May 2008 Grocery Challenge

savingfortravel

Empty Purse
I'm not ignoring your request for the top 5 tips for GC money saving. Just can't decide..
Looking forward to reading other people's comments...

SFT

ifonlyitwaseasier

evening Old stylers!!

i'm feeling very happy with my self, got 5x4packs of ttd scotch beef burgers for the grand total of £2!!!!! 40p each!!!!!!! i just happened to be walking past the reductions person at the right moment

also got a load of burger buns down to 25p for 6 (got 3 packs) and now my freezer is sooooooooooooooooo full i'm wondering if i should actually get any more milk or just use the 7 free pints i already have

gunsandbanjos

Top 5 tips for GC:

1. Menu Plan!!!!

2. Use www.mysupermarket.com even if you dont order it online, you still know where is cheapest

3. Dont take anyone else shopping with you.

4. Bulk buy, but only on non-perishables, and only things you use anyway

5. Batch cook, bulk up with oats lentils etc freezing leftovers for 'readymeals'

I'm sure there are more/better ones but my mind has gone blank:o

savingfortravel

SFT's and OB's-CA Team-Top 5 GC money saving tips

1. Menu plan-even a rough plan is a plan-Look in your fridge for what needs using up/freezer to remind yourself what you need.

2. Bulk buy on non-perishables-Our small shed looks like an Army store room.

3. Whoopsie hunts-its amazing what you can buy cheap and freeze.. never knew about peppers, mushrooms ....(i could go on)

4. Grow your own-can't wait until we start 'gathering in' (as my dad Henry calls picking your harvest)

5. Cook from scratch-no more ready meals... they are full of rubbish and cost a fortune.. we made the best tasting fish pie I've ever had the other day using on offer salmon and whoopsied marinated prawns... and I've eaten alot of Fish Pies.

6 (please can I sneak this in) MOCoupons-frequently scanning the odd 4Op off a small amount of purchases brings the cost down.

I'm going to post this quick before I change my mind and add more

SFT

mumzyof2

Evening all.

I have just done a online shop at asda due to deliever on thursday but my mum has paid for this as she is over on the 8th of June for a week. So i wont count this in my total

turbo5019

Evening All

Not been posting much but have been trying to keep up with the thread everyday.
Thanks to everyone for all the good idears and recipes :T it has helped me keep on track.

Mrs M can you put me down for £200 for June and I am declaring £225.60 for may £24.40 under budget:j :j.

I'm hoping to come in next month under £150 but I don't want to lower the budget too far. Mind you this month should be better as DH has gone back off shore so wont be back till end of june. Also have enought flour and yeast to make HM bread everyday for the next 3 months and enough meals already cooked in freezer for the next month. I have never cooked so much in my life and enjoying it. Just can't wait for the fruit & veg to be ready in the garden. Not done as much as I wanted to but have potatos, runner beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, beetroot, strawberrys, blueberrys and carrots.

Well done :j to all that have come in under budget and for anyone that hasn't don't beat yourselves up, just think what you would have spent if it wasn't for this thread .

Good luck to everyone for next month.

MRSMCAWBER

Evening all

hmmmm 5 tips...just 5 :eek: lets see if i can think of some alternatives - i doubt it ...

1. keep an invantory of what you have in cupboards/freezers.. saves an age when meal planning/making shopping list and saves you buying things "just in case" only to get home and find you have 5 in the cupboard:rotfl:
2. NEVER shop when hungy...everything seems so much more tempting
3. Make a meal plan (yes..that old chestnut ) i plan a number of meals but allow what day i make them to be flexible -depending on the weather, how busy you are and how bothered you can be on a particular day;) plus it allows you to work on what needs using first
4. portion control... gone are the days when i cook for 4 when there are only 2 of us.. the other 2 portions go straight in the freezer..before we eat otherwise it will get eaten "just because its there "
5. oooh and i reckon the other one is getting the ratios on your plate right .... no longer do i think you need about 1/2lb of meat on a plate each at every meal:rotfl: ..so balancing veg/protein/carbs etc.. much healthier too

Ok thats my 5

Im declaring my may spends at €74.19 as tomorrow is going to be a NSD :j so i will then be on my June budget..set at €150.. but im going to be starting to get xmas bits in..wine etc
Hubby is on duty tommorow..so im hoping on getting the spinach n bacon bread made..and i can feel a batch of twinks coming on..but im replacing the golden syrup with the syrup from the stem ginger :drool: -Which could be very dangerous,,
A whole batch of twinks + me on my own all day could =:EasterBun but i will try and resist... want to save plenty for huby to have with ice cream mmmmmmm:rotfl:
Im also planning on having my meals out of the freezer tomorrow... i WILL get through that stuff in there.. hopefull to leave space ready for a veggie glut in my garden that i hope will be happening:T
oooh i have had my 1st pea pod off the plants this morning :j oh my word they were gorgeous..think i may have to set more not that i can see any making it to a pan...they are "gardeners perks"

annelouise_2

:money: Hello all,

Having followed MrsM's recipe except dried yeast bit I have a very satisfactory but shallow loaf ?????didn't rise a huge amount.

Kids have all had warm bread with lush lemon curd,and want toast for breakfast.RESULT:j .I can see that I would use one maybe every 10 days as we are not big carbs lovers.

Enough curry left for DS4 for tea Thursday.

Am down to the last smidge of real butter so we'll have to marj it till June.

Still have 23.28 euros left with no foodie requirements for any of us - here's to the next 4 NSD.

annelouise

**purpleprincess**

I just had this for dinner and was lush lush lush and so quick to make too!!!

Le_Foot

JayJay14 wrote: »

jackk wrote: »

I have a breadmaker shoved in a cuboard somewhere, i can't be doing with it at all. I can get 4 x 2lb loaves done much faster, than it takes my breadmaker to produce 1 with a hole in the bottom .

I agree - I have one stuck in a cupboard in the kitchen but never use it as I prefere to use a full bag at a time.

Yesterdays bake was 2 loaves, 3 pizza bases and a tray of chelsea buns - you can't do that with a BM, not enough dough;)

Hi Jay Jay,
Could you share with us the recipe you used for Chelsea buns. Were they made with Danish Pastry?