April 2016 Grocery Challenge

BrassicWoman

JackieO wrote: »

Shopping,like any other addiction is practice,practice practice and you will learn to control your habit We are all here to help and do it one day at a time Try substituting stuff if you can with something else instead of going to the shops.I used to turn right instead of left outside my house when I felt the urge to shop and went to the library or park for a walk instead of the shops :):) every little helps you know :):)

Thank you Jackie, good perspective!

I used up the last of my HM vegan cheese on crackers of breakfast, and have a load of salad that needs eaten or will go to waste (so that's next 2 days lunches and dinners!)

I had some things to take to recycling today and on the way back I went to look in 2 shops, and saw nothing I thought was good value. Cheap food tends to be biscuits and sweets, doesn't it! So I am home using up the vegan jelly I have and a tin of pears to feed my sugar craving.

So 3 NSDs so far.

DanielleNic87

£54.13 added to my signature after a couple of shops in the last week.

Off to have a look at all the recipes at the start for some inspiration x

Wysiwyg49

First week £81.74 which IF I keep it up would be right on target. After looking on the "Feed your family for £20" thread have bought a lot more fruit and veg this week. £32 in A1di for that, plus mince, bin bags, foil (30m for less than £2 which I thought was really good), eggs, Marmite, pasta, tuna ... £16 in butcher for chicken and gammon steaks ... the rest in Sainsbobs - DH's favourite coffee, garlic n rosemary bread flour and bits and pieces. Why DO the bits and pieces cost as much as the basics?!

Anyway - bread. Homemade bread, sans bread machine which I binned because it took up a lot of kitchen space and I didn't much like the result. So I tried making by hand again yesterday, left the dough to rise for hours, "knocked it back", set into the tin, left for another hour - loaf similar to house brick in texture. Going to try one of Girl called Jack's bread recipes next, but any tips welcome!

dangerbadger

First two shops of the month done

£31.88 spent at Appr0ved F00ds and then £13.44 on fresh veg and dairy at L1dl.

i wouldn't normally spend so much in one day, so I'm feeling rather profligate right now, especially as I'm planning on heading out to Mr Ts later on a YS hunt - the spends may not be done yet!

Linz4383

Hi all thinkig i need to join this challenge, we spend too much on stuff we dnt need and waste too much food!!! However circumstances are due to change and have another baby on the way! Currently i shop for 2 adults, 2 kids aged 8 and 1, 2 packed lunches 5days a week included however dd eats at her dad 3 nights a week, ds is dairys free for alot of things although can still have things that dont have alot of milk in and is still on prescription milk so will keep reading and get a menu plan done other half gets paid on 20th so will go from there, freezers and cupboards are pretty full so hoping to keep it fairly low for a bit x

wishus

£27.93 spend in Asda - quite a big one for me. Going away though, so had to stock up with things OH can cope with. An awesome cook if he puts his mind to it (much better mash than mine!), very often doesn't want to. So Fish Fingers, pot noodles and pizza made him a bit happier about me going away, as well as a load of normal cupboard stuff and ingredients for when he's feeling like being more culinary.

BrassicWoman

Wysiwyg49 wrote: »

Anyway - bread. Homemade bread, sans bread machine which I binned because it took up a lot of kitchen space and I didn't much like the result. So I tried making by hand again yesterday, left the dough to rise for hours, "knocked it back", set into the tin, left for another hour - loaf similar to house brick in texture. Going to try one of Girl called Jack's bread recipes next, but any tips welcome!

Hmm, that's usually a too hot oven or left for too long.

How about a semi steamed bread (as it's cooked in a pot with the lid on) with no kneading? This is the most reliable bread I have found.

http://www.thecomfortofcooking.com/2013/04/no-knead-crusty-artisan-bread.html

pollys

After a shockingly expensive March where I lost all track of my grocery spending I'm back for a very frugal April. Please could you put me down for £350 looking forward to getting back on track.

Polly

Frugalwannabe

Evening all :-)

Spent £15.41 at L1dl and think I'm definitely going to try and get the bulk of our shopping there it's so much cheaper!

Islandmaid

Just popping in to do the NSD X 3 dance

:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j

I've got to be REALLY good this month, as March wiped me out and I have a nasty overdraft to kill.....

Freezer provided chicken for a satay chicken stirfry tonight, fridge had onions, a red pepper and broccoli

Got some stewing steak out of freezer for a stew tomorrow, with rest of broccoli, roasted new potatoes and HM freezer stash yorkies- LO,s will make a pie.

Dried porchini risotto for Wednesday - will need to buy milk and cat food by then