March 2008 Grocery Challenge

jackie_w

Hi Peeps,

Well had to spend65p in Asda today to get rubber gloves......well ive got to look after my hands;) .

Again, resisted the call of the butchers, although, I will have to go later in the week (prob Thursday), SIL and her family are coming for dinner on Sunday, so,will need to get a bit of meat in for that. Asda did have a good deal on for their beef, but, im not sure whether to buy from the butcher :think: What do you think?

Whenever any of you are making meal plans (talking about for April), do you make them for the full month, or just weeks? Im was thinking for planning 30 days dinners for April but, wondered if I would be better just to do weekly, and shop weekly. Normally I would shop monthly, then do top ups, and plan my meals round what I have bought, however, I have been know to think "oh I fancy that", but, dont have any/all the ingredients in the house, therefore, go to the supermarket to get the rest.

Anyway, have a lovely day.

Jackie xx

Girl_least_likely_to

OK, I've managed to use up 2/3rds of the mushrooms I bought for a song yesterday. I've chopped and sliced 1/3rd of them and bunged them in the freezer for future spag bols and chilli's. Another 1/3rd went into a mushroom soup and veg risotto. Which leaves me with 1 kilo left. Might make a quiche for tomorrows tea? If they start looking manky they'll end up in the freezer.

Just been to Tesco's and spent £13.97 on nothing much particular .

COOLTRIKERCHICK

well i got until thursday before i can take £120. out of the bank for our weekly budget... i have just over £5 left ..which might be needed wednesday evening for petrol for hubby to get to work on thursday... it is getting colder, and the coal fire is out, so jumpers and more jumpers on at all times until thursday, when we can buy coal...

so just managed to stick to weekly budget by the skin of our teeth... but again this is using up for food stock in the freezer and cupboards..so at the mo... even though we do have plenty of food, the budget is getting us on track.... in a few weeks when the freezer food etc is low, hopefully by then... we will still be able to manage... as at mo... only really buying top ups and essentials....

good job we all like beans on toast....lol...:D

Keeping_Positive

jackie_w wrote: »

Whenever any of you are making meal plans (talking about for April), do you make them for the full month, or just weeks? Im was thinking for planning 30 days dinners for April but, wondered if I would be better just to do weekly, and shop weekly. Normally I would shop monthly, then do top ups, and plan my meals round what I have bought, however, I have been know to think "oh I fancy that", but, dont have any/all the ingredients in the house, therefore, go to the supermarket to get the rest.

Im still fairly new to this but prefer weekly shops and weekly meal planning. Anything longer and it can easily go arwy (sp).

Blown £4 on coffee for OH ( Our Instore do Nescafe for £2 almost half the usual price) as I have a chip fix so £1.70 out of my ME budget as well.

candygirl

jackie_w wrote: »

Hi Peeps,

Well had to spend65p in Asda today to get rubber gloves......well ive got to look after my hands;) .

Again, resisted the call of the butchers, although, I will have to go later in the week (prob Thursday), SIL and her family are coming for dinner on Sunday, so,will need to get a bit of meat in for that. Asda did have a good deal on for their beef, but, im not sure whether to buy from the butcher :think: What do you think?

Whenever any of you are making meal plans (talking about for April), do you make them for the full month, or just weeks? Im was thinking for planning 30 days dinners for April but, wondered if I would be better just to do weekly, and shop weekly. Normally I would shop monthly, then do top ups, and plan my meals round what I have bought, however, I have been know to think "oh I fancy that", but, dont have any/all the ingredients in the house, therefore, go to the supermarket to get the rest.

Anyway, have a lovely day.

Jackie xx

I do a quick look at my cupbaord n freezer contents, then do a rough list of possible meals for a 2 week period and cross them off when i have them.I am not organised enough to do a proper monthly meal plan thingy yet, plus I like the flexibility:D

MRSMCAWBER

Hi Jackie_W...

I sit and make 4 lists of 7 meals.. but i don't specify what is for which day.. as ..like you -I will then think "but i don't fancy that" :rotfl: ... i try and base it around using as much as i can that i allready have in the house... then i turn each list into a shopping list -so when it comes to shoping time im all set to go...
Im lucky my hubby rarely eats anything -unless i put it in front of him (apart from his capuccino ice cream)...so if i have something in the fridge that im planning on using for a meal i know that i won't come back from shopping to fing it has been eaten
I couldn't imagine shopping monthly... i find that going weekly and sometimes twice (but i know not everyone has the time) i can take advantage of the bargains and whoops... which are to blame for a lot of the stuff in the freezer.... but i still only buy stuff i know we can use sensibly...

Bails.... I have been and done the freezers :j and as i suspected -i now have more room .. just need to turn it all into a list now :eek: so thankyou for somehow inspiring me to do it in the first place

candygirl

MRSMCAWBER wrote: »

Hi Jackie_W...

I sit and make 4 lists of 7 meals.. but i don't specify what is for which day.. as ..like you -I will then think "but i don't fancy that" :rotfl: ... i try and base it around using as much as i can that i allready have in the house... then i turn each list into a shopping list -so when it comes to shoping time im all set to go...
Im lucky my hubby rarely eats anything -unless i put it in front of him (apart from his capuccino ice cream)...so if i have something in the fridge that im planning on using for a meal i know that i won't come back from shopping to fing it has been eaten
I couldn't imagine shopping monthly... i find that going weekly and sometimes twice (but i know not everyone has the time) i can take advantage of the bargains and whoops... which are to blame for a lot of the stuff in the freezer.... but i still only buy stuff i know we can use sensibly...

Bails.... I have been and done the freezers :j and as i suspected -i now have more room .. just need to turn it all into a list now :eek: so thankyou for somehow inspiring me to do it in the first place

Aren't blokes weird like that?:eek: :eek: :rotfl: :rotfl:

scotsaver

Hi jackie_w - I plan our meals one week at a time as I'm always on the look out for bargains or items that have been whoopsied so menu can change week on week. Also as the kids have friends round or are out visiting their friends the menu has to be very flexible.

Have updated my totals as been shopping this morning, got about £52 left to last until 27th (payday) so really pleased with myself, also both freezers are still crammed full of stuff so will probably budget for less next month.:j

Managed to get some f&v that was whoopsied in the local Co-op so does anyone have any ideas what to do with 1kg of Sprouts (59p)- do I just blanch them and then freeze? Also got a large bag of Pears for 59p, just counted them and there are 15 in there so looking for ideas there - pear & ginger crumbleor can i just peel them and then stew and freeze? Also got fresh corainder that was reduced to 59p so after School run I shall be making Carrot & Coriander soup, already got the carrots in as they are BOGOF in Sainsburys for a 66p bag so a real bargain. I do love a bargain and can't believe how much of a buzz I get from saving money:D

Thanks again to everyone supplying recipes etc and good luck to everyone with targets - not long to go now.;)

MRSMCAWBER

Candygirl....

In a lot of ways im soooo thankfull he is like that... my poor old SIL has a devils job with my brother... she goes to bed thinking she hasn't got to go shopping..gets up and the locust that is her hubby has attacked the fridge:eek:

It does amaze me though that he eats what is put in front of him, and rarely even thinks of food until i ask if he is ready for dinner etc .. im either, thinking about it, buying it, cooking it, eating it or reading about it :rotfl: .... hence being on the weightloss thread i guess:p

I have started making him bread sticks n dips for those rare "munchy moments" he gets... so i know the rest of the food is safe and he loves them plus it cuts down on the salted peanuts he was getting so used to:p

Have turned my scribble from the freezer into a proper list now.. not sure how it will paste....
All the red stuff is whoopsed, and my mission is to use up the odds n sods for my lunches..want them out of the bloomin way..
So now i just need to double check my April menu .. i think i remembered pretty much what was in the freezers when i was doing it...
Hopefully I will be able to have a fairly tight fisted month again this time .. fingers crossed

MEAT/FISH
3 chickens, 2 gammon, 2 packs cevapiacci
28 HM pork n herb sausages, 10 turkey steaks,
3X 100g minced beef
45 HM tomato sausages ,700g Kassler, 36 mini salamis
1 Pork n peppercorn loin, chicken livers, sliced pork loin
5 white fish fillets, 2.5 bags prawns, 2 salmon filets
PASTA/PIZZA/BAKED GOODS ETC
8 WW salami pizzas, 3 Arrabiata sauce, 1 carbonara sauce
500g tortellini carne, 4 capaletti prosciutto,
1 tortellini formaggio,500g tortellini ricotta
3 puff pastry, 7 HM bagels, 14 slices HM fruit n coconut loaf
HUBBIES HM SOUPS
2 chicken n corn, 3 spicy goulash ,5 veg n lentil
5 ham n pea
MISC
4 x 250g mozzarella light, 3x200g mozzarella,
2x250g Basil mozzarella
5 bags stock, peas, peppers
7 portions carrots, 4 portions parsnips, tub squeezy cheese
2 yeast, liver casserole, pork casserole
1/3 tin corned beef, hm beef spread, 8oz home cooked ham
ODDS N SODS… single portions etc
2 quorn burgers, 3 HM single quiches, 4 corned beef cakes
1hm pasty, 3 hm shepherds pie, 1 turkey casserole
1 piece pizza, Hm duck n pancakes

bails

Oh my goodness, I have bizarrely managed to inspire the Great Inspiration that is Mrs Mc - that's made my week :rotfl:

Strangely enough Mrs Mc, I have subconciously found myself attempting to emulate you, and have just discovered that I've spent the whole time since returning from work browsing through recipes for my meal plan
Jackie, I am planning monthly and then if I don't fancy something I just swop things around or do something else if I get a bargain while I'm out. The second bit is happening less at the mo as I'm trying to have as few spends days as possible (on another challenge)...it's not going that well so far :rolleyes:

Having shied away from the kitchen for many a moon (long story), I am starting to turn into my mother...:eek:...look what you've done to me:D I always swore I'd never be into gardening either, and my fingers are now turning slightly 'apple white' at the mo...:D