March 2010 Grocery Challenge

Snow_Angel

I have overspent by 1p in my March GC :rotfl:. My budget was £110 and I'm declaring £110.01. Technically my April budget starts on Wednesday (pay day thank goodness!) but I don't need to buy a single thing until then Hoorah.

Bluefire

After a 'we've run out of peas!' emergency that resulted in a trip to the corner shop & a the OH doing a shop for me in Lidl (I sent him in for 2 things, he came back with 5...) we now have £67.70 left for the rest of the month.

I'm going to set my April budget at £120 which is £40 under what we actually put up for food, but I'd like to see if I can get it done for less. I've been super organised & already planned out the whole months meals mainly from what we already have in the house so it's certainly possible!

Spiggle

S_Wales_Saver wrote: »

Spiggle when I have excess from GC (all of £1.38 in Feb ) I save it in a stockpile fund. This allows me to take advantage of special offers without affecting my monthly budget adversely. As I have just restarted GC I don't have that cushion at the moment, and it's very frustrating.

jintyb wrote: »

Hi Spigs,

I'm putting any (!) excess onto my A*da Xmas Savings card. Im determined to have a bit put by this year so I can enjoy Christmas without dipping into the "main" savings!

Well done on your first month, you're really doing well, hope this helps!
Jints

Thanks both for your suggestions. :T I've always been the one with the 0% credit card - I do tart around - but as I changed my job and went to part time last year (more than halving my annual income but making my life a life again :cool:) I had to spread the balance onto 2 cards for me and one for OH (though he doesn't have the card! ).

So while they're still at 0% I'm thinking of using any GC excess to pay extra off those. But part of me thinks that I'd be better off paying excess off the mortgage as that has interest applying all the time - it is repayment and since changing work I don't pay the extra off every month that I used to. My other option is to put it into a savings account or ISA and pay a large chunk off the cards when the 0% period runs out. Or put it in an ISA for while and pay a chunk off the mortgage. Ooh, decisions, decisions ... :think:

Sorry, thinking out loud, well as loud as a keyboard gets iykwim! I might go to one of the pure finance threads and ask a bit of advice there. Not that the excess is huge but imho the point is to use any I have as wisely as possible.

Anyway, thanks again :A and I hope your Sunday is as sunny and beautiful as it is here.
Spigs

monks

Hi all
Declaring at £275.63 for March just under again ,really happy as reduced budget by £20 and still made it ,have been trying to stay away from shops for those couple of dreaded items! Money left over i am putting in a pot towards christmas-the plan anyway!
Worried about April - 5 week month, kids off school,Easter and me and oh have sometime off work and my budget includes eating out :eek:
PLEASE PUT ME DOWN FOR £300 FOR APRIL THANKS
Hate having increased budget a little but think even this is going to be tight!
Good luck everyone and thanks for the motivation not to fail

Moniker

Hi folks

Just got back from our sponsored walk and it didn't rain! However, DH is poorly with a really nasty cold (he spent most of yesterday asleep on the sofa) and he needed some fruit juice so have spent another £1.56 - signature amended. I have £1.37 to last until Thursday morning!

Am going to plan my April budget and do a Mysupermarket list to see what it will come to so I can set the budget more accurately. We are away for the last week of April so I am hoping to reduce the total just a little...

Catch up with you all later.

Moniker

earthmother

I'm declaring for March - £298.11 from an original budget of £270.

I don't think there's been a week this month where someone hasn't been ill - everyone's been under the weather, the kids all had consecutive tummy bugs, and then this week DH has succumbed to some infection or other which meant on Thursday he was carted off to hospital again (he almost made it through a year this time, so it's getting better ).

The upshot is there has been much more comfort food, juice and fruit bought, and very little cooked food used - so while the spend is up, the freezers are still fully stocked.



I have a 5 week month in April, so I'll stick with the same £70 a week budget, with the hope (intention) that I will be well under by the end. Can I go on the list at £350 please.

KITTY_2-2

Happy Sunday everyone. Not posted for a while so spent last couple of days catching up and I'd like to add my condolences to those who have had recent bereavements.

Been to do a Mr A shop this morning and am now £25 over budget. As this is a 5 week month I'm not too concerned and a lot of what I've bought is stock for April.

My month ends on Tuesday so hopefully no more to spend, but won't post final total until after then. April's budget will be £300 as the kids are home, I'm off work for 10 days and I have a birthday party to cater.

April budget is £300 for me please Mrs M

eveie189

Hi

I would like (or should i say nor like) to declare at £487.26 for this month which is a whopping £187.26 over budget. Having said that it is £150 less than last month. I have decided to up my target for April, so I would like to set £350 for April please Mrs M.

Long_tall_sally

Just got back from the co op. Went looking for some reduced bread but timed it too late. Spent just over £3 though on other things. Only have pennies left now until Wednesday!

Have just managed to do a meal plan - my 2nd ever! It's only for 8 days so far, so not as great as it could be but it's a start! I couldn't do it for any longer cos we are planning on having a couple of days out with the kids this Easter hols but not sure yet on what days, so not sure what days I will have time for longer cooking or when I will need something quick & easy for. I do find them a pain to do but I am pleased that I have manged to do one. Plus it showed that all I need meal wise for the next 8 days is some veg & some cream.

Pink.

Hi everyone,

Just to let you know that the Grocery Challenge for April has started here:

April 2010 Grocery Challenge

Thanks as always to MRSMCAWBER and rosieben for all their hard work and for making this thread possible. :A :A

Good luck to everyone taking part in the April challenge.

Pink