April Grocery Challenge

furrypig

This is my first month trying out the challenge and think I have set myself too low a budget for our family (just picked it at random as do not actually know how much I usually spend but hubby reckons I have set it too low as do all friends I've discussed it with!).
So it is 9th April and I only have £78 to last til the end of the month (30th April)!!

I am a bit disheartened but know I have saved money as I am meal planning and trying out cheaper products etc, might go back and try and look at bills for a previous month and see how much I normally spend!!

JCL

Works out at £26 a week which can be done. You're on the right lines with the meal planning. Don't get disheartened - try your best to meet the challenge you've set.

You're right to say that you may have set to stiff a challenge but time will tell. Have a look in your cupboards and see what you've got in already.

Good luck and believe you can do it!

mrsmab59

omega wrote:

O/H will no doubt buy bottled water for work and fruit juice (helps that he’s now been persuaded to buy value oj).

If he's buying bottled water for convenience rather than taste see if he'll bring the empty bottles home and refill with tap water to help save a bit of money.

moggins

Or get him to bring the bottles home "for recycling" and fill them with Tesco Value spring water

Smiley_Mum

I just remember about something I read ages ago about uses for stale bread, cant you flavour it with stock or something and bake it to make good dog biscuits for anyone with dogs out there. Just an idea. I'll have a look on google to see if there is any recipes for dog biscuits.

I found this one but don't know about uses for the stale bread.

http://mrlt.allrecipes.com/lists/112.asp

http://recipes.robbiehaf.com/pets/1.htm

Perhaps you just soak the stale bread in some stock/or broth or something and bake in the oven till crisp.

furrypig

JCL wrote:

Works out at £26 a week which can be done. You're on the right lines with the meal planning. Don't get disheartened - try your best to meet the challenge you've set.

You're right to say that you may have set to stiff a challenge but time will tell. Have a look in your cupboards and see what you've got in already.

Good luck and believe you can do it!

Thank you JCL for your kind words!!

I have just looked at my credit card bill for previous month and realised I have set myself a budget of 2/5 (two fifths) of what I normally spend!! No wonder I am finding it hard!!

Will carry on trying to see how I do but will be a bit more realistic next month, then reduce it as the months go on. At least then we can have a few more treats etc etc!!

moggins

furrypig wrote:

Thank you JCL for your kind words!!

I have just looked at my credit card bill for previous month and realised I have set myself a budget of 2/5 (two fifths) of what I normally spend!! No wonder I am finding it hard!!

Will carry on trying to see how I do but will be a bit more realistic next month, then reduce it as the months go on. At least then we can have a few more treats etc etc!!

Ouch, no wonder you were finding it hard going

furrypig

moggins wrote:

Ouch, no wonder you were finding it hard going

Yep silly me but at least I know why I was struggling and it makes me feel a lot better.:D

mrsmab59

Smiley_Mum wrote:

I just remember about something I read ages ago about uses for stale bread, cant you flavour it with stock or something and bake it to make good dog biscuits for anyone with dogs out there. Just an idea. I'll have a look on google to see if there is any recipes for dog biscuits.

I found this one but don't know about uses for the stale bread.

http://mrlt.allrecipes.com/lists/112.asp

http://recipes.robbiehaf.com/pets/1.htm

Perhaps you just soak the stale bread in some stock/or broth or something and bake in the oven till crisp.

Thanks for this Smiley_Mum :T . I have the kind of dogs that steal the bread I put out for the birds so something like this would be a luxury for them!

JCL

My target of £60 on groceries for April is looking OK so far.

Spent £12 so far and that included buying a lot of cereal in Sainsbury's thanks for their superb offer - got enough to last me the rest of the year!

Also, got vouchers from Tesco for £10 of £30 or more so I reckon I should make my target without too much hassle.