September 2011 Grocery Challenge

Winged_one

Between small spends over the past week and a "few bits and pieces" to see me through yesterday, I have ended up spending €107 already. And I need to get bread, milk, potatoes and lettuce tomorrow or wednesday. But OH and I intend going to Sains for a BIG stores shop on Friday, so that's why my budget is so large this month, that I will get things that will last me til Christmas or longer. And apart from fresh stuff, I should avoid the SM for the rest of the month too.

Bit of a disaster tonight though, as I had the shepherd's pie in the oven on the timer, but someone else turned off the timer by accident and burnt it to a crisp - luckily they spotted it before they left the house, but my nice hot, comforting dinner was not ready when I came in from the miserable weather and a very bad Monday at work. So the chicken goujons I got for the freezer got used up instead, with the last 3 potato croquettes for me and 2 potato waffles for DD, and some frozen peas.

I don't think though, that the annual budget is going to last all the way this year - things seem to be creeping up all the time. Oh, and the extra adult in the house is noticable, and the fact that OH is away a fair bit means I am comfort eating more than I should. But I need to think about things again.

MummyEm

poppy-glos wrote: »

hi, what i do is cut down each side to remove the 'string' then slice into strips and blanch for two mins, then refresh in cold cold running water until cold then bag and freeze. Another friend of mine has a rule she doesn't destring if she can snap the pod in half without the string showing itself

Thanks Poppy Glos. I think I will give some a go tonight and see how I get on. Do they stick together if you freeze them bagged up or can you take out a handful at a time like you would frozen peas for example?

Update on the bread and butter pudding - out of the oven and is smelling lovely. Think that's my supper treat sorted for later this evening.

Also have a load of apples stewing away as we speak. DS and DD had fun knocking them off the lowest branches of all 3 apple trees this weekend then bringing them in with their little buckets! They've been sat on a plate in the corner of the kitchen making me feel guilty about not doing anything with them so stewed apples for kids porridge in the morning as a reward for their hard work.

I don't think I've ever done this much in one evening before to not waste any food!! Feeling very :A Mind you, the ironing pile isn't getting any smaller!!!

FoxFace

Well, it looks like I won't be going shopping until maybe Sunday now, which will be good because then I can get to Mr T's for the super markdowns before Sunday closing :rotfl:

My nan, upon hearing about my desire to cut back on shopping and cut waste, has brought me a load of veg, eggs and some chicken. I tried to tell her I didn't want to accept it because she can make use of it, but she insisted and wouldn't take no for an answer

I have decided to compromise, make a couple of chicken & veg pies and donate one to her, also I will make a large quiche with the eggs and half this with her... I have told her she must accept them

emmad5689

95p on mushrooms today which means not a NSD but my mam was going to the shop and i need them later in the week so made more sense for her to get me them then me spend on things I don't need, also added the £7.80 for Sophies dinner money for school tomoro. Got a delivery coming thursday with main food for month - I hope!!

MummyEm

bread and butter pudding is yummy :j

debbiedeejay

Dropped into Mr mozzies on way to collect DD3 from her club.

Bought cheese,quorn nuggets,veggi beef slices and because I was going to be on my own for tea:( "treated" myself to a micro shepherds pie and wait for it ....................one of my fav things and only me likes them

a tin sliced green beans!

Yes I do love fresh beans etc etc but I just love the tin ones - reminds me of camping when I was a kid as my Mum never bought tinned veg as a rule or tinned meals - only when we were on holiday!

I used to think baked beans and tinned macaroni were luxe until I was about 10 years old!:rotfl:

Anyway it came to £6.04.

Off to update now.

69chick

NSD today, have again had several different dinners, pasta for the girls, curry for ds and dh (which they were meant to have on Saturday) and vegi chilli with a jacket potato for me... so many people tell me they manage to cook one meal for the whole family every day but I seem to be cooking at least 3 different meals a day lately! I need to work on that..

Think I need to add a few pennies to the total, need to get the receipts out but not much so far....hoping to get to Friday with no more spends..

poppy-glos

MummyEm wrote: »

Thanks Poppy Glos. I think I will give some a go tonight and see how I get on. Do they stick together if you freeze them bagged up or can you take out a handful at a time like you would frozen peas for example?

i put a couple of handfuls in a cheap freezer bag, and thats a portion for me and sp for one dinner (get out more if we have guests). they come out in a lump but cook out quickly. guess you could lay them out and freeze on trays then tip into bags, but too time consuming for me...

majjak

Spent £37.49 tonight but got over £140 worth of shopping after reduced items, coupons and b1g1f offers :j :j.

Hubby spent "about £4-something" yesterday but he's lost the receipt :mad: so I'll round it up to £5 and be done with it.

Freezer and cupboards now full so no shopping for at least a week I hope !

choclover

Delivery from Mr A came today, came to a total of 54.84 including delivery which isn't bad as i've filled up the fridge, got loads of nibbles and even got some ready meals for hubby and me to have while I'm at work in the evening (he doesn't cook) and some cupboard stuff like baked beans and gravy granules!