October 2023 Grocery Challenge

Soontobeoap

Weekly shop done at Aldi. I was a bit concerned going around the shop as I noticed price roses on almost everything! However got to checkout and total was only £28.00 so pleased with that. Lets hope we last the week without another one! 

Blackcats

Very late joining this month as we were on holiday at the start of the month.
Monthly budget £300.  Balance is now £180

Pennypincin

98p left this week.
I popped into Morrisons yesterday and today and bought a few bits including salad.
Today I bought several 500g bags of fresh, pre-chopped vegetables reduced I'm going to use to batch bake something to squeeze into the freezer.
Fingers crossed I don't leave the freezer door open again as I ended up defrosting and had to bin most of a loaf of bread and some wraps that I'd bought reduced.

Pennypincin

Id appreciate some tips on meal planning and shopping on a budget please.
I'm struggling to get the hang of it.
I'm finding it shocking how much things are going up, even as a vegetarian.
I know I should spend some time looking into vegetarian recipes I can freeze and bulk cooking.

joedenise

Things like curries are good to batch cook and freeze, as are lasagne but make them and allow to go completely cold before portioning and freezing.

Soups are great for batch cooking and freezing too.  If you like puddings then it’s worth using frozen fruit to make into crumble, pies or to have with yoghurt.

A soup and pudding night once a week is a good way of reducing costs too particularly if you already have everything in the fridge or freezer.

goldfinches

@Pennypincin - I find batch cooking works well for me because I'm willing to spend more time making something if I'm not doing it every day. I tend to choose recipes that cater for 6 and then reheat a portion, add some frozen veg or salad and a carbohydrate like bulgur or cous cous. It's useful to make something that you can reheat quickly using whatever kitchen equipment you've got so keep that in mind when choosing what to make. There's also the possibility of making some type of pie that you could eat both hot and cold. 
There is this budget planner on the BBC Good Food site plus there are a lot more veggie recipe links at the bottom of the page, is that any use to you?

thara1996

Heya. We are doing a whole slow cooker day in two weeks time. And any ideas for what to cook will be appreciated thank you so much here. 

Soontobeoap

Pizzas are so expensive to buy now that I grab left over garlic bread from freezer grate a bit of cheese on top, add tomato and grill. Also I love a jacket potato with beans or cheese and cheesy pasta is quick and easy. We even have beans on toast once a fortnight now. I often follow that one with an apple pie or lemon tart. We have changed our mindset completely and I no longer feel bad when we have a snack meal like omelette or scrambled egg. It also gives me more time to do other things so its a win win. 

I spent all morning in the kitchen today using up things lingering in the fridge. I put together 3 shepherds pie bases (i will add potato as and when I have left overs to mash up) I grated the 2 past their best carrots and added them too. I picked the runner beans from the garden and froze them. The plants are still producing well. A neighbour gave me 6 large cooking apples so I stewed and portioned those for freezer pie filling. Pasties bought as a lunch and not eaten when DS was staying, have been taken out of freezer for tomorrow to eat with roast potatos and the half swede that I have left.

I lost the plot a little bit over the summer months and I feel that today I am back on track. 
 

otb666

490/600 looking on track this month Things done differently changed fruit and veg outlet and a lot cheaper Tried musle foods worked well for hubby to keep him in meat, Bought plain flour and used to make dumplings/pitta and pizza. Used up o/o/date tins with lentils.  Had covid jabs which meant we were sleeping a lot.  One week left to go as i go from 23rd to 23rd 

Suffolk_lass

We are still using up food out of the freezer but I had to shop yesterday as the last of the cat litter was deployed (she is an indoor girl now the road is so busy). The meal-plan for the week is written, and there is a bit of flexibility as I have one study group, one evening out from 7pm, and son coming on Tuesday who may or may not eat with us. I have pulled out a pack of lamb's hearts I will stuff and slow cook, and half a pack of mince (so about 250g) that I plan to make either a chilli or a ragu with. I have leeks and another cauliflower from my shop so cheesy leeks with jacket potato and maybe cauliflower cheese or roasted cauliflower are in there too. The remaining half a pack of very good (Sainsbugs) fish fingers and chips are tentatively planned for Friday too.

I will update my signature when I have sorted the receipt and apportioned it