January 2011 Grocery Challenge

beloved

Help, I am new to joining in the threads, I have just been told how to create a signature, how do I add my name and monthly total to the list of names on a thread? Thank you x :A

NickJW

My flatmate cooked tonight, so we had a Jamie Oliver fish pie from the new cookbook - very nice, and enough leftover for tomorrow. The problem is that he bought loads of veg to go with it, and there was only a bit used. There is now a big bag of celery and a load of spinach, plus more chillis (which are okay because they last). If I don't use it, he will just chuck it away! :mad:

I was thinking of doing THIS recipe for some of it on Friday, because I just need to get one carrot and chorizo. It calls for Sherry vinegar which I don't have, so I wondered if Rice Wine vinegar would be an acceptable subsitute. I saw that Sherry vinegar is £1.59 in Mr S on Mysuperm*ket, so I'll buy if I have to, but if anyone thinks it won't be necessary I'll just use the rice wine vinegar.:o

UNLESS anyone has any ideas on how to use up spinach,celery (not raw - yuck!), and chillis (red, green and birds eye)? They don't have to be all together, but I need to use the spinach and celery in 2 meals this week. I have also have chicken, bacon, sausages and stewing beef in the freezer, red and white wine if need be, rice, pasta, lentils, beef and chicken stock, cherry tomatoes, fresh parsley and thyme needing using up, chopped tomatoes chickpeas, cannellini beans, plus every dried spice, herb and baking product you can imagine. My eyes are going sore searching tonight and for once I have absolutely ZERO inspiration! Willing (actually would like to) do veggie if necessary.

ETA: it sounds like I am doing a dating ad here! :-)

minnie2

beloved wrote: »

Help, I am new to joining in the threads, I have just been told how to create a signature, how do I add my name and monthly total to the list of names on a thread? Thank you x :A

just state your budget total for the month etc in red on a message here - i think thats how you do it! then someone who over sees the thread will add you

if you go to the first page of the thread theres info there about the thread. it says to use big font and in red so the people can clearly see it to add you

rachelww1

Just done my first ever shop at BB4L. Spent £29.28 including £10.50 delivery charge :eek: But DH now has marmalade for the year, wrapping paper & cards for next xmas is sorted, enough bread mix to last 6 months, and amongst other things will having risotto twice a week for the rest of our lives :rotfl: What are they going to deliver it in......a tank

guccigoo

just popping in quickly to wish wssla00 a happy birthday :bdaycake:your fruit trees sound lovely, wish i had enough room in my garden

Anyway i have spent today and will update it all tomorrow with my online delivery, off to bed now as so tired

daydreamer2007

Can you add me please

I have 3 mouths to feed and a dog (plus visiting gran children and ss at various times)
I aim to spend £160 a month but would love to reduce this if possible so if anyone can point me in the right direction would be grateful,

Cathy

jammy_dodger

spent a bit more than intended to today at Mr A but not been in there this year and they had good offers that i can use / freeze or store so stocked up on quite a few things , dried dog food is going down well , with the dog that is
so bought 2 huge bags whilst on offer so should do a coupleo f months at least
am working over next few days so hoping to add to my NSD 's already preperared my lunch to take in with me

JD xxx

Hippeechiq

It seems a lot of us are being hard on ourselves today. Thank you for the supportive post Moniker :kisses3:

Someone actually showing me how it works would be best, but funds wont allow, and I don't really know anyone where I live apart from the people I used to work with, who were work colleagues rather than "friends" are they were all pensioners, apart from management. Mind you, I'm sure some of the pensioners are probably more clue up than I! So I think Excel for Dummies is probably a good idea, especially as we have a library a 2minute walk from me - thanks for the suggestion

To all newcomers who are struggling with their budget this month, you need to cut yourself some slack - budgeting for less than you're used to spending is difficult. I've been taking part in the challenge for the past 6 months and I've only been successful 3 out of those 6. Take the positive from the situation with the knowledge that if you hadn't been trying, you would undoubtedly have spent much more

wssla00 I'm really sorry to hear about your job hun. It seems that much worse to hear it's hanging in the balance on your birthday.

Let's hope it doesn't come to that, but, if it does....I lost my job last year the day after my birthday (also January) and although things haven't picked up (we're still surviving on OHs wage and no benefits) it isn't all doom and gloom, and you do get by, and actually, although it is hard, it's a nicer pace of life.

Glad the trees turned up and you're pleased with them. I'd love some fruit trees, but sadly, all my back garden is paving slabs, and there's not really any room for such things.

Edited to add actually, looking again at my siggy, I've only succeeded 2 out of the 6 months! So it's worse than I thought :rotfl: but I was spending between £450-£550 a month before starting this challenge (before losing my job)

XSpender

NickJW wrote: »

There is now a big bag of celery and a load of spinach, plus more chillis (which are okay because they last). If I don't use it, he will just chuck it away! :mad:

You can chop and freeze the celery for future use if you can't find a recipe for it. I do this all the time and it is fine to use in soup or stews from frozen:)

Hippeechiq

I'll second that - in fact, I had some frozen celery in my Coq Au Vin for tea tonight.

It's fine as long as long as you use it in a dish - like the above, or a stew or a curry