February 2014 Grocery Challenge

HOWMUCH

Mr M YS I find best at about 7pm

HOWMUCH

Oh I want to join this month I'm keeping all my receipts to find out exactly what I spend and on what. So I will be able to have a starting point for March and then reduce it.

norabatty_2

mrs-moneypenny wrote: »

i find its worth popping in our local mid evening as theyve usually got lots RTC

Yeah, I don't think I've paid more than 65p for a slice pan (from Sainsbury's bakery) in the last four months. I pop in just after 7pm on a Tuesday evening and am guaranteed to get reduced bread, lettuce, carrots and parsnips, as well as several other fruit and veg that vary each week, including oranges, but never bananas! :mad:
Have also got their Basics pitta breads for 4p and I love their basics pittas!

MissOrganised1972

Craigywv I agree with you, it's a mind set. I used to think just because DH had been at work all day (l work too) that he deserved meat for dinner! I always cook from scratch & as you all know when you're a working parent, you have a house to keep & kids to run around (mine swim 8 times a week between them, before we even add brownies, after school clubs etc into the mix!!) sometimes there just isn't the time, let alone the money to be cooking all the meals you'd like or think you should.

Soworried your budget is definitely doable. It can definitely seem daunting when it's a lot less than you are used to managing on. As others have said, and I know you do, ask us for help & inspiration!

As of this year, I have started to include 1 or 2 cheaper, generally no meat, meals in each week's meal plan. This week we've had egg, HM oven chips & beans one night. Reaction from DH-none, just an empty plate!

Tonight's dinner was this https://www.waitrose.com/content/waitrose/en/home/recipes/recipe_directory/s/squash_and_stilton_pie.html

With broccoli & sprouts

I used a butternut squash I'd bought on the Aldi Super 6 last week (49p) & a chunk of Stilton my Dad had given me, leftover from Christmas! I doubled the recipe to use my whole butternut squash. It was very sickly but lovely and also cheap! Definitely not SW or WW friendly this one!

Tomorrow night DH plays football but it is 1/2 hour away and so keeps him out most of the evening. Therefore I either encourage him to call at his Dad's for a sandwich or something (his Dad lives over that way) or I give him a hot pot with leftovers in. Fingers crossed for his Dad because I am going to convince the kids how cheeky, yet exciting it is for them to have cereal for their tea tomorrow (they're hot dinners at school) & I am going to have 1 of the portions of leftover B Squash & stilton pie! So another, cheap easy day!:T

Night all

Ches

Make-it-3 wrote: »

Still having problems with milk going off, which resulted in throwing 2 pts away and buying anew. Need to figure out a way round this, as my aim is to try to go to the supermarket just once a week but if milk doesn't last this long and I've been told whole milk doesn't freeze well.

Don't know if this is the same with whole milk as we use semi but we find if the plastic bottles lay down in the fridge they go off quicker than if they are stored upright.

kayester

OH had the shakes last night, (man flu) so was an easy ham salad sandwich for me.
taken lasagne out of freezer for tonight, will be a NSD today, OH was paid yesterday and he given me money when he gets paid but as he was ill he forgot, so off I go with his bank card on the school run for £200 I dont intend to waste it this month.

Ladyluck1

Probably another NSD today... I've got the most terrible cough, had no sleep so doubt I'll be going out today.
We've got minced beef, onion and potato pie with cabbage and green beans for dinner.
Hoping I can hold off shopping until Monday now!

lushlifesaver

NSD yesterday for me, in need of ham and lettuce as I only have enough for one sandwich tomorrow but then I'm not sure if I will eat it all whilst bf is away sun-wed next week. Might buy them and freeze some of the ham (the lettuce should be fine) will see what I can get whilst on my lunch break today. Will get large Yorkshire puddings today as well

Dad is coming up on the train to visit me on my lunch so secretly glad not to be heading to a work event this morning! Lunch will come out of my treats/personal spends budget.

Planning NSDs Sunday-Wednesday with bf away. Currently need a few bits before he goes: squash (definite as he takes some with him), sliced malt loaf, milk, pasta and crisps for bf. Might try and get that stuff on saturday

Rest of the month all I can see us needing is:
Pasta sauce, small block of cheese for grating, sliced beetroot, sweet corn, cucumber, potatoes, onions, oven chips, garlic bread and probably one more 4pt milk.

Remaining meals needed: 4 evening meals for one, 16 evening meals for two. Think we probably have enough in once I get the last few bits above. Should end the month on my £75 budget. For next month we should have a new oven so can do a wider range of meals including some casserole-y type ones which will make multiple portion plus I'm only working 17 days after pay day(13 if you take weekends off!)so more time to shop for better prices!

meg72

Ches wrote: »

Don't know if this is the same with whole milk as we use semi but we find if the plastic bottles lay down in the fridge they go off quicker than if they are stored upright.

I have noticed this too and puzzled over and the only reason I can think off is that when the bottle is upright theres only a small area at the top that is air, when its on its side the space for air goes the whole length of the bottle so the surface area is greatly increased.

Don't know if this makes any sense or not but its the only reason I can think of for this happening,

tessie_bear

milk that has turned makes great scones...i have a recipe that needs 200ml so i measure out that amount into kids pop plastic bottles and place in freezer then make scones...not a problem we have very often is the fridge cold enough ?

quite proud of this so thought i would share....i got a fresh chicken in aldi reduced to £1.49 i find ours do this a bit with their meat offers...must order too many i cooked it in sc and ds has had 3 days worth of sarnies from it today i have stripped the meat off and made kids each a chicken pir for tea and dh and i a pasta chicken bake...will be making stock from the bones not bad for £1.48

need to do a bit of meal planning and maybe a small shopping list for next week then it is half term

take care tessa