May 2008 Grocery Challenge

mandy_moo_1

morning all :wave:

welcome to all the newbies. you'll find loads of great help and support on here...i feel like i learn something new every day

feel like i've been up hours......i've watered all my veggies outside, made HM rolls to go in the freezer, choc chip muffins and 2 of the wacky choc cakes posted on here yesterday. i used the cup i got with my MR breadmaker, and they seem to have turned out ok. they're still in the oven and should be ready in about 10 mins.they smell lovely

got to go out in a minute to pick some stuff up from freecycle, so will catch up later

hope you all have a good day xx

greent

shaz_mum_of__2 wrote: »

I too buy ethical meat and eggs i have found the only way to make savings in this area is to buy big ie half a lamb/pig direct from the producer Asda do a big box eggs for £2

We only eat meat 3 times a week and the meat is usually stretched to more than one meal

Ie i buy a whole gammon joint and we have it as a roast then use some another night say in a pie and the rest for sandwiches for packed lunches i pay £12 for about 1.5kg at a local farm shop for the joint(cooked) its £2.49 per 100g at tesco for organic cooked ham per 100g

Vegetarian meals are sometimes more interesting than meat ones and sometimes no one notices theres no meat(pizza/pasta)

I refuse to compromise in this area and still save money


Shaz

Thanks Shaz - nice to know it's achievable! I must admit that I don't buy meat in a large quantity at a time and should investigate that, as we have some lovely local producers at fm/mkts, so I can ask them. I do need to empty a freezer first though - not sure you can fit anything else in atm, and I have a pkt of rolls which need to go in;) Big of juggling required, methinks!

DH was brought up in a household which had lots of veggie meals/ thinly stretched meat meals and doesn't think a meal is a meal unless it has meat in (twisted logic) (cheese sarnies being the exception!) - pasta/ pizza has ham added for him - even if only his bit. Cauli cheese is (in his op) a side dish - as is cheesy mash - a big bowl of which will do me as a meal! :mad:

Ah well, he's away with work for a couple of days, so kids & I are using up jkt pots with cheese/ beans/ cottage cheese (as preferred) and salad which needs to go today.

Am looking forward to this - and will check out some recipes later to try with kids over half term

greent

Moniker

Morning everyone. Just thought I would add my sixpennorth about cup measures - I always reckon a cup =8oz. I do have a set of plastic cup measure I bought from Lakeland years ago and they didn't cost much - about £2-50 I think.

Also, cheap freezer boxes can be got at pound shops but I got most of mine from Woolies in the sale. They tend to sell packs of mixed sizes half price- but I don't know if they have a sale on at the moment.

I noticed an ad by M&S in the paper today 'eat in for a tenner' - they are offering a starter,maincourse,pudding for 2 and a bottle of wine for £10 until Monday. My DH seems keen for me to take advantage of this offer but I am not sure if we really need to. But if you have a birthday or special occasion coming up and want to do it on the cheap this looks like a good deal. I will check it out when I go shopping on Sat, but I bet they will only have food we won't eat, like curry or stuff with lots of garlic.

Off to do the last supermarket shop of the month tonight and hope to find some whoopsies! I don't need a lot really as we are out on Saturday and Sunday so fingers crossed I will be under £50!

angelnikki

Moniker wrote: »

Morning everyone. Just thought I would add my sixpennorth about cup measures - I always reckon a cup =8oz. I do have a set of plastic cup measure I bought from Lakeland years ago and they didn't cost much - about £2-50 I think.

That's right but it is 8 fluid ounces not 8 oz weight (you prob already knew that just expanding on it for others.)

I bought a measuring jug for about £1.50 from woolworths which has cups/ml/oz on it and it's excellent. But you dont need to buy anything fancy to measure cups with. Just use any measuring jug that has ounces on it 1 cup=[strike]8fl oz[/strike] 10fl oz (thanks sosh)

denisefowler I completely agree with you about this thread moving way too fast. It's probably not helped by the fact that some people on here do 3 posts in a row several times a day! When they could just as easily put everything they want to say in one post.

Nikki
x

isthatreduced

Faster pasta 500g was 55p on Monday is 78p Today(went up in my basket)
Basmati rice 2kg £2.59 two weeks ago ,Now £3.37
Smart price carrots 1.5kg 55p on Mon 68p Today

I shop every two weeks online and I add stuff to my basket for the next shop daily and prices are going up in my basket overnight.

The GC I am finding hard because I am buying food I don't need at the moment to save money for when I do need them.
Basicly trying to anticipate what will rise in price and stocking up on non perisable items.

I have also reverted back to basic toilet rolls as I would rather have it in my stomach than down the loo.

Anyone else doing this having to balance spending it now and blowing the budget against the savings made later on?

Sosh

FelineFantastic wrote: »

Just a quick question- can anyone give me any tips on the best place to buy containers for freezing things in- we have some but they are doubling as lunch boxes so can't all be used- and I have no spare old margarine tubs at the mo.

Also does milk freeze better in cartons or bottles- or does it make no difference?

Thanks

Ax

Try poundland, they usually have some nice tubs.

Also, If there's one near you, IKEA have some. I think you get 12 of various sizes for about £3. Last time I went, I stocked up with so many, they fall on my head everytime I open the cupboard. :rotfl:

About cup sizes. It helps to know if the recipie is British or American. The American cup is 8 fluid Oz whereas the british is 10 Fluid Oz. Why can't it just be Universal?

FelineFantastic

Sosh wrote: »

Try poundland, they usually have some nice tubs.

Also, If there's one near you, IKEA have some. I think you get 12 of various sizes for about £3. Last time I went, I stocked up with so many, they fall on my head everytime I open the cupboard. :rotfl:

I have cupboards like that but not always do I get hit with useful things!! :rotfl:

I am going to go and look in pundland and woolies-- our Ikea is miles away and needs a special trip but at least I can plan to go next time I am that way

Thanks!

Ax

skintscotslass

russetred wrote: »

Just back from mr T allegedly avoiding the football but really just checking for whoopsies.I thought there would be hoardes of BBQ stuff as its been so cold but nope.Still 2 large organic milks for £2.38 and I'll need to water them down as no one likes whole milk.Its funny how there's only a complaint about a funny taste in the milk if I leave a blue top on the milk but if I re use a green one its fine:rotfl: Updated my sig and i think I should be okay this month though with all this football its costing a fortune on beer!

Doh!!!!! :wall: :doh: Why didnt I think about that???? Went back to TEsco this morning to do my normal=ish shop. Loads of full fat organic milk, but didnt think there was any point buying it. Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

I WILL LEARN!!!!

skintscotslass

greent wrote: »

Thanks Shaz - nice to know it's achievable! I must admit that I don't buy meat in a large quantity at a time and should investigate that, as we have some lovely local producers at fm/mkts, so I can ask them. I do need to empty a freezer first though - not sure you can fit anything else in atm, and I have a pkt of rolls which need to go in;) Big of juggling required, methinks!

DH was brought up in a household which had lots of veggie meals/ thinly stretched meat meals and doesn't think a meal is a meal unless it has meat in (twisted logic) (cheese sarnies being the exception!) - pasta/ pizza has ham added for him - even if only his bit. Cauli cheese is (in his op) a side dish - as is cheesy mash - a big bowl of which will do me as a meal! :mad:

Ah well, he's away with work for a couple of days, so kids & I are using up jkt pots with cheese/ beans/ cottage cheese (as preferred) and salad which needs to go today.

Am looking forward to this - and will check out some recipes later to try with kids over half term

greent

You can be a bit creative with meals as well. Eg if you are making spag bol/mince/chilli, you can add a handful of porridge oats and a handful of lentils to bulk out. I think all of us have been amazed at this and no one ever notices!

I have cut down on my meat intake. I'd rather buy a whole free range chicken and use it for 3 meals or so and then have veggie meals for the rest of the week, rather than buy cheap chicken fillets.

the_cat

FelineFantastic wrote: »

Just a quick question- can anyone give me any tips on the best place to buy containers for freezing things in- we have some but they are doubling as lunch boxes so can't all be used- and I have no spare old margarine tubs at the mo.

Ax

I would line the tubs you have with a large freezer bag before putting it into the freezer. Then when it's frozen you can just bag it up and re-use the freezer tub. Then you could slowly get a stock of margarine tubs etc and pay nothing:D