March 2012 Grocery Challenge

funnysue

Hi, can I join the Grocery Challenge for March please? I am aiming to pay all my debts off by the end of the year and my monthly grocery budget is £240. I have been reading this thread all the way through February and it has already motivated me. I did go a bit over budget in February but thought if I signed up for real it might keep me on the straight and narrow!

LondonDreamer

Florenceem wrote: »

I told my DGD - I was getting a shopping trolley - she said - NO! Nannie - only old people have those. She was thinking - old - die! Anyway I got myself a designer trolley - yes - not MSE but it is so well made and I feel good out with it.
I don't smoke/drink/gamble - and we all could do with a treat some time - well - that's how I justified it! Main thing was - worth any amount of money - to avoid back pain from carrying shopping - we don't have a car. I have had really bad pain in my back - just laid on the bed and cried.

Sorry to hear about your back. But great news on the trolley! I've had one since I was in my late 20s (still only early 30s now) and have no issue lugging it around London. My DH won't touch it though. :rotfl:

helen_jelly

Budgets noted to here - will update later/tomorrow

Welcome and hi to all our new joiners - check out Spiggles great post and don't forget about the recipes that Rosieben posts on page one

Spiggle - hope you feel better soon
Ess-six - love and hugs to you and yours x

Helen

tigerfeet2006

Florenceem wrote: »

I told my DGD - I was getting a shopping trolley - she said - NO! Nannie - only old people have those. She was thinking - old - die! Anyway I got myself a designer trolley - yes - not MSE but it is so well made and I feel good out with it.
I don't smoke/drink/gamble - and we all could do with a treat some time - well - that's how I justified it! Main thing was - worth any amount of money - to avoid back pain from carrying shopping - we don't have a car. I have had really bad pain in my back - just laid on the bed and cried.

Ooooh!! designer! get you Come on spill.......where did you get it from? We need to know so we can get one to :beer: I have been thinking of getting one to

PennyGrabber

Is it ok that I might get one and I'm 34?!?! They are just the right size to carry a week's shopping and would surely save on fuel in the long run!!

rising_from_the_ashes

PennyGrabber wrote: »

Is it ok that I might get one and I'm 34?!?! They are just the right size to carry a week's shopping and would surely save on fuel in the long run!!

I still have a 3 (just!:D) ..... I've seen much younger people with them in the cities - as you say, you can get a good week't worth of stuff in one and much easier to put it in a trolley & wheel it than try to struggle with loads of bags whilst walking - or on the bus!

funnysue

Hopefully have created a signature to show that I have already spent £120.70 of my £240 budget for the month. I have already learned a lot just by following the thread and planned my meals for the month using 'Eat Well Spend Less' by Sarah Flower which I first read about on one of the frugal living threads on MSE. I sent for meat for the month from Donald Russell which I also read about on here and I had a 20% discount code after ordering previously, I got my store cupboard staples in A**i and I have realised that I am the kind of person who needs to stay away from the SM as I can't resist a 'bargain'! I will just need to buy fresh fruit, vegetables and yoghurts on a weekly basis as the freezer and cupboards are well stocked up. I am cooking for 3 adults including myself.

ModestyB

Evening all. My first spend out of the March GC budget was £27.92 yesterday, £2.88 on kitchen roll and stardrops from HB and £25.04 in Ald! for eggs, gammon, mushrooms, grapes, teabags, ice cream, beer for DH and pink lemonade to try. Also had a set of two baking dishes that DH moaned about.
I was rather proud of myself, I resisted buying any biscuits and chocolate, which I love from there.
Today was an nsd so pleased with that.

MunniMuncha

mummygems wrote: »

I dont know if this will help you but my mum always gives her cats (all 12 of them!!!!) garlic capsules in their food - the cheapo ones from the supermarket is fine and the garlic repels the fleas! Since she has been doing this for the past 7 or so years she hasnt had any uninvited guests on the cats!

Mummygems - how much does your mum put in the food and how often? Would love to try this with mine as I feel that either they have become immune to Fr*ntline Plus we give them or it is getting weaker, as they still get 'friends' even after being treated :mad:

JIL

elsiepac wrote: »

I bought my first 49p bag of salad from there on Weds - it will be used in my sandwiches today, tomorrow and however long it lasts! I was so pleased to find it (nearly missed it!) so I hope it's good! I'm still an A1d! n00b!



I also bought my first ever yoghurts from there on Weds, but I wanted low fat ones, so I got a pack of 6 low fat ones for 89p. I haven't tried one yet but I hope they are good! Have you tried them? As a comparison, WW yoghurts are £1.50 for 4 in Mr T and Act1v!a are £1.84 for 4! These are my two faves. So if the A1d! ones are good it will mean a good big saving for me when I get roughly 1 pack a week.



LC

I have a confession to make on the salad, I often open the bag, use what we need for tea and give the remainder to the guinea pigs. I heard a tip that when you open a bag of salad, you put a sheet of plain kitchen roll inside the bag and seal it with the salad laying on top of the kitchen towel. It soaks up the moisture and keeps the salad fresher for longer.

I havent had the low fat yoghurt but my husband likes them.

Popped to lidl, I dont need the chicken thats on offer over the weekend, so went on the way home from work. I bought a bag of frozen crusty rolls for 99p for the weekend and a loaf of bread, some cooked meat, milk and a few other bits, a spend of £14.

For a change today as we usually have fish on a Friday we had a curry using a jar from the back of the cupboard. Followed by fresh pineapple.