January 2013 Grocery Challenge

JayJay14

Mrs_T_M wrote: »

Next month I need to get some dried milk to use in cooking instead of using the precious fresh milk!

Work it out first though, dried milk is expensive and it may actually be cheaper to use fresh, especially if you are paying £1 for 4 pints.

Mrs_T_M

lottie3000 wrote: »

Just wondering how you freeze onions? Do you just chop them up and stick them in the freezer?

I slice off the top and bottom, slice them in half, peel them, then slice them into strips. I'll slice a baking tray full, then stick them on there and into the freezer until frozen. Place them in a bag after they're frozen, then I can take out what I need instead of them sticking to one another.

katholicos wrote: »

Mrs T, I find it very convenient and economical to use dried skimmed milk in cooking/baking and try not to use up the fresh milk we have, except for drinking it, having it in tea/coffee/hot chocolate type drinks.

JayJay14 wrote: »

Work it out first though, dried milk is expensive and it may actually be cheaper to use fresh, especially if you are paying £1 for 4 pints.

I will work it out (going to Aldi today so I can check the price and amount). I already use half milk and half water in most everything, but there are some things that just need milk and water won't do unfortunately. I am paying £1 for 4 pints, I just didn't realize how much we use in a month! I had some skimmed dried milk earlier this month, but have used it all and it hasn't yet been in the budget to replace it.

I need to do a £20 shop in Sainsburys to get £2 worth of points (we have enough points so I won't spend anything in cash), plus I'm going to try and find one of those Aldi vouchers in the Daily Mirror. I'll really need to menu plan and budget, plus I'll be getting 3-4 containers of fresh milk and freezing them at the big Aldi shop if I can get hold of one of the vouchers!

The £20 shop in Sainsbury's will probably be a joint of beef (£4.99/kg), some spices that are cheaper there than anywhere else within my walking distance, and then anything on mark down that I can freeze or stock the pantry with. The great thing is that I can price check Sainsbury's things online before heading out. I just wish I could do the same with Morrisons! Aldi is 1/2 mile from our house, Morrisons is 1 mile in the other direction, and Sainsbury's is another 1/2 mile from there! At least I get exercise when I go shopping!

Mumof2_2

Spent £21.42 at L**l yesterday on stuff I needed as basics (milk/bread/eggs etc) but am going to do my weekly shop tomorrow at A**i. Should end this month within budget which is good .

tjak

Lost my way this month, although I was more conscious of what I was doing. I was paid on 20th, and have made a good start by shopping at MrS to use a gift card I had, along with nectar points. Meal planned before I went, and then only used £18 cash for £43 of shopping.

I didnt know about tesco price promise, so have fished out my receipts and plugged them all in. Just waiting to hear if I have any vouchers back.

I also bought six months supply of dog food as I found a great offer. My fussy dogs only eat James WB, which is normally £52 for 15kg. With an offer for 20% off if you buy two, and another 15% off voucher, I am getting two bags for £66. I also got a bit of cash back. Website is petmeds if that helps anyone. Just need to find somewhere to store them.
Hoping to stay on track this month.

Mrs_T_M

Well, Sainsbury's have taken the beef joint off special this week, so I guess that's £20 worth of points I'll be saving for later. Darn things...

meg72

Mrs_T_M wrote: »

Well, Sainsbury's have taken the beef joint off special this week, so I guess that's £20 worth of points I'll be saving for later. Darn things...

Know just how you feel, I went to stock up on beef just after Xmas in Asda,was 5.00 killo but had gone up to 7.00,didnt buy any wish I had known it was on offer in Sainsburys but heigh ho just have to keep looking, refuse to pay more than 5.00.

she_who_can_not_cook

katholicos wrote: »

Hey up everyone,

I was glad to buy proper washing up liquid today as the stuff i made looks like vomit in a bottle and isn't terribly effective anyway.

Night all...

sorry to hear that i still have my loads of glycerine(FROM Ap food error a long time ago) and was thinking of using your recipe

she_who_can_not_cook

JayJay14 wrote: »

Work it out first though, dried milk is expensive and it may actually be cheaper to use fresh, especially if you are paying £1 for 4 pints.

i am a supporter of dried milk and the cheapest i could get was SAINsB**S @£1.01 a fews week ago i just kept going and picked up four bags at a time

xxlouisexx56

£45 I'm tesco yesterday but I bought a lot of nappies that are on special offer and should have enough for the next 3 months so I'm happy to go over budget this month, will lower feb and march budgets as have a good stock of nappies and washing powder so won't need to buy any of that.

I need to go back again tomorrow as I was in a rush to get dd from trampolining club and left my list in the car!

I have loads of new potatoes that need using up. Can you freeze mash?

Coxy11

Hi all,

After heeding Martin's advice to use any giftcards lying around, I did just that this morning. HMV accepted my son's £10 one, plus I had two Post Office one for all giftcards which are accepted in lots of different shops. Got a bottle of perfume in Debenhams and a metal filing box in Smiths. Just need to use the Next one now, but couldn't find anything decent in my size.

Sorry back on topic I also had a card for M&S, so I bought a meal deal, two packs of crumpets, breadsticks, houmous and milk. Still £6.44 left to spend. I won't be including this in my GC budget as I didn't plan this spend. Yes we needed milk, but otherwise the goodies I bought are luxuries

Keep going everyone, not long til month-end.
Coxy