December 2010 Grocery Challenge

Hippeechiq

Great post Spigs :T

Welcome youngmummy :wave:

Spigs has given some fab advice there, as has ebayqueen and toddles* - I don't think you'll go far wrong if you follow it

LongTallSally Celery freezes fine. I bought 2 packs earlier in the year (didn't realise I already had one) and I finished it last week in a casserole. Must've been in my freezer for, ooh, 7 or 8 months I'd say.

I've no idea if you're supposed to, but I don't do anything to mine. I slice each stick into about 6 slices, lay them flat on a piece of cling film (it stops the slices sticking to the baking sheet) on a baking sheet, and open freeze. This freezes the slices individually. Once frozen, I bag up into a freezer bag. This way, I can take out one piece, 6 or 7 pieces, or half a bag - whatever the recipe calls for.

You wouldn't be able to eat it in a salad, because as it's predominantly made up of water, it goes floppy when defrosted, but it's absolutely fine to use in any cooked dish.

Well, it's rained solid from late last night to early afternoon here, so my 24hours of snow has gone, and I'm fed up! So I bought myself some Mr K!pling Christmas Slices when I was out and about in the rain this morning.....I know, I know - in fact, I bought some biscuits too

So, not the best of days. My online order can't be delivered until Monday because when I went to order it last night all slots, both 8 and 2 hour were booked today and tomorrow....I don't know why it didn't occur to me, that what with the snow and everything, that more people will have placed online orders.

Anyhoo spends today of £44.85 bringing total so far to £71.12

I didn't pick up the wine offer in £idls but I bought the Pale Cream Sherry to try.....naturally I shall have to sample it this evening - purely as a quality control measure you understand - as I can't have my Xmas spoilt by naff sherry. If it's ok, for £2.79 I'll pick up another bottle. I shall report back in due course

Craftyscholar

Hippeechiq wrote: »

I didn't pick up the wine offer in £idls but I bought the Pale Cream Sherry to try.....naturally I shall have to sample it this evening - purely as a quality control measure you understand - as I can't have my Xmas spoilt by naff sherry. If it's ok, for £2.79 I'll pick up another bottle. I shall report back in due course

Much appreciated.
I have always been a bit wary of £idls alcohol - no idea why as everything else I have tried from them has been OK - so I will be interested in your investigation on our behalf.

~moneysavingnovice~

I've reduced my budget by £30, as Xmas is going to be tighter than previously thought

Oh well, NSD yesterday and today at least.

Penelope_Penguin

Norman_Bean wrote: »

I've just added up my grocery spend for the last 12 months (since being OS!) and I am sooo pleased .... €2,312.76 that's an average of €192.73 a month! :j

I have learnt so much over the last year from OS MSE and just can not imagine not being MSE now ... I have only been lurking infrequently over the last few months but still want to thank the Jackies (O and Glasgow), CCP and SunnyDay (HM vino expert) you have all really inspired me x Thank you x

I am back with MSE now so will be trying to contribute lots!

I need to devise a monthly food budget for next year now ...

Thanks again all on OS, I hope we all have a wonderful (and MSE) christmas and a properous 2011 x

Norman x

Well done! I'll add this to the Grocery Thread so fellow posters see it

Moniker

Evening all. No snow here today just lots of rain - hope it doesn't freeze tonight or the roads will be lethal tomorrow.

NSD for me but have updated sig with a couple of small spends from yesterday. BTW, sherry-lovers might like to know that W8trose is selling Harv3y's Br1stol Cre3am for £6.99 a bottle - I bought one out of my 'Christmas Fund' as like the others I only drink it at Christmas time!

Have spent the morning cooking - made a french apple tart for pud tomorrow and used 500gms of mince to make 4 beefburgers for our tea tonight and 2 lots of bolognese sauce which have gone in the freezer. Also made a loaf of bread. Lunch was a very frugal chicken 'soup' - I saved the veg and the bits of meat that fell off the bones when I made stock last Monday and added 3/4pt of stock and some cornflower to thicken it and it was very tasty. Not bad for something I would have thrown away before coming on here!

Have a good evening every one and keep warm!

Moniker

hex2

Craftyscholar wrote: »

Much appreciated.
I have always been a bit wary of £idls alcohol - no idea why as everything else I have tried from them has been OK - so I will be interested in your investigation on our behalf.

:santa2: Crafty - the wine has been good value - not tried the spirits so no opinion.


The c30p chocolate in a blue wrapper makes superb truffles. Two packs of chocolate and c30p of double cream/greek yoghurt/ground up sugar has made 16 good quality 'viennese' style truffles against £3 for similar in T**rntons. They freeze well for post c'mas dinner too.

Shysarah

First grocery spend of the month today, topped up on bleach, washing up liquid, sweeteners and a big jar of coffee. Being stuck in had me close to running out of coffee and that would never do. I also got enough bin liners to last me till next summer (i use about 1 a week) and shampoo. Oh and some food lol..

Total spend (after deduction of christmas gifts and batteries) £39.09.

Quite pleased as i had quite a few higher priced items to buy and I got some Christmassy bits too.

Off to update sig xx

Dee5565

Evening All
Hope everyone is safe and well.
NSD for me today.
Hm Chicken Soup and Hm Bread for tea tonight. There is enough for tomorrow so i will make some bread rolls to go with that.
I am getting so great tips on here so Thank You everyone.
Looking forward to the new year so i can have a frugal year and get my debts down.

Dee

schrodie

After coming in under budget in November (£60 per week) for my first attempt at this challenge I have to admit that I was helped towards the end of November by the bad weather and not being able to go to the shops for the last 2 weekends. Fortunately I had a well stocked fridge/feezer and cupboard which is now somewhat depleted hence an online ASDA shop coming to £90 for the first week in December.

I'm still setting a £240 for the month though which with Christmas may well be overly optimistic, but fingers crossed and with the help of the recipes here and the tips I should be OK.

XSpender

Hippeechiq wrote: »

LongTallSally Celery freezes fine. I bought 2 packs earlier in the year (didn't realise I already had one) and I finished it last week in a casserole. Must've been in my freezer for, ooh, 7 or 8 months I'd say.

I've no idea if you're supposed to, but I don't do anything to mine. I slice each stick into about 6 slices, lay them flat on a piece of cling film (it stops the slices sticking to the baking sheet) on a baking sheet, and open freeze. This freezes the slices individually. Once frozen, I bag up into a freezer bag. This way, I can take out one piece, 6 or 7 pieces, or half a bag - whatever the recipe calls for.

I just chop it up and stick it in an old ice cream tub. It doesn't seem to clump together, all the pieces remain loose. I just grab a handful to add to soup so I never use much at a time. I will be making N*wcastle Brown Ale and Beef stew with Rosemary Dumplings for 8 on Boxing Day so it will finally be getting used up:D

NSD here:)

Thanks for the reminder that the supermarkets are not our friends Spiggs.:o