April 2009 Grocery Challenge

fletch3163

Am up awfully late tonight. Those fab guys over on the Techie Boards have absolutely saved my bacon. My DS thinks I'm a bit of a hero now that I've installed XBox Live. The generosity of knowledge sharing on this site absolutely astounds me. Fair does a heart good:T

Anyway, to the spending now. Not good! Am resolved to ignore the bank balance for one more complete week. I'll only know if I'm unscathed (or slightly bruised, or battered stupid) at this time. I shall do my GC after tomorrow though. I'm definitely over and I'm sad about it. Maybe I've been too strict with myself and am kinda rebelling in other (non food buying) ways. I've spent too much money and I'm usually careful.

Will post tomorrow after I run the gauntlet. Goodnight all

mothershipton

just checked food spending thought i would be well adrift this month but i reckon things are salvageable. so far £286 budget is £350. We still seem to have cupboards and freezers full but no meals! weird...

SunnyGirl

rosieben wrote: »

I seem to remember reading about a woman who had her 'corner shop' in her spare bedroom; she used to 'shop' there and put the money into a savings jar ready for her next big stock up.

I have 2 collapsable crates in a room off the kitchen, laughingly called the pantry :rotfl: I shop to stock that up, not the cupboards, then take stuff out on shopping day (Wednesdays). I fill them with dried goods such as pasta, rice, breakfast cereal, flour, sugar, coffee, tea bags, tins, lentils, biscuits, baking supplies & my secret stash of choccie for bad days The children used to just go & help themselves to it once we'd ran out stuff like biscuits, but I've managed to stop them doing this & if they eat everything is sight by Sunday they have to wait for me to make something rather than raid the pantry boxes.

I find it particularly useful for when I see something on offer whether its fabric softener or tinned tuna. I'm currently storing Daz washing powder purchased on a great offer at Netto in the bottom of my wardrobe - it smells fab every time I open the door

frugalswan

Alrighty then, it's time to roll up my sleeves and put my determined head on. I'm definitely going to go for £160 for May, please. My salary goes from mid-month to mid-month, but I guess I'll have to go from May the 1st. So please, put me down for £160 for May

x Frugalswan x

Mrs_Money_Penny

Hi Everyone
First time i've popped in this month. Have spent £221.79 this month so far. Half term didn't help. Hopefully should not spend much more in the next few days. Have planned for this weekend. just have to sort next week. Good luck to everyone keep going.

ellemm

Hi

I am declaring my total spend for April at £206.94 so a fraction over budget but as we had 12 visitors + kids for lunch last Sunday and therefore bought extra food, I am quite pleased with my first effort on this challenge.

I should like to keep the budget the same at £200 for May please Mrs M and hope to get under this time.

I have found this challenge very useful and am now much more aware of prices and am constantly thinking about ways to economise while still eating healthily.

Thanks to everyone who contributes great tips on this and other threads on this board - am now totally addicted!:beer:

ellemm

Mrs._Irwin

I'm back! I've been gone a long, long time, more the fool I am. Fell off the wagon when the baby was newborn, and haven't really got back on. But the Maternity pay is long-since finished, I've finally cancelled the vegbox we weren't eating and I've been learning some new recipes to up the variety of my spag bol repertoire. DH got paid yesterday, so we'll go from then.

So I'm in and down for £200 for May please.

Frogletina

Hope I am not too late to join for April - having taken voluntary redundancy, I am trying to live on on my redundancy pay, savings interest etc (I have budgeted 730 per month) until I take my pension.

I will set food budget for April as £150, it is just me although I have had my granddaughter for a week. I used to add all of my personal spending together but I think it will help to split it.

ifonlyitwaseasier

ok am declaring at £??? no idea, hubby kept coming home with things and no receipt so restarting again next month on £115 please mrsm

Gl all

carolt2

Afternoon everyone, just popping in to update signature.... overspent by £13:eek::mad:, 5 days until the end of the month.
Not hoping to do anymore shopping in this month so would like
Declare at £163.54

Mrs Mc could you please put me down for £150 again.