March 2012 Grocery Challenge

TheThriftyScrumpers

tigerfeet2006 wrote: »

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.

Sending hugs. I would be really cross too xx

rising_from_the_ashes

£21 dead in Al*di - but does incl lunch stuff for w/c 26/3 & 2/4 so into next month.

Also popped into the Co*op (hoping for DC on offer but sadly none - down to 3 cans in the house which I'll have to try to eeeekkkkk out until tomorrow!:eek:) but did get 2 x 2 packs garlic baguettes whoopsied to 30p each:j - now all safely tucked up in the freezer.

Still not bought any meat (min-challenge for March) and think, judging by the teeny dent I've made in the mountain this month, I'll be doing this again for April:T

Beautiful & sunny - must go & try to get the washing out for a while (grass just cut) and .... off work until Monday:)

OrkneyStar

Planned to shop one day later each week, so would have been Fri this week, however other things come up, so shopped today. Managed to get all we needed plus some extra stocks (haddock fillets, t-bags) for just under £42. Went to Tesco and it gave me a 5 off £40 till-spit so that will make it as cheap as Lidl to go there next week too. Quite happy with that. Also put £10 diesel in the car, from the fuel budget.

mrs-moneypenny

dh off for next two days so not sure what is going on re meal plans

dinner was omlette
tea will be morrys chicken style veggie chunks and leek pie followed by DD2s birthday cake made this morning

Doom_and_Gloom

Doom_and_Gloom wrote: »

Year budget - £1,320.00
Year spent - £0,283.10
Year left - £1,036.90

I think these are all shops so far this month - if I find any more will add them in a different post to not confuse me .
Mr A - £11.98
W - £1.80
ALD! - £3.72
Mr S - £24.62 (several shops)
Health food store - £8.47
Other - £7.50
Total = £58.09

Year budget - £1,320.00
Year spent - £0,341.19
Year left - £0,978.81

WelshWoofer

I've done well this week using stuff up in the fridge - I'm down to a few lonely looking bits of veg and cheese. Can't remeber the last time it looked so bare!
I'm due a big stock up shop soon but may well try to just do an essentials shop this weekend and leave the big one until I'm on school holiday and have a bit more time to really plan what I need and where the best place to buy it from would be.

There's about £25 left in this month's budget (1 shop to go) and I need dog food too - I did think about giving him a separate budget but I know I'd just conveniently forget the spends if I did:o

So its another visit to Aldi and B&M this weekend methinks.......

FlacosFloozie

Another £14.30 in Mr T this week so total now £146.36. Some of this did include naughty snacks (chocolate) as we will be driving off to see rellies this week. However, we usually buy these in the service station at twice the price so I'm hoping this will be cheaper. Also once we're back there's a full freezer and only 1 week to go so I'm hoping we can come in under budget...

lisakay_2

:j:j:j£119.23:j:j:j
A bit chuffed! DH gets paid on friday and thanks to The Fiscal Fast thread and my tendency to stock up and hoard stuff, I have fed my family of four people and four furry beasties (dog, cat, 2 rabbits) and kept us all clean and happy on £119.23 from 25th feb -now. not shopping until next week, so it will be a full month.
£30.77 under budget.
I STILL have pasta, rice, some tins, meat in freezer, so I'm tempted to keep a budget of£150 for march. and to see if I can come under again.
It will be tighter than last month as we don't have quite as much stuff in, but I reckon I can do it:T

mummyyof5

Just £5 to add for today..Kitkats for packup..and 2 trays of meatballs..reduced to £2 a tray of 25..had 1 tray for tea and the other is now in the freezer for another day.

Do need to get some veg and bits tomorrow.

LavenderBees

Lovethenight wrote: »

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.!!

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