March 2012 Grocery Challenge

166million

I do try my best to keep next month's budget until next month, so to speak. My OH doesn't put in his money until the last day of the month, so you'd think it would be easy. I will keep mine out of the bills account until that day too. I worked out we spent 2.60 a day for Jan/ Feb, so with that in mind I'm allocating £20 a week for next month. 4 week month, so £80!!!

debbiedeejay

Have just checked my recent posts and realised I didn't declare Fridays shop at Mr M's so need to add on £55 and something pence.

Also had to do a mini emergency shop for My Dad, he's not well at moment and I had to buy him a couple of things but am going to take if off my GC for this month -so that's another £6.16.

Am not sure if am track or not -hellish week but there's always next month

Well done to those who are keeping in budget.

NickJW

Hi All

A few extra small shops on lunches/top ups such as rice or tea at Mr S:

£3.93 yesterday
£2.89 today
£6.82 in total


I'm quite pleased with my budget at this stage of the month, but my stocks are slowly dwindling away and I'm having to become creative with what I'm using!
Tomorrow I'm making a king prawn and harissa stew with coriander and couscous - never made it before so hopefully it's nice!
Saturday I'll use the rest of of a bottle of BBQ sauce in the fridge from a few months back (it's a Budweiser one - it's okay, but I prefer my HM version of BBQ sauce. It needs using though...). That will be served with coriander and cashew nut rice.

Everything is in stock for dinners, but I still need to get lunch tomorrow and figure out what to do on Sunday.

I'm debating on whether to hold off one more week to the first week of April (and use the remains of what is in the freezer + more small top ups) before doing another big online shop, or arrange for next week delivery. I have a Mr T £7 off £50 online code, plus £7.50 worth of clubcard vouchers to use by the 4th April so it will be a good discount when it's booked.

Will have a think and do a quick meal plan to see what will suit me best. If I need a lot of top ups I may as well just bite the bullet and get the delivery done earlier!

Fredula

I think I might join this. I've recently started doing food shopping and I thought I was really good at not getting sucked into the offers which make you buy more than you intended, but after looking through the cupboards I've realised I've failed dismally. Now trying to make a meal plan with the ingredients!

rising_from_the_ashes

Ohhhhh Rosieben how exciting!:D


Well, a huge spendy day for me not sure whether it's appropriate to say that "thankfully" most of it isn't GC or not!:) Still pretty pleased with what I got - spent more on clothes than I did in the whole of 2011 @ £42:rotfl:but did get 2 pairs of much needed Jeans (down to 2 pairs of non-working trousers & 1 have a whole in!) and 3 tops (all reduced) so not too bad.

Other bits & bobs also non-GC but I did get some O*lay face clothes that I spied reduced to £2 (usually £3.78) - I've very "difficult" skin and have been using cheap stuff from HB but my skin is particularly bad just now so think I need to switch back to something I know doesn't "upset" it for a while. Got 3 boxes of 30 - but I cut these in 1/2 (still more than enough soap lathers up!:)) so they will last around 6 months!:)

Still to update my spreadsheet (and sig) as just about everything comes out a different budget and absolutely starving so that's a job for later - lovely & sunny so think I'll have lunch in the garden:)

Need2bthrifty

Oops!!! just returned from Sainsbugs and I’ve blown the budget by spending £33.45, taking me over by £10.18. I haven’t done a big shop in there for ages, but couldn’t be bothered doing a tour of the town using up petrol to take in @ldi or Lid!.

In my defence, I have stocked up on loads that will fill the freezer and store-cupboard for the next few months and I couldn’t resist the reductions or what appeared bargains to me. Stocked up on a heap of fresh meat, vegetables and Napolin@ chick peas, cannellini, kidney & butter beans - 2 for £1.20, ok that’s only 9p cheaper per tin than the own brand but better in my pocket than theirs. Wiltshire ham – half price, garlic baguettes x 2 – half price and the largest cauliflower I have ever seen :eek: for 1.97 which will do me probably 8/9 meals as a side veg or 6/7 meals as cauli cheese.

Will go and update my signature now, but hopefully this overspend will mean an extra good saving on next month. Off to have an afternoon of dividing, blanching and bagging everything for the freezer. Fingers crossed I don't run out of milk, eggs or bread before the end of the month .

LavenderBees

angelatgraceland wrote: »

I also try to make the week last one day longer to minimise my spending and this works well with the big payday rush! If you are say, getting paid on 23rd-try to hold on until 25th this month and 27th next month and so on-it stops the habit, and one day(about a years time)you should have a months grocery money just sitting in the bank!
Although I have a monthly budget, I split it into weekly mini budgets(just in my mind)so that it is regulated throughout the month. If I've had a big spend I work it out as a daily budget and see how many days I must wait before spending again! This works well for me and may work for others too.

Thanks for this advice Angela, I had come to a similar conclusion this morning when I looked at my very small shopping list of "Essentials". I actually can manage without these for a few days (I'm going to try for a week...roll on the drums), so won't go shopping until 30th at the earliest, after that, each shop will be a couple of days later, and so on and so on. I really like the idea of eventually having a money free month..well, it's something to aim for!

The logistics of this are a bit strange for me as this way I can't shop at L1dl very often without spending more money on diesel (Unless I drag my car share person with me, which I don't think he'd be impressed with), so I may not manage this all the time.

Need to think...I was wanting to avoid Mr A's which is near me at work so I can pop in on a lunchtime, but it would save me extra diesel, which, given that it seems to have gone up again this week, and I live in rural area is important. :mad:

But thanks for the advice. Am acting on it. :T

mummyyof5

More spending was needed today...does it never end lol...£2.70 for 3 caulis..cauli cheese for tea with HM rolls.

£1.32 on bananas..cant buy enough at the moment.
£1 on sugar
£14.50 in MrTs..2x mince.. fish pieces for a pie..wash gel..still £4.00..so got another..reduced broccoli..and ice cream
and £1.50 in W**sons...body wash a treat for me...its my favourite and BOGOF ...may pick up some more if GC is going ok xx

So £20.02 to add...might be going to our nearby city i the morning...would be silly not to visit the meat market while there...shoudnt be too bad hopefully.

rising_from_the_ashes

LavenderBees wrote: »

Need to think...I was wanting to avoid Mr A's which is near me at work so I can pop in on a lunchtime, but it would save me extra diesel, which, given that it seems to have gone up again this week, and I live in rural area is important. :mad:

Totally "get" the fuel thing ... nearest fuel station to me is 8 miles so I try to fill up if I'm somewhere & pass one.

I also now have a 5 L fuel can in the garage which I keep full - if I'm running really low, but don't need to go to town for anything for a couple of days, it usually keeps me going until I'm going anyway.

Mr A could be handy if it's just a couple of bits needed (milk, bread etc) and may help you extend your "proper" shops by a couple of days .... hopefully as you'd need to carry it you'd not be tempted to buy too much (unlike me!)

mi_jardin

My month finishes today, and I am all done. I spent £4.07 today bringing me up to £97.43/£100! :j
I will be sticking with the same budget for April, it seems to be working for us, although I may tempted to stock up a bit as the old staff card goes up for a fortnight over Easter.
Keep with it peeps, for those of you who are still going!