February 2010 Grocery Challenge

rosieben

Welcome to the GC On an Avon Mission and littlekel and anyone I've missed :hello: MrsMc will be along to add you to the front page list soon.

Pink Winged will start the March thread on 28th and she'll let us know when it up and running, bargainhunterss; Mrs Mc will add you to the March list too.

Well done those who are within budget, commiserations to whose who are not - but there's a whole new month coming up soon

welshkaz

can I be put down for £260.00 for march please im still spending more than we need but in fairness I am saving at least a hundred pound a month less than what I was pre-grocery budget days...

[Deleted User]

Well I am very pleased with what I have spent so far this month just on food and hopefully will not need to go to the shops for anything for at least till 1st March as I have more than enough in the freezer and storecupboards to keep me going.It's a short month this month as well, so unless something untoward happens I shall have quite a bit left over to stick in the holiday account
March will be as usual £120.00 for me which seems to be around the right mark for comfort.It's really good as it was £200 last September ,but I have manage to whittle it down by only buying what I really need on my shopping list, and no impulse buys.Having a separate purse with the cash in helps as well as once its gone there 'ain't no more till the following week'
I have even got a friend of mine who used to scoff at being even slightly frugal to try it, and she was very impressed with how much she had saved simply by changing her shopping habits slightly.
It may not seem much. but £80 a month saved over 12 months is a staggering £960 per year, more than enough for an extra weeks holiday.
We are all doing so well I think and in these somewhat straightened times any money that you manage to save is a bonus

scotsaver

Hi everyone - just logged on to update my total, not declaring yet as my Month doesn't end until Friday and although I don't think we need anythine before then, I think I'll wait before I declare just in case.

Thanks to whoever mentioned about Charmin on offer at Lidl, popped there yesterday to get some.

Good luck everyone, only a few days left and then we can start all over again.;)

loulou0327

Another 12.69 spend for me yesterday for all the food to see me through the week. It doesn't leave a lot from my monthly budget which ends on Sunday but i should only need milk from now until then.

BigMummaF

Spiggle wrote: »

Thank you Big Mumma for the link and advice.

We did used to make our own feed for the birds using RSPB recipes (from a book rather than online though) but it is far more messy, can encourage pests and because of the mess can cause problems with cat control as the birds tend to be on the ground much more.

Unfortunately I have so far been unsuccessful in getting the cats' food cheaper online though I have tried. The strange (but often found in my experience) thing is that 9 times out of 10 its cheaper buying it from our small independent pet shop than from the big pet superstores who in theory should have far lower prices due to scale. But hey thats the way of the world.
Thanks again,
Spig

Have to admit I haven't actually made the bird food so thanks for the tips about the mess Plus it's good to know the little local shops can still give the Big Boys a run for their money :T I'd much rather support them, but when needs must you have to consider your own position first however bad a taste it leaves...
I take advantage of buying up the bits while shopping in a different store too Sunnyday, like in MrA last week as it's almost a hour's drive from us--both ways :eek: I like the value tinned fruit in MrS, the lunchmeat with stuffing from MrM & the yeast in MrT, so keep a separate list for each shop :rotfl:
Hello Avon Mission, BargainHunter & other emerging Lurkers :hello: Be prepared to be amazed, shocked & bamboozled in equal measure People have all sorts of starting days so just post your budget in bold & maybe a different colour from the rest of your post, then MrsMc will spot it & add you to the list. What you want to include in your total is entirely up to you; some only concentrate on just food, while others include alcohol or take-aways etc, so I suggest taking a bit of time to decide what you will be doing for you. Good Luck!

gillian576

I'd like to sign up for March, please.

It's my first time, there are 7 of us and we have a birthday this weekend. Hoping that £380 will see us through.

poohbear59

I really have no idea what to have as my target for March as I don't know from week to week how many I will be feeding. I had £240 for February and went way over my target.

There are four adults living here full time, one extra at weekends and then another who is sometimes here for the whole month and sometimes away:eek: My freezer and store cupboards are getting really low too.

I am hoping to manage on less than £200 but not sure how.

patentgirl

Hello everyone
Just realised I didnt give you a total for Feb it was £300 which have managed havent posted much this month but been reading avidly so after managing that new month starts on Thurs 25th for me, going for £240 this is for 3 adults and a bf most days plus my DD and DS and their partners couple of times a week a NSD today and hopefully tomorrow if nothing crops up already started preparing lists and meal planning for shop on Thursday this so helps me!

hex2

poohbear - that must be a nightmare to plan! Flex your budget with a per person per week maybe?

I am over yet again but I do know why. DH has given up alcohol which is great - we wasted a lot of money on this out of the entertainment budget - but he is instead drinking a huge amount of fruit juice. Best part of £60 has gone on juice this month between him and the boys :eek:. Need to talk to him about the calorific content of the juice and the cost :cool:.

Overall costs are down though :T.