June 2014 Grocery Challenge

cw18

SazzleDazzle1 wrote: »

I am finding it impossible to be organised enough not to get expensive top ups and then reach for convienience foods as I just don't have time to cook.

Even without work and a family to run around after I find batch cooking is the key to it, as I have plenty of days when I really can't be @rsed to cook from scratch.

So when I make chilli or bolognese I freeze about 8 portions as well as using 2 or 3 on the day. Stews or casseroles use 2 or 3, freeze 1, 2 or 3 depending on what I was making (I only feed 2 or 3 people at a time, and it's useful to have odd portions of things for DS1 as he won't eat fish which I enjoy). Then all I have to worry about is the carbohydrates and rice / pasta are quick, with jacket potatoes taking not much longer in my combi-oven.

XSpender

£1.00 to add for 8 bread rolls from Mr T.


We are having chorizo burgers, wedges and salad for tea. DH will have his burgers in the bun and probably no salad whilst I will have salad and no bread:)


The bananas I bought from Aldeee on Monday are very ripe now so I will make a double chocolate banana cake tomorrow ( may make it in muffin cases instead of a loaf) and we can have smoothies for breakfast.


I have been thinking long and hard about the amount we spend on food and I really want to change things from now on so I am working on a plan to seriously bring this down over the next few months. As I am not working at the minute I really don't have any excuse:o

islandhoppa

£11.45 to add which was husband doing a top up shop in Ald! fruit, juice, milk, ham and a few other supplies. Doing well with budget this month

Florenceem

Spends of £9.25 put in sig. Mr A had reduced price baking items today.
We had HM wedges + HM goats cheese/green pepper quiche + salad - grated carrots/celery - dressed with white wine vinegar. Also had a HM pickled onion + spoonful of pickle. I pickled the onions in October 2010 - still very crisp and so spicey.
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nannygladys

Hello everyone

Well it was nsd for me and I really want to keep them going. I have had pasta, carrot ribbon pasta from jacks book and as I had a couple of veggie sausages I had those as well, and very nice it was. I had fruit and nat yoghurt for afters.

Not sure what I'm having tomorrow, I will have to do a stock take I think as I have lots of tins and a full freezer, and then I will make a menu plan for next week. Running out of fresh veg and fruit, but I have tins of both and also both in the freezer. Oh dear, I'm not really a food hoarder, honestly!!!

Nannyg

K9sandFelines

£2.00 in Bargain B**ze on drinks on long walk back from Dentist and a bottle of pear cider.
£0.36p in M*rrisons on sparkling water
£1.41in the C*-*p on YS bread

scotsaver

Hi everyone, I've been AWOL for 3 years now:eek: Long story which I don't want to go into - if it's ok with everyone I'd like to watch over for the next month and get back into it - we have 2 freezers full of food and well stocked cupboards which we would like to use over the next month so not sure what our budget will be going forward but we WILL need a GC budget.

It's really good to see that this is still going and I'm looking forward to getting back into it. I just need to see if I can remember how to post:rotfl:

First thing I need to do is update info at the footer of this post - can someone remind me how to do it please?

lynnejk

SazzleDazzle1 wrote: »

I feel like its all running away from me again. Upto £295 for this month, really frustrated with myself. Not over budget though so hopefully can have a really low spend this week.

How do you all cope with managing low spends along with working and looking after a family, I am finding it impossible to be organised enough not to get expensive top ups and then reach for convienience foods as I just don't have time to cook.

On a positive I sold me first ebay things this week - £35 whoop whoop into my savings

Well done on your first sales :T


AS cw18 pointed out - batch cooking saves so much time in the long run. I ALWAYS cook at least double amount and usually freeze rest in single portions, as we don't always work/eat at same times now.


Mince dishes and soup - I usually make 8-10 portions at a time.


I always buy/cook really large joints of meat and when cool slice up and portion into gravy and freeze.


It does take a couple of weeks to build up a good choice but if you do it all the time you start to get ahead of yourself. It's also time-saving :j as it doesn't take twice as long to cook double and money-saving for the same reason :money:


Also i was wondering if you have a family-sized slow-cooker. They really are wonderful if you are working.


Prep the food to where you would put in S/C the night before and put in the fridge (I would double up here as well)


First thing when you get up put food in micro to heat through, switch on S/C and throw it in - making up liquid level as required with rest of water from morning cup of tea/coffee. Make sure all meat etc well- covered and it is on LOW.


When you come home - voila - dinner cooked. Then just open some tinned pots + veg/frozen veg/jackets in micro/frozen croquettes/rice/pasta/couscous or whatever.


Tra-la-la dinner in 30.

scotsaver wrote: »

Hi everyone, I've been AWOL for 3 years now:eek:
First thing I need to do is update info at the footer of this post - can someone remind me how to do it please?

Welcome back - though I wasn't here 3 years ago :hello:


To change your signature go into 'user CP' in the top GREEN bar and then scroll down to signature. Change it in the box (go down a bit) and don't forget to click on the 'SAVE'


Well today I made a new meal for lunch - go me :dance:


It was Herby Asparagus and Bacon tart (on flaky pastry). Had for lunch with new potatoes and salad (including some beetroot leaves from balcony boxes ). Meant to take a picture but I forgot - never mind, maybe the next time


Small spend for tart and next batch of yoghurt of £2.87


Hope you all have a thrifty Thursday
Lx

craftycrafty

Morning a nsd again yesterday, won't be today though really must go and get some milk.

Have a good day

Solstice_3

Morning all NSD on Tuesday as didn't go out. Small spend of £9.82 yesterday. Need to figure out something for lunch today with no bread as having burgers in buns for tea. Can't believe it's Thursday already! Just under halfway through my weekly budget, though I do have to buy milk today. We did eat out, sandwiches, yesterday which came from a different budget.