March Grocery Challenge

Wendrie

Well I went over March's budget but it included a freezer filling meat shop... which will last several months (it had better do!) so if I take that out and spread it over six months which is how long I expect it to last we have come in under the £350 total I had hoped for.

Next month has already started for me - as I'm going from payday to payday and we were paid on Friday and went shopping on Saturday. Another couple of stocking up - we've been using stuff up in the cupboards and had run out of weird stuff like mustard, stock cubes, herbs, skimmed milk powder - things that tend to last months and months. So far with those two bulk shops (Tescos £90.42 & Costco £160.77) I've spent £197.17 <sigh> But that should be it for me except for fruit/veg box and milk deliveries. And it did include quite a few Ben & Jerry ice cream tubs to fill our freezer ready for our Sundaes on Sunday <G>

savinup

Well it looks like I'm going to be slightly over on my March budget, this was my first challenge and I just took a guess. I've been keeping all my receipts and can see where I can make some savings. Will have to start doing a menu planner, Still seem to be wasting a lot of food. Will try harder next month.

squeaky

As a way to help you shy away from wasting food - add up the purchase cost of all the stuff you bin - even a pennies worth. When you get to ten quid - just imagine how reluctant you'd be to tear a tenner up and bin it!

Essex-girl_2

Am happy - came in under budget.
Wasnt a completely normal month though - had loads of meals out due to family birthdays and mothers day. Helped today - spent £38 in Morrisons and save nearly £9 with bogfs etc.

thriftlady_2

Wendrie wrote:

Well I went over March's budget but it included a freezer filling meat shop... which will last several months (it had better do!) so if I take that out and spread it over six months which is how long I expect it to last we have come in under the £350 total I had hoped for.

I've done the same thing this month,my freezer full of meat should also last 6 months.I've stiil overspent though,mainly due to yesterday's extravagant 'healthy' shop.Too many different kinds of salad and veg and exotic fruit,also expensive fish.Will try and plan more ,after all cabbage is as healthy as avocados and mackerel as healthy as fresh tuna!I've got a nasty feeling that my fridge full of salad is going to end up in the bin before I can eat it.I blame Tesco,there is just too much variety.It's back to the farmshop and seasonal,local fruit and veg for me(not that there's much local fruit about now).

Linda32

Well we spent about £280 including about £80.00 on wine for two of use from 1st March.

Although the last shop came to £2.20 at the market and about £26.00 including wine at Tesco, so that was alot better.

Will go for shaving, say £20.00 off next month and take it from there.

savingpennies

Pay day today so time to round up. Came in just under budget in March with £247.53. This is for 2 adults 2 children (14, 11) and a dog. Will try to shave £10 off next month. My month is from pay day to pay day which is always the 28th of each month.

nicki_2

I came in around about my target...I think. I lost track of my running total as I bought a few treats while out one day without a pen and paper and that particular shop doesn't do receipts.

PLUS I've stockpiled a few things when I've seen them reduced and our local Kwik Save is closing down so I've been there this weekend and filled a trolley as almost everything was reduced in price but still spent £47.73. My cupboards are fit to burst, infact I had to juggle my cups/glass cupboard last night to clear a shelf to fit in the overflowing food! Also my freezer is so full I'm not fitting anything in there for a while So in theory I'm stocked up for quite a while :j so it's all been worth it.

Skintmama

I am feeling quite pleased as I have replenished storecupboards and freezer as I went along. I am close enough to the budget to be happy. The children have complained a bit when nothing instant was to hand but they have got on with it and made themselves healthyish snacks.
Three problems:
1) DH tends to buy fruit instantly any one fruit runs out, rather than wait until all the fruit is eaten. Results in loads of bananas being purchased whilst apples which would have been eaten without competition from the bananas, languish in the bowl.
2) I have no idea what he spent on the pets (neither does he) so probably over budget on this.
3) Buying bulk pork this month; I decided to buy my pork from my own freezer as I used it, so the pork I used is counted in the figures. Maybe that sounds like cheating but I have decided it makes sense for me to spread the costs this way. I probably need to start setting aside a bit each month that will pay for these kind of bulk purchases in future.

angelatgraceland

Maybe keep a piggybank "for the freezer".When you visit it, pay the price of what you take out, to your piggy. When you need to replace the food in your freezer, it should be in piggy for you. If you got something bogof-pay the full price! You'l be surprsied how much the extras add up to from this-great for special occasions and family gatherings when you need to buy extra.