March 2012 Grocery Challenge

NickJW

Ordered a Mr T delivery this morning for Monday evening - it should come in just under £40, after my £15 discount codes/clubcard vouchers are applied . I'll update my signature once I know the exact amount in case of deductions/substitutions.

But then, I popped out into the sun (so nice being able to walk around in shorts and T-shirt!) to meet a friend briefly before he headed to work and afterwards £10.37 spent was spent in Co-0p. I got a lot of reduced items which will be put in the freezer so nothing will be wasted I guess, but I'm going to have a LOT of food when my delivery food is added!

Hope everyone is having a good day and that the sun ventures out for those in Scotland.

DundeeDoll

NickJW wrote: »

Hope everyone is having a good day and that the sun ventures out for those in Scotland.

thanks nick it didnt but we are ever hopeful for tomorrow.
Just realised pay day is friday so can buy le crueset and have some over for xmas fund

tessie_bear

hi...popped into lidl and purchased some hand wash and chocolate...then on to costco where i got some reduced mince...we also got a big pack of sausages and had a bbq when we got home...a really nice day and lovely weather
not got much shopping planned for next week as we have quite a bit in..got to get ready for the onslaught that is the kids school holidays...need to check i have bits in for lunches as they refuse sarnies...probably fed up with them

take care tess

Lovethenight

LavenderBees wrote: »

Yes, I have the "Big Pay Day Shop"habit, too, so this time round, I have a shopping list of essentials like butter and eggs - I think there are about 5 things on there...hmmmm...it's certainly going to be different! Just have to stick to it. Easy Peasy
Good luck. I'll be interested to know how you get on. Sure you'll be fine :T

Thanks! Fingers crossed I can do it and you too!:)

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.

That's a really clever idea and if my plan for April doesn't work, I'll try this for May. I'm splitting my monthly budget into mini weekly ones too and seeing how it goes. Love the idea of having a month's grocery money sitting in the bank!!

elsiepac

Hi all

No more spends to declare for March (yet) but just wanted to put down my April GC figures.

I am off to South Africa in 6 days, from 30 March returning 9 April in the morning, so my April GC is running from 9 April to 29 April as while I'm away I have my spending money separate which includes food spending!

Helenjelly please put me down for £50 for April GC - to cover me 9-29 April.

Meanwhile, I'm using up fresh stuff this week which to be fair only consists of 3 peppers, 5 potatoes and about 6 onions. I'll have used my milk and have planned so well that I've made sure I don't have too much in.

I've got HM Sweetcorn soup for the next 3 days lunches (Sun, Mon, Tue) and then I'll probably make the Pea soup (Wed, Thu, Fri) from Cheap Family Recipes as I have a lonely sachet of creamed coconut and a bag of petit pois so seems logical! For teas, I was going to make Lentil Pie today but ended up having chilli, rice and garlic bread at my friends' house, so free meal . I will make the pie tomorrow and post the recipe if it's good. I should get 4 portions from that (Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed) and then just have 1 more dinner to worry about for Thursday which I'm planning to use one of my two remaining tins of tuna and have a tuna jacket (variation of, i.e. twice baked... kinda).

The other tin I will probably end up donating to mum as I'm 100% going veggie when I get back on 9 April. Final decision made. Won't make a massive difference to me as I mostly eat veggie anyway. My friends will all give me some stick - they already are! - as it's inconvenient, but I think it'll be fine. My principles are more important to me quite frankly!

Anyway, sorry for the long post, wanted to get my April declartion in as I have a relatively busy week ahead making sure I have everything ready and packing etc. Actually got my suitcase out today and already have some things piled up by it as I think of them! Need to make my lists though really! :cool:

Oh, and sorry to hear some of you guys didn't have good weather today, it was glorious down here in sunny Gloucestershire/Bristol, sunny and warm. Sorry to rub it in! But to cheer you up my friends who are getting married in SA (hence a load of us are going over there...) are already there and they've told me the weather's been awful, so I hope it clears up in the next week! :eek:

LC

forever_saving

Not doing very well this month, £26.70 on small spends during the week and £64.36 spent yesterday. Total spends this week £91.06. Have blown the budget.
I really don't want to have to buy anything else until Friday/Saturday. I have said this many times and just can't seem to do it, well not for very long anyway. Needs must though really. Hubbys car tax is due and its daughters birthday next Monday.
Hope everyone else is doing ok.
FS

rising_from_the_ashes

elsiepac wrote: »

Oh, and sorry to hear some of you guys didn't have good weather today, it was glorious down here in sunny Gloucestershire/Bristol, sunny and warm. Sorry to rub it in! But to cheer you up my friends who are getting married in SA (hence a load of us are going over there...) are already there and they've told me the weather's been awful, so I hope it clears up in the next week! :eek:

It's looking a bit more promising this morning - has been really cold again overnight as the cars on the street are all frosty:eek: I can't believe how quickly the days on your sig to your trip have been counting down &, in case I forget (memory like a sieve:o) I hope you all have a wonderful time in SA - and hopefully the weather will be nicer by the time you get there!

Right must dash - off to watch the F1

looie

hi all, up to £84.03 now after yesterday. Only got £5.97 left and still need coffee, milk, bread and yoghurts so no doubt I will go over.

£3.18 in Heron on cup of soups and energy drinks and £5.97 in t's. Got another 4 pack of heinz beans and soups for £1.50 which is a really good price. Stocking up while they are that price.

Going down the allotment today as soon as this fog lifts. Have a good day all

DundeeDoll

DundeeDoll wrote: »

thanks nick it didnt but we are ever hopeful for tomorrow.
Just realised pay day is friday so can buy le crueset and have some over for xmas fund

Our patience is rewarded. Sunny sunny sunny. So glad i didnt take the washing off the line:T

elsiepac

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

It's looking a bit more promising this morning - has been really cold again overnight as the cars on the street are all frosty:eek: I can't believe how quickly the days on your sig to your trip have been counting down &, in case I forget (memory like a sieve:o) I hope you all have a wonderful time in SA - and hopefully the weather will be nicer by the time you get there!

Right must dash - off to watch the F1

I must say it's looking like it'll be another glorious day here! Quite misty still but sun shining brightly behind it in a promising way!

Thanks for the good wishes, fingers crossed! And the days counting down bit is probably not helped by me only remembering to update it every couple of days, so adds to the effect! :rotfl: But it is rushing up... :T

Have a great day!

LC