January 2014 Grocery Challenge

Taranaman

Put me down for£300.

Most of the month we will be three adults with one week of four adults.

Today had a little spend of £28. £272 to last to the end of the month.
Only £10 a day, which feels like a tight budget, but I do have lots in the cupboard and freezer...

fairydust30

I'd like to join. Was thinking £300 for Jan for a big adult (eats a lot), myself (on diet), teenage boy and 7 yo DD. But I will take suggestions and advice.

Billie-jo

NSD today - haven't gone out of the house as the weather here was not nice and has rained all day.
Welcome and good luck to all the newbies joining us this month and those returning to the GC.

We had roast pork, potatoes, carrots, broccoli, sprouts and onion sauce tonight and some pork left over for later in the week. T'was lovely.

Make-it-3

she_who_can_not_cook wrote: »

I have not been doing to well the last few months either..but keep it up.

I am no batch or oamc expert but here's my twopenny worth. When you cook can you double or treble the ingredients so one cottage pie becomes two or three . If you do this with stuff the family eats I think it'ss well worth it and it is not much more time consuming over a matter of weeks you have instant cheap and healthy READY MEALS.also I have a link about component cooking its years old but a great read

But I don't know about what freezes and reheats ok, and don't want to be poisoning my family. I don't mind cooking fresh each day, most of the stuff I cook is fairly quick to whip up.

angelatgraceland

Chelski123 wrote: »

Where did u get the diaries from? And which ones are they. ? Thanks

I bought an ordinary A4 sized on in my 99p shop. Anything big enough to write shopping spends in. Last year it was an A5 and that was perfect-I've gone for a bigger one so I can add menuplans as well on the same pages.

angelatgraceland

Make-it-3 wrote: »

But I don't know about what freezes and reheats ok, and don't want to be poisoning my family. I don't mind cooking fresh each day, most of the stuff I cook is fairly quick to whip up.

Ok-well most stuff freezes and reheats ok. I think you are a worrier! Think of recooking it to piping hot rather than warming it up and you will be ok. Plan a couple of dishes then ask on here if you can freeze it and how to reheat as I know someone will help you! Just keep asking!

CRANKY40

Please may I join. Due to careful planning relating to school holidays and not wanting to take my son to packed supermarkets over Christmas, we're alright foodwise for now, so my January starts next week when he goes back to school. I've allowed £40 per week which is £160 for the month. I've never managed a whole years grocery challenge before, so I'm hoping 2014 will be the year....

minicooper272

Hi all,

I'm in for January. Sticking with a budget of £80 for this month. I start a cookery class, so will need to buy some ingredients for that, and also need to do a big stock-up of the kitchen cupboard after being away for 2 weeks.

I'm trying to work my way through a mince recipe book at the moment. I know extra lean mince is better for keeping fat content down, but wondered if there is a good way to cook cheaper mince to cook off some of the fat?

closemead

Please can you put me down for £300 2 adults 5 children 10,8,6,5 and 3

lynnejk

Brand new year and Brand new challenge :j


First a BIG :hello: to all the newbies and returners. Hope you all have fun on here and I'm sure you'll all find the help and support great.

lovefullshelves wrote: »

Please can I go down for £200 this month:) I had and emergency hysterectomy and wasn't the one spending and shopping, thats why I dissapeared!! Hopefully now I can manage to keep more of an eye on him! Thanks x

Hope you now feeling good and getting back to full health. I'm sure you'll soon get (him) organised

Make-it-3 wrote: »

But I don't know about what freezes and reheats ok, and don't want to be poisoning my family. I don't mind cooking fresh each day, most of the stuff I cook is fairly quick to whip up.

Just to start you off as it saves time and ££££££s
I find almost anything in a gravy or sauce ie sliced roast, stews and chicken dishes ok. (Just defrost slowly and heat gently until piping hot.
I steer clear of fish but I'm sure someone will advise.
Also anything covered in mash, LO roast pots (cook from frozen -pop in deep fryer or reheat in fat for 30 mins) and anything pasta such as LO lasagne.
I also freeze LO veg and ends of stews, casseroles etc and make 'freezer soup'.
Good Luck

minicooper272 wrote: »

Hi all,
I know extra lean mince is better for keeping fat content down, but wondered if there is a good way to cook cheaper mince to cook off some of the fat?

Have you tried flash-frying over a high heat, keep turning and stirring and then as soon as browned tip into s sieve


A good start with an NSD for me.


I have actually managed to reduce both freezers by half and plan on defrosting them one at a time tomorrow :j :j


Hope you all have a terrific Thursday
Lx