Grocery Challenge - February 2012

tigerfeet2006

Spiggle wrote: »

Well hello all,

I've been MIA for most of the week but have read as much as I could though am sure I've missed quite a few.

I've finally totalled up the little spends OH has made through the week and so declaring at £213.41 for February. It is under budget but I'm disappointed in the number of NSD this month, from a lovely high of 23 in Jan we're down to only 13 in Feb which is not good.

Right I haven't looked at all at the March thread yet so I'm off there to have a peek and sign up.

All the best,
Spigs

s'funny I was thinking last night that I hadn't seen you about and was wondering if you were ok.

Can I ask if DH is one of those who just goes and buys at the SM even if you haven't asked him? Does he or you do the main SM shop?

Well done everyone who has completed this months challenge. Whether you are over, under or on target you are all successes

:beer::T:beer::T:beer::T:beer::T:beer::T:beer::T:beer::T:beer::T:beer::T:beer::T:beer::T:beer::T:beer::T:beer::T

angelatgraceland

Just totted up the last of my receipts and Ive got about £13 left of grocery money(maybe £15 or £17) I will repost later. Also in line with my household budget which is the same amount of my grocery one and this even included a car M.O.T. so although I am close tot he figures I am very satisfied as I've got loads of food in. First big shop for March coming tomorrow with Ocado(not used them before)and getting a free bottle of Champers! That's mine!!!

Spiggle

tigerfeet2006 wrote: »

...
Can I ask if DH is one of those who just goes and buys at the SM even if you haven't asked him? Does he or you do the main SM shop?

Hiya tigerfeet,

Weeeell, he does go and buy without me asking and his little shops have been getting more frequest recently (we haven't done a big shop for quite a long time though) but he is very careful about what he spends these days. And he would not dream of coming home to tell me he's spent something and doesn't have the receipt for it!

He was the main culprit when we were spending the £600+ per month two years ago as he did all our shopping at that time. I have to take some responsibility for the spend though as I let him get on with it. He cooks so he was also shopping. We really would have been bankrupt though if we'd gone on like that. :doh:

One of the biggest problems back then was his idea of a 'bargain' and he laughs and recounts this story still today. He would go in the sm and see something reduced and think it was a bargain no matter what it was or whether it was good value. The prime example was when he bought two duck breasts in the sm that were reduced to £5 odd that were a 'bargain' because they had been £7 odd. :eek: The fact that only he eats duck, that he had them for a lunch and that over £5 was spent on that lunch never even dawned on him. :mad: This is an isolated example of what was happening on a daily basis. And we had no food stock to speak of. We certainly couldn't have made a dinner. It was all one meal purchases iyswim?

Now, we agree on what our main meat purchase is going to be and we'll get that and some bacon and eggs from the butcher. Knowing what meats we'll be having gives a great indication of what veg we need and we're pretty standard on our fruit and so that gets bought from the greengrocer. Also because we have a rough idea of what we'll be eating we don't waste anything.

And while I'm castigating him I should also praise him for how he has changed and for the great grub he cooks for me. :drool: We got a lovely large chicken last week from the butcher. We had a lovely cooked dinner from it, then chicken and chips, some sarnies for work lunches, and a couple of nights of home made chinese stir fry. There's still some left in the freezer for another day too.

I'm normally the instigator of main shops and will often do them online or from either MrT or MrM near my work. I don't like going with OH as he is easily tempted which is why I'm now such a list person! I almost always do stock shops such as for loo rolls in January but that's because the stores are near where I work (and 'cos he's easily tempted!). Oh and also 'cos I drive and OH has just a bicycle!

We could of course reduce it more but the budget now is flexible and allows for stocking up when bargains are available. And when we first started two years ago the specialist cat food wasn't included but is now and so there has been a £30ish per month reduction by that being incorporated without a change in the overall amount.

Sorry for such a long answer! I really could talk for Wales!!!! :rotfl:

Take care,
Spigs

tigerfeet2006

Not a problem Spigs. It made facinating reading and made complete sense. I think it is amazing how low you have managed to get. Wish I could do it but I seem to be stuck at between £350 and £400 at the moment. Still not going to complain as I was at £600-700 when I started the challenge.

forever_saving

Only spent £24.38 this week but i am still over budget this month. I'll have to try a bit harder in March.
Well done to everyone who came in under budget :T.
FS

Need2bthrifty

Just popped in admit that I completely lost track this month ....dipping into the grocery purse for all sorts of things...losing receipts....diverting from meal plan....veering off my diet & indulging in chocs & crisps... the list goes on.

But going by the bank balance I don't think I have overspent so going to declare "evens" this month.

As you see by my sig I'm already well into March, so see you over there

Spiggle

tigerfeet2006 wrote: »

Not a problem Spigs. It made facinating reading and made complete sense. I think it is amazing how low you have managed to get. Wish I could do it but I seem to be stuck at between £350 and £400 at the moment. Still not going to complain as I was at £600-700 when I started the challenge.

But tigerfeet you have a family of five to feed! You do incredibly well and are saving an incredible amount from where you started. And look at all the fabulous food you make from scratch for the family, truly inspirational. :drool: And you do that making allowances for GF/DF diets. You do wonderfully and should get a great big pat on the back for it.:T:A:beer:

Well done everyone for their February challenge - under or over budget you will have saved! Brilliant! :dance:

Take care,
Spigs

tigerfeet2006

Thanks Sweetie Just feeling a bit useless today, as you do some days.

Suffolk_lass

Spiggle wrote: »

But tigerfeet you have a family of five to feed! You do incredibly well and are saving an incredible amount from where you started. And look at all the fabulous food you make from scratch for the family, truly inspirational. :drool: And you do that making allowances for GF/DF diets. You do wonderfully and should get a great big pat on the back for it.:T:A:beer:

Well done everyone for their February challenge - under or over budget you will have saved! Brilliant! :dance:

Take care,
Spigs

tigerfeet2006 wrote: »

Thanks Sweetie Just feeling a bit useless today, as you do some days.

Actually you're both pretty wonderful, inspirational and supportive of everyone else - quintessentially what this board is all about. :T:T

tigerfeet2006

:o

This board is bloomin' brilliant. The information and help that I have picked up is second to none. I definatly wouldn't have got my spends so low if it wasnt for here.