March 2008 Grocery Challenge

mardatha

Firstly, is it possible to make a cake or tea loaf thingy in the crock pot? If so, can you give me recipes?
Secondly, quick ideas please to fill the oven and just use it once to save elect. then freeze stuff ? I have in the freezer frozen pasties, sausages, stew,mince,and a chicken. Oh and apples & crumble mix and pancake mix which I dono what to do with.
Two adults in the house , one (blush) likes cake & pudding ! Many thanks .

angelnikki

getting-sorted-sarah wrote: »

Can someone point me at the recipe for these? They sound yummy!
Thanks.
Also - Carrot cake has coconut, I made that over the weekend and it was fab!

They're in the traybakes thread: Toxic Lemon's Chewy Health Bars

Nikki
x

redmel1621

Hi All

you all seem to be doing very well...I haven't managed to get into this challenge this year at all, and it was all going so well last year I think I got down to £55pw.
But seeing as work are changing the payroll system from fortnightly over to monthly in such a bizarre manner, I think I need to join in again NOW...........
I will get 1 weeks pay on the 7th of April and that is expected to last a whole month, when we will get a full months 7th May

Right I am in for April, at £65pw so £260.00 for the month and I start next Monday. Oh for those that are interested that is for 2ad, 2ch, 2cats, 1 rabbit, 1hamster. The dog food I buy monthly out of another budget.

Mel x

Forgot to add - for march just put me as 'massively Over'

kunekune

Not a great end to the month, am over by about £30. And we are out of bananas and apples again. OH allows the children to eat as many bananas as they want, and they seem to get through 2-3 each a day. Plus, in daughter's case, at least 2 apples, 1 orange and as many grapes as she can sneak when no-one's looking.

What I learned this month:

1. It was better to do a proper shop every week, for roughly the same amount of money rather than to try and make up for one really bad week by buying a few bits and pieces at the co-op. When I did that, I was carrying it home, and it ended up being several small shopping trips.

2. My rescue plan when I had too many elderly veges lurking in the fridge was very successful: just defrosted the second bowl of 'chunky tomato & bacon sauce', turned it into tomato, bacon & kidney bean soup, eaten with the tail end of the cornbread I made at the weekend (and also froze). The frozen blanched potatoes, carrots & parsnips came in handy. Will use the rice tonight (with some of that leftover chicken). DH thinks it's hilarious me freezing the bits & pieces but he doesn't mind eating them when they reappear some days later.

3. It's ok to go off-plan if something comes up, like our 'fine food fair'. Yes, I spent a lot of money on a chicken and a joint of lamb, but they will provide us with 5-6 meals between them. The freezer is a fine place for the leftover meat!

4. I will definitely continue with internet shopping, because the times I went to the supermarket, we spent masses more. Not just the kids getting extras, but me too (salmon pate anyone?).

gunsandbanjos

candygirl wrote: »

GUNSANDBANJOS love the avvy, is it Richie?

Yes it is Richie:D
Sometimes i post random stuff just so i can see it:o

gunsandbanjos

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=3735657&postcount=44

This is Toxic Lemon's recipe, not tried it yet, but have just bought the ingredients.

oops just noticed someone else had posted the link above...

Ess-six

Hi Folks, and a belated Happy Easter to one and all

I was panicking a third of the way into this month’s challenge (my second month) as I’d spent well over half of my budget, but as the month has gone and I’ve come in under budget at £223.31 I think I’m getting the hangs of things. In fact the monthly meal planning has been such a help as Mum was taken into hospital suddenly at the end of last week (she’s home now though) and knowing what we were eating and that I’d got everything in really helped both time-wise and that I could cook some meals for her and dad for the next few days when she was discharged yesterday – it was a bit like Ready Steady Cook (but with one cooker) in our kitchen with hubby and I frantically trying to batch cook meals for them yesterday.:rotfl:

Having spent the last few days travelling to and from the hospital I’ve got very behind with this thread, so I thought I’d post first and read later.

Mrs Mc can you put me down for £275 for April please (for a 5 week month, 28th March – 2 May) so am aiming for a reduction of £25 over the 5 weeks

MRSMCAWBER

gunsandbanjos wrote: »

Yes it is Richie:D
Sometimes i post random stuff just so i can see it:o

There is nothing random about Richie Sambora :drool: :rotfl:

newlywed

Well haven't done too great - think my total is £280 (but I stopped adding it up when I went over my goal). But that's still better than last month and we still have just about enough to last till my wages clear in a few days.

So think I will set my budget for April (as it's a slightly longer month)
to £280 please - and try again :rolleyes:

the_cat

Just added the last couple of bits for this month - total spent £195.59 so just under budget this time

Will have to up the budget for this month though. It's a 5 week month, we are on holiday for 5 days (self catering) and will need to budget for a few extras then, plus the cupboards had next to nothing in them!
Just got back from stocking them up and spent a shocking £115.51:eek: already. So budget for April will have to be £300