May 2008 Grocery Challenge

annelouise_2

:T Have just returned from recycling and shopping and was a star using my memo facility on all 4 items needed - Strawbs,Bananas,Eggs,Sugar.

Bought cheap bananas 12 x small green ones for £1.00 equivalent

Strawbs were £1.37 for 1 kg - so Strawbs and jelly for tea,stawbs for packed lunch and a smoothie or 2 for DD9 if any left over a Twinks cobbled together cheesecake.

By popping across the road I saved 51p and it is only 2mins across the road.

Picked up 2 x pate at 38p for DD8 packed lunches.

When I was putting my recycling in the bins an old fella dropped 6 french sticks on top of the bin wrapped in cellophane and tied in a carrier bag!!!!!!!!
- was it so wrong to swing them out of there once his back was turned - bin raider I am not or am I????? Still fresh so will serve with Cannelloni tonight and crostini and bag up the rest of them.

Have 23.28euros or £15.98 till Saturday so will def be under budget.

Offered 5 packets of herb seeds this am from car share buddy - have taken a bag of Twinks Hobnobs out as a THANKYOU.

Chicken Curry to make this am,fry off 2 kg and freeze bags of fried onions,put on a coloured wash,hoover lounge,take neighbour to new supermarket in village "supervalu"

Have applied for 5 freebies before the kids got up this morning and 2 on behalf of friends - I value my friends and love to treat them - even if free.

Found 2 HM courgette fritters that I'll have for a light lunch.

This weeks menu goes like this - all in fridge or freezer or storecupboard

Mon Cannelloni ,corn and baguette

Tues HM Chicken Curry and Veg Rice with Nan

Wed Fish n Chips

Thu Pasta with Pesto and Bacon Baguette

Fri HM Salmon Fishcakes

Sat Pork and Apple Meatballs with Sweet n Sour Spaghetti

END OF THIS MONTHS CHALLENGE..........

Luck everyone:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

annelouise

Sunnyday

Razra your garden looks lovely!
I think there are quite a few of us now with potios and apotments:rotfl:
I blame MrsM
SD

dink1

Hi guys!

need to do some stuff in the garden today (no rain yet!?) this will keep it a nsd! whilst I am being a mini percy thrower, does anyone having a recipe for hm fertiliser or is it better for shop bought stuff? Been to a car boot sale today as have heard you all mention them. Bought some cake tins, baking bowls and a cook book. My mother (who came with me must think I've lost the plot!)

Razra - great piccys let us know how it progesses
Mummygems - Congratulations!!!!:j
Sickofhavingnomoney & Mrs money penny - Welcome, and I wish you luck with your challenge the guys on here are always passing recipes and tips so don't forget to ask or pass any ideas on. I am a newbie this is my first month!
Frazzmunch - Good luck
Annalouise - wow you are a fast learner. Do you have the recipe for Lazygarlic?

domestic_goddess

Well, I am waiting in now for my Asda food delivery and then I plan to spend a couple of hours batch cooking so that OH has plenty of good food to give the kids through the week while I am at work (I get in agter him at half five).

He is not good in the kitchen and if I dont tell him exactly what to cook for the kids he will just take them out for tea.............. Hence the £594 spend on shopping and food last month:mad: :mad: :mad:

Today I am going to cook Tuna Pasta Bake, Bolonaise (for lasagne and Pasta Bolognaise) and possibly a chicken pie.

I know it is really late, but I was thinking pf planting some fruit and veg in the garden to save even more money. The kids love strawberries.... Am I to late for these and is there anything else that I can plant. I do have a big garden but not very organised so it may need to be in pots.

Thanks for your welsome to this challenge :beer:

victory

annelouise wow:D

MRS MONEY PENNY welcome:D

sickofhavingnomoney love your title so am I:rotfl: :rotfl:

welcome ot the newbies:D

Lashing it down here and we are off to Macdonalds soon so that DS can have his half term treat, hoping not to go into any other shops because I can see the end in sight now:D fortunately the Mr S has closed down for refurb so can happily walk past it and not spend:D

Used my rosemary on the new pots we had last night, OH loved it, kids hated it and asked why I had put trees on their food?:rotfl: :rotfl:

bigm sorry to hear of your bereavement and no offence caused;)

Fi27

Hi annalouise i was impressed with your list , it never entered my head to switch off mains power on laptop when battery fully charged. I have done it now tho but my battery is nacked i think as it says fully charged but only 40 mins power remaining i dont think thats right is it?

Razra Ooh i love the photos, you have done a fab job with your garden :T I want an apotment OH has promised me i have his undivided attention this weekend coming in the garden :rolleyes: He has been very reluctant to get stuck in to the garden and i am getting very cross with him now so he knows when to get into gear and move his !!! Def keep us posted with you progress.

I am planning a NSD today as i am not setting foot outside the house Really want to do some baking but i have my SVQ assessor coming round this afternoon so am typing like crazy to get some work done :eek:

Was just havin a 5 min break nosing on here

Honest

Fi x

earthmother

Nearly there - end of week 4 of 5 was yesterday.

I've spent £395.45 so far, so over my 'revised' budget already

But, I'm still restocking parts of the medicine cabinet twice a week, and have generally been buying more 'being ill' food again, so I'm not too worried.

I have a full freezer and cupboards, so other than milk and fruit I don't expect to buy too much more - I only have £20 available to me anyway until next Monday so there's not really a choice right now. In fact I might do a stocktake later today and get started on next months menu plan - this month's went right out the window :rolleyes:

One upside - I'll still have brought the weekly average in lower than the last two months, so at least I'm going in the right direction again

Casperthefriendlyghost

Hi everyone

Finally caught up with this thread, got lost on about pg 82! I had a fab month with GC, spent £29.98 out of £40.00 allocated and am really pleased. I am allocating £35.00 for June.

Have also had 4 NSDs in a row since my new month started on the 23rd May when I got paid.

See you all over in the June thread.
Cheers
Casper
x x x

annelouise_2

:rotfl: :rotfl: As I tend to use garlic only once or twice a week I peel,chop and place usually up to 3 - 5 cloves in olive oil in a peanut butter jar stored in the fridge.It is cheaper to buy in nets,here in Spain I can get 20 bulbs for 1 euro at the market so supply all my neighbours with their own.Share the wealth.

I use for all soups,stews,bolognese sauces,garlic bread and alioli.

Once you've used the garlic the garlic flavoured oil in itself can be added to all the above.

Having had a " :staradmin "sparky moment just then I wonder if I could do it with ginger????? Maybe I shall give it a try and let you all know.

Have just enjoyed my courgette fritter with sweet chili sauce - yummy.

Chicken and Pepper Curry now cooked,onions fried off cooling,slipped a caramalized apple crumble in whilst stood stirring.

annelouise

searching_me

hello'er feeling quiet up beat today.. makes a change... im broker then ever this month but im organised!!!! (hopefully) :rotfl: just had my mr s delivery and it came to £59.25..£12 less then i thought as they didnt have all the juice i wanted but im glad coz when i checked my cupboard i had more then i thought so SCORE!!! :rotfl: i sound sad i know but hey its all good as they say :rotfl: so that takes me to just over £100 so just under £100 left easy :rotfl: im being positive im nearly healled... got a check up tomorrow so i'll know more... my flat is filled with food and i got til thursday/friday off from work :rotfl: so fresh start for me... me thinks :rotfl: hope your all ok xxx

edit: just spoke to boss and he said i can have til monday off yay!!!!! xx