April 2008 Grocery Challenge

kippers

Really pleased.....i've just worked my money out as my month finishes this Thursday 24th as this is the day my DH gets paid.....this is the first time i've taken part in the challenge, my budget has been £70 p/w....i've got £5 left and my fridge and freezer is well stocked so i've nearly done it...i'm so proud as this is the first time i've kept to budget in years....yeh hoo!!!!

Thanks for all your help included in this thread.

:T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer:

Now what shall i buy for £5 to celebrate....maybe a very unhealthy bag of crisps for us all or chocolate.....no i can't do it.....i'll go and make some cookies instead.

savingfortravel

Hi everyone!!!

Well done Kippers, Great Work !!!!
Enjoy your treat, you deserve it!!!!!!!

Like others we've stocked up with flour and pasta for a while. Thanks to everyone who mentions the special deals at supermarkets (Tesco/Sainsburys) It is really helpful.

OB is desperate to start making his own bread, so that's his project for May.

We finish on Friday 25th and shouldn't need anything else.
Can't wait to declare and add our savings to our total.

Good luck to everyone who could reach their target!!! Also big hugs to those who've not.. as so many have said before we're all changed people. So much good has come out of this challenge.
SFT

JennyBee_2

Just discovered some parsnips in the fridge that I bought to make soup with - hurrah! Parsnip and apple soup on the hob at the moment..yum!

Ventured into Tesco earlier to get some milk and bread. Big mistake - think there must be a nuclear attack on it's way because everyone was rushing around just throwing things into their trolleys. Will update signature in a minute when I've got over the trauma of it all.

Weezl - Ikea wasn't actually too bad! OH has got over his shock at the early morning and is currently being all manly and put up a chest of drawers

tylersbabe

savingfortravel wrote: »

Hi everyone!!!



Good luck to everyone who could reach their target!!! Also big hugs to those who've overspent.. as so many have said before we're all changed people. So much good has come out of this challenge.
SFT

Just wanted to add that I am one of those who has overspent with their budget, but what you say is true.

A mere six weeks ago I had not baked for at least 10 years and the thought of making my own bread never crossed my mind.
Today I have made twinks hob nobs, a rubarb crumble and two types of bread :j. Whats more I have really enjoyed doing this and it is all thanks to everyone who contributes to this site and their great ideas.

So onwards and upwards to next months challange.
We have not overspent our budgets rather learned how to manage better for next month

angelatgraceland

JennyBee wrote: »

It's ok! I have survived!! OH has been traumatised by getting up at 6am on a Saturday just to go to Ikea but it was in fact rather civilised! Our nearest one is Bristol so just over an hour away! A few police men about but it was all ok! Nobody beating each other up for parking spaces! Managed to wedge some flat pack bunk beds (for the step kids) and a rather nice chest of drawers in the back of the car (along with a few other "necessities"!!). Considering we were going to buy all of it anyway (at some point) we managed to save £75 with the 21% off (DON'T do the maths - my dear husband paid for it!)

He has now had a coffee and gone for a lie down - bless!

Ah JennyBee you must be quite close in loction to me! The Somerset side of Bristol! Im also about half hour away from Ikea-travelling down the M5 south.

juliejim

I've been to Mr Ts for a few bits and spent £32.92 so not much of my budget left but hopefully I'll be ok. Realised they've overcharged me for 2 Power Rangers so I've got to go back tomorrow and sort that out.

Jue

savingfortravel

JennyBee
Recipe for Parsnip and Apple Soup please. It sounds delicious.
(Shamefully) I haven't made soup before but would love to collect some recipes and give it a try. Growing lots of our own veggies again this year. Other people's homemade soup always tastes delicious and would go nicely with OB homemade bread (fingers crossed)
Thanks
SFT

MRSMCAWBER

Evening all

Managed a NSD today :j and put me down for one tomorrow (everywhere closed ) plus im planning on sitting in the garden filling more pots, tubs, crates and anything else that stands till long enough with compost ... can't remember if i mentioned it on here... but for all those growing veggies in pots this year..... i have got hubby to line some collapsible crates with really thick card -they hold loads of compost and line up nicely too ...will put the proper troughs across the front to camouflage them a bit ...mind once everything is growing there won't be a lot to see anyway :T . I have bought 15x1m troughs and 10 a fraction shorter plus the loads of tubs i dragged over from the UK and 3 tubs about the size of a baby bath... so i decided i had spent enough (mind only averaged €1.50 a tub).... so the 8 crates saved me a bit more...

Its a shame we can't have a seed swap system going I have far too many... only because i wanted lots of variety... and i know they keep for a while but i have 85 varieties if i have counted right:o well i walk past and see a pretty coloured veggie i don't have and i come over all magpie like and i can't even give them to my lovely mum -who has recently had 3 huge raised beds in her garden... has 2 green houses and a big shed :T ..as she has loads of seed to use allready :rolleyes:

Well if im to stick to my budget i have €9.91 to last until the end of the month...(have some "stand by" funds available if i see and super duper bargains)... but can't imagine me needing it... that bit i have left from this months €50 will keep me in fruit n yogurts until we get paid..and the odd bit of veg i will need to top up ...No Problem .... im nothing if not optomistic ehh :rotfl:

right enough waffle..will get off and have a nosey i think have a great evening everyone:D

curly_cabbage

Just gotten back from holiday and what a lot to catch up on everybody seem to be doing pretty well i'm off to check out the frezzer and see how far i can make it go.

CC

getting-sorted-sarah

Parsnip and apple soup does sound yummy!
I have not spent anything today (actually that's a lie, I bought a bottle of wine) but I have made:

4 portions lentil moussaka
2 pizzas
1 loaf of bread
4 portions red pepper and sweet potato soup
4 lots (to serve 3) pasta sauce
A batch of peanut butter cookies

All recipes on either this or last months thread, or the eat for a fiver Jamie thread (except pasta sauce, which I make up as I go along) so thanks guys!