January 2008 Grocery Challenge

irishwexford

I am still within budget for this month with just one week to go. Cooked one of my free turkeys from freezer today, just had to buy some veggies and invited family for a roast. The rest of meat will be frozen for stir fry's and curry meals. Popped into our local Rainbow store friday evening and bought large bag of ripe bananas for 40p, made a loaf on Saturday and froze the rest. This afternoon I picked up bag of stir fry veggies 20p. pack of fine beans 20p and bag of spinach 20p so pleased with this. My oh is getting just like me but today in Tesco I looked for heat protection spay for hair and found one for £1.95, (my usual one is £2.99)so feeling pleased with myself I went to find oh to discover he had bought a set of phones reduced from £99 to £66. Oh well he did pay for them himself and he had decided to buy them before Christmas but glad he waited.

lingojingo

Hi everyone, just letting you know I'm still here even though I haven't posted much. Thanks to so many of you for all the helpful advice and tips, and for supporting each other through the bad days.

I can't believe i still haven't done a big shop this year!!! We're still using up Xmas surplus, so no need to buy so much next December! Mind you, the freezer's getting a bit low, so will need filling up to keep running costs down.

Was going to go to Lidl this weekend, but a friend is fitting a new kitchen for me, and that's taken up most of the time, so I didn't even leave the house. (Units were end of range ex display from MFI, bought amazingly cheaply in November, we just had to dismantle it and take them away, hob 2nd hand, so just the oven at cost price).

I can't stop popping to look at it all, it's soooooooo much nicer than before.
I feel inspired to try out some of the recipes people have posted on here now.

Sunnyday

scotrae wrote: »

By popular demand and following the acclaimed meatballs, he's my DH's much-hyped veggie burger recipe ...

Mashed potato - leftover from previous day
Diced carrots (could use leftovers instead of freshly boiled ones)
Broccoli (ditto)
Peas

(DH suggests you culd use any veg in addition to the spuds, depending on what you have leftover or in the freezer. He can't remember if he used onion - sometimes we do.)

Drain the boiled veg and mash them into the mash, which should ideally be cold as it will be easier to shape.
Add a 'hint of pepper' (hark at him!) and a sprikle of curry powder. Salt if you want to. If it's too dry you could add some butter/marg but take care that it's not too 'sloppy'.

Tip on to a flat surface and shape into a slab, about 1 inch thick - then use shaped cutters or rounds - 'healthy hearts' in this case. Put shapes on to foil on a baking tray and grill to brown the tops, turning once to crisp the other side.

We had ours served with thick homemade chips (more spuds) and a dip of tomato sauce.

quote]

Thanks scotrae,

we`re looking forwards to trying these, they sound yummy!
I fell asleep when i came home today as i was so tired and didn`t get around to making our evening meal.
DH rang for a takeaway and it cost £9, it won`t be coming out of the grocery budget though we are splitting it half and half out of our own weekly spends, it won`t be a problem for me as i`ve only spent about £4 this week on me things so it`s a little treat.
have a good evening all
SD

egon

Hi everyone,

a NSD for us today!:T

I still have some Blueberries left over (DS1 suddenly decided he doesn't like them anymore).
The obvious are muffins, can anyone point me please in the direction of an easy recipe? Never done them before.....

Also, I am sure, that I've read, that some of you plant veg and fruit in pots etc. We would like to do that too, as we only have a small garden. I would very much appreciate any tips and links. :A :A :A

We had a lovely HM lasagne with HM bread tonight.
Afterwards I realised, the whole lasagne was made with basic storecupboard ingredients.... :cool: Never been thinking about that before! :T

Thanks a lot everyone

Egon

stripey_cheese_skirt

Just a few days away staying with friends and I seem to have spent loads of money, all those lunches when you're out and about really add up (see sig )! I will have to make up for it over the next few days.

Apart from that I've been doing quite well - even managed packed lunches to work last week and made extra dinner tonight to freeze so i think its going to even out, then I can look back and see where I've been going wrong for next month as its only the first one.

Going to have a scan through the posts now and see what I've missed, hope everyones been doing well.

Mollymop5

I used £20 of my grocery budget on wine and nibbles last night for a girly night.I'm now thinking this shouldn't have come out of this budget as I have another budget which I use for extra treats ect.What does everyone think? was it part of my groceries or was it an extra?

belfastgirl23

Mollymop5 wrote: »

I used £20 of my grocery budget on wine and nibbles last night for a girly night.I'm now thinking this shouldn't have come out of this budget as I have another budget which I use for extra treats ect.What does everyone think? was it part of my groceries or was it an extra?

I tend to count proper food for this sort of thing (eg if I made pizza or something ) as part of the GC but unhealthy snack foody things would come under my own entertainment budget, as does all wine (for me). But you just have to figure out what suits your way of thinking. As long as you're clear about it, it doesn't matter.

taffy1969

Hi all. I'm not doing too well this month (my first for grocery challenge). I'm £69 over budget already! Mind you I have had 6 birthdays and should have done a big shop before the beginning of the month so that I was stocked up.
I have been good taking in pack lunches, making my own bread and soup. Most of my money gets 'eaten' up by children and fresh fridge stuff. Never mind, it has really opened my eyes.
Only problem is have 4 more birthdays this week!!!!! Feb is much quieter and shorter!!!!
Well done to everyone underbudget, and thanks for all the tips I've found tonight while catching up, only prob is I need to go to Mr T to buy stuff!!!!

Mollymop5

I think I'm going to just count general grocery shopping.This was a luxury that i don't usually do so should come out of my "extras budget" just like kids clubs do.This was my kids club lol.I will adjust my sig accordingly.As I also do Nyks £4000 a year challenge it will be counted somewhere lol

Sunnyday

taffy1969 wrote: »

Hi all. I'm not doing too well this month (my first for grocery challenge). I'm £69 over budget already! Mind you I have had 6 birthdays and should have done a big shop before the beginning of the month so that I was stocked up.
I have been good taking in pack lunches, making my own bread and soup. Most of my money gets 'eaten' up by children and fresh fridge stuff. Never mind, it has really opened my eyes.
Only problem is have 4 more birthdays this week!!!!! Feb is much quieter and shorter!!!!
Well done to everyone underbudget, and thanks for all the tips I've found tonight while catching up, only prob is I need to go to Mr T to buy stuff!!!!

Hi Taffy1969
i think you are doing marvellously well for a first GC especially with all those birthdays so close together :eek:
I`m sure that i would never have coped as well as you have.
This is my first GC and i`ve been over the first two weeks and under this last one, i wish i`d started on payday though as i`m paid 4 weekly and the dates are a bit skewed as i just decided to start on the first of the month.
I`ll have to have a think about whether i change the dates or not.
I keep coming back for ideas recipes and inspiration, everyone is so friendly and helpful and i`m sure i would never have made it through the first week without everyone`s help and encouragement.
Thanks everyone!
SD