October 2023 Grocery Challenge

Suffolk_lass

goldfinches said:

I did a couple of shops yesterday afternoon in preparation for a planned cooking session either this evening or tomorrow morning. I bought frozen spinach, parsley, 3x leeks, baby carrots, cider vinegar, 2x bananas and vegan dark chocolate from M*rks for £9.44 and then went on to Sainsby's where I bought white vinegar and frozen fruit for £3.39.

The cider vinegar, bananas and chocolate are for this recipe which I'm planning to make to celebrate the birthday of one of my friends so I'll let you know what the verdict is later on this week.

The other bits are mostly for this recipe which I'll be making in the oven at the same time as this one for baked apples.

That makes my new monthly figure £63.81/£170 and my average daily spend is now £4.25.
The baking budget new monthly figure is £5.82/£20.

That has sparked a memory. My baked apples recipe goes back to school days when I omitted to run the knife around the waist of the apples and ended up with a Vesuvius apple! These days I put a Christmas leftover stoned medjool date in an apple (used to be sultanas, stuffed tight) and just a tiny bit of butter on top, sprinkled with soft brown sugar. I'm not a cinnamon fan now (since pregnancy - weird!) and used to put orange juice in the dish but lemon does now, for a tangy sauce to counteract the date. It is compulsory here to have it with Bird's Custard!

JingsMyBucket

Hi all, just caught up on the thread. We just walked in the house after being away for nearly a week. Before heading off, we had spent £53.06 in various shops. On the way back home on the train today, I stopped into a train station M & S and bought a few bits to last us for dinner and tomorrow’s lunch. I spent £10.80 on sausages, strawberries, ciabatta (to have with soup), and a couple other items. 

£238.08/ £320 spent. £81.92 remaining. 

I was planning to get a Tesco delivery for our return this evening but decided against it and opted to just walk there in the morning to do a small shop. Pretty much yoghurt, milk, etc to tide us over for a bit. Lidl is having German week for the next few days and I’d like to get a couple items so wanted to save room in the budget for that. I’ll shunt the big Tesco order down to the first week of November where we’ll restock on basics like olive oil, toilet paper and heavy laundry items. 

goldfinches

I baked a gluten free version of this vegan chocolate cake this morning which was a resounding success. 



The Baking Budget is now £10.27/£20 with one Wednesday left in this month for which I'm planning to make Anzac biscuits using ingredients from stores.
I bought two jars of decaf instant coffee from Sainsbury's for £9 this afternoon which makes my new monthly total £81.89/£170 and my average daily spend is £4.54.

AnotherNewDay

Checking in at £77.29/£100.....It seems with the changing weather both cats have decided it's time for their winter stomachs....which sees them eating more in general and especially wet food 

2Scratters

@strandedinaber re your shrivelled carrots I have only recently (in the last month tbh) found you can put your carrots in water using a sealed tub and change the water every 3 days. I am amazed at the results. 

I have only just removed the £200 allowance for the month from my account. Last month it was withdrawn on the 16th. This money is set aside from my pay day 27th monthly. This means I have nearly wrapped over a full month. There is food in the freezer too. There is quite a bit of soup based meals in there that need a good go at so a refresh of stock meals can be made. 

2 Scratters xx

lilly81

I had my operation on the 10th October and am now home recovering.
Got £15 Tesco voucher from the school for free school meals to buy lunches in the half term.
I'm able to do a weekly online Tesco click and collect order as a local charity pick it up for me and put it away. It's the little things that help.
All my frozen prepared meals are really helpful and tasty.
I had a Chinese takeaway on Monday which is included in the budget.
Budget update
£170.39/£250 

lilly81

Hey @chirpychick

Have you looked at sources of free food? OLIO and the local community fridge?

I'm gluten free and the local community fridge keeps those items back for people who ask. 

JingsMyBucket

£30.05 just spent at Tesco for yoghurt, milk, double thick cream, mashed potatoes, tomatoes, mushrooms, YS wonky strawberries, pickles, sauerkraut, and some other items. I was very proud of myself for putting back lots of items today, including some YS deals. 

I'm trying to use up our stores. The mashed potatoes will be served on Friday evening with some slow cooked pork, apples and sauerkraut from the freezer. The double thick cream will accompany an apple and pear crumble I'll make with the fruit languishing in the bowl. Leek and potato soup will be on the menu this weekend to use up those veg, and I'll pull some pancetta from the freezer to top off our bowls. YUM!

£268.13/ £320 spent. £51.87 remaining. 

I'll try to keep my Lidl shopping to £25 this weekend to have about £26 left for the last week of the month. That should cover any extra milk, yoghurt or fruit we may need. Fingers crossed!

joedenise

Another spend in Tesco and Iceland for mainly fruit, yoghurt and meat for Sunday lunch.  Total spend to date is now £114.57/£200 leaving £85.43 for the rest of the month.

mumtoomany

Hi all. Just updating the spends. Shopping Wednesday and the bits DD1 picked up last week. Total, £37.51. New total to date is £1544.19/£1860.

not much needed for the rest of October, hugs to all mumtoomany.xxx