March 2013 Grocery Challenge

she_who_can_not_cook

AimingForBetter wrote: »

Def MSE - 59 pence is 59 pence and better with you than a SM, and there was also the bonus of the extra exercise!

I was so busy checking my receipt was correct while on the way out of Sains yesterday I pushed the trolley into one of the support pillars. I just carried on as though nothing had happened

Lol and thank you

Fredula

Shopping today cost a lot more than expected, but OH and I have planned meals for the rest of the month. We are trying to save £50 from the grocery budget (it's spurring us on, as we will share it between us and the baby for pocket money) so that leaves us 26.56 for the rest of the month to get 4x6L milks, veg a couple of potatoes, a pack of sausages and a chicken for the roast next week Hopefully we can do it. Oh, and bread.

CupOfChai

Got most of the week's top-up shopping yesterday, fruit&veg, hummus, pitta bread, normal bread and sandwich meat. Went back today as I was passing for bananas because yesterday they only had a few which were on their last legs and wouldn't have lasted me, so another small spend on those and didn't get anything else because the whoopsies at the moment are severely lacking. So I'm now up to £118.06 out of £160.

slscarborough

Can you please put me down for £350 this month

MrsCautious

Spent a fortune on presents this week, one birthday, Mother's Day and Easter, plus cards and stamps to send them. I'm not counting this as part of my grocery budget as I do budget separately for presents and cards throughout the year, I've certainly gone over this month, next month also has two close family birthdays.

But doing this challenge has made me more aware and hopeful of saving money on other budgets as well so I did save money by using some cards I'd already bought from discount stores, shopped around for presents and bought the cheapest niece and cousin cards (from my children) I could find. I've asked for a card making kit for Mother's Day

I didn't manage a NSD today due to buying stamps but really hoping not to spend anything until early next week, I've meal planned until the end of the month and only need bits and bobs until then. Having started saying my target is £200 for the month and coming in at a few pence short of £25 for week one for me, two teenagers and our dog, I really hope I can keep it up.

I'm enjoying reading what others are buying, the bargains to be had and meal plan inspiration, thank you all x

K9sandFelines

Mrsgibbs1503 wrote: »

Waaah... spent £26 in Morrys due to stress (cat in vets due to being hit by car... on mend now)
Total comfort shopping except the flowers for ma's day (not counted in budget) so grrr...

Really sorry to hear about your cat. Glad he/she is on the mend. I've lost two to RTAs

My Cloud 9 Bargains order came tonight (due tomorrow), so i have updated sig by £13, which personally i think is fab for two 5litre bottles of cleaning bits.

Hopefully tomorrow will actually be a NSD , as Approved Food order also arrived today.

MrsCautious

Sorry wanted to include my meal plan for next week but pressed to post too soon and struggling to edit on my phone:

Sat: chilli -- mince bought with gift of Waitrose vouchers, from freezer, and make a veggie version at the same time.

Sun -- M Day roast beef dinner cooked by my children, YS beef for 5 of us bought with gift of W'rose vouchers. Veg from Aldi Super six, reduced lemon meringue pie and squirty cream -- would normally buy some fresh cream without thinking and throw away what goes off, so big improvement there


Mon: turkey (W'rose vouchers, now frozen) mince bolognese, will also make veggie version, will be feeding 2 extra teenagers coming for tea. We are all meat eaters but fancy making things go further with veggie version too as well as bulking out meat version.

Tues YS poussin (can't believe I'm writing poussin!) bought with gift of W'rose vouchers and frozen since, rice, veg, gravy spiced up with Worcester sauce and whatever other herbs I decide on the day, big lovers of garlic here!

Weds Curry cooked at school by my children some weeks ago and frozen since. Normally would have bought packaged naan, not having that, rice.

Thurs Steak from freezer, bought with W'rose vouchers, hm wedges, veg. Pepper sauce.

Fri: beans on toast for me, my children at friend's for tea.

Packed lunches all week for my children, wafer thin ham two days, cheese, wafer thin chicken (£1 for cooked meat all week) My lunches will be hm soup, leftovers, Ryvita or toast/sandwiches. Fresh fruit every day.

Puddings: Aldi rice pudding, Aldi clotted cream vanilla ice cream (beautiful) Sainsbury's basics Creme Caramel.
Reduced no added sugar Angel delight, Basics tinned fruit.
Cereal/toast/waffles for breakfast.

Hope this may be of interest to someone, I have to admit I'm pleased with my progress, looking at this list I can't see that I'm going to need to buy anything much at all before next weekend. Wahay.

Katie-25

Hi All.

I'm interested in joining this. Do you all plan your food for the entire month or by week?

Many Thanks

Florenceem

Katie-25 wrote: »

Hi All.

I'm interested in joining this. Do you all plan your food for the entire month or by week?

Many Thanks

It is up to you how you plan your meals. Not planning or no menu idea is when you tend to overspend. My menu plan is always adaptable for bargains/offers. I do keep an eye on the Al.. Super Six - that influences some of my meals. Sometimes I will write out a 4 week menu - other times - 1 week at a time. You need to know what you have in stock - cupboards/freezer/fridge so food is not wasted.

Katie-25

Florenceem wrote: »

It is up to you how you plan your meals. Not planning or no menu idea is when you tend to overspend. My menu plan is always adaptable for bargains/offers. I do keep an eye on the Al.. Super Six - that influences some of my meals. Sometimes I will write out a 4 week menu - other times - 1 week at a time. You need to know what you have in stock - cupboards/freezer/fridge so food is not wasted.

Thanks!

Going to start putting together an inventory this weekend.