April 2012 Grocery Challenge

PennyGrabber

NSD here today, thank goodness!

Been researching good recipes for bread-type things today, like english muffins, bagels, wraps, crumpets etc. If I can get good at making these, think I'll save myself a few pennies, and I'll be able to decrease recipes, so I only make what we'll actually eat, rather than having to buy a pack of 6 or whatever.

Florenceem, I know we've been talking about pastry a bit already in the last few days, but can you please just confirm for me how you did yours? That pasty looks lovely, and the kind of thing I can use up leftovers in quite nicely. Sounds silly, but I've always got the packet pastry mixes up til now, as I thought it would be hassle, but may be cheaper to make my own? Also, do you use the same exact recipe for your quiches? TIA!

Have a good evening all. I'm just about to put the children to bed, then have a tidy up, prep for tomorrow, then sit down for dinner. I didn't eat with the children today; dd had McD's with a friend (they paid), ds wanted beans on toast, and I shall have something later. I want to make baked bean pasties tonight while I'm doing my dinner, as I have half a tin left now, so that may be the plan!

Night all,

PG x

helen_jelly

Evening everyone

Elsiepac - welcome back - holiday sounds lovely

sallybunny - hi and welcome, don't forget to read post 1 on page 1 - especially the bit that spiggle wrote and ask any questions, there are lots of lovely people on here who will help out

Florenceem - condolences to you and your husband, hope the funeral goesas well as it can x

jarvo28 - OMG, that must really hurt, what a lovely thing your Mum is doing for you, hope it heals nice and quickly and pain free x

cattysmum - well done on not spending the voucher - I nearly always chuck mine away now as they make me spend!!!!

Vouchers/money off coupons - who was asking - sorry!! - check out the forum that gives out details about what vouchers are in the papers, sorry but I can't do links, maybe someone could help out here and post a link?? Also keep reading this thread as details often pop up about offers etc


Budgets noted to here and I'll update late - need to go and get my DS out of the bath before he goes too wrinkly!!

Helen x

Florenceem

PennyGrabber wrote: »

NSD here today, thank goodness!

Been researching good recipes for bread-type things today, like english muffins, bagels, wraps, crumpets etc. If I can get good at making these, think I'll save myself a few pennies, and I'll be able to decrease recipes, so I only make what we'll actually eat, rather than having to buy a pack of 6 or whatever.

Florenceem, I know we've been talking about pastry a bit already in the last few days, but can you please just confirm for me how you did yours? That pasty looks lovely, and the kind of thing I can use up leftovers in quite nicely. Sounds silly, but I've always got the packet pastry mixes up til now, as I thought it would be hassle, but may be cheaper to make my own? Also, do you use the same exact recipe for your quiches? TIA!

Have a good evening all. I'm just about to put the children to bed, then have a tidy up, prep for tomorrow, then sit down for dinner. I didn't eat with the children today; dd had McD's with a friend (they paid), ds wanted beans on toast, and I shall have something later. I want to make baked bean pasties tonight while I'm doing my dinner, as I have half a tin left now, so that may be the plan!

Night all,

PG x

I make shortcrust pastry for pies and quiches. The pasty is made using rough puff pastry.

EverTheOptimist

Evening all

I have been dreadful at posting, although i have sort of kept on top of my spend in my sig. Down to the last £15, but have so much food in the cupboards, we should make it.

We did spend a lot on meals out and some treats over the last two weeks but that didnt come from the GC budget. I was determined we werent going to think too much about money as hubby goes away in Sept for 6 months (and he is only home at weekends as it is) so wanted to enjoy our two weeks off together without thinking too much about the pennies and it was from savings accounts. (didnt have to use credit cards or overdrafts)

I can pull the purse strings in a bit now we are both back at work.

Hope everyone is well.

Hugs to those who have been ill, or who have lost anyone recently or any other ups and downs.

sallybunny

Thanks for the warm welcome to the thread! Everything is going pretty well so far, but had a slip tonight after a rediculously busy day at work. DH picked up pizza and garlic bread as a 'back to work' day treat but the garlic bread was on offer (3for£1) and pizza was c00p so about a £5 spend. Although he's learning, DH still loses the receipts!

Back on track for tomorrow though! Vegetable stroganoff defrosting and bread baking.

Suffolk_lass

NickJW wrote: »

And whilst I am ranting...:p...the Llloyds Grossman green Thai curry sauce, whilst cheap, was so....BLAND! I'll be sticking to cooking it from scratch from now on.

NickJW - I buy the LG curry sauces sometimes (when on offer) but I always cook off two extra cloves of garlic and two small but spicy chillis (I keep them frozen so there is no issue about whether I have any) with the meat before pouring over the sauce - just to ensure it is tasty enough for us. Works for me - as you say, a sauce in a jar saves so much time, and LG are good quality without too many additives.

debbym wrote: »

Just had everything explode on us this week.
My car is in the garage and may not recover (could just get scrap value for a car we bought last year for £8K:mad:), never mind the bill. OH's car just had its MOT. New boiler. Hole in roof which has to be repaired along with repairs to a wall. and I need a new car because we live in a rural area and I can't manage without (can't even get the kids to school).
Luckily I managed to spend yesterday on the phone and persuade at least some of the people to spread the bill (Nigel the plumber is a superstar - he let us spread it over 3 months:T:T) and we also have savings but this will wipe them out and then some. Never had bills for £20K in one month before:eek::eek::
However it does mean that the GC has rather gone out the window and I now want to spend as little as possible.

I've £18 in my purse until the end of the month with 5 of us to feed. I have plenty of pasta, rice and flour but nothing really to go with; off to weezl's website and blog to search for 50p a day styley recipes:o
Any suggestions would be welcome!

You poor thing, Debbym - we had a similar start to the year. I used a grout cleaning brush (all plumbers - this may be a new top tip) to (accidentally) rip out all the waterproof sealant around my shower, resulting in catastrophic leaking and had to find a lot of money at no notice to completely remove, replumb and replace (now I know the pipes are clear because they are all new and go a direct route). We also had to pay out for a mega car service (like you, we are rural and must have it) - we commute 100miles a day so not having it in good working order was not an option. Then I also had a £8000 bill - it was £1000 more than I had allowed. New tumble dryer in Feb too - not £20k but around £13k - only managed by getting a 0% purchases CC for a year to spread some cost out a bit. Your plumber sounds a great guy - don't lose him! If you can get a 0% purchase CC it lets you load it with your shopping for a few months to clear the debt and then clear the card before the 0% period runs out - I have a final £1500 CC to clear by the end of the month - hence the 0% card - we will just make it but no savings at all now. :eek:
Good luck - you have my sympathies. Don't forget beans on toast is a great cheap meal option - had some on the way home from Scotland and had forgotten how great they are! Sprinkle with a bit of grated cheese and then melt it under the grill for a luxury version...

All the best SL

mummyyof5

Just £1.25 to add on for eggs mum fetched me today.

Going to HB and Aldi tomorrow ..have been compiling a list:(..it just gets longer:(:(

NickJW

Suffolk_lass wrote: »

NickJW - I buy the LG curry sauces sometimes (when on offer) but I always cook off two extra cloves of garlic and two small but spicy chillis (I keep them frozen so there is no issue about whether I have any) with the meat before pouring over the sauce - just to ensure it is tasty enough for us. Works for me - as you say, a sauce in a jar saves so much time, and LG are good quality without too many additives.

Thanks for that! I guess it's no different than jazzing up chopped tomatoes for a pasta sauce. I'll remember this in future because whilst I do like the whole cooking from scratch, sometimes I find, when getting home at 8/9 o'clock after work, speed and convenience is of the essence. I also have a stock of frozen chillis at all times and always have garlic. Having back up jars like this is essential to avoid the temptation to just get fish and chips!

MrsDoubleEwe

Have spent a lot today - had an Ocado delivery for £62.63 (using a £30 off £90 spend voucher from O2). I managed to bag a few bargains, although seems to be too expensive at full price to carry on using them.

Also did an Aldi shop to pick up those things that were cheaper there, even with the voucher discount. I spent £10.40. Along with a number of small shops over the week last week, my total is now £236/£300. I'm happy with this as have food now until next Monday, and have a freezer full of meat and cupboard full of staples so should be able to just top up f&v and snacks etc in the last week.

It's so motivating to read this thread regularly - keeps me focussed on sticking to the budget. I also find I've been wasting a lot less food. In the last two weeks I have thrown away just 3 spring onions, two strawberries and a mouldy banana. In the past, part of the routine of putting the shopping away would be emptying the gone-off stuff from the fridge first, which could be a carrier bag full each week. I can't believe that I used to throw away that much food!!

Anyway, sorry for rambling, and thank you all for the motivation.

Florenceem

Had a spend today of £3.96 - going to fall a bit short of my aimed for NSDs this month. :mad:
We had roast potatoes, broccoli, carrot, leek and HM sausage pie for dinner.



Tomorrow's meals are all sorted - shouldn't need to spend!