March 2008 Grocery Challenge

weezl74

miss_saver wrote: »

Oh please may I also ask - can I freeze hm bread made in a breadmaker? If so, how would I go about doing this?

Many thanks

Jen

Hello and welcome Jen and Steph! :hello:

You'll love it here,

So much inspiration...

Yes you can freeze HM breadmaker bread very well. I'd recomend slicing it before freezing, that way you can just whip out a few slices for toasting or a sarnie, without defrosting the whole thing, which just leads to grazing, which leads to..... having to make more!;)

Weezl x

miss_saver_3

weezl74 wrote: »

Hello and welcome Jen and Steph! :hello:

You'll love it here,

So much inspiration...

Yes you can freeze HM breadmaker bread very well. I'd recomend slicing it before freezing, that way you can just whip out a few slices for toasting or a sarnie, without defrosting the whole thing, which just leads to grazing, which leads to..... having to make more!;)

Weezl x

Thanks Weezl, that's great. Do I put it into those freezer bags you can buy??

Hi Steph, newbies together!

Jen
xx

Bobbykins

Afternoon everyone!:hello: :hello: :hello: and welcome to all the newbies.

I really thought I was going to manage to hit budget this month, making it 3 months on the go but I spoke too soon didn't I :mad: , I had to get some bits from Mr S and then I've just been to Aldi for my final few bits of F&V to see me through to month end. I have added up my final figures and have gone over by £5.35 - poo!

Oh well, that's me declaring for the month then at March final total £230.35 Mrs MC.

Just off to update my siggie and then I need to get my thinking cap on for April. :think: .

See you all on the April thread.

Bobby

weezl74

miss_saver wrote: »

Thanks Weezl, that's great. Do I put it into those freezer bags you can buy??

Yep, you can do, although I've got mine sliced in a carrier bag from tesco's at the mo!

It doesn't seem to be doing them any harm!
Weezl x

mandy_moo_1

right...i'm full of good intentions!! i've done a meal plan till Sun 6th april cos my freezer's pretty stocked up at the mo

fingers crossed i should only need to buy fruit&veg this week, then spend maybe £15 to stock the freezer back up at the end of the week

i should be waiting til the April GC thread is up and running i know, but i just so excited!!

i'm trying to save every spare penny i can at the mo, as DD turns 18 in July and is then off to Uni in Sept......i can't believe my baby is almost an adult, but it makes me even prouder to know that i've brought both her and DS (14) up by myself, living on benefits, and without a penny from the "biological father" or sperm donor as DD refers to him as, seeing as he walked out on us when they were only 2 & 5. he always said i'd end up in the gutter, but i think i've done a bl**dy good job of bringing them up!! they're both polite, well mannered and get brilliant grades at school/college

Sorry a bit off topic there, but i just so proud of my babies!!

Mrs._Irwin

I haven't been posting very frequently, but have been keeping up with all the posts, which is great motiviation, and keeping my spending diary. What a revelation it's been! :eek:

I'm declaring March - £271.63 out of £250. But this has been my first month and didn't really have a clue what we were spending before, so I don't think that's too bad, really. It does include £40 on take-aways/eating out and £40 on beer.
DH didn't remember to write everything down all the time, so the total's probably higher, but this is the best we've ever done on keeping spending diaries, so I'm not totally disappointed.

I want to aim for £250 for April with only one take-away. We live opposite the best chip-shop in town and if we didn't have it on pay-day we'd go mental.
I was generally pleased with my Asda delivery and am very happy with my organic veg box delivery, so will keep that up this month and see how it goes.

Congratulations to everyone who's hit their target, and better luck this month to everyone else! :beer:

Mrs. Irwin

lilmisskitkat

mandy_moo_1 wrote: »

i'm trying to save every spare penny i can at the mo, as DD turns 18 in July and is then off to Uni in Sept......i can't believe my baby is almost an adult, but it makes me even prouder to know that i've brought both her and DS (14) up by myself, living on benefits, and without a penny from the "biological father" or sperm donor as DD refers to him as, seeing as he walked out on us when they were only 2 & 5. he always said i'd end up in the gutter, but i think i've done a bl**dy good job of bringing them up!! they're both polite, well mannered and get brilliant grades at school/college

Sorry a bit off topic there, but i just so proud of my babies!!

and so you should be, its hard enough being a parent even when theres 2 of you, doing it alone is tough - i know, i've been there

Well April has started for me, went to Asda this morning to do my 1st shop of the new month. Came to £58.56 but £8 of that was school uniform for DD, the money for which i will transfer straight from my child benefit a/c into the household account. So £50.56 on food/toiletries etc. I must admit i am concerned about the rising cost of food, i hardly seemed to have anything in my trolley, certainly nothing unnecessary and no treats this week because of Easter but it all mounts up. 67p for a small bag of pasta - it used to be 32p!! :eek: Also the cost of basics like milk, bread, eggs etc. Its going to be a real challenge if i want to reduce my grocery budget for next month.

Well done to everyone who has kept to their budget for March, hugs to those who struggled (like me ) and good luck for April to all

Kate xxx

mandy_moo_1

thanx for that kit kat....that's what i call DD cos she's a Katie as well!!

BigMummaF

Good on yer Mandy---I can totally relate to your situation having done the same thing myself....just wish I had MSE around when they were younger:o

No advice on the herbs/ spices for making a 'southern fried' coating then ...I'll have a play, but I get me cayenne confused with me paprika so it could take a while:p

Went to Somerfield yesterday cuz of a flyer that came thru the door, & what a surprise THAT was!!!! Bear in mind that this particular branch is in a more 'affluent' area but even so

---

£2-99 for Marmite that has been £2-12:eek: 65p for soft Stork marg that was 50p in MrT last week:eek: :eek: But I did get Fairy Concentrate laundry liquid for £3-39 in their £1 off special offer. They're the only place I can get those huge yorkshire puds & at 30p ea I don't really mind, cuz I can't make 'em that big.

Did get an XL chicken for a fiver that'll do us for 3 good meals,240 Tetley t-bags @£1-99 & we had the BOGOF Birds Eye burgers for dinner last night with the yorkies, HM wedges & mxd veg...mm-mm-mmmmm.......v.nomnom:D

This branch also has a Tchibo section but I was very VERY good & resisted a luvverlee radio that would fit up under my wall mounted cupboards. It was under eight quid & I tried to argue that by getting it I would be freeing up some counter space. Then I heard you lot telling me to come look on t'net cuz it's probably cheaper on pigs-co:rotfl:

So the first shop of the new budget is £25-35. Good Luck for the new month folks!

jackie_w

mandy_moo_1 wrote: »

i'm trying to save every spare penny i can at the mo, as DD turns 18 in July and is then off to Uni in Sept......i can't believe my baby is almost an adult, but it makes me even prouder to know that i've brought both her and DS (14) up by myself, living on benefits, and without a penny from the "biological father" or sperm donor as DD refers to him as, seeing as he walked out on us when they were only 2 & 5. he always said i'd end up in the gutter, but i think i've done a bl**dy good job of bringing them up!! they're both polite, well mannered and get brilliant grades at school/college

Mandy-moo.

well done to you, and your quite right to be proud of them and yourself.

Well i thought I would have a NSD however, I have to buy f/f milk for the kiddies. Youngest loves milk (hes 2), and drinks it all the time. I just couldnt refuse him milk. So my total is up £1.96. At least I didnt buy anything else.

Still thinking whether I should by that special offer butcher meat from the Co-op. What do you think? Do you think it would be good quality meat?

Jackie xx