March 2013 Grocery Challenge

SpendingSensible

Done my last big shop for this month, just over £60, which brings my March total at just over £357. Will close the GC for March now (remaining days willl be NSD).

Very pleased with this month's result as less than I was aiming for. So have set my budget for April slightly lower at £350 and feel optimistic I will be able to stick to that. It's amazing that before starting this challenge we would easily spent £450 or even close to £500 each month. Just being more aware, keeping track of what I spend and better meal planning is literally paying off. Big time!

Am thinking of putting the money aside that we save in the GC, and use this 'pot' to satisfy my kitchen shop / gadgets cravings :rotfl: Just have to think whether I can get away with not only putting in the remaining budget but also the money 'saved' from setting the budget lower each month. Will have to think about that, but think I might do this to give myself a sort of bonus start .

I expect that eventually we will reach a, for us, realistic/doable budget, so future savings towards this pot would be small, and only if we manage to stay within that budget. IYSWIM.

Had another thought, that if/when we exceed the GC budget, I would use the savings pot for the extra spends.

Ok, will see how to update this in my signature, think I will call it my kitchenkitty or something....

Happy Easter!

bargain_hunter_2

Success this month :T
Spent £4.50 in asd* midweek on bread/milk/condensed soup
so came in under target -woohoo

Sigy updated and paid today so off to April thread -think I'll try and shave another bit off April total :T

tessie_bear

hi...signing off from march as have hopefully had last spend grand total for march £142 more than the last 2 months but I am averaging around £27 a week so pleased with that

see u in april
tessa

K9sandFelines

NSD - little consolation as i have well blown the budget and i am near lots of shops tomorrow, so think the whole month is going to be a write off

brighteyes1987

£4.20 spent in a*da today
Sig updated.

I am just under budget & need nothing with only 3 days to go!
As Sunday will 100% be a NSD I am so hoping I can stay away from the shops for the next 2, fingers crossed.

Will pop in to declare over the weekend & will see everyone on the April thread.

Happy Easter everyone.

BE x

NickJW

Hello all!

I get paid on the first working day of the month (so the 2nd April after Easter ), so I'm here until the end of March.

Anyway - here are my spends so far:

£1 in the corner shop
£1.90 in Co-op
£11.27 in Mr W

So £14.17 in total - which means my total is scraping close to my target - £127.30. Need to stay strict and try and use whats in (but still need more meat so it's going to be hard)

Used the last of a jar of jerk spice paste bought around Christmas time marinated with chicken, and served with crushed chilli and coriander sweet potatoes.

Tomorrow I'm doing an experiment chicken casserole using things in the fridge and cupboard - I'll post if it's any good! Will serve with cabbage which needs using and minted new potatoes (have everything in).

Then Saturday will either be Taucheo chicken or Mango chicken - need to decide still.

Hope everyone has a good Easter weekend!

MrsCautious

I'm here until 31st.

Happy Easter everyone.

I just spent 79p on two sliced loaves, one fresh brown loaf, unsliced and 4 big granary rolls, all YS from Sbury. I also bought half price Bertoli spread and 2.5kg of Basics potatoes for £1.19. Using a Brand Match coupon brought my spend to £1.85 all in, which I must say I'm very pleased with. Sliced bread and rolls have gone into freezer.

I am close to my limit but as we are with family on Sunday and I have Easter eggs for my children, I hope I'm not tempting fate by saying I can't see me having to spend on groceries before the start of next week. I'm making fish pie tomorrow and will have YS reduced fat fresh burgers in the rolls with hm wedges and veg on Saturday.

Kitchenbunny

Hi there, meant to pop on yesterday to post a spend of such and such, but can't find my receipt. Bother. I know it was about £18 or £19 so I'll go with £18.99 and be more careful next time! This takes my total for the year so far to £504.73. I'll update my sig now. Hoping today isn't going to be another Spending Day!

Have a lovely day, folks. Still here to the end of the month too.

KB xx

mothershipton

thought i was doing well this month but have just totted it all up, so far £364 but i might get away with no more purchases. OH is definitely taking vr but not sure when, will need to emphasise to him our budget...

medusasmummy

morning all
last post in march for me, as im at work tomorrow, and sunday no wheres open.

spends this week:-
ald! £38.96 (after £5 mirror voucher)
$ainsbury's £7.55

total spent in march £267.13!! £17.13 overspend but i'm really pleased with that. Ive increased it for april so i can get a few of the meat joints on offer at the mo. gonna have to keep a tighter reign on the spending as our holiday pot is a little on the short side at the moment, but thats because i paid our coucil tax out of march budget to get ahead start for the year and make january a little easier.

good luck to all, and have a great weekend

see you in april