February 2010 Grocery Challenge

JayJay14

Today was nearly an NSD but I ended up buying myself a pack of chocs in Asda ths evening when I went to pick up DD1 from work. Only £1 but now all I can think of is that I could have cooked a meal for the two of us for that:(

OH didn't get the job from the interview he had on Thursday and the agencies don't seem to have anything to offer him, and we got a letter yesterday from the DWP to say his claim for unemployment benefit had been denied as he hadn't paid national insurance in 2008-9. This is a little strange as he was in full time work for the whole year and when he got in touch with national insurance all they said was that 'the computer did that sometimes'. OH says it's all sorted out now but I'm not holding my breath.

Will probably spend £5 in Asda in the morning as thy have a special offer on a chinese meal which looks pretty good and I think we need a bit of a lift this weekend.

See you all tomorrow.

ejbg2001

To Loulou0327 - keep the plastic 1/2 egg shaped holders the big eggs come in to use as a mould and next year, just buy choccolate and melt it. Line the inside of the mould with greased cling film and paint melted choccolate on the film, thin layer by thin layer. If you want it to set quicker, sit the egg case in a bowl of ice water. Once it has built up a bit, let it set and repeat for the other side. join the two sides together with more melted choccolate and then you can decorate with smarties and m&ms etc, fixing em with more melted choccy. Each one will be hand-made and a darn site cheaper than the shop bought ones.

In fact.. you could buy one and eat the egg just so you have a mould...

Now that's an idea...

skaps

Just wondering do people count takeaways as their groceries and meals out?

poppy-glos

hi skaps, i think you can do what you like, i add not only takeaways but meals out too, other people don't.

ragz - hi, i haven't ever made it but but cambells condensed chicken soup do a chicken and white wine one, so you could use that and thin it down (just a little) with some milk or wine. I'm sure someone else will be able to tell you how to do it properly.

a nsd for me today, tomorrw will be a nsd if i get myself sorted and make up a picnic, but been out all day today also and not yet started todays cooking! and need to leave home at 9 in the morning... possible if i stay up or get up early - little quiches, tortillas, sponge cakes, dried fruit...

mrssnowy_2

JayJay14 wrote: »

and we got a letter yesterday from the DWP to say his claim for unemployment benefit had been denied as he hadn't paid national insurance in 2008-9. This is a little strange as he was in full time work for the whole year and when he got in touch with national insurance all they said was that 'the computer did that sometimes'. OH says it's all sorted out now but I'm not holding my breath.
.

JayJay- Sorry about OH job
The NI happened a few years ago at our work place-I had a pension forecast,which showed I was missing a year.It then turned out all of us were missing 1 year!It was soon sorted but worrying for a few days
mrss

fabforty

Just logged on to update my signature. Spent another £21.14.

I have managed another 5 NSD, but needed fruit, milk and bread so did a quick supermarket dash. Saturday evening is always a good time to grab a bargain in Sainsburys, especially on the meat and fish counters. I picked up a few scraps of sirloin steak (half price) and the last two remaining TTD pork chops (also half price). I am finally getting to grips with meal planning (and doing it properly for a change). I am roasting a chicken for dinner tomorrow, then using the left overs for chow mein on Monday (throw in some left over ham and vegetables), and sandwiches for lunch for OH and me on Tuesday. I am also trying to include more meat free days each week. I have (almost) all of the ingredients for channa (chick pea curry) and at less than £1 per portion, it's good value as well.

I have rediscovered porridge for breakfast, so bought a huge bag of oats for a pittance from the local health food shop, plus dried fruit and raisins.

Now I just need to get to grips with packed lunches for work.

PennyGrabber

Nearly an NSD for me yesterday, but treated myself to a milky way at lunchtime.
Did the weekly shop tonight - on my motorbike, and fitted everything into a rucksack!!! It came to £22.23, which I think is fab considering bf with me all week, and it's half term too. ok, so most of the stuff will be from the store cupboard or freezer, but still!...

Think someone asked about chicken supreme earlier. Bf and I will be making that for dinner tomorrow, and as i'm lazy, i use a packet mix. You need some milk, chicken and mushrooms, and that's pretty much it! hth.
Signature updated.
PG x

ejbg2001

Fab, I love porridge for brekkie too, and it keeps you filled up. For lunches (I hate sarnies) I take a pack of instant mash (Mr M's does one for 50p, 3 sachets does 6-8 amounts) and a tomato or cheese or something like that. Most places have a kettle, so use boiling water to make up the mash and you could have cheesy mash for lunch, one of my faves.

becky170

I somehow managed to lose my shopping list in the supermarket yesterday...Doh! I even retraced my steps, but too no avail. Think I managed to buy everything for my meal plan. I've been feeling a bit down this week so have been buying lunch rather than taking a pack lunch to work, which although it may have slightly cheered me up it hasn't been good for my grocery budget! Now have £23.86 to do me until the end of the month, which I think it do-able. Off to test drive a car today which I'm quite excited about

Sunnyday

Morning everyone, managed to update my siggy

not a great deal left to spend for this month but i have my fingers crossed DH managed to spend and extra £6 at the supermarket so i`m not too pleased but he does manage to stick to the list most of the time so its manageable i think.

I did a whole month mealplanner at the beginning of this month so now i have to revamp it a bit as i`ve pinched some things from other days when we didn`t fancy what was listed for that day IYKWIM.

I shall start that shortly, i`ve noticed that there is some room in the freezer which is great as i`ve been trying to make some space in there for a long time now

SD