June 2012 Grocery Challenge

MrsCD

dexter2012 wrote: »

PS: could somebody tell me how to do a signature on my posts? Am rubbish with computers!

Hi dexter2012 - Click on User CP. then on edit signature, then you can type your own info I just learned how to do this a few weeks ago .

meg72 - Well done for sticking up for yourself and sending him packing Trading standards and the local council keep lists of traders who don't rip people off. Maybe you could ask them to recommend someone to help you out.

Hugs to all with poorly children - it's awful when they're not themselves

NSD today, apart from £20 to change the snow tyres on the car back to normal ones, but that's not in the grocery budget. I know, we should have changed them ages ago, but we just didn't get around to it

Just started to rain hard about an hour ago, so the mini allotment will be thankful :rotfl:

cleggie

So, another £6.73 in Mr T this afternoon, purely because i didnt stick to the meal plan, so didnt defrost the turkey needed for todays dinner MUST DO BETTER!
Went into poundand today and bought some cupcake boxes (http://www.poundland.co.uk/product-range/a-z/cupcake-box/ ) which are perfect for (dare i say it...) Christmas gifts in hampers, cellophane bags and other bits and bobs to put into my Christmas/special occasions cupboard.


Meg- sorry to hear about that horrid experience! Well done for seeing him off, i dont know what i would have done in that situation. I agree with the others, i would notify the police to make them aware of it.

MrsCD

Just updated signature.
I've been using all the old food from the freezer and cupboards, and needed to stock up on a few things this week. Hope to do better next week!

sb88_2

New on this thread! Finding it difficult to keep up with all these posts! heh!

But, Well done Meg for standing your ground, alot of people might not have done this.

I'm doing really well this week, I have stuck to my meal plan really well and I'm proud of myself for that. Though I have made two big mistakes the last two days thinking that I was doing well.

I made pasta and sausages (all in one pan) last night, and to make it a little spicy I used something called - Ghost Chilli Sauce , only a drop as it said on the bottle, my OH informed me after that it was the hottest legal chilli you can buy!!!! On the bottle it gives warnings for use and says it can be used as an industrial cleaner aswell. EEK. This one drop was far too hot, even mixed with a whole lot of food, so I used a tub of non fat greek yogurt to cool it down (it was still spicy) Shockingly OH LOVED it and went back for seconds, I could only manage half of mine! (It also contained 3 different types of veg in my home made sauce, something OH wouldn't usualy eat)

Today I put pasta in the slow cooker.....OOPS (It was just a handful as I like it with my beef) it expanded FAR too much. (Young cook! It's a learning curve) So I've fished out all the pasta, as it is completely unusable!

JIL

jumblejack wrote: »

Whole fresh cucumber 39p @ Lidl

This reminded me of an email i received just the other day, from a lady who does not like to use chemicals, she said to share it with anyone who was interested.


1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic A cid, Vitamin C, Calcium, I ron , Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.

3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.

4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.
5 Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!

6.. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don 't have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.

9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

10. Stressed out and don 't have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.

11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don 't have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won't leave streaks and won't harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.

13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!

Florenceem

I went to see my Dentist as a crown fell out. After some poking about - it is now fixed back in place but Dentist is not too hopeful - not much tooth there to cling on to! :eek:
I went into town after the Dentist - had to get some snack food to take away with me - some for the journey - some for Sunday's lunch. This is the only time I buy/eat snack food. I am going to stay with a friend - craft class on Friday and an all day workshop on Sunday.
Have to hope Mr F doesn't spend too much while I am away.
My friend has a shop where she lives - selling near to/out of date stuff - usually have a stock up - sweets/chocolate! :eek: It is my only vice!

rising_from_the_ashes

dottydee854 wrote: »

Just popped on to update my sig again got stuff for our tea tonight (bacon fritata! OMG it was amazing!)

Ohhhhhh I've not had Frittata for ages (and love it) - thanks for reminding me I must have one very soon:rotfl:

bikelesschick wrote: »

Not sure if anyone knows the answer to this. I'm trying to shop more at Mr S. and have been getting till spits every week. Initially they were £4.50 off if you spent £30 then £3 if you spent £30 but I didn't get any when I spent £30.87 (after £3 off) yesterday. Does anyone know they work?

fozziebeartoo wrote: »

I did ALL my shopping there and never got a money off till spit, never ever :mad:

My god daughter goes occassionally and ALWAYS gets them.

I think Fozzie's hit it on the head - if I don't go to Mr T for yonks (does happen as I really don't like it and don't go unless it's for a specific offer / have great MOCs), I get loads through the post with my clubcard - usually £x off £x and several valid for a week each - & more when I use them in store.

However, if I've had several weeks of using them ... the next cc statement doesn't have nearly as good ones & I don't get any in store!

hex2

Florenceem wrote: »

sweets/chocolate! :eek: It is my only vice!

:eek: scandalous!


My secret vice is my weekly bag of 20p toffees in MrA. They do nothing for my teeth whatsoever but they are lovely and they last well.

I have a 20kg sack of potatoes that is sprouting madly, despite being in the dark. Really need to peel and par boil them for wedges or something unless anyone else has a suggestion. Half empty chest freezer (a personal first :cool:) so plenty of room but no funds for more ingredients as we are living off the last of our savings until OH finds a job.

MrS and vouchers, I had been getting nectar point ones for a few weeks but finally got a £7 off a £70 last week. May be worth trying a small purchase if you haven't done a big shop for a while.

rising_from_the_ashes

kj*daisy wrote: »

meg - well done for fending him off - if people came to our door like that I have phoned non emergency police no to report them as we have vulnerable neighbours, they were always happy to have the information.

I'd second this - they're happy to hear about it around here too and usually send info onto other people who can make people aware (council, age charities etc).

Do you have a local community officer or similar? (or your council will probably have a police liaison officer if you contact them). HTH

WelshWoofer

Go Meg:T:T:T

I've finally finished with the May challenge under budget but I think I could I done a lot better.
This month is a 4 shop month for me and I've bravely opted to go for £100 for the month.

On the subject of Mr S vouchers, this week I got 2 x petrol vouchers and 2x £4 off £20 vouchers through the post. I haven't been to Mr S for ages.
So this weekend I'll be doing my main shop at Sainsbobs as I also have a Nectar voucher to use making it a total of £6.50 off. I have visitors for 2 nights next week so will need a few extra bits and its half term so I'll be at home for the week (I'm a teacher. My £25 a week budget suddenly looks a bit scary!