June 2008 Grocery Challenge

juliapenguin

Hello and sorry you're feeling hard pressed at the moment. However, I'm sure you can do it and you may even be amazed at how well you can eat for that. I had to give up work last summer because of illness and managed to cook some amazing meals for a very small cost - thanks to MSEers and their great ideas.

Regarding the cat, I always used to buy Go Cat and found out by chance that they absolutely loved Sainsburys own brand biscuits, which are half the price. I've told friends with fussy cats and their cats have enjoyed them too.

Good luck!!

Julia xx

PS Porridge for breakfast!!! If you're not a big fan, try it with a spoonful of golden syrup instead of sugar - to me, it tastes so delicious with golden syrup that I eat it for lunch sometimes too!

SuziQ

Don't panic-this is waht OS is about,stretching the pennies! I am a relative newbie,but before you know it you will have loads of advice from the good budgeters on OS.

There have been earlier threads with £10 to last one week etc.

Breakfasts-easiest to buy a large pack of own brand cereal or porridge.
You need to do a fullinventory of your cupboards and freezer then you will find the ideas rolling in. There are loads of cheap pasta and rice meals,veg curry can be made cheaply,eggs for omellettes-once you have a menu plan you can buy the basics in bulk to see you through.
Do you have any money off or loyalty vouchers you could redeem to help?
Will your cat eat cheap food-dried is often the cheapest option.

carolt2

Evening everyone, no posted for a few days and we have managed 5 NSD's:j :j .

Still got some things left over from last weeks shop. We have got a £5 off voucher for MR T so unsure on whether we will use it of not.

Thank you to every one that has posted recipes, I have copied them into a file for future use.

SuziQ

ooh sorry-got distracted with the explosion storyline on eastenders and loads of people have already posted!

kk*_2

thanks so much everyone, makes me feel a lot better

i'll keep everyone updated

once again thankyou so much

x

linzmac_2

Evening all!

kk I'm sure you will be able to do it and you might actually enjoy it too!! I only started on here this month and am already addicted and have learned loads and saved quite a bit, thanks to the fab people on here :T . Last night I got loads of reduced meat and stuff in Sainsbury's for £15 and today spent just over £50 (am going to take it out of next month's budget) in Asda stocking up on tins of beans/toms/tuna, bread flour, pasta and two months worth of dog food (and I definitely don't buy the cheapest stuff, in fact most of what I buy is organic!) and apart from a bit of fruit and veg and milk as and when I need it, I am pretty confident that we now have meals (for me and DH), including lunches for at least the next 6 weeks...so you can definitely do it!

I have spent this afternoon cooking up some of the stuff I got last night and from one 500g pack of mince I now have 6 portions of bolognese and from my 1.4kg joint of beef I cut off a bit before I cooked it to freeze for a roast and then with the cooked bit I made 2 portions of curry then packaged up 4 sandwiches worth of slices, 2 lots of strips for chow mein/stroganoff (all now in the freezer)and have a couple of slices left over for a cold meat salad tomorrow....and all for a fiver!! Can you tell I am pretty pleased with myself??! Now just need to go and find room in the freezer for everything else I got as well as a portion of fried rice left over from tea tonight!

Am not going to add my Asda spend onto this month's total but just immediately take it off next month's as I won't actually use any of it until then but wanted to take advantage of the lowered prices on dog food and bread flour incase they go back up again.

Right, will stop wittering on now and go and do battle with the freezer!

Linz

ifonlyitwaseasier

evening all,

been to MrT with my folks, no idea what was spent as my mum wouldn't let me pay for mine so i'm going to mark it as £30 (no idea if it's close but it's about what my shopping list came to and i tried to stick to it)

hope your all having fun this evening and that tomorrow stays dry for you

ioiwe x

egon

MRSMCAWBER wrote: »

Hi all

Egon.. I will need to make a loaf tomorrow..so i will use the flour then and report back
I used the sonntags flour for the fruit/coconut loaf i made earlier.. i got that flour when looking for normal bread flour when i first got here:o but realised it was for sweetened stuff.... and that fruit bread is stunning made with it:T I think its a bit like what us brits call Brioche bread..
I use the other flours for my bread so have dinkle, and sunflower and allsorts that i love.. and its because it makes a sturdy dense loaf.
I haven't tried making German bread.... but im sure if someone gave me a recipe i would do it..nudge nudge wink wink
Its strange..i don't get on with bread mixes either -i get really bad head aches if i use them.. but even when i eat my own white bread..i fall asleep within 30 mins :rotfl: so i think i have a problem with the white stuff (not that it stops me eating it sometimes:o )

I am awaiting the books..... I am hoping to be able to make my first german loaf over the weekend.
I'll see what I can do with the recipes..... I am sure, that some of them will find their way to you....

dink1

Hi guys,

managed second NSD, only 5 more to go!

looks like dh may have found work for two weeks which will definetely help with bills this month!!!!!

Hope all is going well with everyone

Dink1

Hollysan

Hello everyone,

I have just totted up my total and updated my signature for this week, and I am nearly up to my budget. Next week should be very low spend though, as OH is away for three days and I will eat with the children. Also, I stocked up at Morrisons this week, and apart from milk and a bit of fruit, I shouldn't need to buy much. Also, I have some Co-op dividend cheques to buy a few bits for the weekend on Sat morning.

We have had the first new potatoes from the garden this week - absolutely delicious, and loads more to come. Everything else is SOO slow because of the cold weather. Lettuce and spinach and herbs we have been eating for a while, and peas and broad beans should be soon. So that will all help keep the spends down.

Otherwise, I am also really noticing the price increases in the shops, like all of you, I know. I guess we all have to learn to live with it.

Good luck to everyone, especially the new posters. Mrs M - I am going to try the bagels! thanks for the recipe

Hollysan