April 2012 Grocery Challenge

PennyGrabber

Aldahbra wrote: »

Just a thought, but do you think that your parents praise all there children to the others when they are not there. Maybe they have always talked you up in your absence and you just never knew, you only ever hearing the positive things about your siblings.

I try and tell myself this, but I'm not sure... I always was the black sheep of the family, even though they did way worse things than me! I'm over it now, and just laugh at her small-mindedness, rather than feel bad for myself.

Coxy11 wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I haven't posted for about 2 weeks but I have been reading along and keeping track of my spends.

DH started a new job this morning after being off since September so the house is feeling very quiet. Does mean that I can eat more cheaply during the day tho' now there's only me here. I'm happy with lo bits and bobs, whereas he wants something more substantial.

I will be over budget this month (month ends on 30th April) but I'm hoping not by too much. Visiting my Mum on Thursday and will be going to her A!di for some bits plus a water butt for Mum (she doesn't drive so will pick this up for her).

Well done everyone for this month. I always find it harder when the school holidays are here - kids eating me out of house and home lol.

Hope DH got on ok in his new job. I find it much cheaper to feed just myself, as like you said, any old lo will do! I find the hols more expensive too, not because they eat more, but because i have more time to go shopping!!

freakyogre wrote: »

My freezer emptying mission is going well...I may be able to defrost it at long last!

I don't think I'm ever going to be able to defrost mine! Even when I don't buy more stuff, it gets fuller! I'm sure the stuff is breeding in there. Although, that would be a goldmine - a self-filling freezer! I don't remember the last time i bought anything frozen, and the door wouldn't shut this weekend!

Had a good birthday today. Turned 21 (again!). DD organised some really special stuff for me, esp considering she's only 7! Ex dh doesn't bother with doing anything for me, so we do it together - I give dd and ds the money, and take them to a shop, then I walk around with them, pretending not to look, while telling them what I like! For this birthdya, I took them to b and q, and showed them five houseplants i like. They were on 3 for 2, so told dd to choose any three she wanted from that selection. My mum was here, so she helped, and then the children presented them to me this morning! Also, dd had decorated a cake for me, which I had made (!). A lovely day, made so special by my lovely children.

nsd, kind of, as I went out for a meal, but that was for my birthday so doesn't count. Pay day today, but still going on April until the end of the month. Already paid bills money into the bills account, and child benefit comes tomorrow, so i can then pay childcare. Other bits coming in in a few days, then can fill up the various purses and jars.

Night all,

PG x

JIL

adysmum wrote: »

Well I've been reading but not posting the last couple of months but have been keeping to my budget of £75 a week. Have rejoined SW too, and have replaced buying the sweeties with buying even more fruit and veg!

I need help tho? I got a beef brisket today for £3.46 for a 1.5 kg. Can anyone suggest what to do with it? I'm not a big beef lover so I rarely buy it, but Hubby loves beef so thought I'd try with it being such a bargain. Help!!!!

Off to read the last couple of pages now, thanks everyone xx

I cook my beef brisket slowly in the oven or in the slow cooker covered in either wine and beef stock or a can of ale.
I dont eat meat but husband loves it.
I then slice up the brisket joint and leave a few bits out for sandwiches, and the rest i divide into one portion dishes and cover with the remaining liquid and freeze until needed.

Beef brisket makes a good stew when cubed as well, I remember beef broth soup from Heinzz years ago when it had barley in it.

depends what you want from it but as its a tough meat it will need long slow cooking in a liquid.
The americans love it they do a new England boiled beef dish
http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/new_england_boiled_dinner/

JIL

Florenceem wrote: »

I use a muffin recipe I got years ago out of a newspaper.
10 oz plain flour.
4 level tsps baking powder.
2 ozs baking margarine.
2 ozs sugar.
2 eggs.
approx 8 fl ozs milk.
flavouring of choice.

If you use paper cases - adds to cost. I often make lemon muffins - save the half squeezed lemon I used for a fish dinner. Use the rest of the juice and grate the rind.
Make chocolate chip muffins for DGC - grate own brand chocolate - cheaper than buying chocolate chip packets.
Makes 12 muffins so approx - 6p each.

Worked out that my breakfast - a muffin between Mr F and I plus custard costs 50p a day.
You honestly only need half a muffin each.

Thank you so much for your replies.

I often make muffins to take to work as I am not keen on breakfast (dont really eat until I have been up a couple of hours)

I usually make walnut or sultana and banana.

I have made muffins (more like cakes) around this recipe, it may be good if you have left over custard?

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/10500/rhubarb-and-custard-cake

jumblejack

Just updated my signature and I have to how my head in shame

My month isn't even over yet....

Suffolk_lass

We will keep going until 30th with April but please put me down for £400 again for May. Thanks Helen.

valerie57

JIL wrote: »

I cook my beef brisket slowly in the oven or in the slow cooker covered in either wine and beef stock or a can of ale.
I dont eat meat but husband loves it.
I then slice up the brisket joint and leave a few bits out for sandwiches, and the rest i divide into one portion dishes and cover with the remaining liquid and freeze until needed.

Beef brisket makes a good stew when cubed as well, I remember beef broth soup from Heinzz years ago when it had barley in it.

depends what you want from it but as its a tough meat it will need long slow cooking in a liquid.
The americans love it they do a new England boiled beef dish
http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/new_england_boiled_dinner/

We always do this with brisket. It is absolutely gorgeous every time. Delicious gravy and leftovers.

http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/main-ingredient/meat/beef/english-pot-roast.html

NickJW

jumblejack wrote: »

Just updated my signature and I have to how my head in shame

My month isn't even over yet....

I wouldn't worry...from what I've read, you've been helping your parents a lot which is a lovely thing to do, but obviously has added extra to your budget. You're still doing amazingly well I think :T

NSD for me today - had leftovers from Saturday (lamb chops, veg and beans) for lunch and a lazy pasta Puttanesca for dinner. It's Monday - I need it easy

Florenceem

Shopping day today - confession time - I have a sweet tooth - don't smoke, drink alcohol or gamble but I love sweeties! So Mr F got some liquorice and nougat in 99p shop plus milk. Then I popped to As.. - had to buy custard powder, some fruit and veg, sultanas, cheese and cheese spread. So a huge total spend of £19.73! We have no intention of spending any more money this week.
We had HM egg/cheese/tomato quiche with HM chilli wedges and roast vegetables - onions, mushroom and tomatoes for dinner. This was out of the freezer - gone a bit soggy this time but warmed/firmed up in oven and tasty still.

MrsCD

Florenceem, you are such an inspiration! I've just written custard powder on my shopping list for tomorrow

NSD today as far as groceries go, but we had to take the dvd for repairs and had to leave £30 deposit :eek:
On the other hand, I did an online quote for our breakdown cover for the car and it was £27 cheaper than the renewal quote, so I rang them up, they checked the details were the same, and I got the cheaper quote :T

Florenceem

JIL asked what I have for breakfast and lunch - already answered the brekkie question.
Lunch - I have been sitting with pen and paper - lunch costs an average of 45p a day for Mr F and I together.
Just some example lunches - Beans on toast - Branston beans - 25p a tin - spiced up with some freshly ground black pepper and a dash of peri peri sauce. I make my own bread - get 13 slices from a loaf that costs me approx 36 p to make - sunflower loaf. Some spread on the toast - lovely hot quick and cheap lunch - plus beans count as 1 of the 5 a day.
Cheese on Toast with a slice of tomato.
Boiled free range duck egg with bread/toast - we get 6 duck eggs for £1 - just gone up from 75p. We know a friendly small holder.
HM wedges with toast/bread.
Cooler days lunches - cheese
spread/cheese/water biscuits/crackers with HM pickled onions.
Salad with hard boiled egg.
Sure you get the jist of a nourishing economical lunch now. Depends what we have - leftovers - could be a chicken drumstick/beans.