April 2011 Grocery Challenge

espresso21

I don't know about the others but my target amount includes cleaning products and toiletries (except for my facial cleanser and moisturiser).

quintwins

Brassic wrote: »

Hello all,

I haven't posted for a *long* time, but am really struggling again with my monthly shop for my family of 5. We've recently moved to a bigger house so all the bills have gone up, so I really can't afford to be spending well over 500 quid on our groceries any more :eek:

Please could I join in May's challenge with a target of 500, which I'd like to slowly reduce to 400 over the next few months. I include toiletries, cleaning products and wine in this budget, does everyone else?

Thanks,
Brassic

mine includes everything i'd usually buy in a supermarket so yes it includes smellies cleaning stuff and drink, it also includes the money i pay to the nursery for snacks so that i won't just jump up come summer

quintwins

espresso21 wrote: »

Sorry I'm an idiot - I just re-read your post and saw that you said to freeze them before cooking! Duh!

:rotfl::rotfl: my kids like tatie cakes cause they make great finger food, you would need to freeze them on a tray tho so they don't stick together or fall apart

another idea would be to add the bacon, onion and some cheese and make a tatie pie (just mushed into a casarole or pie dish or in my case a loaf pan) u could so both if u had loads

Mothership

Hippeechiq wrote: »

h - and because I want the plant containers to have handles- I've decided I'll probably go for these

They're wine carriers. They have material sewn in to accommodate 6 bottles of wine (which is easy enough to snip out) and they measure 26.5cmW (10½") 31.5cmH (12½") by 15cmD (6") and cost something like (I can't find the link now) 42p each - bargain!

Could I plant two plants to a bag do you think? Or will it need to be one bag each?

I bought some water retaining gel crystals on Saturday to add to the compost when I put the plants outside in the bags, as I'm on a water meter and I understand veggies need a lot of water, and a load of 5" pots to plant the 12 plug plants into that I've already received. I had a bag of compost from last year so they're all currently on my south facing bedroom windowsill. 6 Sweet & Neat Cherry Tomato Plants & 6 Standard Shirley tomato plants.

I'm buying this for my compost http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=110&storeId=10151&partNumber=031324&Trail=searchtext%3EGROW+BAGS (as it has very good reviews) and adding it to my bags. I need some tomato plant feed presumably - will that do for all the veggie plants?

I've got a bamboo type plant that grows in my garden that I can prune to provide me with canes for support. Anything else?

Your definitely on the right track, the soil in those grow bags is excellent. 1 plant per bag , the tomato plants can get quite big. Tomato food will feed all the plants you've got. Make sure the bamboo is well dried before you use it cut some strong shoots now.
I was going to send you some water retaining gel lol. I buy it at the end of the season when its cheap You can use bath water etc to water your plants + tea, coffee, I put spent tea bags on top of the pots sometimes, the plants love it.
A little washing up liquid in a spray gun is a good bug spray, crushed egg shells around the plants will help protect from slugs and snails.
If you already have a garden you have nothing to worry about, you will grow your vegetables with no problem. How clever of your wonderful father to find a way to help you.

I'm away to make my speedy curry, I've had a lazy month lol, well I was unwell a few times, so I will have to try harder in May. I CANT believe how little I've spent, its so unlike me, I'M CURED LOL!

GroinSexyPavement

No spend Easter weekend

Baileys_Babe

Brassic wrote: »

I include toiletries, cleaning products and wine in this budget, does everyone else?

We include:

• food
• alcohol
• toiletries
• household stuff like foil etc
• cleaning products
• prescriptions
• over the counter medicines
• take out
• meals out

Widelats

ok, for a week i will buy:

1 box of 28 weetabix (2 week worth) £3 approx
cleaning stuff £3 approx
7 tins tuna £3.50
3 bags chicken breast strips £6
7 baking potatos £2
3 tubs VFF cottage cheese and pineapple £3.50
1kg basmati rice £1.30
dried skim milk £2 approx
2 loaves multigrain bread £2
3 jars healthy cooking sauce, usually mexican or chinese £4
toiletries £2 (bog roll, bin bags)

around £33 per week, no junk food ingredients at all.

quintwins

thats alot of tuna, is that all for this week or is it on offer? just alot of tuna is bad for u, also we use value wheatbix it's just as nice just alittle more compacted and smaller it's 75p a box so might be worth trying it



does anyone have a recipe for stilton and brocolli soup? i checked the index but couldn't see it i have a brocolli here that could do with being used (was only 11p) so thought i'd make some soup and maybe use some of it as a pasta bake aswell

Widelats

quintwins wrote: »

thats alot of tuna, is that all for this week or is it on offer? just alot of tuna is bad for u, also we use value wheatbix it's just as nice just alittle more compacted and smaller it's 75p a box so might be worth trying it



does anyone have a recipe for stilton and brocolli soup? i checked the index but couldn't see it i have a brocolli here that could do with being used (was only 11p) so thought i'd make some soup and maybe use some of it as a pasta bake aswell

Thanks for the tips, i mix 1 tin of tuna with some cottage cheese and have a baked potato. I know the cheaper weetabix you mean and i did look at them, however, the sugar and sodium levels were above proper weetabix, sometimes i just buy some fruit muesli and milk instead of weetabix, but again it is natural 100% organic ingredients, no added salt or sugar or anything else.

Can't help with your soup request - sorry.

Mrs_Money_Penny

Hi All just updated signature by another £43.04 so well over this month. Not easy with the long breakand half term. Enjoy the rest of the break.