November 2013 Grocery Challenge

WantToBeSE

Another 'Tesco-Free' day today, so also a NSD

A few things that have made a big difference:

-Buy a packet of 6 cereal bars (approx £1.99) at the start of the week. Leave them in the car so that on the way to work you have a breakfast/snack I was doing this on a DAILY basis, eating 2 or 3 between clients then the kids would finish off the rest at home later on!

-Don't be silly like i was being and buy a bottle of lucozade everyday at tesco on the way to work! Nooo..instead, buy 1 (repeat, 1) bottle of water (or similar) and refill it with juice/drink of choice from home.

just dong those 2 things have saved me approx £15 a week.

Florenceem

cocoloco wrote: »

Done a biggish shop on Sunday to use up my money off coupons and voulchers in Tescimos- managed to get down my shopping from £42 to £30 with it and bagged 248 extra points on things that I buy anyway. I always keep my T points and use it once a year to get away to 4 star coastal hotel for a couple nights - FREE . Just back from the end of September, had a brilliant time getting luxurised .

I have managed to pick up some turkey mince reduced but not sure if I can use it as as a standard beef mince (in spag bol, chilli etc) or should I mix it half/half with beef mince? Is the taste very different from the beef mince? Thanks for any answers.

The taste of turkey mince is different to beef mince - fine to use as is. If you like a beef taste to your food - do half and half with beef plus you could add a beef stock cube.

Soworried

I had to go shopping today as I was very low on most things.
A spend of £1.15 in Tesco on dried milk, I am going to start taking home made instant oat pots to work with me. Plus I will make the kids some instant hot chocolate powder with that, coco powder and sugar.
£4.38 in Sainsburys on 2 mouthwash and cooking bacon, half the cooking bacon will go in to soup and the other half will go in to pasta with cheese sauce.
£7.35 in B&ms on black pudding, gravy granules, beans and garlic slicing sausage and milk.
£15.16 in Morrisons on 2 large blocks of cheddar cheese, 2 large basa fillets, 1 pork loin steak, 1 box of choco crackles, 3 pringles to be put away for Christmas, 1 bbq sauce to make bbq chicken and 2 full cooked chickens reduced to £2.49 each. Mainly all ys.
So a total spend of £29.12 but I have a lot of meals in there with the dried milk and meats :j
I'm happy with that

I am two weeks in to my 4 week month tomorrow and I am just over half way through my food budget. I hope everyone is doing well, I'm off to catch up, my signature is updated.

poppycracker

cocoloco wrote: »

I have managed to pick up some turkey mince reduced but not sure if I can use it as as a standard beef mince (in spag bol, chilli etc) or should I mix it half/half with beef mince? Is the taste very different from the beef mince? Thanks for any answers.

I make turkey mince sheperds pie and spag bol for my Dad when he is up on holiday as he cannot eat red meat. It's not as 'meaty' as beef mince, but its quite hard to tell the difference, especially if you use a beef stock or beef gravy with it.

WantToBeSE

Soworried wrote: »

I had to go shopping today as I was very low on most things.
A spend of £1.15 in Tesco on dried milk, I am going to start taking home made instant oat pots to work with me. Plus I will make the kids some instant hot chocolate powder with that, coco powder and sugar.

What a great idea! I have seen 'A girl Called Jack' blogging about her HM instant porridge pots and think it's a great idea. Unfortunately i have to eat lunch in my car on the way home from work, or between clients, so cant use that idea.

tessie_bear

hello hope everyone is ready for the cold snap.. i have just got the meat out for a stew as thought it would suit the expected weather...made individual steamed puds tonight whic h went down well as everyone could have different flavours

planning sausage and mash tomorrow with some sausages i got to make hot dogs at bonfire night and didnt get round to (sausages have been in freezer so arent green) might do baked apples as well

take care tessa

[Deleted User]

Night off cooking for me tonight as I am off out with my parents and sister. Parents are treating us to a meal as it was my sisters birthday last week and its mine next week.

I will plan my food for next week tomorrow and probably try and shop for it too if time.

Islandmaid

NSD here

Will have to pick up some cat food and loo roll tomorrow though....

natnat13

I have had a NSD today, was tempted to pop into Mr A, my nearest is 30 mins away so don't get there aften, I was visiting a friend in the area but didn't need anything so drove on by!
I did have a chinese last night though, £6.80 but I really fancied it and throughly enjoyed it!
Re dieting, I find just generally not eating unless I'm hungry works. I usually don't bother with lunch, just toast or cereal for breakfast and a cooked meal for tea. I drink through the day to keep my metabolism going.

shiningfaery

I am so mad with myself. I went to asda earlier to get baby milk and nappies, came out £77 lighter. I now have a freezer full to bursting of meals and food and my hubby still has the cheek to say he is going back on Saturday for garlic bread. Unfortunately for him I saw red......how do I get better control of my senses when out?
I know this is my first month and is setting the bar for me but I knew I didn't need anything other than baby stuff really.