April 2014 Grocery Challenge

marris

NSD for me today.

lynnejk

SarahB1989 wrote: »

How do you lovely GCers put 'big' items into your budgets? I've got my eye on a bottle of gin, QUOTE]
We have a separate budget for drink so it would come out of that. However, for all 'big' GC items I have the bulk buy fund, where I put monies left each month for such stuff

MrsCautious wrote: »

I also have a slow cooker I have never used, ridiculous I know but so busy with work, children and getting my health sorted x

I didn't get on with my bread maker either, but lurve my slow cooker. Have a look at some recipes as it is an easy way to make things like stews/casseroles/curries etc and kind of looks after itself whilst you do other things
Lx

JIL

MrsCautious wrote: »

Spent £2.38 on a Hovis wholemeal loaf and some satsumas in Aldi.

Breadmaker bought off eBay months back remains unwrapped, think I will sell it. Just not realistic for me to have the time to make bread -- would anyone disagree, is it enjoyable/worthwhile?

I go through stages. I love my breadmaker but we have an on off relationship. Haven't used it for about two months. But I do love the bread and the rolls I can make. Sometimes though its just easier to buy a loaf at the weekend and another on Wednesday. That's all we seem to need and use. Even then there's always some that goes to the ducks.

JIL

ALDI VOUCHER in today's SUN

Someone asked that this be posted when there was a voucher. Have just seen it on front cover of Wednesdays Sun.

lynnejk

JIL wrote: »

ALDI VOUCHER in today's SUN

Someone asked that this be posted when there was a voucher. Have just seen it on front cover of Wednesdays Sun.

Thanks JIL. I'll have a look but we don't always get the same vouchers in Scotland :mad:
Lx

cattysmum

Sorry, really late to the party this month but would like to show a budget of £200 for the month of April please. Iv had such a busy month and also have birthdays coming up and a holiday over easter with 3 grandkids so going to be quite challenging. Would anyone else consider taking their slow cooker on a caravan holiday? There will be 2 adults and 3 kids and we will probably eat out 3 or 4 times, but it would be good to prepare meal in a morning and go out for the day and have a meal ready and waiting for when we got back for the rest of the week. Thanks

PennyGrabber

MrsCautious wrote: »

Thank you very much Mrs T M and cw18, that's all great to hear, I'm away next week and will try and plan to get going with it when I'm back, 16p a loaf sounds pretty good to me. I also have a slow cooker I have never used, ridiculous I know but so busy with work, children and getting my health sorted x

If you're mega busy (I can empathise with that!), then your bread maker and slow cooker can be your best friends! I use my slow cooker regularly, and I find it a real timesaver. I bung stuff in it in the morning (or lunchtime if it's a weekend), and then all I have to do at dinner time is the potatoes/pasta/rice. So much quicker than slaving away, and quite frankly, when I get home from a busy day working (I sometimes do 10 hours with little or no break), I don't want to stand in the kitchen away from my children whom I haven't seen all day!!

Great ideas for slow cooker meals:
Chicken/beef/pork etc casserole
Bolognese
Hm soups
Boiled ham (so much easier than topping up water all the time!)
Roast chicken

And that's just the tip of the iceberg!

Once you get your head around it, it really is one of the best time saving pieces of kitchen equipment.

Why don't you give it a go on your day off? But what you have to do, is go out for a bit, because coming home to the smell of dinner cooking is amazing!!

Hth

PG x

Ps nsd yest, hoping for same today

[Deleted User]

NSD again today.


Thanks so much for all advice re the carrots. the website looks great. Will be giving half (at least) away, but I'm talking a supermarket bag full every week until the season is over, and have been told that parsnips and swedes come on stream next week! Might have to investigate parsnip wine and carrot juice.


Re buying large items I either include in weekly budget or take it from the accumulated leftover monthly total. Either way is easier than trying to figure out how long it would last.

smokies

Hi everyone,


sorry not been around for a few days, things been a little hectic with work etc.. not complaining has its a bit of overtime, which I am putting towards extra paying on my Credit card (hoping to have it paid off the end of this month)




Had a couple of big spends over the weekend, went to wholesale butchers and to Asd* and spend a good chuck of the budget but will only need top ups for the rest of the month ......


Have a great day everyone.....


Ps. this thread is great for keeping me in tow or my spending...... hats off to you all..... Thank you

Frizzle_2

JIL wrote: »

ALDI VOUCHER in today's SUN

Someone asked that this be posted when there was a voucher. Have just seen it on front cover of Wednesdays Sun.

Ooh! Thank you that was me!