July 2012 Grocery Challenge

XSpender

GreenFairy wrote: »

If you're willing to slice them up into strips, they're great in wraps/fajitas and in stir fry.

That's a great idea. We love fajhitas which are on my meal plan for next week and I will use them in the enchilladas I have on my meal plan for this week instead of chicken. :T
You can tell I haven't a clue about meat after being a veggie for 25 years:o

little_miss_moneysaver_3

Thanks Rising and Ikkle OH will feed her at 8am and the food is still there at 8pm. She ate just normal food at the rescue centre as we asked. I'm not even going to buy gourmet stuff for her to try, can imagine a riot in the house if the cat is eating better than the humans lol. She's had wh!skas and fel!x when they've been on offer. I've told her to be a brave puss and go outside and catch her own dinner as its more MSE, but she just looks at me with her big eyes like I'm mad!
Might have a go at making some next week, will cost it out etc

Katy we joined another cash and carry last week. Things that worked out cheaper than sm were; toilet rolls, but they were on offer at there if you got two packs so did work out cheaper than the local sm offer. Persi! powder was on offer there 100 wash box for £11.89 which I didn't think was bad (work on 10p a wash normally), a branded cereal which was better than half price of the supermarket which I would buy at that price was £1.49 for 750g box. Their cakes are good value too, 12 massive chocolate croissant were £3.39 and very yummy. Make sure you eat before you go as they're very tempting
I wrote down a lot of the prices so that I could plan a shop there. OH would have out all kind of things that were not cheaper in the trolley, although he does this in any sm

Have a wedding today and an hour to get ready. The body is on go slow today so doubt I'll be dancing the night away! Hope everyone has a good Saturday xxx

rising_from_the_ashes

XSpender wrote: »

In the 3 for £10 meal deal I bought turkey breast steaks. Can anyone suggest a recipe for them? I have found one with a honey orange and ginger sauce (have everything in for this) but there is about 3 meals worth of meat so need a couple more ideas.

Ohhhh you've made me think of one of my fav dinners now:D

These are lovely dipped in egg & then coated with oats (use this instead of breadcrumbs as I'm err "not good" with wheat) and then gently fried in a little butter ..... mmmmmm might have to get some when I'm next at sm (lost my turkey steaks in the freezer incident).

I have managed to trip the fuses (in the house this time) again this morning :eek:. Luckily managed to get everything back on & it all seems to be working fine ..... iron is now in the bin!:(

Absolutely chucking it down again - patio & back of the garden are underwater but could be a lot worse. Hope everyone is OK where they are and ...... when will it stop!

Sue14

Mrs_Addicted_to_Spending wrote: »

Adelight - keep safe *hugs*

SaveDosh - I totally agree - I really wish we'd been taught about budgeting at school or the Internet existed and moneysavingexpert.com had been around . I'm only just starting to learn budgeting now and I'm in my 40s - I really wish I'd known from my teens what I know now because I'd have lots of savings and probably only a mortgage as debt. However, better late than never and I'm getting there slowly .

I feel I'm lucky in that I've always had to be careful with money, I saw my parents struggling as I grew up, and I've never been the richest person in the world, lol, so I know how to make the most of what money I do have, but I agree that budgeting should be taught in schools. I feel really sorry for people who have always had money and suddenly take a drop in income as they struggle to cope, whereas if you've never had anything you get used to it.

I have to admit that I'm probably better off financially now than I have been in the past, and I've never had a day where I can't put a meal on the table, (my sister once said to me 'always have potatoes and eggs in the house, then you'll always have a meal even if it's just egg and chips') but that doesn't mean I waste money, as I still don't have enough to be able to do that, and barring a lottery win I probably never will.

I'm going for £130 again this month, already spent £19.48 in Mr T's (only wanted milk, bread and some fruit, so didn't think it was worth the trip to a1d1, but bought more than intended), and £9.22 in HB.

I was so proud of OH yesterday in Mr T's, he wanted some pears, as he's got a thing for them at the moment, they were £2 a pack and he said 'we're not paying that, they were less than a £1 last week (in Mr A's), I'll go without!', (this from the man who once couldn't understand why I got value jaffa cakes instead of McV's, so they can be trained, lol!), the value pears were cheaper but he didn't like the look of them so we got some oranges and peaches instead.

ikkle87

Been to Mr S and spent another £14.38 which went on 2 whole chickens, a pack of steak, 1kg chicken fillets, a bag of frozen rice and some tin foil.

Then went to my grans and have been given 2 galia melons, some mushrooms and some doughnut peaches which are very yummy. (My grandad is a green grocer)

So total spend for the month so far is 84.56/200 but that should see us for a while, especially if I can get some plastic tubs to freeze some food in.

rising_from_the_ashes

TheThriftyScrumpers wrote: »

how do I find cleggie's dfd please? TIA xxx

Cleggie's diary is here: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3800461 (PG hope you don't mind me replying)

savesummore

Hi All,

Been to Al*i today and spent £20 needed some washing up liquid, anti bac wipes (for the loo), milk, eggs, yogurt, scampi some fruit and salad

We also got 2 bottles of Red Wine (not in GC budget) wine is called Toro Loco and people on the internet are literally raving about it!! So at £3.59 a bottle we thought we would try it- ill let you all know later what its like

Been to local market and spent- £15 on 2 fillet steaks (i know but OH loves fillet and it was £8.99 per pound which is a bargain), 2 lb of shin beef for a thai curry OH is making to freeze and some pork belly for tomorrow lunch- so £15 for all that meat not just the steak :rotfl:

Also another £5 on veg, potatos, banana, oranges, garlic etc etc

Will update signature

Also- B00ts have a 3 for 2 across alot of their lines- most of it more than 'full price' so no real saving but they have rad*x shower gel 1/2 price at 99p each then 3 for 2 which I though was good

Also Mr T has quite afew offers I noticed yesterday- £1 toothpaste, deo's, shower gels, wash liquid, 50p bleach, £2 for a massive bottle of fa*ry wash up liquid etc etc

adelight

Sue14 wrote: »

I feel I'm lucky in that I've always had to be careful with money, I saw my parents struggling as I grew up, and I've never been the richest person in the world, lol, so I know how to make the most of what money I do have, but I agree that budgeting should be taught in schools. I feel really sorry for people who have always had money and suddenly take a drop in income as they struggle to cope, whereas if you've never had anything you get used to it.

I have to admit that I'm probably better off financially now than I have been in the past, and I've never had a day where I can't put a meal on the table, (my sister once said to me 'always have potatoes and eggs in the house, then you'll always have a meal even if it's just egg and chips') but that doesn't mean I waste money, as I still don't have enough to be able to do that, and barring a lottery win I probably never will.

Oh god totally agree with you. My family didn't struggle because they were sooo careful and I learnt to be careful, never get myself in a really bad position financially. My OH, like many of my friends, was born into money and struggled when Mummy and Daddy were no longer bank rolling him. He's still struggling, guess it's hard to break lifetime habits, but I wish it didn't fall to me to teach him. Many of my friends are still having their unsustainable lifestyles funded by parents- excessive spending, high rent, no effort to get a useful job which actually pays :eek:
I do wish they taught budgeting in schools, tbh I wish they taught more life skills in schools like changing a fuse, consumer rights and how more complicated financial things work (like mortgages).


It's on/off torrential rain and I need to buy eggs and bottles for elderflower champagne

Florenceem

adelight wrote: »

I'm so fed up of OH's budget wrecking and laziness! Last night he got in a huff, gave me the silent treatment and spent £15 on junkfood(why?!! he has chocolate and biscuits in the house and i make cake if he asks) which is not coming out of the budget, but as he's the lower earner if he blows all his money I have to make up for it :mad:
He's in a huff with me again today (currently sulking in bed) because when I asked if he wanted to help with dinner (we used to cook together or he would at least help/wash up) and he said "if you do X" which I won't repeat, I told him where to get off! I do everything since we moved- yes I'm not at work atm but even when I'm not here he does nothing. When I got back wednesday after being away for a week (with relatives dealing with stuff that must be done, not a holiday) he hadn't spent tonnes of money but the same stuff was still sitting in the dishwasher and he hadn't done any cleaning or washing at all. He's a grown man FGS, he seems to have regressed since we met two years ago.

I know this is only partly budget related but eeesh sometimes you just have to get it out!! I would usually talk to me mum but she's on a lovely night out that I don't want to interrupt

The whole things made me feel really queasy, I don't think I'll even bother making dinner now.

He sounds just like my eldest Son - goes fishing - lands a catch - then just sits on his rear stuffing his face! What to do with men like that - my Son is currently split up from his partner for the reasons you are talking about. His partner was working double shifts while he was part time and job hunting for full time - lazy so and so sat watching Jere. Ky.. His at present ex partner is a hard worker and houseproud - my Son is a ...... I tried talking to him - make her a cup of tea when she gets home from work - wasting my breath! You have my sympathy.

Florenceem

Mrs_Addicted_to_Spending wrote: »

Great news on your new job :j. Good luck with the meal planning!



You would probably tell us this if we were in the same boat but you might need to start saying 'no' to some of the things they ask you to do . Hope that doesn't sound harsh but you need to take care of yourself.



:rotfl:that's how I felt when I discovered how to do it! I'm going to steal your idea of sausages and cheddar/parsley mash as I know that will go down well with my troops :T.

You are right but I have made curtains for the other 5 children so have to be fair to them all. The baby sitting was a one off but didn't happen in the end - the DGC's show is once a year. Sometimes everything is happening at once. I am going away again on Thursday!