April 2017 Grocery Challenge

Wysiwyg49

elsiepac wrote: »

This month I have been really lax on planning. It REALLY shows! I am pleased that I'm still tracking everything even though it's alost cause budget wise, however I have to get my planning head back on and get back in my routines.

We all have months like that At least you haven't thought "oh well I've blown it now" and carried on!

pamsdish

Top ups at Lidl and Morries total £25-44, sig updated

purpleybat

have done my big shop and to be honest it wasn't half as bad as I was expecting it to be, it came to £44.81 so a good £20 less than I was expecting.
the fridge is now groaning and got a few bits from lidle's greek range, i'm rather fond of the frozen savoury pastries, and now my nephew is here for a few days to eat me into poverty they'll keep us all going.
glad to say I got veg (both for cooking and salad) in that amount so hoping to not have to shop again til the end of the month, apart from milk and bread.
when he's gone it'll be back to using up the UFOs but i'm happy to cook him what he wants

purpleybat

can I just ask what nutritional yeast is please? it doesn't sound very nice, tho i'm assuming (probably wrongly) its a bit like marmite

[Deleted User]

purpleybat wrote: »

can I just ask what nutritional yeast is please? it doesn't sound very nice, tho i'm assuming (probably wrongly) its a bit like marmite

It's used a lot by Vegans. It tastes very cheesy, and you add to sauces etc to give a cheese taste. Comes in powder form, a bit like oats. Some people sprinkle it on everything, I use mainly in sauces, soups.

Thanks for the Ocado voucher suggestions. It didn't quite work out. My daughter was putting in an order, as Frys products were on 1/2 price, but the voucher did not go through, as apparently her previous shop, which was rescheduled due to lack of funds, was counted as her first order, even though it was not delivered. Bit unfortunate really, but she did get the stuff she wanted though.

Spinach. Not done this myself, as I buy the frozen stuff for stews, but you can blitz it with a little bit of water and freeze in ice cube trays, to use in stews, curries etc.

Spent £10 - got an absolute ton of stuff. Need a few more bits, tomatoes, rolls, but hoping to not spend more than £10, so hopefully should have some left in the budget this month. Have updated sig.

PennyGrabber

Hello everyone!

I have had a wonderful week on holiday in Mallorca - eaten too much, paddled loads, sunbathed loads... It was awesome!!

Back to reality now, children needed breakfast before being dropped at their dad's. Didn't have bread or milk, thanks to only getting home at 4am!! Gave them chopped apple, chunks of cheese and some cheddars, followed by some crisps. They loved it! Then, after dropping them off, I went to aldililly to get the weekly shop in. Considering I didn't have much fridge stuff in, I spent less than I thought - £23.33. That was lots of veg and a massive stock up of Apple juice cartons for lunch boxes - they don't like any other drink in the boxes.

Brought home quite a bit of food from holiday, which will feed into the snacks over the next few weeks.

Had a big lunch just now, a tuna salad. Should only need a snack for supper now.

PG x

PennyGrabber

Forgot to say my total - now at £47.18/£80.

PG x

K9sandFelines

Everything came in the Tesco shop and today i have spent £1.72 i think on Tahini, which i already had in right at the front of the cupboard, albeit on the top shelf. Also some bits my vegan friend picked up for me from Wing Yip, jackfruit, 2x vegan condensed milk and two Mai Siam thai curry pastes. She couldn't remember what i owed her so i offered her the tenner and said to square it another time if incorrect. She also got a few frozen bits for me, but can't get them off her yet.

Wysiwyg49

Running total is £256.78 so I have £63.22 for the last week of the challenge :eek: Been looking at some meal plans I have saved, the Skint Dad one looks like stuff we would eat (sausage casserole etc.). Time to get a whole chicken again, and make some soup - still got stock in freezer from the last one.

Also have mince and casserole steak in the freezer as I got twin packs on SO last week. And tons of veg in the fridge. And (thanks for the advice) 4 ziplock bags of spinach in the freezer!

Finally did the enchiladas last night and doing gammon steak tonight. Might use the steak tomorrow in a suet crust pie. Also going to invest in a proper pizza baking tray with holes in to try to nail that crispy crust!!

Pleased to see that I have only spent £9 this month on work lunches when it was a whopping £49 in March! The joys of YNAB. It does make you keep an eye on the little things and I already feel I know where the money is going after 2 months. I think the downside is, in the early days it makes you feel a bit bleak cos by 4 days after payday you have everything assigned, and although your bank account is healthy you know you haven't got any splurge money!! Boo - is that what growing up feels like?! (I am over 50 btw :rotfl:)

Islandmaid

NSD again today...

Wednesday is my normal shopping day, but going to try and push it to friday this week, fridge audit tomorrow