February 2011 Grocery Challenge

SavingJane

hex2 wrote: »

Saving Jane:

Gently drop the egg into a bowl of cold water. If it:

• sinks to the bottom and stays there, it is about three to six days old.
• Sinks, but floats at an angle, it's more than a week old.
• Sinks, but then stands on end, it's about two weeks old.
• Floats, it's too old and should be discarded.

Thank you, so if it's under 2 weeks old it's fine to use I take it

Thanks again

Jane

quintwins

martha u did well hope you find a cheap enough washer maybe get a washer this month and aim for a freezer for the end of next month it will give u something to work towards

i've been buying stuff that will last us ages but still counting it in this month, i think i'll prob go a few pound over but i'm gonan try fortnightly shopping on march to see of that helps, well i'm really tired today so nipped to tesco's for a bag of lattice fries for tea there in the oven now with some reduced sausages from the freezer was gonna make pasta but i've used all the sauce in my freezer so it was just to much effort to make it spent £1.14, got 2 bags of 10p celery to chop and put in the freezer i only every buy it reduced but i love it in soup and casarole

martafdz

Thanks! I researched online and I found a solution, apparently the problem was I somehow overloadedthe machine at some point and a security thermostate had tripped off. After an hour taking off all the covers with an inadequate tool, my OH found the said switch and pressed it. It is working now. I am shocked this kind of thing is not known or that it requires you to take off covers and go into the guts of the machine. We would have spent almost £300 with delivery for something that only required us to press something similar to a button. Outrageous! None of us knew anything about this and only found out when looking online for the manual. So if your machine washes, spins and drains but all the clothes are soaking wet and cold when you open it to the point you have to hang them with some towel on the floor or inside the bath, you might have the same problem!! I hope this is a permanent fix!!

At least it is all good news and I can start looking for the chest freezer!!! I think it would make my GC much easier to have a small one since I can take advantage of great offers on meat and fish.

Thank you very much for the advice on looking at independent retailers because I can do that for the chest freezer now! Do you have one? Does it really save money in the long term or is it just a commodity for not going to the shops as often?

EDIT: I might have spoken too quickly about having fixed it ... first load was ok, second one is just turning machine off :? No idea!

Nicky321

Had a good look through the OSM boards and Grocery Challenge. Today made a start at planning my weekly meals went to Asda with a shopping list, cost £46.78, but didnt stray and stuck to the list, this will hopefully sort out the meals for the next week for Me, OH, DD & DS. Will have stuff left over like rice, pasta, eggs, teabags etc towards next weeks shop. May have to pop out for extras like bread, milk, cooked meats but will try and have at least 3 NSD out of the next 6.

tessie_bear

hi....hope everyone has had a nice weekend...bit wet here but it kept us in so no spending which helps...had a reduced pizza for lunch which was quite nice...need to make a few lunch box bits...cakes etc in the week...the kids are on half term the week after next so ill be able to stand down the lunch box stuff

got steak tomorrow for tea which is a valentines day treat:kisses3: which should be nice...it cost enough anyhow...might be a few bargains around on tuesday from the valentines meal deals...iv got to say im largely unimpressed with the selection of ready meals the supermarkets are offering in the name of romance:(

anyhow take care tessa

debtfreewannabe321

I've dont my weekly shop today and spent more than i wanted to, BUT thanks to offers & a te$co voucher for £9 i still got it under budget and should have enough left for next weeks shop too.

I spent £70.70 today and got £20 worth of meat that was on offer, lamb (4 packs), sausages (24) & chicken. Also had to stock up on babies nappies and as i have two in different sizes had to buy 2 lots (although got an offer on them too)

I'm finding it really useful to have a budget as i would have easily spent £300 by now as i would go without a list, no meal's in mind, usually go hungry (big mistake!) and pick up everything that would fit in my trolley!

In my weekly shop i include all cleaning products, food, washing powder etc. In fact anything that is needed in the house that you can buy in a supermarket!

Running total so far is 165.14/250

Long_tall_sally

NSD yesterday & Only a little spend of 39p on a whoopsied loaf of bread today.

Ilona

No spend day today, out walking.
Ilona

mummyjane

123budget wrote: »

wondering if people include toiletries/household items in with their figures. E.g. things like washing powder, toilet paper, toiletries and cleaning products or is it purely just food?

I include all my grocery shopping including toiletries and cleaning products. As I get better at budgeting I am hoping to start to include petrol and gifts as well. It is early days for me too though so we will see

Although I was hoping to have a NSD today, I ended up spending £10.74 on crisps, microwave popcorn, fizzy pop, ice lollies, ice cream and kitchen roll plus a couple of dvds, one for us and one for the kids (but we had a 2for1 voucher). The weather here was awful so it was either that or take the kids out somewhere which I am sure would have been more expensive. We had a great time though and everything else this weekend was free as we pay for their clubs termly and spent a couple of hours in the library too.

I would normally have a weekly shop coming tomorrow but I think I'll be able to stretch out what we have until Wednesday or Thursday. I'm trying not to fall back into the trap of ordering say every week even if we have plenty in. I'm sure I end up spending much more when I do

laineyc_2

NSD today! I am spectacularly over my target so I need to have a few more NSD's this month. I declare on 23rd February. I am looking forward to be more realistic and in control next month.

123budget, the spicy lentil soup sounds good. I think I will try it during the week.