April 2008 Grocery Challenge

funkyfunkymonkey

I made a batch of bolognaise sauce last week to freeze and bulked it out with Value Oats. We had spaghetti bolognaise that night and no one mentioned anything - I thought 'great, that was an extra meals worth for about 10p.'

Last night we had another spaghetti bolognaise (same batch - defrosted) and OH said, 'this one's really nice, it's got a great texture' - I said it was probably where it had been frozen and improved with age - perhaps it was, but I won't be mentioning my new ingredient.

FFM

JayJay14

Just got back in from the farmers market - it's a long way to go so we only get there about once a month - 'seconds' FR eggs £2.30 2 1/2 doz. Not that they are cracked or anything:rotfl: They look strangly like eggs I remember from my youth - marked and not quite the 'right' colour but a bargain:j

Bought some goat's butter as well - haven't had any for ages and I do prefer it thiough it is a big treat as it is £1.20 a pack:eek:

Will update my sig in a mo but the total for this month is £111.90 so far. I might make it as I have loads in the cupboards though the freezer is a bit depleted. Mind you I do have 8 pks of mince so plenty to be going on with:D

Sainsburys are still putting full page adds in the papers for the 2 for £2 cravendale.

tq16

Hi, new to this-how does it work? Just had second child and hoping not to have to return to work, need to budget big time.
Thanks

faye1978

getting-sorted-sarah wrote: »

Yep, taking a few days off work has worked - finally I can keep up with this thread!
Yesterday I discovered soya mince, which I have been turning my nose up at but lo and behold it turns out to be yummy! I made (veggie) shepherds pie and chilli. At my reckoning soya mince is at least 4 times cheaper than frozen veggie mince.
Today I bought some tomato plants, and also red pepper, cucumber and strawberries, and triumphantly planted them in the garden, so I am crossing my fingers for enormous yield in the summer months! I am not green fingered but I figure it is worth a go! I'm including my whole garden centre splurg in my grocery budget, but this does make it look scary - I hope the investment pays off longer term!

I have grown my tomatoes from seed and have just repotted my strawb seedlings too. I am hoping they come out fine as never done them before and, like you, am really NOT green fingered :rolleyes:

cheerfulness4

Thanks girls for answering my Q about Cravendale..now nicely in the fridge and half and halved.

Just got back from my farmers market, too. Its not as cheap as yours jayjay but it is fun.
I spent £4.50 on veg but for that I got:

3 massive leeks (almost the size of a childs leg!) £1
carrier bag full of carrots (complete with mud) £1
5 lrg onions 50p
1 lrg celeriac 50p
1 lrg swede 50p
2x savoy cabbages (the size of footballs):eek: 50p each

I went mad with the fresh eggs and got:

12 duck eggs £2.20
12 'this morning' eggs £1.50
12 extra lrg eggs £1.45 (OH thought they looked good)

All apparently Free range.

There was a new farmer there and she was really cheap and friendly. Lots of good priced poultry so I shall budget for that next month.

Shall nip off and update my sig.

faye1978

purplevamp wrote: »

This is true, but... my tap water has a funky taste to it sometimes so I can only drink it with squash or in tea. I am concerned about the number of bottles we get through, not just the amount as this is £1.99 for 6 but the sheer amount of plastic that we recycle (rumour has it that the recycled bottles all get shipped off the China for landfill ) We do want to get a filter adaptor for the tap but at over £200 this is some way off.

Would it not be cheaper to get a Brita filter if it's really that unbearable?

funkyfunkymonkey

cheerfulness4 wrote: »

3 massive leeks (almost the size of a childs leg!) £1

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

That just made me laugh - I could just imagine these skinny anaemic kids' legs.

I'm hoping to go to the local farmers market next week, I've checked on tinternet and they seem to be held monthly.

The freshly laid eggs sound great. But I only have £18.62 to get me to the end of April's challenge.

FFM

faye1978

funkyfunkymonkey wrote: »

I made a batch of bolognaise sauce last week to freeze and bulked it out with Value Oats. We had spaghetti bolognaise that night and no one mentioned anything - I thought 'great, that was an extra meals worth for about 10p.'

Last night we had another spaghetti bolognaise (same batch - defrosted) and OH said, 'this one's really nice, it's got a great texture' - I said it was probably where it had been frozen and improved with age - perhaps it was, but I won't be mentioning my new ingredient.

FFM

:T My OH is SOOO Fussy!! So I did this the other day with some mince as spag bol and he also commented on how nice it was and that it tasted slightly creamier. I just told him I bought the mince at the butchers for a change and it must be that!!! Like you said - an extra mea or 3 for a few pennies.

I got 2lb mince and that made me 7 meals (5 for the freezer and 2 to eat) Usually it would have made me 4 and a lunch

cheerfulness4

funkyfunkymonkey wrote: »

I'm hoping to go to the local farmers market next week, I've checked on tinternet and they seem to be held monthly.

The freshly laid eggs sound great. But I only have £18.62 to get me to the end of April's challenge.

FFM

I'm pretty much in the same boat as you... £23.44 to last me until the end of this month. Still, I love a challenge although I'm glad the farmers market is only once a month, I'd be in the poor house otherwise!

Frugaldom

Touch wood, I'm not doing too badly this month, so far, as I've spent less than usual and am still finding extras to fill the freezer rather than empty it. I now have onions, peppers, garlic chives, tomatoes, carrots and lettuces planted in trays ready to bring on this year and the 'supermarket reduced herbs' windowsill garden is still doing really well. We've also managed to plant about 4 rows of potatoes in the garden, so far. Very pleased about this.

I'm really struggling keeping up with all the posts on here, so if anyone spots any cheap, reduced or free strawberry seeds, please PM me so I don't miss the post.

Hope everyone is doing well and improving month on month. For the newcomers, it gets easier as time goes on and I am really hoping to reduce my target amount next month. I think it's the fact that we can communicate with like-minded people that makes it possible, as most people I meet within daily life thinks my extreme budgeting is just plain mad. Thank you to everyone here for making it normal. :T

tq16 - Frugal budgeting and thrifty housekeeping can be a very worthwhile, fulltime, stay-at-home-with-the-kids job and I congratulate you on your decision to do so. I know for a fact that there are enough people on here to make you feel welcome and keep you on the right tracks. Congratulations on second baby, hope everyone is doing well and best wishes/good luck with your new job