January 2011 Grocery Challenge

angelatgraceland

minnie2 wrote: »

well another NSD today!! thats 6days so far!!

not sure if i should dare ask this question or not but is it better to do one big shop and see how long it last or specifiically buy as you go?

Well now that really is a question! I wish I had a definite answer-it depends how you shop, where you shop and how tempted you get.
If you do a huge shop then run oout of bread and milk its dangerous to pop in a shop just for that as you usually end up spending £30! On the other hand if you shop often-buy bargains as you see them and lots of whoopsies it can work out cheapwe-IF you dont have to make lots of expensive trips to do so and IF you are disciplined in what you put in the trolley.:)
I do both methods-depending on my energy-time available and the weather. No need to stick to any one method but think carefully what your weaknesses are before yo choose. Shopping online I found is the "safest" as you have to think-look it up-before it goes into your trolley so you are more inclined to only buy what you need. The downside being if something doesnt arrive in your shop or you forgot to add things in, you end up going shopping and probably buying a lot more than the few items you need!

Have put in an order today for Approved foods for £32.79(inc carriage) and poopped into Waitrose and bought anything reduced I could use. Very disciplined shop-spent £10.76. Got some lovely italian ham for 59p per 100g and a reduced french stick for 29p. Their cocoa is the cheapest Ive found anywhere-if you plan to cook chocolate cakes. Robinsons is on offer-bogof at £1.19. Got some Ainsley Harriot cuppa soups on bogof(I never buy these). I also bought some of their Xmas carriers for 5p each to pop next years pressies in rather than buyung fancy bags as they looked nice and only 5p each and can be reused by the recipient to shop with! Will update sig later tonight.

Lola76

jintyb wrote: »

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]




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:)

jintyb

yes i meant Haggises

Thank you so much for this idea, i will use them up and cook them as you do. will put them on my next week's menu:j

quintwins

i've just spent another £15!!! things aren't going well at all i'll have to really pull my belt in for the rest of the month, i did get a set of electronic kitchen scales which will make baking easier you've gotta spend money to make money and all thats, and 2kg of onions, 4 leeks a bag of onions, a punnet of kiwi and 4 loafs of bread thats def me done for this week now

booskyeboo

Hi
Happycrafter:- Thanks for suggesting Al*i I shall be going and having a good look.:)
Keybilly:- Although I do make fruit cakes and tea loaves, most of the dried fruit and nuts are to eat instead of chocolate and sweets, trying to be healthy plus I do enjoy dried dates, prunes figs etc.:D
Well I did my weekly shop today and so far I think i am on target, I stuck to my list usually by now I would have spent double the amount:rotfl:so quite pleased BUT the month isn't over yet.:eek:

SilverCo

minnie2 wrote: »

oh any suggestions about mince and finding cheap mince will be greatfully received!! I am allergic to beef and the smell of lamb makes me vomit- so have to buy pork and turkey mince which keep going up in price. And ive tried 6 butchers who are reluctant to do either type of mince unless its a big order and it also works out more expensive than the supermarket! i have tried the frozen mince but it dregrades into mulch and smells awful. thanx

What about Vegemince? It's made from soya as opposed to quorn and bulks up really well in chillies, spag bol etc?

Another NSD on GC today, feeling really virtuous now! Had whoopsied pork and chorizo burgers for dinner (nom nom!) and no off to meal plan for next week!

Silver x

happycrafter_2

Mothership wrote: »

He he he thats a brilliant one.

Your durex one reminds me of something I did when I was a first time mother, in the days before disposable nappies. I went into a chemist shop and asked for a packet of 3 rubbers and was handed durex, my wee granny's face was bright red. I was of course looking for rubber pants for the baby. What made it worse was I had never even seen durex, and didn't realise till YEARS later why my wee granny was so embarrassed LOL.

My OH came away with a lovely one the other day he called tights Tracksuitsox.?????

could be worse my sister asked for some paint to cover her d!ldo rail she meant dado... she also believes that they mine cheese at the cheddar gorge not sure who told her that one;)

pension-newbie

Lola76 wrote: »

jintyb wrote: »

jintyb

yes i meant Haggises

Thank you so much for this idea, i will use them up and cook them as you do. will put them on my next week's menu:j

Opinion is divided in this house as to whether you should have gravy, whisky, or ketchup (red) to help moisten your haggis.

As a thought save them till 25th Jan which is Burn's night - then you can google Toast to a haggis and really go over the top

Spiggle

Welcome back Hippeechiq, we've missed you! :kisses3:

SeductiveSmile after your brilliant and adaptive cooking you truly deserve to be called a domestic goddess! :T

SeriouslySeekingtoSave welcome! :wave: It's great to see you over here.

Welcome also to the many newbies joining us. :hello: You've come to the right place!

I can't stop long - dinner almost ready - but just wanted to say another NSD here today. I'm off tomorrow and so will update sig then. Also need to update my MFW diary but haven't had a chance yet this week, too busy reading the great posts on here!

See you all in the morning,
Spigs

minnie2

angelatgraceland wrote: »

Well now that really is a question! I wish I had a definite answer-it depends how you shop, where you shop and how tempted you get.
If you do a huge shop then run oout of bread and milk its dangerous to pop in a shop just for that as you usually end up spending £30! On the other hand if you shop often-buy bargains as you see them and lots of whoopsies it can work out cheapwer-IF you dont have to make lots of expensive trips to do so and IF you are disciplined in what you put in the trolley.:)
I do both methods-depending on my energy-time available and the weather. No need to stick to any one method but think carefully what your weaknesses are before yo choose. Shopping online I found is the "safest" as you have to think-look it up-before it goes into your trolley so you are more inclined to only buy what you need. The downside being if something doesnt arrive in your shop or you forgot to add things in, you end up going shopping and probably buying a lot more than the few items you need!
.

i do both types - big shop tends to be big and i do wait for ages before doing another. But you dont get the bargains. Little and often can be costly petrol wise - i live in the sticks.plus theres different things i get in different supermarkets. did start to buy online but its expensive to get it delivered here and what i probably would save is wasted on delivery or i suppose i could see it as saving petrol but i go round atleast 4 supermarkets for different products (due to allergies) so thayd be 4 deliveries!
plus you cant find any whoopsies items.


Argh i am so torn!!!! Not that i can buy anything at min!!

Still NSD 6/6 so far and just made up atleast 10 lunches for work! feeling good!

Worked out we mustve saved atleast £30 (though we havent got anym money to prove it) instead of going to shop for our lunches everyday and then spending more to put it on a card etc also we havent been to our new local shop!
Think that shop has been taking too much of our money - we are in middle of nowhere sho when we got a shop in sept - it too easy to spend there!!

minnie2

SilverCo wrote: »

What about Vegemince? It's made from soya as opposed to quorn and bulks up really well in chillies, spag bol etc?

Another NSD on GC today, feeling really virtuous now! Had whoopsied pork and chorizo burgers for dinner (nom nom!) and no off to meal plan for next week!

Silver x

will look into veggie mince thanx!!! hopefully it wont have any dairy in it!!