March 2012 Grocery Challenge

Cool_Nanna

Things aren't going to plan here. I have been hospital visiting since Saturday and it looks like it could be a long haul, it is an hours drive away so all my budgets are going to the wall. I have been so tired we have had a couple of take aways this week and the extra petrol is going to mount up.

I decided today to try and get back into the swing of things, when I went to the hospital I took a hot drink in a thermos cup with me instead of popping into the hospital coffee shop and I took something out of the freezer this morning that turned out to be a pork casserole so we have just had that. I have prepared tomorrows meal and put it in the fridge ready to go in the slow cooker tomorrow.

I can't make enough of twinks hobnobs, they are going down a storm so I must find time to make another batch.

kezlou

Thanks for starting up the thread again.

Last month was qute expensive as it was a few birthday including my youngest one's. Ended up also paying for shopping for my shopping whilst being skint.

But we managed to come under budget but not by much.

So please could you put us down for £200 again for March.

Thanks

Good luck all!

XSpender

I had a bit of a splurge at Mr S tonight on beer and wine, pizza and some burgers and buns for DH. Also got a celeriac for the veg casserole I make and some english mustard.

The wine and pizza were to cheer me up after finding out from some test results today that I might have coeliacs disease. I can't even spell it! I am a bit shocked and upset but it would explain a lot of things. Just got to go for the hospital tests and take it from there.:eek:

Oh my, what on earth will that do to my budget? I always wanted to eat a whole food diet with no processed food but I don't because of time constraints. Looks like I might not have much of a choice:(

valerie57

JIL wrote: »

I think you need to part bake them, but I could be wrong.

I did find a whole thread on potato wedges though
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/47620

hope its some help

abitofhelp wrote: »

try and make the space to freeze them individually on a baking sheet first before you bag them up ( i might be speaking to the converted all ready), as long as they are not too thick i have had success cooking them from frozen.

Brilliant thanks. I will partly roast them before freezing them individually before bagging them up and then cook from frozen. Don't think they will last long in the freezer!

PennyGrabber

Ninno820 wrote: »

Another NSD here at Ninno's tower. I have just found out ha I have two guests staying tomorrow night - normally this would have resulted in panic buying in Mr T's and buying enough for a month instaed of one night. Instead I'm thinking about stretching my meal plan and the ingredients in the store cupboard for twink's hobnobs - sorted!

Well done - I always used to overbuy, then be cross with myself after people had left, as I'd hide the stuff in the cupboards and forget to get it out!!!:rotfl:

valerie57 wrote: »

According to Good H***keeping you can dilute full fat coconut milk with the same quantity of stock or water and use it in the same way as the reduced fat. Any left over can be frozen. So, a double bargain for you.

Nice! Thanks for that.

XSpender wrote: »

The wine and pizza were to cheer me up after finding out from some test results today that I might have coeliacs disease. I can't even spell it! I am a bit shocked and upset but it would explain a lot of things. Just got to go for the hospital tests and take it from there.:eek:

Oh my, what on earth will that do to my budget? I always wanted to eat a whole food diet with no processed food but I don't because of time constraints. Looks like I might not have much of a choice:(

Oh, I'm sorry. But, think about it in a positive way - at least you will get to do what you always wanted but never had time for!! And, I guess you'll feel better once you've cut out the foods that aggravate it? Sending hugs. :grouphug:

I took delivery of my a$da shop this evening, one substitution, I ordered a$da condensed milk, and was given carnation at 44p more expensive. Ha ha, I took 44p from a$da!!!

I'm really impressed with the fact that I could fit the frozen stuff into my freezer. I didn't order much, just sausage rolls, sausages, pizzas, but I didn't think they would fit in.:j

Children went to the harvester for dinner with their dad today (they seem to go regularly - perhaps he should be giving me more money instead? That's a whole other story!!!), but they said they were starving when they came home?! Never mind, they'll be well fed tomorrow. Bacon sandwiches for breakfast, birthday packup for lunch, and fish and chips for dinner. BTW, birthday packup is where they get to choose what goes in their lunchbox, so they can choose all carp if they want! So far, they've always chosen a mix of stuff. I figure two days per year isn't going to kill them, and they feel like they're having a real treat!!

I'm munching away on some more of my curry as I type; just one more portion left, which I'll have on Friday. Not sure what the children are having yet. Hmm, I'm off for a think!

Night all,

PG x

wannabee_in_credit

Just popping on to say thanks for including me. I'm so busy that life is going to fast for me to keep up with at the moment. But although I'm not posting much, I am keeping up. Managed to come in under budget for February so this thread is definitely helping me.

Twiceblessed

Please could i be put down for £190 for March. Fingers crossed i can resist the temptation to buy junk!

tigerfeet2006

XSpender wrote: »

I had a bit of a splurge at Mr S tonight on beer and wine, pizza and some burgers and buns for DH. Also got a celeriac for the veg casserole I make and some english mustard.

The wine and pizza were to cheer me up after finding out from some test results today that I might have coeliacs disease. I can't even spell it! I am a bit shocked and upset but it would explain a lot of things. Just got to go for the hospital tests and take it from there.:eek:

Oh my, what on earth will that do to my budget? I always wanted to eat a whole food diet with no processed food but I don't because of time constraints. Looks like I might not have much of a choice:(

You will get a certain amount on prescription. The pasta though seems to be white and the script stuff that we have had has been stodgy. The Free From stuff seems to be ok though. My kids like Genius Seeded bread and Warburtons white as well, Genius is on script don't know if WB is yet. I have a Panny breadmaker which has a gluten setting on it and bake various types of bread. Haven't been able to make a nice 'ordinary' loaf as yet.

Doves Farm flour is brilliant and has been a life saver. Going out can be a bit of a pain but you soon get to learn what is ok and what is not and to get waiting staff to check things with the kitchen. Most big chains of restaurants and takeaways have a list of all meals and what they contain.

Just about everything I cook is GF and I find as time goes on it gets easier to adapt things, it soon becomes second nature you will find.

LavenderBees

Evening All,

shattered after a hard couple of days at work and been shopping tonight. As I need to fill the car up later next week, I wanted to take advantage of Mr M's offer for 15p off litre of diesel if spent £60...well, I splurged and filled my cupboards, bought enough cat litter, milk and that kind of thing to last a good month or more, and ended up spending £70...
:eek::eek:

It's a while since I spent more than £20 a week. :eek: The good point (sez she grasping at straws...) is that I really shouldn't need anything but tbags for work (Mr A's own are great & cheapest at 60p for 20), and maybe some fresh veges in a couple of week's time. I don't intend to go shopping at all next weekend...no, really, I don't....stop laughing! What d'yer mean, you know what I'm like?:rotfl:

So, I have the grand total of around £16 to last until 24th March...3 weeks :T

It's too late for me to start reading the thread tonight but tomorrow I intend to read every last word, so please type s-l-o-w-l-y for me.:D

Happy March to you all.

LB xx

P.S. This is also the first time in 2 months I haven't been to L1dl before Mr M's and I really noticed a difference in the bill (for the worse), despite choosing lots of Mr M's savers. I know where I'll be going in future before finishing off at Mr M's :money:

scotmumof3

Cool_Nanna wrote: »

Things aren't going to plan here. I have been hospital visiting since Saturday and it looks like it could be a long haul, it is an hours drive away so all my budgets are going to the wall. I have been so tired we have had a couple of take aways this week and the extra petrol is going to mount up.

I decided today to try and get back into the swing of things, when I went to the hospital I took a hot drink in a thermos cup with me instead of popping into the hospital coffee shop and I took something out of the freezer this morning that turned out to be a pork casserole so we have just had that. I have prepared tomorrows meal and put it in the fridge ready to go in the slow cooker tomorrow.

I can't make enough of twinks hobnobs, they are going down a storm so I must find time to make another batch.

Hope everything is ok for you. My FIL is in hospital and it looks like he'll be there for quite some time and I couldn't believe the prices they charge just for a bottle of water. We are in the same boat with hospital being in Glasgow which is a good 40 minute drive for us so fuel costs have gone up too. I find the visiting times quite awkward as it starts at dinner time but we've managed to get away with only one take away so far . I think preparation is the key for me, knowing in advance what I'm going to cook and how long it will take.