January Grocery Challenge 2015

First_Trouble

NSD number 9 yesterday whoohoo almost at my goal.

e4rly

Hi all, halfway through the month and I'm at £62.50. A bit higher than I'd wanted (woops!) but I should be able to contain my spending for the next two weeks to meet my target of £100...my freezer is full!

miss_try_to_save

hi all today is supposed to be my shopping day but I have enough bread and milk till tomorrow I am running a little low on the fresh fruit side with only bananas and grapes left but I have tinned fruit and frozen fruit from garden last year I froze it and never used it which I will make a rhubarb and raspberry crumble for pudding we are having mini pork joints roast potatoes and veg tonight I am hoping for a nsd but I can see me caving in and getting some bits if weather clears up a bit we will see have a good day everyone

plymouthscubagirl

Pah just spent £25.04 on birthday rubbish for colleagues BUT I was given £40 birthday money........so does that count?!
I'm usually very good and get all the reduced cheese in the New Year for this but haven't been near the shops or had the inclination to either as I know I'd spend more than needed.

Happygreen

Snow gone, OH stocked up on milk and another NSD for me Will cook 2 meals for 3 out of the pack of minced lamb he brought home the other day, stuffed peppers and a pasta sauce, all with lots of veg of course.

gayleygoo

I have made my own tallow before, it's the same process as making lard from pork fat, only using beef fat (I used my slow cooker). The butcher gave me the fat for free, as it usually goes in the bin! I haven't asked in ages for it, but I really should do. Animal fats make excellent soap, and it saves the fat being thrown away.

Obviously if you're vegetarian then you may want to avoid it. However I am much more concerned about unsustainable palm oil use (that many commercial soaps are made from) than the use of whatis often wasted by-product of the meat industry.

Today could be a no-spend day, but I need garlic, I've forgotten about it the past few times I've been to the shops! Bunnies are going to need hay and pellets soon too. I've spent £185/£320 so far, so am still keeping within the budget.

Found a loaf of bread in the boot of the car this morning. OH must have bought it a few days ago and forgotten to lift it out! No freezer space at all and I bought a loaf yesterday, so not sure what to do with it except present it to the kids with the kilo jar of Nutella I bought in Lidl yesterday (£3.99 for the jar, great value if you have kids that live on the stuff and it makes delicious brownies!)

Solstice_3

Quick question about the vinegar - doesn't it cause problems with the rubber seals? Also what do soda crystals do and how do you use them please?

NSD yesterday, was going to be one today but I didn't realise the YS bread I bought (2 loaves) was preservative free so the first one went mouldy after 1 day and the 2nd one is out now and won't last until tomorrow. So DH is picking me up a YS bread tonight.

DH came home with YS steak and lamb steaks which he paid for out of money for selling old baby stuff, he has also been bringing home YS ham for his sandwiches leaving us a bit for lunch. I can't do the YS shop at S@insburys as the best time is around 5.30/6.00 pm when I am at home finishing dinner off, he tends to wander through on his way home though and will keep an eye out for cheap meat for us.

russetred

I tried using white vinegar but found it made no difference in the softness this may be due to living in a soft water area, perhaps hard water areas get the greatest difference. I agree with gayleygoo about the unsustainability of palm oil when you see the devastation caused by this monoculture in some countries its very disturbing.

scotmumof3

A NSD for me today. DH is taking me out for my birthday lunch and we are having takeaway tonight paid for with my birthday money so no SM for me today.:j
Hope everyone is having a good day the weather is terrible here. VERY windy

Bobarella

NSD logged here. Number 7.