March 2012 Grocery Challenge

elsiepac

Hi all

Sorry to hear about your MiL Florenceem, thinking of you...

Well, although I've spent money from my pocket money on grocery things, I'm counting it under the challenge as they weren't luxuries (which I wouldn't usually take from GC), so I'm red this month:

£1.69 L1d! on coffee - not impressed with it so far
£1.38 Mr T on R!c3 Dr3am - literally tastes like rice, I'll stick with Kara in future!
£2.98 A1d! on salad stuffs - mushrooms, tomatoes, cucumber, mange tout and crispy salad

So an extra £6.05 spent taking me about a fiver over budget this month. Not declaring just yet as the week's not quite over...

LC

Mar GC: £75.23/£70<-- over by £5.23 :eek:
Week 1: £14.47/£9 <-- over by £5.47 :eek:
Week 2: £8.40/£9
Week 3: £6.60/£9
Week 4: £8.37/£9
Week 5: £14.56/£9<-- over by £5.56 :eek:
Stores: £22.83/£25

Dex

Well I can declare my final numbers for March 297.08/250 not perfect but it was my first try so im ok with it - my meal planning went really well and I bulk bought a load of catfood when it was on offer so that should help! I spent around £40 on lunches and drinks that I didn't need to spend so that's something to try and change though out of 20 possible lunch days I only bought lunch for 9 which is definitely an improvement! I'm going to try for only five next month! I'm going to move my April budget to 275 as the month is longer for me because of how my paydays fall!

TheThriftyScrumpers

Florenceem wrote: »

I haven't been on here for ages. I went away to the Midlands on 8 March then was back home for 2 days before going to stay with a friend. I had only been at my friends for a couple of hours when my Mil died suddenly. I will update my sig.

So sorry, sending love and hugs xx

tessie_bear

hi...been to aldi and coop today...our coop has some great reductions on bread its really helped make the packups cheaper they reduce cakes and muffins as well...i go in whenever i am passing
aldi was its usual bargainatious self...got some shimmering hand crfor £1.99 which seems nice...the super 6 are more use to me this time and i think will be good for easter meals

take care tess

Florenceem

zepsgal wrote: »

Florenceem - Sorry to hear about your loss, sending lots of love your way x x

Well we have broken through our £250 budget again this month, I'm sure it's higher than my sig, I keep finding receipts and adding them on

As usual, cupboards are stocked full, freezer is about half full (other half is iced up... another thing on my list of things to do lol). Need to get a grip on meal planning!

Started off well on Friday, I had a veg burger from the freezer with left over salad in the fridge. Sat am I bought bread for breakfast. Then went to Mr A for a pizza for dinner, purely so I could bung it in the oven (We were out doing the garden all weekend, so it was a convenience dinner). Went to the card shop for a cheap bday card. Then back to MrA's for mayo to make tuna pasta for dh and a veg pasta for me. Bought sweetcorn as well and something else.... Then Sunday went to MrT's to buy bin bags. Bought more salad stuff and jacket potatoes, cold meat... Another £15 :mad:

And I wonder why £250 isn't enough to feed two people and a small dog for a month!!!!

On the plus side, I have brought veg pasta to work today for lunch, and some left for tonights dinner.

Have you got a BM - cheaper to make a loaf for breakfast plus takes away the temptation of having to go to a SM. My advice - stock take your food supplies so you don't run out of items like mayo - thereby cutting down SM trips. You could have made a pizza with a dough base like Frugal Queen if you had a BM really takes very little time. Another tip - buy a piece of gammon - cook and thinly slice for cold meats - freeze portions. I had a meat slicing machine when my 6 children were at home and I also catered for my student guests.

OS_QS

Wow its been a hectic month! Just checking in to report that I spent 62.50 at sainsbury's on the 3rd of march, then have nipped into asda yesterday for milk and essentials - and came out £29.37 lighter, with an absolutely obscene amount of biscuits!

I've updated my signature, and look forward to next month!

Florenceem

OS_QS wrote: »

Wow its been a hectic month! Just checking in to report that I spent 62.50 at sainsbury's on the 3rd of march, then have nipped into asda yesterday for milk and essentials - and came out £29.37 lighter, with an absolutely obscene amount of biscuits!

I've updated my signature, and look forward to next month!

Naughty! If you must have biccies - cheaper to make them plus you know what they contain. Taste better too. I am getting like the Naughty cop now!

OS_QS

Florenceem wrote: »

Naughty! If you must have biccies - cheaper to make them plus you know what they contain. Taste better too. I am getting like the Naughty cop now!

I know I was horrified when I was unpacking them at home. :eek: That's what I get for taking the OH with me. He's a biscuit fiend!

Florenceem

OS_QS wrote: »

I know I was horrified when I was unpacking them at home. :eek: That's what I get for taking the OH with me. He's a biscuit fiend!

Home made biscuits are more filling than bought ones plus - fruit is better for you than biccies. I am getting good at bad cop!

mummyyof5

Sorry to hear your news Florenceem..thinking of you and your family xx
I havent been buying biscuits honestly...although I have bought some sweets to use as decorations for cake sale at LOs school...having a bake day tomorrow so will be a NSD.
Today I spent £4.50 In W**kos..£7.00 in MrTs...£4.50 market..salad stuff and more bananas. and £4 in £land.. another £20 off to add that to sig now ...