April 2008 Grocery Challenge

weemissy

Hi everyone
Completely lost the plot now, managed to spend £26 in lidl, £20 in sainsbury - went in for cravendale offer and came out with a handbag - what's all that about:mad: I never look at handbags never mind buy them for fr**s sake! Then spent £8 in MrM (had £5 voucher tho). This all took some doing because I also worked a split shift, took DS to art class and was home in time to see 'Nancy?'.
Rant over and although annoyed with myself am still spending less than did before. This month I blame being away on holiday for overspend:o, last month it was DD's birthday:o, now what excuse can I use next month:o.

Girl least likely to - I think it was you who saw easter eggs in lidls (sorry if wrong), they didn't have them in my local, but thanks for the reply.

MrsM - am I being really thick in thinking that there could be a bit of seed swapping? I don't have any but would go and buy some just so I could join in:rotfl: mmmm now that I think about it things could get a messy, address swapping, small clear plastic bags of seeds travelling around the country being intercepted by suspicious drug enforcement agencies who think our frugal ways are just a smokescreen.

Talking carp now so will go and watch rerun of apprentice
nighty night
X

teedy23

Update: Looked it up in a recipe site, the cannellini is the winner, seems adzuki bean only make paste ? Asian countries tend to make them sweetened, You learn somethig new every day.

chimp_choker

MrDT wrote: »

Hi All,

Anyone got a link to that website that suggests recipes based on what ingredients you have to hand? I can't find it (it's http://www.cookingbynumbers.com/ thanks teedy23!) Or, even better, can someone help me out with a suggestion?

I'm a big big fan of the www.bbc.co.uk/food site. It has the ingredients to use page and shed loads of other recipies. I've had cook books since 1973 when I got one at school for "promising work" but now all my info comes from this site and for curries try www.curryhouse.co.uk
hth

chimp

chimp_choker

aliwali wrote: »

>>>>>>>>>> how much rubbish in the form of processed foods, crisps, sweets, fizzy drinks!!!

We have a few treats but nowhere near as many as they buy.
They definately haven't discovered MSE
Alison

Oh how true this is. We have eaten better since we were poverty stricken late last year and we are now healthier due to the allotment site..... ( I supervise and the wife digs....) I now get £20 a week pocket money and out of this weeks money i bought the magazine Country smallholder ( I'm into chickens and home veg etc...) and in there it tells you to do meal planning to cut down on waste and frivilous spending etc.
Obviously they haven't got to MSE yet either...

sandy2_2

MrDT wrote: »

If someone could confirm/deny that self raising will be the same as plain flour plus baking soda that'd be a massive help Thanks everyone

bit late but 4oz plain flour needs 1 level teaspoon of baking powder.
also
Substituting in Recipes
You can substitute baking powder in place of baking soda (you'll need more baking powder and it may affect the taste), but you can't use baking soda when a recipe calls for baking powder. Baking soda by itself lacks the acidity to make a cake rise. However, you can make your own baking powder if you have baking soda and cream of tartar. Simply mix two parts cream of tartar with one part baking soda.

turbo5019

Good moring everyone.
I am total new to this but I have been reading the threads for the past week. I don't know how much I spend on groserys but I have been keeping a total of what I've spent this week £58 Thats just me, a 2 year old & one due sept. Husband works away 4 weeks on 4weeks off due home 10 days time.:)

Since I have been reading this thread I have bought a bleander, dusted off my slow cooker & borrowed a BM.
I have never cooked so much in my life!!!!!!!!!!!!! All thanks to you lot. :T
When I go shopping I pick things up then think do I really near this it really makes you aware of what you are spending.

I am hoping to start growing my own veg this year. Carrots are already in. hoping OH will do some potaoes as well.

Cheryl

weezl74

cg1982 wrote: »

...
healhty erm more veg fruit just general every or most from fresh rather than packets like ide like to start cooking from kinda scratch but this will be a huge step for me


my kids like then 8p noodles and pasta and sauce anything pasta they will eateat are these healthy?

Hi cg1982,

In the UK all products made out of flour including your pasta and noodles have to contain extra minerals like calcium, iron.... this is a good way to know that your kids are getting enough of those things.

Another tip I'd offer if you're trying to be healthy on a budget, is thinking 'it's got to be fresh fruit and veg' and making up your 5 a day mostly through fresh fruit. This can be very pricy.:eek:

Canned, frozen and dried fruit and veg retain lots of their nutritional value, and definately count as part of your 5 a day. If you could cook a malt loaf (i'll post the recipe later) which is really easy, then all the dried fruit in a slice of that will count as part of your recommended amount.:D

I hope that helps.;)

I'm not a nutritionist, I've just done a lot of thinking about eating healthily and very cheaply, for another challenge.:o

Keep posting.

Love Weezl x

P.S chef hubby eh? :cool: Can we borrow him? Lets set up a rota! I bags Mr cg1982 for may bank holiday weekend :rotfl:

EmptyPurse

OK. I have a confession to make. I've gone completely over budget. No idea just how badly I've done - I gave up counting - but I've been buying a few extra top ups, a couple of lunches when I forgot my packed lunch and then a few treats at a farmer's market yesterday. I guess I've spent at least £30-£40 over budget. On the positive side my parents filled up my freezer with heaps & heaps of meat next month and I've got lots of cleaning stuff in stock so I guess I really don't need to spend very much money at all next month. Or at least that's the theory.

ifonlyitwaseasier

morning all,

good luck to those starting on the challenge, it's a really good way to keep an eye on what you are spending. it's already got me baking waaaaay more (twinks hobnobs!) and my OH is gradually getting the idea that the less he spends out eating the nicer the food he can actually have. he's now hooked on my hm bread

singlemum_4

Morning all, just popping in to say hi!!
Well I've not spent a thing all week on groceries so my sig doesn't need updating:j am soooo pleased that I've managed to stick to my guns what with the kids at home. Think i have enough in to last until Wed/Thurs at least.

Hope everyone else is well

SM