March 2007 Grocery Challenge

lil_me

We had an M&S food store opened nearish to me too, banned myself from it, and made sure I avoid going where it is, at all!

I know it's just the same stuff as in other shops, made by various people (for example St Ivel make the yoghurts etc) but they make it all look so tempting!

Beckie, at 17 I enjoyed it to, I had my own house then and was very good, frugal also, then had kids and it went out of the window, try to never loose those skills you have learned. I'm having to relearn them 10 years later and the bad habits die hard!

I must add todays spending in the pub to total, will find receipt in a mo.

skollieal

Hi this is my first attempt having kept a spending diary for the past few months although have only analysed it for the first time at the end of Feb. My aim is £80 for the month for just lil ol me (Just for food),. Want to try it but need to eat healthily if I can as seriously overweight.

11/3/07 £42.49 spent so far! Not a good start and that is without the wine and nicotine replacement therapy!!!

Watch this space. I know I can do it.............eventually!!! Anyone got an edible recipe with artichoke hearts? Yuck!!

rach

my budget this month is £80, and i'm doing the no supermarkets challenge.

i've currently spent less than £15 this month, which i'm really pleased with. like lil_me am having a use up month, but am pleased as it looks like my monthly shopping was enough for almost 2 months, so i am obviously overbuying.

poohbear59

millionaire_in_training wrote: »

oh help me!! M&S food store has opened near me. I went in today and I spent £36. Iam so glad I am on a diet or god alone knows what I would have spent. Note to me.............do not go to Marks.........do not go to marks

You would love it here. Five miles to nearest food shop and then it is a small co-op. Tesco is 25 miles, M and S 35 miles. And I still manage to spend too much. Need to have food in cupboards in case of unexpected visitors etc. I am always buying things -just in case!

Blairweech

Ok. £124.45 + £1.27 £0.59 = £126.31

I'm pleased that we haven't eaten out yet, but I'm also worried if I want £200 to include meals out eventually. Got a long way to go. Most of these little bits and bobs are on milk, from the local shop, instead of going to Iceland and paying £1 for 4 pints.

bigpaws23

I'd love to join in on this.
Atm, I have no idea how much I spend (how bad am I?!) but I prioritise organic food, so I know mine won't be cheap.

There are two adults - one meat eating, one not and a ravenous 6 year old who takes packed lunch to school, plus 2 cats.

I think what I will do for this month is just keep a record of my spendings so that I can join in next month.
I will include petrol and toiletries, but can't see a way to cut down on those two areas.

Good luck everyone; I'll be reading with interest to pick up any tips.

Bigpaws x

nodwah

I've got some adding up to do, but I know I spent £10 last night on ready meals at Sainsbury's, this was to celebrate the kids going to nana+grandpa's and me + him going out together for the first time this year. (this is quite a thing as there have been some YEARS where we haven't gone out at all!)

Tonight me + kids had a ready roast turkey breast which I got for £3 at asda in the leftover from Xmas frozen stuff and will do tomorrow too and poss a lunch for me at work. DH had a goose which had been partially defrosted when the freezer accidently got switched off a while ago, but he refused to let me throw it out and refroze it! I'll let you know if he's still alive tomorrow.

Had to go for some Mr Muscle drain unbloker and got pestered into buying Andrex for the red nose puppy token - I never buy expensive toilet paper - ah well I suppose it's for Charriddy.

ti1980

£35.03 + £1.57 = £36.60

I spent £1.57 today on a couple of drinks at a local shop. This means I now have £13.40 left if I want to stick to my target of £50 or under this month. I've eaten all my fresh fruit as well.
I have some tinned fruit that I got from Aldi but the problem is I have no fresh veg at all either as I've been away for the weekend.

I want to stick to the budget for one month just to prove to myself that I can do it. I've recently started spending loads more on food since I upped my fruit and veg intake. One problem is freezer space is very limited as its a shared house and I tend to use my bit of space up when I bulk cook meals.

EagerLearner

Hmmm £50 isn't much when you want to stay healthy! When I joined this challenge I was so focused on the target that I stopped buying as much fruit and veg, then after a while felt very lethargic and had no energy. As soon as 2 and 2 and 2 together, I went back to buying fruit and veg and felt better immediately - can you up your target to £60? For myself and Mr EL we spend £120 per month and this covers what we need (excluding going out etc as we both pay for this as we see going out as a treat rather than a 'household expense').

Elise1

Just to ley Bigpaws know that Lidl often have a limited selection of organic veg. Also , Aldis have some organic food on offer at the moment . I also try to buy some organic where I can - especially for the children . Buy organic meat for them & DH when it is reduced & freeze it for another day . Sometimes pad out things like mince with grated carrots , other chopped veg , lentils , etc to make it healthier & to make it go a bit further ! I am a veggie , so makes my meals a bit cheaper !
Did get a veg box for a while but found that I had to cook all my meals within a few days or the veg just went off .
Oh well , veg patch dug in the garden , so this should cut down the cost of the organic veg !