September 2009 Grocery Challenge

Hi all, please can i be put down for £150 for September please:D

Im still off sick but handed my notice in to current job last Monday and start a new job on 21st September with a 50 % paycut :eek: little above minimum wage! Have done the maths and we will be fine but will have nowhere near the disposable income we have been used to but no well paid job is worth the stress. I cant wait to start at the new place! Feel like a huge weight has gone from me!

So given that i dont know the shifts i will be on yet i have meal planned straightforward dishes for the month and basically a week of batch cooked mince meals the week i start so dh doesnt starve if im on lates:D

I spent more last month due to unexpected tax credits payment,:T and i have a full to bursting freezer (3 of em actually:o) and same with cupboards and pantry, (we'll be fine if there is a war!).

So today i went Mr T to get a few basics and some tinned stuff to replace stocks and spent £24.13 and got a lot for my pennies.

Have 800g of beef mince in the fridge im gonna use tommorow in the slow cooker with all the usual suspects and im gonna do a huge vat of mash so thats us for at least a few days, have a chicken also to do later in the week which will also do at least 3 days. DD is doing really well with weaning and has her own food cupboard with low salt/sugar items etc so she's sorted and have tons of nappies and formula for her.

Sorry i dont half waffle:o but i just love this thread!

So i expect will come in on budget for the first time, mainly because i literally have no more room for anything! Should just need milk, bread (which i should make really as have a ton of flour) and fruit. Need to keep it down as dont know yet how new job work their payday so need to make sure have a bit of money in the bank to cover anything essential.

Am really looking forward to September in all respects!

Big thanks to those running this fab thread:T

Hi to all,
Thanks to those who work so hard on this, good luck to all the newbies and a pat on the back to all those who're doing well.

Wow, can't believe we're this far in already!!
I'm feeling very positive about this month!
;o)

My boys are back to school on Wednesday only it's to a new school (due to the move!!) They offer a 20p each per day fruity tuck.
Do u think I should let my boys join in? (They offer a large cup filled with various fresh fruits/veg etc, differing daily.
I just know I couldn't offer the variety, (they get heaps of choice on average 4/5 different things to choose from each day, coconut, plum, peach, watermelon, papya, star fruit, cucumber, carrot, cherry toms are just a few)
What do ya all think??

Hi All

Due to have my first baby in a few months so trying to cut back. Count me in for £200.

Me, DH and two pampered cats

Does anyone use 30 Day Gourmet freezer cooking?

30daygourmetDOTcom

The idea is that you have one massive cooking day, ideally with friend, but you can do it on your own, and you stash a month's COOKED meals (not ingredients) in the freezer.

PS How long is it before I can post a clickable link?

Soupfan


That is essentially what I do (aka once a month cooking [OAMC] or batch cooking). When I have time I cook up the months dinners & freeze them in individual portions, then when I don’t have time to cook dinner, just needs defrosting & reheating & maybe cooking the carb (rice, pasta, potato etc.)

DD is with her Dad this weekend, so I am cooking up the month’s meals ready for when she is back at school & I am working (and not home until after 7pm if I am in the office in London). This is something I have been doing way before GC, as it suits me. DD is with her Dad alternate weekends, so I always have at least one a month where there is time to do this.

Bolognaise sauce & chilli con carne are cooked & frozen in individual portions already. Tomorrow I will make the rest of the bolognaise sauce into beef lasagne & also make fish lasagne, Moroccan chicken, moussaka, sausage casserole, sausage & lentils, as well as some pates for lunches. There are still a few portions of Chinese chicken, beef curry & fish pie in the freezer from previous sessions.

I am not really strict about cooking exactly one month’s meals once a month, but cook up huge batches when I have time & then there is always a selection of different meals available.

As I said, it suits me, but I am only catering for two people. I am not sure I would find it manageable if I had a large family to feed. Others find it easier to cook double when they are cooking anyway & put the extra portions in the freezer to build up a stock of ‘home-made ready meals’ over time.

HTH