February 2010 Grocery Challenge

Spiggle

Hi all, before we start a new thread I just wanted to say thank you to you all for giving me the strength to start watching my spends and actually start dealing with my money again.:A

In some ways we are lucky, we have a no food waste policy in the house and have had for many years. Even the odd crust gets used for the birds as do apple cores etc. We have been composting for years and years and so don't put food waste out in the rubbish.

My brother stayed with us last night and he got himself a take away - I was horrified when after he had put seconds on his plate he proceeded to say he was finished with food left on it! :eek:

Good practice can become a way of life and with your help I know I can implement the same thought processes to shopping. Thank you all.

catznine

:hello: Hi!

I'm declaring at £172.05 out of £200 budget! so not too bad! As I have plenty in (did a Costco shop) I am going to aim for £150 in March!

Catz x

mookiepook

Hi everyone - can I join in for March please? Never done this challenge before but would like to try for £450 in March. To simplify things, I've decided to draw £450 in cash cos I find it easier than using cards and remembering to write everything down. I'm also going to try for 5 No Spend Days (I know that's low but I don't want to commit to too many on my first one). Right, I'm off to make a list of what's in the fridge, freezer & store cupboard and plan my meals for the coming week. Good luck everyone!

looie

Hi everyone, I'm declaring £100.59 for February. An overspend of just 59p so better than last month as I went over by nearly £8. Quite chuffed with myself

Could you please put me down for £100 for March.

Thank you in advance
looie

RuthG

Been a while since I posted but have had personal issues re my mother being in hospital and also work has been heavy lately.

Anyway, just to report, I have spent a total of £100.39 out of a potential £200 in the last four weeks, so other issues aside, I am still on track with the spending. (My month is four weeks long).

Would like to be in again for next month at £200 again, please.

Ruth

Keiss_21

Coxy11 wrote: »

Has anyone tried the 'milk in a bag' that you put in a jug, instead of getting cartons? I use the milkman and use glass bottles, but it's 58p/pint and every penny counts at the moment.

Hya Coxy...I remember having milk in a bag when we were growing up (in the 1970's!), and bags were forever bursting, and the jug/holder wasn't too good...so they didn't last long! Things may be better these days.

We tend to buy 4-pint bottles of full cream (blue) milk and water it down 50-50. Once you have an empty 4-bottle, it is easy to do. No-one noticed when I first did it (we usually had semi-skimmed (green) milk before starting this. Now they (DH and DS2) water it down when a bottle runs out! This makes your milk go twice as far for the same money...good eh!

83rachel wrote: »

OH insists on a few lucturies like coca cola (im working on that one). [/QUOTE]

Hya Rachel, Lild's Freeway cola is really good...and only 39p for 2 litres...worth a try!!

Managing to make today a NSD so far - assuming DH doesn't buy anything on the way home from a meeting! Also plan on not spending tomorrow either...must make sure the rest of the family realize this too!!

Depressed at the Scots losing to Italy (rugby - just not playing well enough!!), only a few minutes to go. Oh well, I will go and type up my freezer contents list and do some meal planning for the next month...I need something to cheer me up!

Will declare sometime tomorrow, hopefully with no further spending!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend everyone.

Gillir2000

Well, I've started March as of yesterday (I'm linking my budget spend to pay day which varies every month). I made my Feb challenge, with a little bit to spare. But I have just done my new renal cat food order...I suspect the budget could get blown, until I understand how much it's going to cost each month. I'll have to be a bit more frugal myself. :think:

In other news, I am very excited about having discovered the right timing for whoopsies at my local Mr. T's. :j But actually it's a decent sized one and they seem to do quite a lot of regular reductions. So, that's a big yay! My best bargain was a couple of medium fresh chicken reduced to £1.39. I used one for a roast dinner for 3, then turn the rest into a chicken and mushroom pie. And I boiled the carcass for stock, which I used in the pie and a soup with some veggies. The other went into the freezer.

Feeling quite pleased with my first month. Thanks to everyone for all the help, advice and support!

G x

Gillir2000

OOoh, I forgot to declare! I am declaring £137.84 for February and a target of £150 for March

slowlyfading

Went to buy a few final things today, so declaring my budget at £52.45 for Feb. This is my first GC so I'm really pleased!

Please can I be put down for £100 in March?

hex2

Declaring for Feb at £523.86 :eek::eek::eek: against a budget of £450.

I must do better. We simply cannot afford to continue as we are. I could blame it on bulk and storecupboard buying but I do that every month so when do I actually catch up and have a cheap month?

Mrs M - Please put me down for £450 for March

This is for three adults, one part time teenager, two littles, 4 cats, 2 dogs and 2 chickens.