September 2012 Grocery Challenge

MoonJelly

Just updating to say I've spent 44.75 in groceries. I have a question however, I spent nearly £7 on food when visiting friends out of town. Does this count as part of the grocery bill? Also, I spent £37.77 from £3 out of this is Tesco's charge for delivery to my door (I haven't got a car so it makes sense). If the £3 delivery charge to be counted toward as part of the grocery expenses, or something else? Sorry about the questions, I'm new to the challenge.

mossy

MoonJelly, if it was me I would include the delivery charge as it's part of what your groceries cost to buy. However, I normally allow a seperate amount for food bought when travelling etc, although not always so sometimes I'd include it (like a takeaway) but other times I might not. It's your challenge so really it's up to you.

Bluegreen143

MoonJelly It's entirely up to you what you include, just best to keep it consistent. I do include delivery charges as it comes out of the same account that I only use for grocery shopping. I guess it's easier for me to keep the lines distinct as I do have a separate joint bank account for it, so I just class any spends from that account that aren't bill DDs as GC spends.

I don't include eating out, takeaways, alcohol or lunches bought at Greggs etc as me and OH buy these out of our own spending money in our personal accounts, but many people do include them. And I don't include food bought on holiday as I save up for holidays separately, however I am reducing my grocery budget this month to account for the fact that I'll be away for a week. HTH!

Made super easy tomato and veg pasta for dinner, took a photo but too lazy to put it up lol. It was two peppers (one red, one yellow) and two small onions roasted, then pulsed in food processor with basil (from windowsill) and a 250ml carton of passata. I then added sliced up olives, couple of big handfuls of spinach wilted down, a glug of soy sauce and toasted pine nuts, and served with value pasta, parmesan and a side salad.

Must have been 3-4 portions of veg in there so happy about that! I eat 1-2 bits of fruit a day (had an apple today) and always have veg with lunch (either soup/leftovers or if I have e.g. a sandwich I have carrot sticks) so only need 2 portions with dinner but I like having lots of veg and OH is atrocious as he's allergic to uncooked fruit and usually has ham/tuna sandwiches with crisps for lunch, so only gets veg at dinner. Even though he isn't fussy and does likes every type of veg under the sun! So I'm trying to be doubly good at providing more veg-filled dinners and I'm going to buy orange juice for him next week as he can drink that as long as it's not the freshly squeezed stuff. Only problem is I really need to get the individual cartons so he'll drink it, which isn't as cheap...

tentickles666

Another NSD for me woo!

MissOrganised1972

lollyfin wrote: »

Oh jumblejack they look lovely!
just popped into say a massive thanks to missorganised1972 I used your recipe for mince and got a huge lasagne, 2 cottage pies and 2 chillis out of it, I had only planned to get 2 meals out of a packet of mince so Im really chuffed oh and it all tasted lovely...well had to taste as I went along . So I now have mince in my freezer that I can save for next month :j

Nicky_Noo_Na wrote: »

Hello everyone :j

I've been lurking for the past month or so and have decided to join in this time!

What a fab user name! :cool:

Didn't go on the planned day out to the stately home because it was shut! We will save the voucher & use it at the weekend. However, kids were really disappointed (as was I) & so we took a spur of the moment trip to Weston Super Mare instead! We took buckets & spades & a bag of 2ps each! And the sun shone!

It did, however, mean I didn't come back & cook the planned Toad in the Hole (TitH)! I played Super Mum & let the kids have whatever they wanted for dinner! DD1 & I had chip shop chips with pie/sausage & DD2 chose a doughnut :rotfl: (this came out of my personal spending not GC)! We don't normally eat like this but the sea air must have gone to my head!!

Tomorrow's 'pre-return to school' treat is porridge (in the morning) & ice cream (in the evening) at McDonalds then Wednesday it will be back to normal! Healthy eating!

I'll cook the TitH for tomorrow instead.

Night night!!

suzybloo

Morning folks - spends yesterday amounted to £6 for bread, cold meat, apples and couple cans diet coke. The coke was much needed as its my stress buster and yesterday was a cracker of a day or my spending may have been less! Its amazing how you consider how much do you really need something, rather than just buying it because you think you need it.

Coxy11

Morning everyone,

DS1 and I went to MrT last night to get stationery for his start of term today (very last minute). Also got him some socks and pants plus a couple of bottles of oa$i$ as otherwise he will buy this at school at double the price

Total spend of £52 odd which only included £3.12 on food (drinks x 3, ys quiche and ys puff mince pies) :eek:

I am going to Co$tco on Thursday so will get a large pack of the drinks which will hopefully last most of the way to half term. This purchase will come from 2nd purse tho'.

Starting a 0 to 5km app today. Have never been a runner so wish me luck Nice knowing you.......

mossy

Coxy11 wrote: »

Starting a 0 to 5km app today. Have never been a runner so wish me luck Nice knowing you.......

Those apps are really good and help you work up your ability really quickly. You'll be amazed in a couple of weeks when you can run for much longer than you could in the first week! :j Good luck!! :T

jedi82

Morning, a NSD for me yesterday. Going to try for one today but DD2 stayed in her own bed ALL NIGHT last night and I am sure I promised sweets...

OH has gone back to school, DD2 starting pre-school today and the other two back tomorrow. Going to be quiet around here.....

Have a good day all xxx

jumblejack

Save_Dosh wrote: »

Jumblejack, they look gorgeous. Do you have a tried and tested blackberry jam recipe, ive never made jame before and how do you seal them - i know i can google this - just thought id ask.Spent 9.26 in Morrisons - they had pork shoulder joints for £1.50kg, not YS, which i thought was good, so got some of that and some other bits. Also, very chuffed with 2 large wicker baskets i bought in charity shop £5 for the pair.

The method I use for jam can be adapted for any fruit.

Put your fruit in a large pan, BARELY cover with water and simmer until softened.
I usually strain my fruit for jelly (to make sure no critters pass my notice).
Then I add a pound of sugar for every pint of fruit/juice. Add lemon juice or use crab apples for the pectin needed to give a set (or just use preserving sugar).

Boil rapidly until it reaches setting point. I don't have a thermometer so I use the push test.

I put a saucer in the fridge to chill.

I add a couple of drops to the saucer and leave a few seconds. The jam should wrinkle when you push it. If it is at setting point it will not run on a cold plate after cooling for a few seconds.

Bottle whilst hot into hot sterile jars. You can use wax discs if you wish from wilkos (very cheap). Some folk put a wee bit of alcohol onto the surface of the jam which they swear by. I just lid them.

Keep in the fridge once opened.