February 2020 Grocery Challenge

Finstickle

StripeyTightsSpottySocks

Thank you

I think its because I'm on a phone it's a bit tricky 😬😬😬

Herbyme

STSSocks: about the rice: I buy dried easycook rice, no fuss at all, just boil in lots of water and drain, never sticks. You can buy boil in the bag which is just the same stuff in a bag at twice the price (probably!)

Doom_and_Gloom

Rice cooker/multicooker/electric pressure cooker to cook rice.
I prefer to use the multicooker I have to cook rice on it's own. They aren't too expensive and can really help in the kitchen. The multicooker I have even makes cakes, good ones too (I've made the wheatabix cake but made it with nutri-brex, gluten free flour and also made vegan and it got wolfed down by my friends!)
Honestly getting a multicooker that works for rice, grains (quinoa/buckwheat), can do porridge, cakes etc was one of the best things I did. Up there was my pressure cooker, between the two I get easy quick meals with little fuss.

supersaver1000

Just chiming in with rice cooking. We cook ours in the microwave using a microwave cooker. It takes about 10 mins (2 x 5 mins) to heat it up and then I leave it to stand for a about 10 mins as it keeps cooking/soaking up the water. I think its trial and error with the quantity of water and timing but I did read that you shouldn't really stir the rice when cooking as that can make it soggy. I bought some cheap rice the other day and it came out really soggy, but the next time I cooked it was perfect. Maybe a little too much water the first time. I usually buy Tilda basmati rice from the Asian supermarket, in huge bags but so much cheaper, but I may try the cheaper version next time.

Here's the rice cooker we have now Rice Cooker its nearly £11, but I only paid a fiver for it a few years ago. There are lots on the market to choose from though. Its basically a plastic pot with an inner lid and a top lid with catches to hold it down. It's important to have the lid combination otherwise it bubbles over. We also store left over rice in the fridge in it and you can use it to reheat for a couple of mins in the microwave. OH has been know to add his curry to the leftovers and use it as a bowl as well :rotfl: oh well it saves on the washing up.

lantanna

£23 on a impulse boredom shop in Asda.

It’s done now, only went in for wine. Came out with tissues and a new jug of all things....

Esthermate

£120 again, please.

Jacs205

Thank you for new thread. My 'February' officially starting tomorrow on pay day. I'm hoping after trying January I am being more realistic by saying £450 for shopping for the month and I won't include petrol, birthdays etc in that. I'm still getting the hang of this but should be able to do that! The first £50 is coming out in cash tomorrow to buy cat and dog food, loo rolls, cleaning and laundry stuff for the whole month. Sorry for rambling on but wanted to say thank you to you all too for helping me see where I am going wrong with all my silly impulse buying and over-stocking

supersaver1000

Second shop from the February wage today. Just a few bits - bread, coffee, tea and some vinegar for £10.75. A little bit more than the norm but special teabags and coffee pods - our little treat, but it does seem to have eaten into our budget.

£42.07/£270

purpleybat

hello all,

can i be put down for £140 this month please. there are 3 adults for all meals to be catered for this month and my freezers are starting to look rather 'holey'
i have my temporary teeth removed tomorrow and my new 10 crowns (had 16 done in total) put on, i am sooooooo looking forward to being able to eat proper food again and not cooked to death pap that requires little chewing. so i have upped budget a little bit to buy some raw meat to try new recipes out in celebration.

PipneyJane

Count me in, please, Elsiepac. £120 as usual for me and DH, but it may increase if we’ve got anything left from January. (I haven’t tallied up yet.)

Thank you for running the thread, Elsiepac. It is appreciated, particularly since you’re really busy.

- Pip