March 2012 Grocery Challenge

DundeeDoll

OH has commented that i'm cooking lots more and asked if it's being OS. I think it is. We're eating really nice food, not wasting any, leftovers in the freezer. nearly 3months in and i'm really enjoying it. Also getting canny on taking leftovers from work (where ok on food safety obvs) which would otherwise be chucked. Today's haulwas 3very nice filled rolls and 2slices flapjack. I think actually my main reason now is to reduce the amount of food being chucked and i'm actually advertising leftovers to others more.

MunniMuncha

Well my GC finishes today and have come in way over budget at (drum roll please)........ £406.81/£250.:eek::eek::eek:

Believe it or not I am quite happy with this for the following reasons:

1) This is my first real month of GC and I was spending around £375 pm on 4 (3 adults and 1 teenager, who eats like an adult, so we'll say 4 adults and 2 cats), so only slightly over what I was spending

2) Trying to work out how much I can actually do it for and thinking that going from £375 to £250 was slightly ambitious for the first month - so am going to reduce it next month by £25 and then again the following month

3) Of that £406, I have put £135 into 2nd purse - thereby increasing my stocks somewhat and £55 into 3rd purse - so of that £406, £190 has been reinvestment into Munnimart and £55 pure profit. That means that before doing this and 2nd purse I actually only spent £275 of actual GB.

Sorry for the long post - and seem to have got GC and SP thread all in one.:rotfl::rotfl:

Am going away this weekend, so hoping not to start spending next month's money until the beginning of next month:j:j:j

debbiedeejay

Dashing through to declare £2.15 on chicken and bread. Will try to catch up reading posts -feels like I have had no time for myself with what thing and another.

Catch you all later.

tessie_bear

hi...off to the shops in a bit...after i have put the washing out...going to make a fried rice for tea to use up some bits and pieces then we are having steak tomorrow and chicken the day after

have a nice day yess

sheselectric_2

Finally sat down and added up all the receipts last night - up to £88.78 which was less than I thought :j

Lovethenight

LavenderBees wrote: »

Well (big sigh!)

I've been having a good old think about this challenge over the weekend. I'm not happy with myself as, although, I am being more frugal and definitely am a lot better than I used to be, I still feel like I could and should be doing better than I am. Without a doubt, I'm very much looking at the budget limit as being something to aim towards instead of coming in under it. And once I've exceeded it, well, there's no point in worrying about it is there? Might as well exceed it a bit more! :mad:

Ah, yes, I know myself so well.

Also, some wise person on here over the last few days mentioned that £100 for a single person is rather a lot...(sorry I didn't make a note of who I can credit that comment to...but it's true

My "food" budget usually includes things like cat litter and toilet rolls, and I think I'm coasting by on thinking "ah yes, but I didn't really spend £140 on FOOD for myself in March". Well, no I didn't, but it wouldn't be far from it...probably in the region of £100-£110, which is still a lot, given that I still have a store cupboard full to the rafters, and a freezer that will go "pop" if I try to put anything else in

1. I'm going to halve my budget for next month (which for me starts on Friday 23rd as that is payday). £50 budget for me, which should mean that only essentials get put on my shopping list instead of the usual..."I've finished it so I must restock again immediately".

Sorry for the long post, folks, but I've been mulling all weekend and I know you'll understand, whereas friends and family just look at me like I've lost leave of my senses. Perhaps I have.... :rotfl:

Off to update my siggy now. Hope the sun is shining where you are

LB xx

Hey lavender bees,

I'm feeling exactly the same! Been thinking about my GC fail this month too. It's only my first one so I've got lots to learn, but like you I feel I'm spending masses - You said that £100 is a lot for 1 person, and I've spent about £250 for 2 people and no pets or kids.!

You are much braver than me at cutting it for next month. My payday is also 23rd, so will be starting the April challenge on Friday.

Instead of cutting it, I'm going to keep it at £220 and try and mentally keep in mind that's £55 per week until the next pay day.!
Hopefully having a smaller figure in mind will curb the 'big payday shop' habit I have, and I am sticking to online shopping to avoid all the unnecessary stuff I usually fling intoy trolley that sabotages my healthy eating and budget!! I'm sure that the cost of the delivery charge will work out as less that the petrol and extras in the trolley...

Sorry for the essay! just feels good to get this out there to help me remember and stick to it.!!

tigerfeet2006

Just done the A$da price guarantee thingy and I have a MOC for the grand total of £2.42...wayhey!!

Today I had a chat with a taxi firm to work out whether it would be cheaper for me to get to the big supermarket and back (no proper bus service) and would cost me £8+ each way. The smaller MrT Metro in town I can walk to but would need a taxi back and it would be around £5. So my conclusion is I will stick to deliveries from the comfort of my own armchair.

p-pincher

Hi everyone
Not doing to bad at the moment, i've got £52 pound left til last to the 30th and only need some bits and pieces to see me through to the end of the month, the usual suspects, bread milk fruit veg and yoghurts. Making in roads through the freezer as well, went through it again last night and still got salmon, chickens, pork joints, bacon, you name it I seem to have it.

Already thinking about my budget fo next month, still going to stick to £7 a day and i definatley going to stick to weekly smaller shops as these seems to suit me better. I always seem to go crazy at the beginning of the month when i try a monthly budget and really struggle for the rest but this month when ive started the weeklies it seems much more relaxed.

tigerfeet2006

I am thinking about my budget for next month at the moment. Doing really well this month at reducing my bill right down. I have one more shopping week to go until the end of the month and I have an Approved Food order due this week as well for around £50.

We will need extra money as well for interviews, if DH gets any more, so I will need to really keep a handle on the budget and spend as little as possible. It also means we won't be able to get away during the Easter Holidays in the trailer tent which I am disapointed with. I hope he manages to get a new job soon as I am getting fed up already. DH has just spent 2 days filling in forms and writing the covering letter for one school and I have just spent 2 hours checking it over and I spotted while cross referencing something with the job description they sent out when I noticed that it said that applications had to be in by the 16th. On the TES website and their covering letter it said 23rd. DH emailed them and they emailed back that originally it was 16th and they extended it to 23rd but then changed their minds and appointed today :mad::mad::mad: How blardy unprofessional is that. Really pee'd off at the moment.

So any way I am thinking of setting a budget of £380 next month and sorry for the rant.

166million

Need to update me spreadsheet. Still got until end March and I don't think I have much budget left!