March 2010 Grocery Challenge

Kadeeae

Hello to gonnabedebtfree good luck with this months challenge

JayJay14

Riverford (well Riverswale) veg box arrived today and I am quite impressed. The contents are nice and fresh and there is a good amount of each item. We have had curly kale for tea with beef stew ad jacket spuds. I've never had kale before. There are 2 x aubergines in it and I'm nor keen but OH is going to make some ratatouie (sp) (have sliced courgettes in the freezer from last years garden growings)

Apart from that have spent very little, though may have a look at the whoopsies tonight at Asda. No sign of any job for OH so really shouldn't even be doing that. We have loads of stuff in.

Managed to last the week on baked muffins and flapjacks for packing up extras, so no biscuits or sweets bought. Will have to do the same this weekend.

Hope everyone is having a good week.

ragz_2

Didn't make it to a big Tesco as baby was being difficult so had to go to Tesco express for pull-ups which cost twice as much as they only had pampers (28p each it works out as :eek:).
Did pick up 2 reduced loaves of bread for 38p each and a pack of part bake baguettes for 51p which we had for dinner with our chicken soup.

Went to co-op and spent nearly £10 on cheese - Seriously Strong Cheddar half price (my fave)

Just made pudding from a pack of choc sponge mix, some value chocolate and a tin of pears, is very yummy!

So £19 to add to my total - not going well, though I do think I miscalculated that as it's a 5 week month for me and only budgeted for £20 more than february, which I overspent by a few pounds...

CherryPie

scotdebs wrote: »

more planning required for next week - are there any link to meal plan threads?

Not sure if this'll work, not too technical myself

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=2302001&highlight=meal+planning

Alternatively, click on to the forum search under Old Style MoneySaving have a look through the threads and there's a weekly meal planner one. I find looking at other peoples plans inspires me to cook something different than I would normally.


Just made roast veg with cous cous for the next few days lunches for work. Had sweet potato, red & green peppers, courgette, red onion & mushrooms. Covered with balsamic vinegar & sesame oil and put in oven for about an hour. Made up some past it's sell by date cous cous (been meaning to use it for a while now!!)

I've made this before but added some goats cheese for the last 15 mins in the oven, serve with crusty bread for a cheap indulgent dinner!

Sunnyday

Kadeeae wrote: »

Have even thought about getting the milkman around . . .

:eek::eek::eek:

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Sorry Kadeeae, i must have a naughty mind but couldn`t help but smirk when i read this

SD

PennyGrabber

Oh Sunnyday!!! I'm glad I'm not the only one;)!!

Another NSD to report today, so things are looking slightly less bad than they were...
I have 18 days left of my month, and not a huge amount of money (see sig). Still, there have been months where I've spent ridiculous amounts of money on food, so if I 'fail' this month, I won't be too upset. I don't think!

earthmother wrote: »

That leaves me just under £90 to complete the month - I've split it into 6 £15 lots, one for each Monday and Thursday still to come, and as it only has to cover bread, milk, fruit and veg,

Earthmother, that's such a simple, clever thing to do! If I had more money than I have left, I would do the same! Must remember that for next month.

Should have a NSD tomorrow, but not too sure about Saturday - weekends are the danger time for me.

Have a good evening all,
PG x

ChocClare

angelatgraceland wrote: »

Ive got arrowroot too with the same idea but haven't been brave enough to use it yet-do let us know how it goes!

How can you get jelly from arrowroot? Surely arrowroot is a thickener rather than a gelling agent isn't it? Would it actually set?

Wouldn't you be better off buying some gelatine (supercook or leaf) and mixing that in with the juice from the peaches? I've done that many a time and oft and it works fine. Arrowroot I generally use in eg blackberry and apple - you know if you cook foraged blackberries you effectively end up with blackberries in blackberry water, and adding sugar and arrowroot makes it much more pie-filling-y.

Let us know if it does set effectively - I'm really interested!:D

ETA - sorry angelatgraceland, I should have been quoting Moniker on this as you were replying to her quote as well! D'oh!

poppy-glos

Kornishkat wrote: »

Just a quick question, do you all count NSDs only as days when you spend nothing on groceries or when you part with absolutely no money at all. For example if you pay extra money off a debt or buy somthing like essential oils or a pushchair or petrol (unusual items to put together I know lol) is the day no longer a no spend day? Just curious.

for me it's a nsd if i've not bought anything grocery challenge related. so if no food but bought petrol then still a nsd for me..

Skint_Catt

It's only a nsd for me if I don't spend a single penny on anything.

ChocClare

Well, today went slightly the way of the pear, as I didn't finish work until 20 past 6. :eek:

But surely, CC, I hear you cry, you finish work at 3, don't you?

Well, quite.

As a result, I phoned home and suggested I pick up pizza on the way home. Of course they all said, No, mummy, don't do it, don't spend your hard-earned cash. Or rather, they said, ooh, yes please. Apart from DH, who said, don't care what you get me as long as I have garlic bread and coleslaw as well.

So, gone slightly downhill today. But the pizza was yum