February 2010 Grocery Challenge

NJW69

ragz wrote: »

£37 spend in Tesco today and going to lidl tomorrow for the rest of this week's shop.
Have costed up my main meals that I tend to cook and they all cost quite a bit, I think that's where I'm going wrong... averaging £4 for one meal for 2 adults and 2 very small people - not good.
Think it's because I buy such pricey meat. May have to try buying from a butchers. We have one round the corner but I don't like their stuff much so I'll have to look for a good one.

DH has requested Chicken Supreme/Chicken in white wine sauce as one of our meals for using leftover roast chicken, does anyone have a recipe as I've never even eaten it let alone cooked it (DH said he used to buy it in tins!!)?

If I was making this I would either do a quick version using as someone else suggested Campbells condensed soup, chopped up chicken and onions added or to make yourself. White sauce, melted butter in pan, stir in some flour to make a paste (off the heat) then back on the heat and add milk in small quantities so you don't get lumps and then keep stirring until it thickens. I'd add the chicken, some onion, mushroom, splash of white wine, balsamic vinegar and some tarragon. Serve with rice.

losingpatience

Went to Mr S yesterday as we decided to cook a meal rather than go out so needed to get the ingredients in and spent a whopping £48.88 :eek:

In all honesty I don't know what we spent the money on! We needed a couple of bits and pieces while we were in there but looking at my receipt I can't actually see anything to make a meal out of! It's all just junk food really bar a couple of bags of potatos and some fruit.

Shall have to try harder

slowandsteady_2

Hi everyone,

just popped on to catch up else thread runs away from me and i give up!

NSD yesterday as working, dh has just gone to a well known DIY store for some male type shopping of nuts and bolts, so i have told him to go via Mr T which is round corner from us and see if there are any decent Sunday afternoon whoopsies. Had planned going myself with dd but she has come home from MIL and just slept and is still asleep so not going to wake a sleeping baby!

dh makes me laugh though as he doesnt even need telling what to look out for in the whoopsies anymore he just knows and now goes there first if we need anything when he goes alone, i have trained him so well:D

Doubt he will come back with much as i havent yet worked out the best time to go whoopise hunting on a Sunday as i do my best to avoid supermarkets at weekend as they are too busy and i have no patience for people swarming around me!

Will update sig if he turns up with anything.

Am thinking of having a huge treat tonight and ordering Dom*nos pizza tonight, they are delish and i have some vouchers for 50% off, as i had to complain a few months ago as was having a few friends round and they completely botched up our (rather large) order and now they keep sending me vouchers with messages such as 'sorry we made a mistake..' ! I havent indulged since they made a mistake but would be nice but still expensive at half price! We shall see.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend everyone x

Magpie27

Went to Mr A this afternoon and he managed to get £74 out of me that doesn't me with very much for the rest of the month but I should enough food for the rest of the month (fingers crossed) and I did get stuff for DD's pack lunches for holiday club and wine for tonight

KITTY_2-2

Just a small spend of £3 yesterday and today is another NSD. Feeling quite good about this month as have already had 10 NSD's and still have 12 days of my month left.

ellemm

Weekly shopping done today, spent £9.97 in Aldi & £14.80 in Mr M. Could have spent a bit less but gave in to buying some nice pork chops and a very large chicken-even although I hadn't planned on buying any meat

So chicken can go into the slow cooker tomorrow while I am at work and will stretch it to several meals and be able to top up my chicken stock supply again.

Total spend of £46.46 so far for February which is amazing :T with just one more shop to do next week for the end of the month.

bargainhunterss

Wow! This is such a good idea! I think I may have missed the boat on the February shopping challenge, but I'm hoping to get involved in the March shopping challenge.

I'm definately the kind of person who just "pops to the shop" on the way home from work... I need to stop! My route home goes past a Tesco Metro and I always end up going in, even if I don't need anything "just incase" there's a bargain in the reduced section.....a false economy I think!

mikeD

Hi Everybody. Haven't been here for quite a while. you're still very busy little bees, 34 pages in 14 days :eek:. It was one of the reasons that I packed this thread in, just could not keep up. anyway it's nice to see you all, lots of new people too I see.

The reason I'm posting is that over the last couple of years my "Groceries" seem to have gone up by about 30% (ie from around £240 to about £320 per month. I don't buy any more than I used to, and food prices don't seem to have gone up that much because of the competition so what's going on. I always try to get the best value for money, but I'm still spending far too much. Any ideas. All contributions gratefully received.

welshkaz

mikeD wrote: »

Hi Everybody. Haven't been here for quite a while. you're still very busy little bees, 34 pages in 14 days :eek:. It was one of the reasons that I packed this thread in, just could not keep up. anyway it's nice to see you all, lots of new people too I see.

The reason I'm posting is that over the last couple of years my "Groceries" seem to have gone up by about 30% (ie from around £240 to about £320 per month. I don't buy any more than I used to, and food prices don't seem to have gone up that much because of the competition so what's going on. I always try to get the best value for money, but I'm still spending far too much. Any ideas. All contributions gratefully received. [/QUOT

i think your more conscious of what your spending and avoiding when your writing it down same as doing a food diary when slimming i guess plus you have a little competition keeping you on track too

What ive noticed looking back on receipts since xmas food hasnt gone up loads but everything has gone up a few pennies so add that up all month and i guess its easy to add a good £20 on just my opinion xx

slowlyfading

just want to say, this is my first GC and I've only spent £15.65 so far! but only coz I've been using some stuff up and am now at home for a week so I feel like I'm cheating! :eek: maybe I should bow out and try again next month...