January 2012 Grocery Challenge

JillD_2

Yay NSD for me
Had planned spag bol for tea but as I am fasting for medical reasons I decided to do pizza for everyone instead as that blows my diet, so actually quite good for me to not have it. BM dough, 1/2 jar pasta saice left in fridge, and half peppers lying round the fridge.
Pudding was cookies that we bought to go in a posh biscuit barrel for some friends for Christmas, but have realised we wont see them any time soon so we can eat the biccies instead, is that really bad

Just realised friend coming to do our hair tomorrow and I forgot to get cash out to pay her. Bah

kerri_dfw

stardrops42 wrote: »

Hi everyone

Decided to sit down last night and really look at how much we've been spending on food over the last year. Turns out we were spending approx £500 a month for 3 of us:eek::eek: I can't believe it:eek:
I'm so glad I joined this thread, it has really made me think about how much we're wasting:mad:

I've just totted mine and come to over £300 a month for just me on my own.

£1.39 spent on bread + rolls this evening, reduced end of day in Mr W.

lisakay_2

well i didn't quite manage the nsd that i anticipated. i was hoping to go from tues until sun, but really wanted to take advantage of the mr s fairy offer, so i dashed in there yesterday and bought 2 boxes for me and one for mum (that she's paid me for), but i also had some nectar points, more than i though in fact, so the 2 boxes cost me the grand total of £2.50:D.

only leaving the house tomorrow to go to the lotty to see if my shed is still standing after all the wind.

sunday is my weekly shop and only have a small list (for me;), probably still quite long compared to some). seem to be under budget so far, but time will tell!

hope everyone is healthy and happy as i dont get much time to keep up with everyone xx

[Deleted User]

Well spent £6.29 more, so added to sig. Thought I would add my first ever recipe, not one i have done myself, but got from Nigella. I must add that Nigella uses nothing but the finest, organic, etc. but this is the cheapie MSE friendly version, feel free to upgrade if you wish.

Digestives - Tesco value x 1/2 pack 25p
2 x value cream cheese £1.00p
Value lemon curd 22p
Butter ????

Ok, so you mix the digestives and butter (sorry don't know how much) together to form a base, this is either done by hand by melting the butter and adding to digestives, or in a food processer by adding solid butter, then line a dish, pressing the crumbs into place, put into fridge for a while to set somewhat. you then mix together the lemon curd and cream cheese and layer on top of the digestive base. At this stage, you may leave plain, or cover, if you so wish with fruits, etc, maybe meringue, or banana, Nigella did fruits, but let your mind go wild. I am gonna do this this next week when i get the ingredients.

Meadows

stardrops42 wrote: »

Hi everyone Decided to sit down last night and really look at how much we've been spending on food over the last year. Turns out we were spending approx £500 a month for 3 of us:eek::eek: I can't believe it:eek: I'm so glad I joined this thread, it has really made me think about how much we're wasting:mad:

Not too sure what mine is I allocate £500 but never actually check what I spend, I think some months are under and some over (but can honestly say no food is ever wasted). There was three adults but now just the two of us.
My biggest problem is to ignore an offer or bargain as my freezers are nearly always fit to burst yet that meat I see can not be passed over as it is too good and offer.
Also I have non perishable groceries everywhere (some times hard to keep track of again too good an offer to pass on).

I really should use up what is in my freezers I have stuff to last me months, can some one please put up the 'Police Do Not Cross' tape around the section of the shop I really do not need to look at so I only get that bottle of milk I went for and not six bags of shopping and why oh why did my Post Office have to move into my local co-op.... went to post something yesterday and came back with 4 things!

mumsiemum

Meadows wrote: »

Not too sure what mine is I allocate £500 but never actually check what I spend, I think some months are under and some over (but can honestly say no food is ever wasted). There was three adults but now just the two of us.
My biggest problem is to ignore an offer or bargain as my freezers are nearly always fit to burst yet that meat I see can not be passed over as it is too good and offer.
Also I have non perishable groceries everywhere (some times hard to keep track of again too good an offer to pass on).

I really should use up what is in my freezers I have stuff to last me months, can some one please put up the 'Police Do Not Cross' tape around the section of the shop I really do not need to look at so I only get that bottle of milk I went for and not six bags of shopping and why oh why did my Post Office have to move into my local co-op.... went to post something yesterday and came back with 4 things!

Love it! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

rising_from_the_ashes

minipenny wrote: »

A quick supermarket question - we shop at Mr t on my theory that as we get cc points its cheaper as I use the cc points to buy things when the statements come through right? are you following me ?(I've probably lost half of you there haven't I lol!) is it much cheaper in say Icel@nd and @ldi? or is my theory correct that we get a bigger discount as will use the points? god I'm not sure that made any sense :rotfl:

Agree with the others ...... I get a few bits at Mr T if I'm in the town where it is (limited choice of sm here and large distances between them).

Generally, I've found their "everyday" prices very high when compared to others (eg Ariel Gel = £8.17 and it's only £6.79 at Mr A! etc) but their offers are often good so I will buy / stock up on those things.

If you've alternatives nearby (Al*di, Li*dl, Farm*Froods, Home Bar*gains etc) then certainly worth a look as their prices are a lot cheaper for many staples / toiletries etc.

It's a 50+ mile round trip for me to go to Home Bar*gains (about £6.40 in fuel) but, even so, going every couple of months to stock up is still worthwhile .....Tilda Rice @ 99. (£4+ @ Mr T so £3+ saved per bag), Toilet Rolls @ £2.99 for 18 (lots more @ Mr T or Mr A), Cat Litter @ £1.29 / 5 lites - I save enough on the cat litter to cover the cost of the fuel so everything else is a bonus! HTH

Meadows wrote: »

My biggest problem is to ignore an offer or bargain as my freezers are nearly always fit to burst yet that meat I see can not be passed over as it is too good and offer.

My problem too ...... I've 5 blocks of mince in the freezer and still nearly put some more in the trolley last week as it was on a 3 for £10 offer - thankfully managed to talk myself out of it that time but .....:)

Meadows

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

My problem too ...... I've 5 blocks of mince in the freezer and still nearly put some more in the trolley last week as it was on a 3 for £10 offer - thankfully managed to talk myself out of it that time but .....:)

See ..... the voices in your head are not always a bad thing :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

cheekychipmunk

DH has come home with a ham knuckle from the deli counter at work (didn't realise they sell them cheap to customers when the meat has all been sliced off!). Was thinking of making some soup - any suggestions from the ever so resourceful people on this thread?

Meadows

cheekychipmunk wrote: »

DH has come home with a ham knuckle from the deli counter at work (didn't realise they sell them cheap to customers when the meat has all been sliced off!). Was thinking of making some soup - any suggestions from the ever so resourceful people on this thread?

Depending on how much is on the bone and if at all salty then go with the soup or use the meat to add to a pasta sauce or a macaroni cheese and ham bake, maybe a frittata.
Layered in amongst the potatoes in a gratin, in a bean salad, as a filing for tortillas.