December 2023 Grocery Challenge

joedenise

@CoffeeSonata - you can definitely use the frozen fish to make fish pie but really need some kind of smoked fish and something like salmon so you get a mix of flavour.  I sometimes add a handful of frozen prawns as well.

You could also use it to make fish cakes by mixing with an equal amount of mash.  These can be frozen again if you cook them first.

Soontobeoap

I have just done a tesco order for Wednesday. Beef joint half price. A roasting joint was much cheaper than brisket. I will cut the joint in half and freeze it. Then each joint should make 2 stews and some pasties in addition to a roast! Also a lot of our favourites where on offer with club card too. Flora buttery pro active, lactose free cathedral city, robinsons blackcurrent and apple squash, chicken. Result was order is roughly £52.00 we have saved £17.00 with club card and will have plenty of meat into January. Not coming until Wednesday, so will update then. This bulk meat buy may push my budget over but It will help in future. No point desperately trying to stick to budget when you get offers like that and I havnt strayed from our usual choices, I have just bought them cheaper!

As you can tell I am wrestling with myself as to whether I have done the right thing! 😂. If I can still stay on budget I will be very happy. I will be so pleased if I can come in roughly same as last year with the way that prices have gone up. 

JingsMyBucket

Afternoon all. It’s beautiful and snowy over here in our part of Scotland. Mr. Jings and I walked out to the high street to enjoy the snow and eat lunch then run errands. First stop was our local fruit and veg box provider to get some local eggs. £5.40 for two dozen eggs We wanted to support them for Small Business Saturday here in Scotland. Is it happening in the rest of the country? 

Next was lunch then dropping off Mr. Jings’ clothes donation to the British Heart Foundation. We hit M and S where we meant to only get food but I also bought us a bunch of thermals for our early Christmas presents. In the food hall we spent £26.65 on loads of berries, cut pineapple, leeks, garlic, bean sprouts, limes, herbs, yoghurt, and big block tiramisu. Mr. Jings categorically said he’d been very good the past week and very much deserved a treat. ☺️😂 We also picked up a free mini cranberry and orange panettone due to the M & S 12 days of Christmas offer.

£5.79 spent at Savers for tissues, trash bags, hand soap refill. I also checked out the prices for big boxes of detergent we’ll replace later this month. I’ll compare those to Tesco and Morrison’s prices online later today. 

£37.84 / £300.00 spent. £262.16 remaining

CoffeeSonata

joedenise said:

@CoffeeSonata - you can definitely use the frozen fish to make fish pie but really need some kind of smoked fish and something like salmon so you get a mix of flavour.  I sometimes add a handful of frozen prawns as well.

You could also use it to make fish cakes by mixing with an equal amount of mash.  These can be frozen again if you cook them first.

@J@joedenise  thanks! I think fish pie might be the way to go. I have frozen prawns also, my mother in law for some reason usually comes with multiple packs of prawns for us! Smoked salmon in it sounds good. I also have plenty of potatoes for some reason!  I hadn't thought of fishcakes, which is ridiculous really since I make fish cakes from tins, or that I could make them and refreeze once cooked. 
Really appreciate all the ideas. 

joedenise

CoffeeSonata said:

joedenise said:

@CoffeeSonata - you can definitely use the frozen fish to make fish pie but really need some kind of smoked fish and something like salmon so you get a mix of flavour.  I sometimes add a handful of frozen prawns as well.

You could also use it to make fish cakes by mixing with an equal amount of mash.  These can be frozen again if you cook them first.

@J@joedenise  thanks! I think fish pie might be the way to go. I have frozen prawns also, my mother in law for some reason usually comes with multiple packs of prawns for us! Smoked salmon in it sounds good. I also have plenty of potatoes for some reason!  I hadn't thought of fishcakes, which is ridiculous really since I make fish cakes from tins, or that I could make them and refreeze once cooked. 
Really appreciate all the ideas. 

You need a salmon fillet not smoked salmon!  You want something like smoked haddock or smoked cod for the smokiness.  Not sure smoked salmon would work but not actually tried it - it really needs to be chunks of fish rather than slices.

I poach the fish while I'm making the sauce; once cooked flake the fish and stir through the sauce.  Add a handful or so of frozen prawns and tip into the dish you're using to make the fish pie.  Top with the mash.  You could add some cheese over the top if you wanted the extra flavour!  I sometimes add frozen peas along with the prawns or alternative cook them and serve alongside.

ancientmum

joedenise, that's how I make fish pie, and you've reminded me how long it's been since I did so.  Our local fishmonger sells a fish pie mix, basically just off cuts of bits of cod, salmon, smoked haddock, that can be very tasty.
CoffeeSonata:  I think you are doing fantastically to be working at your budget after being so unwell. As others have said, we all have different costs and needs so the challenge is to ourselves rather than a competition with others.  I find working out my annual spends means that I can buy in bulk one month and cut back another without the mental load of juggling between everyday and bulk budgets. So it is whatever works for you. 

joedenise

I agree about the budgets @ancientmum - I have several separate pots including a Bulk Fund which I don't track on here.  The Grocery Challenge only includes food for the current month plus meat from the butchers which will only make one or two meals.  

mumtoomany

First spend of the month, £3.40, on milk. Bought local again. Total spend for the year now, £1734.46/£1860. £125.54 left for the year. Amazingly in doing better this year than last, despite the increase in prices. Will have to start thinking about next year soon. Hugs, mumtoomany.xxx

K9sandFelines

Apologies that I've been missing in action on here, I am still doing a tally of everything. 

Grocery spends have fluctuated, depending on bulk buys, whether DD2 is staying over during a uni holiday, and also because I'm now including cleaning  and toiletry spends in my monthly total, not just food. I wanted a truer reflection of what was being spent. 

I'm on a super tight budget and I'm vegan; so aswell as not purchasing animal products I try my best to not buy fake meats either apart from for sandwiches (due to cost). Even then I tend to have burritos, houmous or avocado/mushrooms on wraps/bread/toast. I don't always succeed, but generally use tofu as a replacement in bigger meals and lots of beans and legumes. Also, to help "survive" I often get TGTG boxes and Olio, aswell as any reductions. All this being said my spend last month was about £190 with toiletries and a few spendy food items ( e. g. peanut butter powder, but that lasted a year last time); compared to about £120 when I'm mostly alone and utilising everything and making everything out of nothing, and no toiletries or cleaning products added in. 

I am going to join in again from next year with a refreshed budget, now I've had a few months of doing it this way. However, in June it will change again as DD2 will graduate, and come back to live permanently. So, costs will shoot up.

Anyways I've six months to try and tackle getting things in order.
Hope everyone is doing good. 
Look forward to joining you all again properly in 2024.

otb666

200/600 3 weeks left until 23rd should be ok