March 2008 Grocery Challenge

bails

Sorry to hear about the neck Jackie, hope it gets better soon! And well done on the WL findingmyfeet and MrsM - mine has currently gone out the window:rolleyes:
FMF, I'm not sure exactly what the gardening forums are called as haven't been there yet but I definitely know they exist; see you over there My long-term plan is to be pretty self-sufficient - grow your own, chickens etc etc - but as you can see I'm just starting out! I've wanted to join a skills share scheme for ages too Mrs M, so thanks for reminding me to add it to my list
Okay, I managed an hour of gardening (hope I don't pay for it too much) and have dug over and weeded half my veggie patch (I have no idea how thorough I have to be with the weeding ). Might try and do the other half tomorrow.

Now, I'm all up for planning next month's budget and just have a couple of questions, if someone could be kind enough to help please -
I shop at Mr S :eek: but there is a MrM further away but doable - is there a comparison site where I can check these two please? I know about mysupermarket but it doesn't have Mr M...
I need new blades for my razor (Gilette Venus), does anyone know if other non brand ones would fit it?

Here's my plan of action to help reduce my budget in April (no revolutionary ideas here, still a newbie!):
- monthly shop at Lidl (20 mins away) for stuff we're happy with like soya milk (trialed this last month)
- trial switch to Mr M (weaned OH off Waitrose :eek:so gently does it!;))
- very limited no of Spend Days, helps us 'make do'
- HM bread, treats and pizzas
- trial local market fruit and veg
- keep menu planning
- timing shopping with late night bargains (not sure how this'll fit with small no.of Spend Days)
- buy some wine now (before Budget increases kick in) for later in the year when I start drinking again.
- separate out human and pet budgets to see what we actually spend on each

Any other ideas I've forgotten, I'd love to hear! Even if I can't manage them this month, they can always go on May's P.o.A Thanks guys, you're all stars - whoever thought doing all this could be so much fun?!:rotfl:

MRSMCAWBER

Afternoon all

Have be sat on the sofa this afternoon.... hubby on duty.. so -bored.... but i have been looking through my menu plan and planned shopping list and have trimmed it further

crossed off the milk as i managed to wedge the 12litres of whoopsed milk in the freezer..just
and with a bit or trimming.... things like cabbage for coleslaw -they are HUGE here so one lasts me 2 weeks, big net of onions, potatoes last 2 weeks etc .... and have reduced my shopping to approx €10 a week for next month:rotfl: ..... Hubby is now deffinitely "on board" he has always gone with what i am doing but now i keep hearing him utter the "F" word :rotfl: ...."we are being frugal" is his fave response at the moment ..... think tootling off to the bank and getting the car mended without flinching has made him realise what we can achieve with a bit of thought :T .... previously we would have had to have left the car outside for a couple of weeks until pay day..and then be facing a tight month to pay for the car..... she is now done and the fuel consumption is back to about 40 odd MPG... when the engine management system light went on it dropped to 19 MPG :eek:

Can't see me finding anywhere else i can trim a bit off for next month...but give me time- i may come up with something :rotfl:

If this snow/sleet/hail would go away i would be able to get on with my bloomin tubs.... they are gonna save us loads :j heck i need to get out more

EverTheOptimist

mama67 wrote: »

I do this as well Li_l me. I use an envelope system for alot of things.

OH gets paid weekly so I take weekly cash out split it into all the different pots etc, Tax credits cover most of the small dd and I move weekly amounts into separate online savings accounts for the mortgage and Council Tax. which are then transfered back into normal account 5 days before payment is due.

I use cash too, that way when it's gone its gone. and make sure there is no spare money in the account, so im not tempted to use my debit card.

On payday i take out my budget for groceries and petrol, stick it in separate envelopes/purses, then its there as and when i need it through the month. any excess in my account goes on debt/ savings.

i find doing it that way, that i cannot go over budget as i dont have the money there to buy anything else.

i think im going to have an expensive few months to come tho, as my OH is back, :j he's been away for 3 months, so food shopping is prob going to go way over budget... but on the other hand will be so pleased to get him back, he can buy whatever he wants, then i'll start training him. :rotfl:

ETO
x

weezl74

getting-sorted-sarah wrote: »

Weezl74 - Bread report: Got home early from work yesterday and had a go at your recipe. Ummm, not so good. I'm fairly competent in the kitchen but this was one of my disasters... firstly Tesco didn't have plain wholemeal - the only plain wholemeal was by a niche brand and 4 times what I wanted to pay. I settled for Strong Stoneground. I scaled down to make one loaf as an experiment, but put more yeast than you said - I had dried so about 3g I think - this really doesn't seem like enough....I wonder if you meant 5g per loaf?

Anyway - it didn't rise, at all!

So I then investigated the Grant loaf link you gave and made the loaf on that page, with some fat and more yeast. This went better, it didn't rise as much as I would like and the result is rather dense and "health food shop"-ish, but the crust is lovely and it is very tasty.

Hi getting sorted sarah, sorry, perhaps I should've said, if you reduce the amount of everything, DON'T reduce the amount of yeast!

Yeast as an organism requires a minimum amount of itself in any batch in order to do it's thing. You can make 3 loaves off a 7g sachet, or 6 loaves out of the same, (honestly) you just can't make one loaf off any less yeast. Hope that makes some sense, and better luck next time.

Feel like coming over with one of my loaves to make up for it!;)

Weezl x

Moniker

Weezl, can I ask - do you have to put this in tins or could you just make a cob shaped loaves on a baking sheet? I only ask as I don't have 4 loaf tins just one.

Thanks

Moniker

weezl74

OOh yeah, 4 cobs would be good, but may not support its own weight that well to rise high, so you might end up with a wide loaf with only about 3 ins height if you see what I mean! Little round rolls/baps might work better for shape...

Weezl x

getting-sorted-sarah

weezl74 wrote: »

Hi getting sorted sarah, sorry, perhaps I should've said, if you reduce the amount of everything, DON'T reduce the amount of yeast!

Yeast as an organism requires a minimum amount of itself in any batch in order to do it's thing. You can make 3 loaves off a 7g sachet, or 6 loaves out of the same, (honestly) you just can't make one loaf off any less yeast. Hope that makes some sense, and better luck next time.

Feel like coming over with one of my loaves to make up for it!;)

Weezl x

I'll put the kettle on!
Just had some of that last (more successful) loaf with hm mushroom soup and it was lovely. I think it would be a bit hard work for sandwiches that's all!
I didn't know that about yeast - that's amazing - thanks! I will keep trying!
I got some supermarket bread out of the freezer so will use that up and then have a go at the recipe again.
I also heard about a local mill where you can buy freshly ground flour - going to check this out - very cool but maybe a bit expensive - rather shop local though - the old dilemma....

weezl74

getting-sorted-sarah wrote: »

I'll put the kettle on!
Just had some of that last (more successful) loaf with hm mushroom soup and it was lovely. I think it would be a bit hard work for sandwiches that's all!
I didn't know that about yeast - that's amazing - thanks! I will keep trying!
I got some supermarket bread out of the freezer so will use that up and then have a go at the recipe again.
I also heard about a local mill where you can buy freshly ground flour - going to check this out - very cool but maybe a bit expensive - rather shop local though - the old dilemma....

If you've got an Asda near you, their wholemeal flour is 55p for 1.5kg, and in Lidl it's 48p if Tescos is too dear!:eek:

Martin look's more like a vampire than an easter bunny today, does anyone else find it a bit... disconcerting?

Weezl x

lil_me

weezl definately agree with you on the piccy of Matrin, horrible isn't it? I liked the St Patrick's Day one!

ETO - I am sure you can cut him a little slack at first, just enjoy having him home, for a few days then training begins hehehe....

bails - have you thought of getting an electric one? I got one last year with my boots points, saves me a lot in blades etc.

jackie, hope our neck is easing up a little, what about those ramps for bowling?

egon - my freezers seem to be doing the same, I am trying to run the stocks down as one needs fixing next week and needs defrosting 24 hrs before, but it doesn't seem to be emptying much.........

Ok, next spanner in the works is my TD is on the blink, so whatever I save this month will probably have to go on having that repaired if DP can't sort it. Bloomin' appliances. Been working on my meal plan inc the lunch bits etc, DP changed his work plans for the weekend after being off ill last night so rejigged tomorrows dinner having a 'left over from freezer' dinner for me and a large lunch for him. I'm planning on several NSDs until Tuesday (got through today ok) milk I am a little concerned over but I do have some powdered milk if I need to use that for cooking etc, we get it delivered but I think we've had Saturdays already.

candygirl

Hi everyone:D
I've had a NSD today which has made up for the massive amount I spent yesterday on my hair do and night out!!!:eek: :eek: Good job i'm not counting it in my GC eh?!!:eek: :eek: :eek:
Hope you all have a great Easter n a good rest from work:D