April 2009 Grocery Challenge 21 March 2009 at 1:59PM edited 30 November -1 at 12:00AM in Old Style MoneySaving 710 replies 48K views

elizabunny

Morning everyone, so sorry I haven't been able to catch up with all of this months thread as I have been away for alot of the time and also looking after DGS in the school hols. The time has just flown and so I'm saying THANKS now to everyone I've missed thanking this month.

Have struggled to keep an eye on budget but think that unfortunately I am about £20 over so far However, what's done is done and I know it could have been much worse. I think I've been really lucky to find a local producer who sells me lovely free range eggs for £1.50 a dozen which is great and the garden is starting to produce lettuce, spinach, radish, herbs and the broad beans are well in flower. I am trying to ride out the rest of the month on what we still have in and hope I won't have to go over too much more.

Hope everyone is well and doing ok with their budgets. Have a nice day

Toonie

I've not updated for a little as I started my new job on Monday and have been quite tired. We've gone a little crazy this month, but some of it was through getting in stocks of tins, things for the freezer to last a few months and so on as well as BFs birthday party for 15 people including a big pot of bolognese and three cakes-homemade of course.

Things should be a little less crazy next month as we have our store cupboard stocked up again and I'm getting breakfast and lunch at work four days a week.

Going to catch up now on what's happened since last week.

Boodle

Oh dear - well past £40 overbudget this month :eek: I think considering rising prices as well as my organic pledge, anaemia and pregnancy (36 weeks now :eek:) means that I am going to up May's budget to average out at £30 per week rather than £25, giving me a £120 for the 4 week month. Am probably still aiming way lower than my capabilities but as usual but that's me all over :rotfl:I know being way over this month was partially due to catering for family at Easter, so all in all I am not kicking myself too hard

I did get a bit carried away with this week's shop but with that in mind, I think I did a really good shop for the £35.34. I even bought a tub of Ben and Jerry's Half Baked for £3 which DH and I polished off last night watching a DVD - and heaven it was Good bargains were 2 packs of pancakes for 11p each, 4 avocados for £1 and 2x packs of herbal tea bags (which I needed in whether on offer or not) for £1.

Anyway, can I please declare April as £186.08? Good luck to everyone else for next month x

Taye

Hi guys i want to join for May can someone point me in the right direction?? I got paid today so my month is running from today to the 24th of may.

Anitaj73

Hi Taye, you post here your estimated budget for may in large red letters and follow the thread through the month for great support, advise and recipes. A new thread is started each month, MrsM will let us know when the new months thread is up and running Hope that helps for now to get started. Let us know if you need any other advise

Taye

Thanks !!

Ok this months budget is £250 ... it's a budget i know i can manage i was sticking to it easily before christmas but i slipped and the last 2 months months and managed to go over £150 last month (not good, though i did stock a brand new freezer so not too bad i guess)

Anyway i spent £50 today at the market on loads of meat, fruit and some veg and a 10kg sack of rice from the indian shop.

tbh thats all the meat i should need as i still have some in the freezer as well so i'm crossing my fingers for an underspend this month.

Anyone got any tips?

meanmarie

I am declaring to-day for April at €297.09...will not spend any more money before 1st May...and am going to go for €290 for May...April was messy as we were away and I was sometimes feeding way more than the 4 I usually cater for...less careful with what I bought too.

Good luck everybody

Marie

Pippilongstocking

Hello All

I just spent £10.07 on essential fruit and veg

So far I am still under my april budget - £43.07/50

Whoop whoop - normally spend at least £200 or so and have a groaning freezer to boot. So we are going to meal plan for May again


May for us - would love to try for the £50 again - but we were away for a couple weeks in April......or can i persuade myself to try for £50 again............

How about I try for £75 in May + (I will put away an extra 50 to save for my next 6 month shop to retop up the garage)

I have my own little corner shop in my garage so I will be dipping into that for my non-perishables - which I worked out was about £50 a month......

Apologies if it doesnt make sense - it kind of does to me

mooomin

My first spend of May :eek:

£3.48 spent on milk, bread and eggs. I hate corner shop prices...

Barneysmom

Can I declare please, got £2.33 left
Spend £58.10 at Mr. M's the other day but have only just remembered to amend my sig.
Quite pleased with how it's gone this month, next month might be a bit crazy if I can't find a cheaper place to get the dog food, it's gone up again. Seems to go up every week for some mad reason.