March Grocery Challenge

nicki_2

Well I don't think I'm doing too bad finally! Just got back from doing a big items shop (Soap powder, fabric conditioner etc) in Asda and it came to a grand total of £31.32 which includes £3.51 on hangers :eek:

This month so far :

Budget £160 ( 2 adults, 1 5ish-year-old)

Week 1 : Asda £34.14
Week 2 : Asda £29.59
Bits : £5.87
Week 3 : Asda £21.02
Bits : 2.48
Week 4 : Asda £23.69
Bits £0.86
Week 5: Asda £31.32 - ADDED £3 from PIN to cover some of the cost of hangers.

Total so far : £149.96 -£3 = £146.96
Left : £13.04

The £13 is going to have to be rounded up to £14 as I haven't change, PLUS I have £1 divi to use in the Co-op if I need it so I'm happy

Today I managed to stock up on fruit (stashed away = 2 bags apples, 2 bags citrus currently half price, 1 bag of bananas), hot chocolate (1 in the cupboard one stashed), Coke-a-cola (4pack with 1 missing reduced to £3.07 which is cheaper than the offer of 3 for £3.30 also stashed), 2 packets of dried skimmed milk (reduced to £2 each for 750g boxes which I can use when making pancakes etc or emergency top ups on the fresh semi-skimmed milk ... just don't tell OH ). I even bought Hovis Best of both bread as it was the cheapest white bread they had in stock without buying Nimble (doesn't toast very well and thats all we use white bread for, and then thats only of a weekend )

My only complaint about todays shop is it was too heavy! Even with a shopping trolley my hands, arms, and back are hurting.:rolleyes:

mossy

Woo hoo I came well under my £200 budget and only £5.07 over my target which is fantastic!!! I'm really pleased *giving myself pat on the back and wondering why I haven't managed to do this for the last to many to count years*. :rolleyes:

Only sting in the tale is taht I'm still actually out of money by quite a bit...I haven't had chance to look into it yet but on a quick glance my tax credits seems to be about £40 lower than my latest allowance award says they should be, I will probably go through the accounts tonight and try to work it all out...but on a positive note if I hadn't have been so good and almost hitting my target I would be at least £40 into my overdraft so although its gutting that I can't pay £35 off my British Gas bill at least I don't owe it to the bank either.

HopeElizzy

Things aren't looking too bad in Hope camp this week though I'm not sure whether we'll make through to the end of this month!
For us, working from 23rd Feb to the 30th March, is 5 weeks and as I shop @ Tesco's every 2 weeks that will work out as 3 shops this month.
I think I'm doing ok until OH points out that junior is nearly out of nappies then that throws my dubious sums out of the window! :rotfl:

Oh well, I'm having fun! It's a big challenge for me but the encouragement on here is great. :T

astonsmummy

Hi thnx for info, i wrote a signature, think it worked!
I am going to start my grocery challenge as of tommorrow. (i get my money on a thursday) so £35 per week or £140 for the month including nappies, wipes & £10 petrol would like to get the grocery side of it down, but will need some practise on that one.
My last few weekly shops have gone to £30 or more!!!! for me and a toddler, and thats not including petrol! shocking! :eek:

Wendrie

1/3/06 Mike Goddard - milk bill £38.94
13/3/06 Costco £80.90
4/3/06 sainsburys £3.23
1/3/06 Abel Cole Organic box £36.80
6/3/06 Tescos £13.85
9/3/06 Abel Cole Organic box £31.45
14/3/06 Tescos £34.40
15/3/06 Abel Cole Organic box £36.80

Total 1/3/06 - 31/3/06 £276.37

Abel and Cole is estimated - so far they've had to refund monies every week for missing items. Being me I count and weigh everything and compare to Tesco to make sure it is value for money.

Realised that I hadn't included the milk and fruit/veg deliveries in my running total.... figured it was too low but hadn't worked out why.

Ah well - still under the £500 budget and that's with three special meals this week for dd's birthday <G>

omega_2

Weekly shop just done at Mr Tescos: still slightly over, but the gap has decreased! Wouldn't have been had I not been "seduced" by a £1.97 reduced-for-a-quick-sale piece of beef, which also earned me 100 clubcard points, and an over zealous banana frenzy (forgot to check how many were in cupboard!). All-in-all there is £46.44 left in the budget, so I'm still very confident.

chloe99_2

astons mummy - I wonder if you can you jiggle your money so you buy nappies and wipes once a fortnight or once a month? I know it'd make you a little short for a couple of weeks but you could then buy the bulk size pack for £8.99 max (instead of 2 x £5.49) and you sometimes get buy one get one half price too. Same with wipes I think - don't know how old your little one is but if you're really strapped what about cotton wool and water (or stand up in the bath) in the day and just keep wipes for night and when you're out?

astonsmummy

Thnx chloe99, i never really thought about buying a big pack, its only a few extra pounds so will do that.
he is 21 months so tends to get very messy, so i do need the wipes, but i do only buy one pack a week.
Gosh i have learnt so many useful things fromthis site. its great!
thnx everyone!! :T

melt71

Hi astonsmummy,

Are you checking for offers (bogof or 3 for 2 etc) on https://www.fixtureferrets.co.uk

Here is a link to the babycare section http://www.fixtureferrets.co.uk/search.asp?EiCategory=Babycare+%26+infant&offset=0&EiSort= There is a special offer on page 2 for huggies nappies 2 for £10

In the main home page you can search for any brand or product and it tries to find any offers relating to that product.

Hope that helps.

melt71

Just also found this;

Tesco Huggies baby wipes 144's Buy 1 get 1 FREE £3.28 28-Mar-2006

£3.28 for 288 wipes! not bad imo