May 2012 Grocery Challenge

meg72

tessie_bear wrote: »

hi...nsd planned as i managed to get to lidl yesterday for some bananas and carrots...really going for it this couple of weeks...i have just got some meat from the freezer and spotted the bottom (of the freezer) so i am making some inroads
i have been making the most basic shopping list i can but i worry that it seems to be fruit and veg that i dont buy and i think in the long term this isnt the answer ....anyhow we have some in at the moment so will see how we go
if peeps dont think it is too tragic for words i might post a pic of our new car (when we get it) to show where the savings i have made following this thread have gone

take care tess

Would love to see pic of Car, what a great idea just shows what can be acheived and may inspire others to join the thread.

I am hoping to use my savings for a holiday to Prague in December, paying for me, DD and GD for Christmas pressie

abitofhelp

Yes i agree, posting a photo of what you have saved for may well inspire others. I'm saving for a new kitchen, as the new kitchen will be going in an extension it will take up to two years. It was going to a nsd for me, but i need some dried oregano, so it will be a small spend day instead. I have a beef stew simmering in the slow cooker, that will do us for this evening & a portion for the freezer + enough for a pie filling. I have some puff pastry in the freezer that needs to be used up. Enjoy your day all.

Bonglecat

Florenceem wrote: »

The idea is not to swap £s saved for lbs in weight put on - naughty! When I make a cake - it gets cut into portions and frozen - no taste test. Then I get 1 piece out whenever I want to. Mr F does have a piece of cake - but rarely - I am the sweet tooth one.

Do you wait for it to defrost rather then microwave? Beacuse that also seems to be a great way to lose weight, like the culinary equivalent of freezing your credit cards in ice so you have to wait to make a purchse. You've got to really want the cake to be bothered to wait for it to defrost. Excellent!!!

mrs-moneypenny

morning all
just sorting my reciepts so far this month to update my sig - it wont be good

planning jacket pots for dinner and burgers for tea
only got to do early tea for youngest DS as the rest are out.

hope all are well
love the meal photos that people are posting really inspiring

abitofhelp

Blimey, i just remembered i forgot to put onions in the stew, i had to chop a large one up quick. Glad i remembered in time. I had to have custard cream or two to get over the shock, oh just out of bed (he's on nights this week) has agreed to go and pick up some oregano for me.

[Deleted User]

jumblejack wrote: »

I have heard the scariest things about meat too. A friend of mine came back from abroad (where she lives 6 months of the year!) and told me that a friend over there has a cancerous tumour. She was told to cut out ALL animal products for several months. She did so and when she returned for a check on the tumor's progress, it had reduced in size significantly. She was told that animal products are full of growth hormones :eek:
I think that knowing things like this has convinced me that I don't even like the taste anymore. I just wish I could afford to buy the family organic produce instead.

I think its illegal to sell food in the EU with growth hormones, which is why American meat is banned, its full of the stuff. In America, their food makes them fat, not saying its not in some rubbish butchers here though. If you find out different, please let me know, 'cause im with you on that, once ive got my grocery spends down to a fine art, and the last of my overdraft paid, i want to only eat free range/ organic.
No spends here for me for the last 5 days, am still on target, have about £8 left, which im amazed at, never thought i would get this close to finish line.

cleggie

Hi guys

Just copying and pasting this from my DFD to see if i can get any advice please? Money is getting much much tighter now, and i need all the help i can get!

Trying to decide what to do re food shopping.
I have printed out lots of the GC recipes, for biscuits and cakes etc,as i have noticed that many times i just fancy sweets and stuff, and end up spending lots of money. So my reasoning is that if i aready have lots of that stuff in the house (by baking it myself), i will go into the SMs even less.

BUT (the big but) is that i will need to do a fairly big shop to get the ingrediants for everything to be baked, and also buy some baking trays (i'll make do with the cheap ones for now).

What do you all think?

jumblejack

Hi guys. Just wanyed to say how excited I am to find even MORE useful ways to use leftover rice!!!!

There are 2 ways to use it for breakfast too! Will certainly be using that idea up this week. We are cooking up a massive batch of basmati later for the veggie curry.

:j

http://www.ehow.com/how_2337682_use-leftover-rice.html

sonastin

cleggie wrote: »

Hi guys

Just copying and pasting this from my DFD to see if i can get any advice please? Money is getting much much tighter now, and i need all the help i can get!

Trying to decide what to do re food shopping.
I have printed out lots of the GC recipes, for biscuits and cakes etc,as i have noticed that many times i just fancy sweets and stuff, and end up spending lots of money. So my reasoning is that if i aready have lots of that stuff in the house (by baking it myself), i will go into the SMs even less.

BUT (the big but) is that i will need to do a fairly big shop to get the ingrediants for everything to be baked, and also buy some baking trays (i'll make do with the cheap ones for now).

What do you all think?

In the long term, it will be worth it. But don't spend money that you don't have - you need to balance the cost of financing the saving against the amount you'll actually save.

[Deleted User]

Cleggie Its a bit different for me to give advice as i have a large supply of basics, eg pasta, rice, cous cous, also loads of tins, which i bought very cheaply at the various online places, so i mainly only have to buy fresh fruit, veg , salad and meat, which i can also buy very cheap where i live, but if i was you, i would have 2 or 3 days really cheap to get you on your feet https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/326929
if there are any really good offers, buy them, even stock up if they are extremely good, they will cut your bill in the end, hunt ys food, . You can make really cheap meals with vegetables, lovely stews, mince can make a few cheap meals like pasta bake, cottage pie, toad in the hole is very cheap if you use value batter and sausages, its 7p i think, you can also make savoury pancakes from it adding some of the mince or veggies.Search online for deals, i bought 6 spray deodorants for 99p - got a few packs of them as we always need deodorant. Always buy a little extra, so you fill your cupboards for a rainy day. I don't go in supermarkets that often, i do an online shop, which i plan down to the last detail. I might buy the odd ingredient to go with items i have, but keep an open mind as to whats available cheaply. Good luck