November 2007 Grocery Challenge

tattycath

rosieben wrote: »

I grate cheese before I freeze it, sometimes it will be crumbly when it comes out of the freezer, plus its nice to have it already grated for cooking! You could just put the packet in though if you prefer it.

It never stays long in my freezer - mine is always used within 2 months but I dont know what the recommended freezer time is.

hth

Thank you, that is so helpful. I shall now be avidly grating cheese and freezing it. What a great idea. Must think I'm barking mad-I'd never have thought of that. lol

:A

tattycath

MRSMCAWBER wrote: »

Hi there tattycath

You can just throw in the blocks of cheese, or grate it first - so you don't have to take a whole block out at a time..

As for the veggies.. get a big pan of boiling water, prepare your veg as usual - throw them in the pan and cook for a couple of mins..fish out and drop them into a sink of cold water until cold.... drain and leave to dry (so they don't freeze together)before bagging up and whacking in the freezer... the mange tout i would drop into the pan and fish straight out again as they take next to no time to cook

and well done on the super shopping trip

Thank you very much, saves me trawling through my vast collection of books.
You are a mine (or should that be mind??? or perhaps both??!!) of brilliant information!!
:A
I shall be sorting the veg out as well as the cheese now.

fingersxed

Hi everybody

Count me in for the november challenge. Did it last month just! budget was £400 spent £392.31. This month setting budget at £380. Going to log everything down again cause can't believe how much this family spends:eek:
I am also going to try and be more organised with meal plans cause this too saves no end of money too.
Good luck every one:j

Tired_Mummy

Ooops had time to kill this afternoon so ended up in Sainsburys :eek: . Spent £7.11 but did get a couple of things for DD 1st BD tea party (stupidly didn't make a list first of things I actually needed to make everything ). No doubt I'll end up in there again tomorrow buying things I actually need this time! Must try harder :rotfl:

TheBees

Hi, We would like to join too please! My hubby has just changed jobs and is on a slightly lower income (but able to live at home:smileyhea ) and we would also like to pay off some more mortgage and have a nice holiday next summer. We are a family of 4 (and one cat), are quite good with our money and keep a money book listing all our spending but want to cut down the monthly food shop and waste less.

Sept Grocery spend = £489.00
Oct Grocery spend = £339
Nov Target = sub £300.

(Our grocery spend includes food, toiletries, cat food, cleaning materials etc)

Going to do a big internet shop in the next couple of days and then top up on essentials as required.

Good luck everyone!

TheBees

PS Got my first £2 coin today (this moneysaving malarky is catching!:laugh:

TheBees

zcrat41 wrote: »

Thank you Bobbykins, that makes more sense now!! I've always put off baking seeing as I work for a bakers! But finally got fed up of 'testing' all the new products!

I've also decided to not buy shop bought cakes as they are so expensive and home made are so much nicer. I normally use the same recipe to make a batch of about 15 fairy cakes - 6 ounces of sr flour, marg and caster sugar plus 3 eggs and a dessert spoon of warm water. Throw it all in a bowl and mix until smooth. Cook at 180 degrees for 10-15 minutes. Could add cocoa or raisins for variety.
but remember to save electricity bake your cakes when your oven is already being used for something else rather than heating it up just for the cakes.
happy baking!
MichelleB

Moniker

As you can see from my signature I have spent more than a third of the budget already! But, I had a big delivery from Sainsbury yesterday and have a month's worth of dry goods I think (and wine!). Today I went in person and bought enough meat and fish for two weeks plus milk and fruit and veg for this week, so I think I can do it. It was a close run thing last month as I only came in 82p under budget (but better than the other way round).

Good luck to all you newbies - even if you don't succeed at first it is an education trying! And everyone here is so friendly and helpful!

Off to bed now as it has been a long day.

mrs_pokemon

Spent almost 1/2 my budget already and another 3 weeks to go.:eek:

Freezer and store cupboard well stocked.Hopefully l can be resourceful.

kbl

hi, just in from Christmas shopping (already budgeted for) and visiting my friend who's preggers, got off to a not so good start today, spent €9.78 in our local shop and was able to carry it out in one hand! All I got was; one multigrain loaf, a bag of carrots, two beef casserole mixes and five slices of turkey for Mr kbl's lunch. On top of that my gas tank has just emptied so need to get new one tomorrow (or is that today?) and that will cost €15. Not looking good already.

Liberty9515

No spending on groceries today, but car in garage, also have chiropody and hairdresser today! So could be an expensive day!!!!!!! :eek: