February 2009 Grocery Challenge

rockie4

Hi Folks,
I would have come in under budget this month but I nipped in Sainsbugs this morning for a bag of spinach to make butternut squash and spinach lasagne for tea......

I was gobsmacked by the amount of stuff they had 'whoopsed' :eek:

I'm veggie but OH likes meat sometimes and I got a huge piece of rump steak, pork chops (both Taste the Difference) some Cauldron burgers for me:j , lots of veg and some blueberries (60p):j

I've just made cauliflower and broccoil soup, shepherdess pie and my lasagne:D and completely rehashed this weeks meal planner :rolleyes:

I'll declare at £164.34 for February please a little over but what I have in the freezer will take me into next week easily.

Meant to say, my budget is food, cleaning and laundry stuff but doesn't include my wine (OH doesn't drink) or toiletries/cosmetics, it does include OH's toiletries 'cos he gets to use supermarket stuff!!!!

angelatgraceland

Baileys_Babe wrote: »

I try to overcome this by setting annual budget but dividing it into monthly amounts so I don't go mad at the beginning of the year and end up living off water at the end :rotfl: This way any bulk buying should not send the annual total over, but the monthly target keeps me focused and make me think before going out for dinner again (unless somebody else is paying )

I do mine much the same-I take annual-split it into monthly-then into weekly to keep me within the limits or thereabouts. I can only do this as I kept all details of spends last year though. Ive not allowed for rising prices and Im trying to keep to same figures so that is indeed a challenge! However-I am a little wiser this year!
I include food toiletries petrol cleaning any other small household bits,garden stuff booze and entertainment. That is why I allow so much. Last year I only included food so it was small. For 5 adults(youngest 15)I allow approx £75 pw for food on average-tho it varies a lot-one week it could be £50-another it could be £120 which is why I prefer to calculate annualy.The other £50 in my purse is for the other stuff.
Ive divided my annual grocery into quarters though so I can watch it more closely. Each week I put £125 in my grocery purse and £75 in my "other" purse(clothes medical presents car tax, car repairs diy, house maintenance, electrical)I am using "cash only" this year as it makes it easy. No slipups-when its gone-its gone! So far Im on track even with half term, a guest Ive nicknamed hoover,MOT and fullservice on the car. Luckily no work needed doing.

brummiebabe

My challenge ends on 24th Feb (2 days to go:j ) and have £14.41 left:D . Will need to get some milk, but that should be all - but am reducing my budget to £350 from next month (due to DH's reduced hours :mad: ) - hopefully we'll be ok!!

Not had chance to catch up with the thread, but hope everyone is relatively on target!!:A

Miss_Liquorice

I just spent £7.12 in Morrisons and I barely got anything! Eek. About £3 on three bags of spinach/lettuce for the piggies, about £1 on chocolate for baking, £1.35 on their cheapest cocoa (eek!), then some butter, value diluting juice and dishcloths (my flatmate is very un-OS and keeps throwing out the reuseable cloths! Aargh!).

So far for the month I am now at £103.58 of £120, leaving me £16.42 to last me a week. Totally do-able!

Coolmum66

Ok -so have been to Tesco - spent £22.41

Am going to declare Feb at £140 have really only spent £136.81 - but have a few days to go and may need more milk!

So -the plan for March - Internet big shop to be delivered Tuesday 2nd and then just topping up with what we NEED! GOing to stick at £180 for March for now - but would really like to drop this to about £150 by May / June - will see how we go!!

Take care all

Coolmum. xx

mummyyof5

Stardrops in MRMs is £1.29p:eek: Did nt buy any of course,no MRAs near me but its only 79p in Wilkinsons.

Thanks to MRSMCAWBER re the parmesan cheese,I will freeze it the block is so big it will probably last a couple of years (its HUGE).

Another question if any one can help where do I find oven liners,have tried Wilkinsons and MRMs they have a sheet thing to use on baking trays Is this the same thing??

My shop at MRMS came to £81.00 so now standing at £370.37p. this seems so much compared to everyone else on here but I do have a large family.

rach

I will declare at £172.44 this month, looks like I've blown it rather!

But that does include £9.50 at M&S today on reduced stuff and so we're well stocked for at least 10 days now.

Keep trying to run the freezer down but then stocking it up again with bargains and leftovers!!

MadamMim2013

Mummyyof5 don't be worrying what everyone else spends.
I think for your family size your doing really great!

Changingme

My sister brought oven liners from Aldi not sure how much,Homebargins had Stardrops for 65p last week hope this helps.

JayJay14

[quote=
Another question if any one can help where do I find oven liners,have tried Wilkinsons and MRMs they have a sheet thing to use on baking trays Is this the same thing??

.[/quote]

Last time I was in Home Bargains they had these for 99p. I think they sometimes turn up in the pound shops. They are quite expencive in places like lakeland. I need a couple for myself so I'll have a look in town tomorrow and let you know.

Well my total so far is £102.98 so I'm doing fine. I may have to cut back a little further if OH's job finises next month but we will get by.

By the way I buy all food, toiletries and laundry plus food for one hungry German Shepherd with my GC money. We do buy wine online but that is a different budget - when we can't afford it we'll just not buy it for the duration.

My month will finish on the 28th so should be a bit under but may use any laft overs to stock up on dry goods.