How to Get Through The Tough Times The Old Style Way.

Margaret54

Thanks so much gailey take care xx

gailey_2

rachbc wrote: »

Gailey I don't do a mian shop anymore, I use mysupermarket and get whats on offer in each place - mainly asda/ aldi or ocado with money off vouchers for me though

Ordinarily would try do that way.
but hubby has limited days off.
only he drives.
im due baby no3in next few weeks.

last did big shopmorrisions in november but wasent too impressed by deals or range.

last did huge shop lidls in december.

have done top ups in lidls

hubby did farmfoods shop once amonth but thats just frozen/milk.
get majority of meat frombutchers.

Jan lived off co-op reductions from december.
febuary been bad month sainsburys the nearests so shopped there.
Also tesco metro some good deals.
Find big tesco too big and end up spending loads.

need to do mostly grocery and chilled.
Want to stock right up incase baby comes early!

I really do hate asda never had good experince but know for bulk buying they have gooddeals and want to keepcosts down so willing to try it of cheaper,they always boasting they are on adverts.

silvermaid

Gailey I really should do a monthly stock take like you.
I keep squirrelling leftovers or batch cooking efforts and MUST MUST MUST put using them up on my meal planner. I tend to do a five week meal planner and am on my 15th - almost time to do number 16. I look back an see what I did this time last year and then adapt. I am beginning to make sure the freezer meals are on there. But also need to make sure I have some emergency hm meals in there if I am working full time and would otherwise be tempted to have a less healthy option.
Silver

SD-253

Anyone know of a quality capper for bottles? The one I have is on its way out after only 2 years work. Probably no more than 350 bottles capped. It is even breaking bottles although the same ones every time (Thatcher Cider bottles). It is now taking longer & longer to work ie having to turn the bottle round 4 or 5 times before it works. Will need new one soon. Note they sell the same one in Wilkos so not going to bother there (pity)

SD-253

gailey wrote: »

I tape a list written in pen to top lid/outside!

I stocktake /tidyonce amonth when its out of control and when we done big farmfoods shop.
add meat tolist if been to butchers as freeze most of it.
I also on better weeks batchcookand freeze meals
wishwe had roomfor upright as well!

Will try it but will use a laminated A4 with lines or something and try and find something that wipes of to write list out. Only occasionally do batch cook nearly always game meals (as mostly free. If Mr Rabbit wants to eat my flowers he has to face the consequences. Went mad on apple crumbles made about 70 as I have "access" to loads of Bramley trees. Got everything as cheap as possible before hand IE flour, white sugar, butter (not much variation in price) and brown sugar (again no bargains around). Cooked them in used ready made meal dishes. Suitable for the oven and reheating in the microwave. Been saving them for years about time I used them

maryb

When I was working I splurged on some of those rectangular Pyrex dishes with a plastic lid. For me at the time they were worth it as they used space efficiently in the freezer and could go in the microwave to defrost then just take the lid off and straight in the oven or under the grill. Plus they were a useful size and shape for lasagne, gratin dauphinoise, crumble etc. Don't use them so much now I no longer batch cook as I'm at home now, but I'd still recommend them to anyone who does

Gintotmelinda

Hi all

Does anyone know if you can get coconut essence? I have looked around and can only find vanilla, rum, almond and a couple of others. My daughter who lives abroad is asking me.

Thanks guys.

Gintot

valentina

Gintot
Yes you can http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/COCONUT-FLAVOURING-ESSENCE-28ML-/350442369192?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Food_SM&hash=item5197fe30a8#ht_1169wt_907

Gintotmelinda

Wow impressively quick!

Thanks Valentina

We are going out to visit her Tuesday so I probably won't get it in time. I will buy some and send it to her though.

Thanks again for the link.

gintot

kezlou

hi annie56! Glad to see your back. Aw everything sounds like bliss where you are with monthy and little one. Hope the bump's sickness calms down.

I think right now, there is no one place to do a big monthly shop in. I know tried all three and failed miserably. I normally shop at sainsbugs as for me, regarding ingredients its cheaper than anywhere else.

At the moment te$co and a$da are selling bread flour for 50p. So thats one of the main reasons i went there. But then i think a$da is ridiculously expensive especially if you want fresh food and not frozen carp. But thats just me.

Been out all day today, started doing a bit of volunteering which was good. REally enjoyed it, more on Thursday, but i have to retake an exam after i mucked it off.

THe laptop decide to break arghhh so using coddy's pc at the mo.

Oh and decided splurge out on a blueberry plant and two strawberry plants out of poundland. So will let you know how they get along.

Its freezing here, another hard frost, think its killing the rhubarb, only just out the heating so the house warms up for the boys coming in at four. Its so cold brrrrr Yesterday i found on the inside of the bathroom window :eek:.

Think i'm getting the hot water bottles out again.