February 2011 Grocery Challenge

LondonDreamer

I'm declaring a NSD! :j I don't normally come in here to declare them, but I'm particularly proud as FIL is up for dinner. Normally, I would've run out to the shops specifically to get food to serve or ordered a takeaway. But I rummaged the fridge and cupboards and found all of the ingredients needed for chorizo stew (was on my meal plan earlier this week, but we had something else) plus pulled a whoopsied baguette out of the freezer to serve with it so our normal two portions would stretch to three. So the budget is in tact! :T

fingersxed

Hi Everybody

Currently within budget. Did a mean shop yesterday. Hoping to be v gd next week - just so as i stay in budget?!? Filled in my spreadsheet and got my figures, but then i hit on problem!!!

HELP!!!! - Tried to update my sig yesterday and 2day but it keeps giving me this meassage 'BB code size value is too big'. All i am trying to do is change my grocery challenge figures. I did try deleting some of my sig and reducing size of font on groc chal but it still won't let me. HELP would be much appreciated

martafdz

fingers, it might be the size of the font. Go to the edit signature thing. On top of the smilies there is a button in the corner with two "A", looks similar to this: A/A. Click that, it will show you all the codes in used. The font size here goes from size 1 (my sig) to size 7. Not sure what is the limit for signatures but see if you can spot any [SIZE=?] with a number over 7 instead of the ?. If not, see what number is the highest and change it for something lower, like 3. Once you have done that, save and try. Next time just put back the button to visual editor (click again) if it does not show automatically. Idk if it is exactly that, but it is worth a try.

CupOfChai

Hi guys, I've not got much to report, just another weekly shop added into my total so apart from a loaf of bread I'll need to get sometime during the week I have what I need in until next weekend.

I did get an alright whoopsie bargain for once, two packs of lean beef mince that were stickered to have been on offer at £5 for the two. At the whoopsie price I got both for £4 instead. Pleased with that, for once there was something I'd actually use and it was an ok reduction, that is more than about 20p even if it wasn't the sort of levels some of you manage to get! I just slung them in the freezer and will just use them as and when I normally would have needed to buy some mince.

fingersxed

Martafdz thanks for ur help. Can't understand why this as happened. normally just click on edit sig n change figure i spent. Tried ur advice n still no difference. Anyway deleted all sig and re done. and as long as don't use a bigger font its lettin me change it. I used a bigger font on Jan and up until this weekend but now it won't let me? Puzzling. Thanks for ur help though. Much Appreciated

Pinwheel

Hi everyone just popping in to update my sig. Been visiting this weekend and spent £39.26 in total on wine, beer, treats for children, crisps etc to take. This leaves me only £11.03 to last until Friday and it's half term! I have got all the meals planned and a little bit of money saved in a different budget for treats for the children, so I am still hoping to do it!
Hope you all have a good week if you can.
PWx

Hippeechiq

Well done on your NSD LondonDreamer :T

NualaBuala wrote: »

I definitely recommend it Hippeechiq - it turned out delicious, have already eaten a quarter of what I made! :EasterBun

Ahhhhh - a girl after my own heart

By the way - I was chatting to my 78year old Dad on the phone today, and he informs me that if you turn your eggs upside down when you buy them, and turn them every few days thereafter - it helps your eggs stay fresher for longer. Is that common knowledge, and I'm the last to know? Or is it news to anyone else too?

scotsaver

martafdz wrote: »

Hi I.M.Hart, I also think it should last for over two weeks. We are two here and I do not usually put cereal or lentils but they last quite a bit more. I use 250g mince meat (0.55 lb) for both of us, I used to put the 500g (1lb) box but once I bought the small packet by mistake and I realized we were eating that much just because it was in the plate, a few more vegetables in the mix and OH never noticed the change.

With 3lb mince meat I would make 6 meals: spagetti bolognese (add more pasta, onion, fresh tomatoes), cottage pie (more carrot, onion, mash...), chili (more kidney beans, onions, pepper...), maybe meatballs (add more breadcrumbs, a bit of onion...), another one with burritos/fajitas (it would fill about 6 with salad and cheese) and maybe a lasagne.

With 3lb pork chops, mmm... how many porkchops are in 3lb? lol Idk, I usually give him 2 small ones and I have one, 3 in a meal if I grill them. However, if I cut them in small chunks and I battered them for sweet & sour pork I only use 2 small for a meal. Also 2 for kebabs, just add vegetables in between. I would also use 2 for a pie. So if you get 10, that would make about 4 meals.

With 3lb boneless joint I would make 2 or 3 meals. I think it is all in how thin or thick you cut the piece, as I think that in my house we eat whatever it is in the plate and the stomach gets filled also with the eyes and how much it looks in the plate, iykwim. If I put the same meat sliced my OH feels he is eating more, maybe because he also chews more or cut more pieces, idk. But if I put a chunk of the same meat, it goes quickly and does not feel the same! I have it proven with chicken breasts. If I wrap the chicken breast with some bacon and then sliced once cooked in "rings", one breast is all I need. If I just put it in the plate whole my OH says it is not enough... and it is the same ammount with one slice of bacon around!! Buy an electric knife, £10 well spent as you will be able to slice thiner portions and get more from your meals.

Same with the topside. However, beef is easier to cut than pork (I think), so you can always cut the topside in 3 pieces as soon as you get it, and freeze them for different roasts. If you get leftovers from any, great, another meal from it! I try now not to cook the whole thing if I can avoid it and freeze things in individual portions or two portions per bag maximum, that way I only take out of the freezer what I know it is going to be eaten. If we are hungry there is always cake for dessert lol

With a whole chicken I would make probably 2 or 3. A quarter of a chicken each works out 2 meals, plus carcass for soup with any left over chicken shreded and added to it, that makes 3 meals.

Lamb chops 2-3 meals. I only have them grilled but if you know how to make curry then a couple of lambchops can make a meal. Also can be made in kebabs and that way you need less.

Chicken breasts: one each, filled with cheese and wrapped with bacon. Also one if sliced thinly and breaded, or battered and made into sweet and sour sauce. Or cut in pieces and made in a pasta bake. Or cut in stripes and stir fried with vegetables. I think the trick here is to take a good knife and "open the breast". Imagine the chicken breast as having 3 layers. so you start in the top 1/3 and slice from right to left slowly, without cutting it completely or going to the very end. Then, from there, you cut the second layer and now go from left to right, withougt going to the end either. You should get a big chicken fillet now made of one breast. I feel that way it is more maneagable and you get more "visual meat". My old butcher used to do that with all the chicken breasts by default before wrapping them and give them out. Apparently this is called "to butterfly" a chicken breast, Maybe you know all this and I am just repeating the obvious, though!! Lol Anyway, if I use the chicken breast like that, one breast is enough for a stir fry for two or even the pasta bake. So if you get 8 breasts that would make me 5-6 meals.

Basically, all you have said would make me 27-28 meals. I also have pizzas or fish some days, so all that meat would last me for at least a month, for sure over 4 weeks, probably about 5 weeks.

(Sorry long post, you let me speak and I just go on and on and on...)

martafdz - can I just say a huge thanks to you for taking the time to type all this for everyone, very useful.:A We too are trying to cut down on the amount of Meat we eat and don't eat meat every night now, try to have fish one night, pasta another night and a "veggie" night and on the nights that we do eat meat we will eat better quality.;)

XSpender

Went to Mr T with DH on Friday night to take advantage of the pet food and cereal offers and came out with 144 tins of dog food and 3 big boxes of cereal as well as some bits and bobs including £1.75 on a packet of crisps for DH:eek: Really pleased with the dog food as this will last me 2 and a half months and saved me £30:T

I did think I was doing quite well but realised today that I had run out of eggs, cheese, SR flour and cough mixture as I am barking like a dog:D. Had to make choc cake with wholemeal SR four as I had friends coming over and it turned out really nice but I have other friends coming over this week so had to get more flour so I can make a cake for them too:) so went to Mr S today and spent another £14.81. Will need to get some formula for DS and some milk later in the week.

I will end this month's budget on 26th as I got a £9 till spit from Mr T that needs to be used by the 27th and it is too much to waste for the sake of one day. I also still have £5.50 of Mr T vouchers and £10 nect points to use as well. I have done a meal plan for March and costed it up on Mysupe and even allowing for treats, the odd takeaway and a bit of stocking up I have calculated that the total I should spend is about £240 so why can't I stick to it?:mad:

I thought I had been using up loads in the freezer this month but it is still chock a block. DMIL is having DS on Tuesday so I will make an effort to list the contents of both my freezers and see if I can use anything else up on the March meal plan and cut my spend down further.

laineyc_2

I get paid tomorrow (yay!) so I am declaring for February - £626.89. Not a resounding success but March will be better. It has to be!

Sticking with £450 target for March.