January 2008 Grocery Challenge

Mollymop5

mrssnowy wrote: »

Had to look up the weights for a recipe for hummus,I tend to sling things in, and taste and add !
Anyway-a recipe for hummus
15oz chickpeas
2 garlic cloves
3-4 pieces of sun dried tomato(2 tbls tahini paste if you have an open jar lurking in the fridge,like I had for near 18 months!)
up to 1/2 pint skimmed milk OR olive oil OR veg.oil-don't add all in 1 go,test texture!!
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Blitz all together in processor,adjust consistency with little extra liquid,not oil.
Can use tinned chick peas in which case drain and use some of the liquid in making.
Hope this all makes sense.

thanks I'm going to have to give it a go

Mollymop5

the_cat wrote: »

Hi everyone
Well I've just got back from this weeks shopping and I'm doing strangely well. Have got £81 left to last me and only one shopping week to go!

Not sure whether to use this to stock up on any cheap stuff/offers for next month or save any surplus. Any ideas?

To all newbies, welcome! Stick at it, it really does get much easier once you get into the swing of it. Don't expect to get down to the smallest of the budgets on here to start with, aim to cut a small chunk off your current spend for the first month Ohand meal planning is a godsend! Make that your first change if poss.

I'm planning to save any that I haven't spent.I think it will be better in my account than in food in my cupboard.I'm hoping that I can save a little every month

sweetpeas_2

hi mumsrus, welcome!
its only the first time ive done this challenge, but im doing really well with it so far this month. before my first shop, i went through every cupboard and wrote a list of what i had. then i sat down on the tesco website and checked out how much it would cost me to put meals together using what i already had in the cupboards.
for instance, i had a huge bag of pasta- £1 from asda, so when i went shopping i got stuff to do spag bol one night, then i got stuff to have chicken legs with pasta salad, then i got 2 tins tuna and some sweetcorn. so id made 3 meals and spent around a tenner. so 3 out of the 7 meals for that 1 week were sorted for £10. you will find your own way to do it, but if you do the meal planning thing it will get you off on a good start.

i find that were eating alot healthier aswell, mostly because im having to put a bit more thought into meals now im doing this challange. whereas before i would go shopping each week, spend around £100-120 (which is MORE than excessive for 2 adults and 2 kiddies) and buy loads of unhealthy trash. now i plan each meal on its own around what ive got left/spare in the cupboards, so its seeming alot healthier.

xx nog xx

Irish_Mom

Hi Guys,

I haven't dropped off the planet but am in bed sick at the mo. I will updtae my sig soon. Came in underbudget last week - this week will be cutting it very fine.

Hopefully I'll feel better this afternoon and do a proper listing of where I am at

Sorry for grammer - head fuzzy[IMG]http://smileys.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!/cat/15/15_6_26.gif[/IMG]

IM





[IMG]http://www.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb114&pp=ZSYYYYYYYYIE[/IMG]

honeybe21

mumsrus wrote: »

hi, i really need to start budgeting on my food and grocery's i seem to spend an absolute fortune i think im addicted to buying too much, so this month i am going to collect all my reciepts to see how much i am actually spending and will be joining you next month, any tips would be greatly apprieciated as any money saved will be going to pay my fat credit card bill

i save alot bcuz none of the adults in my house (theres 3) buy alcohol,they drink it when its given us for free but we dont buy it we dont really go out drinking or cinema and dont buy junk food.
also we have taken to buying asda smart price and i havent really noticed i difference in food quality.
it helped me doing meal plans and doing my shopping list with that in mind.
il see wednesday how much i will save but hopefully will be some

good luck huny xxxx

tattycath

Hi everyone. I know some I finding this challenge more challenging than they expected. I found this old thread and thought it may inspire us all: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=9015&highlight=only+got+%A31+left
I know it's a bit out of date probably pricewise, but I felt inspired when I read it and just maybe it will inspire you. I intend to set this challenge for my kids-not only do they get to pick what they want to eat but they save me money too!!!

MRSMCAWBER

Afternoon everyone..

Well as promised... i haven't gone shopping today :j

Decided to make it through another day before i shop..so for dinner tonight i am doing a frittata with salad :drool: .. It was going to be omelett(sp) but i figured if i added a bit of cooked pasta it would give us a bit of carb plus i can use less egg :rotfl: ..so it will be:-
leftover bits off of the gamon i cooked and froze, peppers, mushrooms and peas (from the freezer), a bit of cooked pasta, an onion, and a bit of cheese oh and 3 eggs. I have a feeling that when that lot is done there will be too much for the 2 of us -so i will have leftovers for lunch tomorrow

But i can't see me getting away without shopping tomorrow... but i will only NEED :-
potato
milk
lettuce and apples :j

I am loving this challenge... it is making me think outside of the box and im coming up with some rather yummy creations for our meals..and hubby is loving it so much -he hasn't yet realised just how little i have spent :shhh:

The_Cat..
i divide my budget into 4 in my head and then at the end of each week anything left over gets put away and i start with the same weekly amount €50 for me at the moment... come the end of the month all the leftovers will get put into the bank. I think i find it much easier..as each week you have the same amount so you don't get weeks where you eat like a king and then have less money left for the rest of the month so have to scrimp...

don't know if you might find it helps

redmel1621

Hi all

I have gone a bit over this week, but I now have enough freezer food to last for the rest of the month so I shouldn't need to get too much on my next shop....
One thing I notice about this challenge is how amazingly fast the weeks are passing us by....

Mel x

mrsdoyle1981

tattycath wrote: »

Hi everyone. I know some I finding this challenge more challenging than they expected. I found this old thread and thought it may inspire us all: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=9015&highlight=only+got+%A31+left
I know it's a bit out of date probably pricewise, but I felt inspired when I read it and just maybe it will inspire you. I intend to set this challenge for my kids-not only do they get to pick what they want to eat but they save me money too!!!

Thanks for posting that thread....ive just read through it. Its great!:T Really gave me the kick up the !!!!! that i needed!

theamazinggem

like that thread. reminded me of being a student... i lived for weeks on end on pasta with tinned tomatoes with a sqeeze of brown sauce in it... great for flavour actually...