September 2019 Grocery Challenge

cuddlymarm

Hi Elsie
Can I join again for this month please.
We finally move to DS2s for a month while our flat is renovated in about a week. So I’m aiming at using as much as possible of what we have in and moving what’s left with us. As this month and next will be a bit of a mystery shopping wise I’m just going to aim for as little as possible. I do my grocery challenge yearly anyway so I’ll just keep a tally on there.
Then when I get back in I’m aiming on stocking up again and also starting putting a couple of bits a week away for Christmas.
Good luck for a good and frugal month guys
Cuddles

PipneyJane

JingsMyBucket wrote: »

The elderflower cordial was a new thing for us and OH wanted to try it. You can taste the sucralose but it’s not too bad compared to most fake sweeteners I’ve tasted here in the U.K. I kind of wish companies would just reduce sugar without adding extra fake sweeteners. The drinks/food would likely taste just fine otherwise.

Jings, I was just wondering: with your foreign palate, do you find things in general are a lot sweeter here in the UK? I know you've spent years living in Europe as well as the U.S., but do you notice a difference?

Speaking as an Aussie, I used to notice that anything that was routinely sweetened (e.g. icing, chocolate bars, squash/cordial) was considerably sweeter than the equivalent at home. Even when you can buy the same brands - e.g. Cadbury's Dairy Milk - they are considerably sweeter here. (After 30 years, I've grown accustomed to it, but I still prefer the Australian version of Dairy Milk.)

- Pip

elsiepac

Budgets updated to here

Welcome to all the new joiners! As you've seen so far, we're a very friendly bunch on here!

I've not done well at all so far and I have 19 days left of my September budget. As usual.. cupboards are stocked to the gunnels. However I've also made sure I've got in enough of my A1pr0 coconut "drink" for the rest of the month as it's on offer at the moment and I have it every day in my coffee.

This week I actually only did a £16 spend on my main shop on Sunday and I've not topped up (except for treats which is a lot of where I'm going wrong with weight and money) but this was enough to prep some meals, prep some bits ie baking some potatoes so they were quick to nuke during the week, and roasting some veggies to have as accompaniments or the main - ie one night with pasta etc. This "partial" prep worked very well for me and I'm going to try and replicate next week. I have enough leftovers to feed me tonight, and then I still have salad stuff, 3 courgettes, a few potatoes, a few onions and a butternut. I'm out for tea tomorrow but I am doing lunch for mum and I so need to plan what I'll do. Sunday morning I need to grocery shop and do all my prepping for next week as I'm then at my friends for the rest of the day (will take my tea with me).So need to try and do all my house work tonight and plan all food... feel tired thinking about it already lol

joedenise

Just a small spend this morning - 2 packs of 4 baked beans from Lidl for £1.98. It was cheaper to park in Lidl and buy the beans, which always come in handy, than to pay to park:money:.


Denise

joedenise

£153.77 left for month

bettertogether

Had an unexpected lunch out with work team today so my NSD turned into £7 in a local pub - but it was a great break needed at the end of a tough week.

Going forward I really need to tighten the belt - got to clear some debt and start saving to move house.

No-spend dinner tonight - got some apples and peanut butter that I was supposed to eat for lunch and then a family party with buffet tonight so the kids will fill up on nibbly bits.

Got enough food in the fridge and freezer for the weekend - eggs and bacon for breakfasts, homemade tortilla pizzas for lunches both days (tortilla wraps/ tomato puree/ cheese and cooked meats), chickpea and spinach curry saturday night and a roast chicken dinner sunday. Will do a shop on Sunday once I've meal planned - going to try and use as much of the food up in the freezer as possible next week as it needs defrosting before I fill it again!

JingsMyBucket

PipneyJane wrote: »

Jings, I was just wondering: with your foreign palate, do you find things in general are a lot sweeter here in the UK? I know you've spent years living in Europe as well as the U.S., but do you notice a difference?

Speaking as an Aussie, I used to notice that anything that was routinely sweetened (e.g. icing, chocolate bars, squash/cordial) was considerably sweeter than the equivalent at home. Even when you can buy the same brands - e.g. Cadbury's Dairy Milk - they are considerably sweeter here. (After 30 years, I've grown accustomed to it, but I still prefer the Australian version of Dairy Milk.)

- Pip

Yes definitely. Chocolate, icing, jams. everything is so much sweeter in the U.K. than in the US. It’s difficult for me eat cakes here because they’re so sweet. I can usually only have a few bites before I stop but this is fine because I shouldn’t be eating cakes anyway, really.

Back in 2014 when I was first living here I bought some Green & Black’s dark chocolate which is known to be a good quality chocolate in the US. I was shocked at how much sugar was in it, to the point where I could crunch sugar crystals. Ever since then, I haven’t really bought it and it’s difficult to find a high percentage chocolate in the stores that doesn’t have a lot of sugar. Even for 90% or 95% bars there is still quite a bit of sugar.

As for other items and savoury foods, yes to those too. Yoghurts have a ton of sugar and I don’t bother buying jarred salsas in the U.K. because they kind of taste like sweet tomato ketchup. I usually make my own or just wait when until I’m back in the US and can get proper Tex Mex or Mexican food.

Doom_and_Gloom

We spent £12.56 today. Tomorrow and Sunday will be NSD's, hoping Monday will be also.

£108.09/£200.
£91.91 Left.

JingsMyBucket

joedenise wrote: »

Just a small spend this morning - 2 packs of 4 baked beans from Lidl for £1.98. It was cheaper to park in Lidl and buy the beans, which always come in handy, than to pay to park:money:.
Denise

That is so smart. What a good hack. I also love a previous poster’s idea to trim cuts off the steaks to use later for curry. Such a good way to make things stretch further.

Today was a NSD for me. I’m tempted to buy a ham tomorrow to cook because one of our neighbours filled the hallway with the delicious smells of a ham cooking. Even my vegetarian OH started craving ham because it smelled so good! If I do buy one, it’ll be smallish since it’ll just be me eating it.

Here’s a ham question: Do you have to soak UK hams first to rid it of extra salt before boiling or roasting it? I’m wondering so I can time the cooking tomorrow. If I have soak it first, I'll head to the store first thing in the morning versus waiting until the afternoon.

TOTALS SO FAR:
£74.91/£170
3 / 10 NSD

fairy3

Morning all

Small spends to report - £11.54 on mainly fresh veg/milk and bread with some YS bargains thrown in - 2 sea bass fillets for £1.24 and pack sausages for 88p both from the coop so quality is good. Still eating out of the freezer and cupboards and making small spaces in there!

JingsMyBucket - Re the ham question - it depends whether it is smoked or not. I generally buy the unsmoked kind and use as is but for smoked would soak first. Am sure everyone has different ways of doing though.

Have a lovely day all