March Grocery Challenge

HopeElizzy

I haven't done the Grocery Challenge before but I really need to start somewhere! I've set my target at £300 which started on 22 Feb (when OH and I were paid) and runs until 30 March (next pay day). For us this will be food, toiletries (inc. nappies) & cleaning stuff for 2 adults and 2 toddlers.
Good Luck everyone! :T

retrieverrose

Hi Everyone

This is the first challenge I have signed up for so lets see how I do!

3 adults, 4 children and 2 golden retrievers, and I am going to aim for £300 per month. We are vegetarian so no that might make things a little cheaper and I do try and do quite a lot of things from 'scratch'.

It will be interesting to see how I manage.

troll35

I'm going to give it a go again. I was really pleased this month as I spent just under £240, coming in £20 under budget. Mind you I have been following the use up month thread too. I never realised just how much meat I had in my freezer. I have also been drawing up a weekly meal planner which has worked brilliantly. Not only am I preparing in advance, (one for now, one for later) but I've also avoided the dreaded 'what shall we have tonight, oh can't be bothered cooking, lets have a takeaway' scenario.
This month for us is a 3 week month as we're off on holiday for a week (skiing, yippee!! my favourite holiday) so I'm going to budget £180 for our grocery shopping. Next month for me will be the biggy with 5 weekends.

candygirl

I'm gonna have a go from the 1st march.no idea what to set my budget at, theres me and 3 dogs and occasionally my parasitic student daughter.any ideas of an amount i can aim for?

bettyboop61

Hi everyone,

I'm very new to this!! I've decided to be brave and try the grocery shopping challenge for march. Trouble is don't know when to start it....suppose monday would be a good idea We are a family of 4 adults, 2 cats and a dog. Think my budget should be 350.00 for the month that would include all food,toiletries and cleaning products, should this include petrol as well???
Think I am going to find this very hard considering I spent £85 on groceries last monday and 23.00 on toiletries and sundries today :eek:
But need to start somewhere as hubby lost his job recently and I'm on DLA.

Oh well watch this space!!!

comping_cat

In Febuary, ive spent £176.96, and Marchs challenge will start on Wednesday. As Feb was my first month (i kept all my receipts) i now know what i can aim for, so i think for March, my target will be £150 - £160, thats for 1 adult, 2 children (although DS eats more than me!!!! :eek:)

comping_cat

candygirl wrote:

I'm gonna have a go from the 1st march.no idea what to set my budget at, theres me and 3 dogs and occasionally my parasitic student daughter.any ideas of an amount i can aim for?

What i did in Feburary, was keep all my food shopping receipts, and although i kind of had an idea as to what i was spending, didnt really know, so now Feb is almost finished, i can see what i spent over the 4 weeks, and so my challenge in March, is to reduce it!!!! HTH

mossy

candygirl wrote:

I'm gonna have a go from the 1st march.no idea what to set my budget at, theres me and 3 dogs and occasionally my parasitic student daughter.any ideas of an amount i can aim for?

If I recall correctly there is a bit at the top of the section which suggests keeping a record of everything you spend on groceries for one month and then the following month you will have an idea of what kind of budget to set. Do you have a rough idea of what you currently spend?? maybe it might help to go through your bank statements and see how much you spend at the supermarket etc to give you an idea and that way you can set a realistic budget to stick to.

Good luck

lol catowen beat me to it

mossy

bettyboop61 wrote:

Hi everyone,

I'm very new to this!! I've decided to be brave and try the grocery shopping challenge for march. Trouble is don't know when to start it....suppose monday would be a good idea We are a family of 4 adults, 2 cats and a dog. Think my budget should be 350.00 for the month that would include all food,toiletries and cleaning products, should this include petrol as well???
Think I am going to find this very hard considering I spent £85 on groceries last monday and 23.00 on toiletries and sundries today :eek:
But need to start somewhere as hubby lost his job recently and I'm on DLA.

Oh well watch this space!!!

Good luck bettyboop61...its difficult to say whether you should include petrol in the £350 figure as it depends how much you spend on it normally. I think it would be wise to have a realistic goal...theres not point putting £350 if you usually spend £700 as you'll end up dissapointed and deflated if you go over it. I hope it goes well.

comping_cat

mossy wrote:

If I recall correctly there is a bit at the top of the section which suggests keeping a record of everything you spend on groceries for one month and then the following month you will have an idea of what kind of budget to set. Do you have a rough idea of what you currently spend?? maybe it might help to go through your bank statements and see how much you spend at the supermarket etc to give you an idea and that way you can set a realistic budget to stick to.

Good luck

lol catowen beat me to it

Great minds think alike!!!!