I've come in on budget :T I'll declare when I've got the said chicken on Friday :rotfl:

poohbear59

loopychriss wrote: »

How about making a Victoria Sponge cake and putting jam in the middle? I'm not quite that bad, only have 3 opened jars but we do eat it on bread. I make my own jam and marmalade and have about 14 jars in the garage, but they've not been opened yet!

Thanks for the idea but I forgot to say they don't eat cakes either.:o I make my own jam too, don't know why!
I used to keep all those sorts of things in my store, but it has been moved and I have been waiting for 6 months for a roof to be put on the new one. Everything is now packed into the kitchen and far too easily accessible to my family.:(

BigMumma I think I remember making something like that at school, long time ago. They were a rock bun mix without the fruit and a spoonful of jam in the middle? I might try one batch of them and see how they go down.

Keiss Jam tarts it may have to be. I know DS2 and 3 will eat them.

I vaguely remember a tart that has a pastry base with jam and then an almond mix on top. Might have a look for that too.


I have managed to spend nothing since last Friday but DH and I are going into town soon and we have about five things on the shopping list. Must try to keep to it which is really difficult with DH helping.

ellemm

Morning all, been MIA since Friday between being busy with all the family coming over on Sunday and then having a rotten head cold-been off work since Monday, actually spent all day in bed felt so awful.

Feeling slightly better today and plan to go back to work tomorrow.

Sunday went well, food was greatly appreciated by all and there was lots left (mainly roast beef & lamb) portioned up and put into the freezer.

At least being stuck in the house for 3 days means NSDs

Have spent the past half hour catching up with the thread, really should think about getting dressed and doing something

Keiss_21

poohbear59 wrote: »

I vaguely remember a tart that has a pastry base with jam and then an almond mix on top. Might have a look for that too.

I think that is Bakewell Tart you asre thinking of.....a good idea though as I found some ground almonds yesterday, lurking in a cupboard...mmmm, more ideas to use the mass of pastry I have!! You can make mini ones ...essentially jam tarts with sponge on top!

Oh, I am off to find my Bero recipe book (1982 edition)!

Oh, there are a few recipes: Maids of Honour; Butter Tartlets; Oysters and Macaroons...oh the decisions!!

Mellyd

HI

PLEASE can I join this challange as we spend far too much on groceries...over £500 a month!!! :eek:

There's only 3 of us!!! I'll try to start realistically with £400 for February!

Thanks
Mellyd

BlimusOreilly

Just done the last weekly shop for January which came in at £38.84 leaving me well under budget :j
My freezer stores are running a bit low and I need to stock up at the Asian supermarket but that will be in Feb now, so I'll worry about that then.