January 2011 Grocery Challenge

XSpender

boultdj wrote: »

Put your jar of honey in a pan,fill to half way up the jar with water and heat gently[about the middle of the dial] and it will turn back to a liquid,hth.

Thanks for the tip, I will give it a try.

Spent £17.85 in Mr S. Posted this morning saying I would spend a max of £15 but forgot to include value tissues and organic bananas which were both running low. Would have been lower but I chose the wrong type of organic apples and they were not included in the 2 for £4 offer:mad: That's what you get for trying to buy english as opposed to imported american ones. Also £1.50 for shoe polish:eek: was higher than expected.

Stuck to my list even though I was hungry and the crisps were calling my name:o

Also took out £25 in cash from the bank (£50 is this week's budget less the £25 for my organic delivery which comes direct out of the bank), used this and the rest is going in my litte pink purse to be used for the extra bits I will need between now and next Friday. I might just do it if I stick to the meal plan and shopping list.:)

Does anyone else buy organic and if so do you have any tips for keeping costs down?

I am going to attempt to make baby rice pudding this afternoon for DS (8 months) who is eatng like a horse at the moment.

jintyb

Lola76 wrote: »

2. stock take of my freezer - it had, 12 breasts of chiken, 2packs of mince, 2 bags of prawns, 3 packs of sausages, 8 (!) tuna steaks, Ham and 2 huggises (not sure what to do with them) they have been brought to us as a gift. large bag of freshly frozen bluckcurrants. 2 packs of tortilla wraps. a loaf of bread

QUOTE]

NickJW wrote: »

Sorry - what are Huggises? I looked online but it asked me if I meant 'Huggies' and I presume you aren't planning on eating baby nappies :rotfl::o

Do you mean haggises?
If so, this is how I cook mine-

I take them out of the skin, cut into chunks and put in a lidded pyrex casserole. I blast them in the microwave for about 3-4 mins, them break up with a fork. Put it back in for another 5 mins, or till piping hot throughout.
Serve with mashed tatties and bashed neeps ( turnip) . If you want to cook in the oven, about an hour at 170c should do it, after 30mins break up the haggis so it looks crumbly.HTH:)

salski

jintyb wrote: »

Fish pie, fish cakes, kedgeree?:)

Fish cakes - are they fool proof as Im still learning to cook!
I remember trying to make them before and didnt do a great job of them...they broke into tiny pieces....
Thanks though x

OrkneyStar

So I went to library, and while in town I spent last ~£4 (I round up/down to nearest pound if 50p or more/less than 50p) in Tesco. I got: 2 x 2L Cravendale, value Nat. Yog, and Value Apple Juice.

Me and DS got lunch out too, but that came from a separate treats budget .

seductivesmile

NickJW wrote: »

I only realized on Saturday that they put a star next to VAT products on supermarket (well Mr T and Mr S) receipts. I guess everyone else knows this already though! :rotfl:

Hi Nick,
Mr M, They put an A or a D next to the items, D = 0% tax, A = normal rate...
on my reciept (purely to catch the offers before vat rise on mon)
Dried Pasta
Chilled Sausages
Tinned Rice Pud
Baked Beans
Naan Bread
Angel Delight
Tea bags
Breakfast cereal

All VAT free.


IF people want to PM me the items on their receipts that are VAT free, then i will draw up a list of the items so we can all benefit from knowing whats VAT free.

Hope this helps (I'm off work atm due to a car crash so all the time in the world! )

SS x

seductivesmile

Georgiegirl2012 wrote: »

I think it was earlier on in this thread that somebody was talking about needing Slimfast, but I've just had an e-mail saying chocolate milkshake is reduced to 3.99 in Sainsbury til 18 Jan. It's also reduced in Tesco to 5.32 (25/1).

In Mr M its ~£3...


half price

HTH

quintwins

salski wrote: »

Fish cakes - are they fool proof as Im still learning to cook!
I remember trying to make them before and didnt do a great job of them...they broke into tiny pieces....
Thanks though x

theory if you put them in the fridge and make sure there nice and cold when cooking (and well squished before that) they shud be ok, saying that i do mine it the oven and even then they fall apart, fish pies a nice easy one, or my kids love fish baked in the oven with a mixture of philly, mustard and chives, i serve it with baby taties or hm wedges and carrots

quintwins

seductivesmile wrote: »

In Mr M its ~£3...


half price

HTH

gordons chemist has it aswell don't ask me how much tho cause i don't use it i only noticed cause my DS was saying look mummy stawberrys

edit- thats slimfast btw the quote didn't come out great

modern_millie_2

Hello all, just to say M****sons have some good offers on cereals, ketchup and b.beans atm - did my 1st shop yesterday - £41/£150 . Also AF, for any veggies ouy there, have nut roast mixes at 29p each - so also did AF order of £23! H owever, that should be my main shop for the month.

Catzpaws

DH did the weekly shop a few days ago, split between Morrisons and Aldi. Total spend £56.80. Included some new gloves and booze for family who were popping around. All good so far and remaining on budget, which I'm pleased about.