Grocery Challenge - February 2012

raphanius

not been around for a few days so i've been catching up on the thread. a few small bits to add to my total such as bread and milk. £11.45 to add

Living_proof

Just a small shop for me this week and mainly fruit and veg. It's frustrating buying for one as the savings benefits are designed for couples and families. I have changed back to buying Hovis wholemeal instead of making my own as I can freeze it into five portions, each for two days and is less hassle than cutting up and freezing home made stuff.

I did start buying a 2 pint bottle of ss milk but the bottle twice the size is only 21p more expensive so I have resolved to buy the big one and freeze half for the next week or whenever I want to make yogurt, etc. Bought a couple of reduced price chilli chicken bits in M$S and had some last night. Quite nice but wouldn't be worth the £2.95 normal cost. I have a friend for a meal tonight so should be able to chip away at some of the freezer contents. Meanwhile, I think the £140 for everything budget is totally unchallenging but I'll leave it another month or so before making an adjustment as this is a very short month.

Disdisbiff

Went shopping last night and got some fantastic whoopsies at my local MrT. I managed to get nearly £50 worth of meat and fish for £2.60 i couldn't believe my luck.
I got
4 packs 500g mini chicken fillets @ 20p each
4 packs 600g chicken thighs @ 20p each
1 500g pack turkey mince @20p
2 500g packs lamb mince @ 20p each
2 X 4 pack salmon fillets @20p each

My freezer is now well stocked with meat and fish so should be a lower grocery budget next moth.
Biff

Ninno820

Disdisbiff wrote: »

Went shopping last night and got some fantastic whoopsies at my local MrT. I managed to get nearly £50 worth of meat and fish for £2.60 i couldn't believe my luck.
I got
4 packs 500g mini chicken fillets @ 20p each
4 packs 600g chicken thighs @ 20p each
1 500g pack turkey mince @20p
2 500g packs lamb mince @ 20p each
2 X 4 pack salmon fillets @20p each

My freezer is now well stocked with meat and fish so should be a lower grocery budget next moth.
Biff

Wow - its times like this that I really regret living so far away from a supermarket!

Just popping on to report my virtuousity - is that a word? I bought a ys ham hock for £1.50 mid week and cooked it in the slow cooker. Today I have made a broth with onion, potatoe, swede and carrots plus stock from the bones. There was enough hame to add to the soup and to keep for a pasta bake. That's two evening meals and a week of school lunches for £1.50 plus veg that I already had in. The swede had been lurking in the fridge since being used a fortnight ago!

cleggie

Disdisbiff wrote: »

Went shopping last night and got some fantastic whoopsies at my local MrT. I managed to get nearly £50 worth of meat and fish for £2.60 i couldn't believe my luck.
I got
4 packs 500g mini chicken fillets @ 20p each
4 packs 600g chicken thighs @ 20p each
1 500g pack turkey mince @20p
2 500g packs lamb mince @ 20p each
2 X 4 pack salmon fillets @20p each

My freezer is now well stocked with meat and fish so should be a lower grocery budget next moth.
Biff

Wow, thats a great price!! What time did you go in?

Disdisbiff

I went at about 6.30 pm

scotmumof3

mh2361 wrote: »

I'm addicted to it too. At least now getting the big bottles and not 2 of the 500ml every day (£14 a week ----eek):eek:

It's really hard to quit but I'm trying:o I was buying 2 of the 500mls at work EVERY day and also drinking it at home in the evening so I was spending over £20 a week just on cola. I've managed to cut it down to none at work and maybe 2 bottles at home for the week. I don't like coffee and only drink tea occasionally but it's tough:mad:

cleggie

i am going to have to start shopping later in the day i think, lol!

Disdisbiff

Its a new MrT has only been open since Thursday it wasn't only meat and fish bargains i got but loads of fruit and veg for 4 or 5p each or per bag/punnet.

123budget

tigerfeet2006 wrote: »

How big are your dinner plates? Mine had a fatal accident, was just lifting them out of the cupboard to clean and reorganise it and I dropped them! Oh! dear how clumsy of me! New ones from Wilko's are smaller? No they are not, they're the same size, you're imagining it!

I also box up left overs straight away and bung them in the fridge and they are put in the freezer as soon as I go through to wash up if they need to go.

Could you do a pudding for afters? Needn't be high fat or sugar. Do stuff with more veggies, fill him up on those. Do some baking so there is a couple of cupcakes available, rest in the freezer and just take a couple out to defrost ready for him.

Tried with the veg - just leaves it on the plate - but can hide it in chillies etc. I tend to do puddings just on a Sunday, but again he's not happy unless its a cake or pie with custard - he's not much of a fruit person except perhaps bananas and strawberries.

He does LOVE my baking and I have to be quick - sometimes cakes don't have time to cool down before they have disappeared!

Ninno820 wrote: »

Is he up for a virtual challenge - I need to start afresh and am taking the advice re portion sizes.
- its a lovely day and I need to blow some cobwebs away and just go for a walk. Oh - and tidy the house before returning towork tomorrow after a yummy half term!

Take care everyone xx

Think I will go with the smaller plates and see how it goes. He works shifts so one week earlies and one week lates whatever I suggest he has a reason why it won't work for him - thats why he never sticks to it - he has all the excuses at the ready - ultimately it has to be down to him - how much does he want it - Then I will do all I can to help.

Will try and make more veggie meals for him to take to work when on lates.
If I make a veggie soup though he will eat 3/4 slices of bread and butter with it. I do suggest leaving off the butter but he is soooo stubborn and thinks he knows it all!!

Chicken in SC now, sheets on line, just going to hoover hall and stairs - back to work for me too tomorrow.:(