March 2013 Grocery Challenge

Miroslav

I'll go for 120 pounds again please. Failed miserably in February

lucylollipop

Meal out number 1 done, came to a grand total of £11.85 including drinks. Was a bit annoyed that people put alcohol on the bill to be split - normally when we go out, only food goes on the main bill, and soft drinks if they're refillable. All alcohol is usually bought at the bar, or requested on a second bill. By my maths, if the alcohol had been seperate, dinner would have come in at around £8-£9, a big enough difference when the only thing I drank was diet coke, but you can't win them all.... Plenty of food in the house for the next week or so though

Verityemilia

March Grocery Challenge will start 4th March for me ... £200 budget again - £50 a week

Bluegreen143

Hello to all the newbies!! :wave:

Still in Feb until Friday, but can you put me down for £185 again Coxy?

I've been going back and forth on what to do, I really wanted the psychological feeling of reducing the budget, but I ended up thinking it was too much of a stretch when it's a five weekend month for me. We haven't got tons in either, though I will plan to use up what we have, especially stuff that's been in the cupboard for a long time (*cough*brownriceI'mlookingatyou*cough*).

I'm not sure how much more we can cut down tbh. Our bill still seems high for 2 people and a cat, but there are certain things I refuse to cut back on - e.g. we only eat free range meat, although only eating it twice a week does help here. Also I hate frozen and tinned veg except frozen peas and sweetcorn so I do end up with a big fruit and veg bill. Obviously if I was desperate financially I could cut down in these areas - but I can afford what we pay at the moment, although I do want to save as much as possible for the wedding.

Feel like I'm pretty good at avoiding waste now, but will keep trying to improve further, and will shop in A*di's more, definitely. Was thinking another thing I might do is try a cheapy night every week - e.g. baked potatoes and beans, with maybe a bit of HM dessert to make it more special, as I am guilty of doing fancier stuff pretty much every night. OH doesn't think soup is a dinner or I'd serve that more at night-time too.

craigywv

went to mr t yesterday spent 29.22 thats it for sm for the month except milk and fruit which i haveloads of veg blanched and frozen went a bitmad on fresh veg ys got 3 big bags for about 3 quid got brocolli,turnips,pots,onions,apples carotts,punnets of raspberries,all for 9p-25p so have a fair bit of blanching/freezing todo in next few days. also good bit of ys meat. need to bake a fresh crean vic sponge as its mum birthday on sat and we all having a big meal in her house cant wait love the get togethersxxx on seperate budget got all easter eggs in asda doing them a quid each mr t doing them 1.50 each, but if you buy 2 you get 2 free so really a free egg. they hid ontop of wardrobe oh put them there so i cant reach lol or i would eat them. just need to get loo rolls from home bargaiiiiins outof yet another purse! will get them at weekend. hope your all doing well xxx

Gracie_1827

Can I be put down for £150 for March. Feb was a complete disaster. Son came back home after breakup with GF. So me being a mum comforted him with special meals. This took my food shop into outerspace!!!:o
Anyway, will try and get back on track in March

helen_jelly

Good Morning lovely people

I need to add another £23 to my spends [must update my siggy]

Coxy - hope you had a lovely holiday

Welcome and Hi to all the new people joining on here, its a lovely place with lots of really helpful advice so do ask away

MrsCautious - well done on making the Pasta Sauce, not something I;ve done as DH does all of that stuff and I use a jar if I have to

craigywv - had a giggle at your Potato post :rotfl:

Freezer is full, fridge is fullish, cupboards are overflowing but Lunch Bag box needs refilling with something ?? not sure what to put in there but will bake something :T


Have a good day everyone

Helen

tessie_bear

well done to mum making nice things for her son...very heart warming i have been doing similar for my son as he is doing exams

right i havent started march but am worried it is going to be expensive as i have a practically empty freezer and need to do a meat shop at costco...not cheap but nice quality i find...i am going on sat all being well so will limp in and report the damage then

i wondered if it would be useful to say abit about our budgets and what they cover to get the grey matter of other posters pumping ?? i know its not a competition but might be useful ???

i will start but dont worry if everyone else doesnt think its helpful....i make 7 packed lunches a week , 6 evening meals, 7 breakfasts and saturday lunch at home for 2 adults and 2 kids....both kids quite particular littlest is auty so cant talk him round if he doesnt want something he doesnt eat it...other ds 13 excellent at eating healthy stuff fruit/veg/salad/ but has a few dislikes and a dh who will not eat any fish and me who doesnt eat egg white

money spent can be seen in my sig

blimey we all sound barking

take care tessa

couponchaos

Can I join please? Would like to put myself down for £150
This is my first grocery challenge so hopefully will be able to stick to the budget, am looking forward to giving it a try! :j

Karb

Signing in for March. Typically I expect to spend £50 per week on groceries, so between £200-£235 a month, depending on the length of the month.

In Jan and Feb I got it down to around £160 by using up all the food from Christmas that I had left in cupboards and the freezer, but that has pretty much all gone now, so I'll need to spend a bit more this month.

I'm going to aim for £195, as I'd like to keep it below £200, This covers all food, pet food, cleaning products and toiletries.