April 2013 Grocery Challenge

lbnblbnb

Declaring for April at £211.94/£200 so 106%. Pleased really.

So I am now into May... and I have already spent £106.76 53%. Eeeeek!

Some of that was unnecessary spends - I took my daughter with me, said no to lots of things but lots still got into the trolley. We should be stocked up now, so hopefully can still do it.
Meal plan (days are flexible):
Mushroom spicy rice
Pasta, chilli, garlic, feta, broad beans
Carrot, courgette, lemon, Parmesan pasta
Minestrone
Dahl

forever_saving

Am checking in to update my total, it now stands at £262.41. I have a reasonable amount of food in the freezer so i will have to see how it goes. I have to go until the end of the month. Can't see me staying within the budget to be honest but i will try my best.
Well done to everyone else.
FS

MrsCautious

lbnblbnb wrote: »

Declaring for April at £211.94/£200 so 106%. Pleased really.

So I am now into May... and I have already spent £106.76 53%. Eeeeek!

Some of that was unnecessary spends - I took my daughter with me, said no to lots of things

I know that feeling. My daughter came with me last week, ended up getting Doritos with sour cream and salsa. But she proudly told me they were on offer, bless her.

I've done a first ever Approved Foods order, partly for stuff for a cake sale as we are raising money for a charity journey we are taking part in. This part won't be in my GC. I spent £20 on some macaroni cheese, hollandaise sauce, toothpaste, 10x Sains Angel Delight style pudding for £1, plus loads of crisps, cereal bars, biscuits and chocolate, with a saving, after delivery of £48. Not at all healthy but these are to last all through May and to stop me buying much more expensive cereal bars at the sm, to go in my girls' lunches. Got a massive saving on a box of Quaker oat bars and some Nutri grain. Next month I'd like to make flap jack instead.

Some of the AF stuff is still in date, just but 5 Snickers for £1 are best before 08/2012.

I was tempted to put this in May's budget but as I have ate some, (well I had to test the Snickers) I need to be more honest

Also got given 12 farm eggs yesterday so that was a nice boost for an upcoming meal plan!

I'm planning on going to sm later today to spend about £10 and use points saved towards bill. I see no reason why I shouldn't come in under budget if I stick to this.

I have set a target of £180 for next month as I know it's doable, and I want to push myself to be that resourceful/disciplined. Doing this challenge has more than halved our grocery bill and I'm pleased to have got that spending under control.

I think the people here who feed a family of four or more as well as getting household/cleaning/pet stuff for £200 or around that are amazing, especially when you consider the freshness and quality of meals prepared compared to the overpriced packaged gloop in supermarkets.

she_who_can_not_cook

Tenyearstogo wrote: »

Almost up to my target now. I'm a bit dissappointed. I have most the food for the rest of the month but I was hoping for a bit of left over cash. I'm hoping May will be better.

Don't be you are on target thats great

getting-sorted-sarah

£3.00 in Tesco on Friday on sausages and bits, sausage and mash for dinner at OH's - he paid for rest of food over weekend so NSDs today and yesterday. My month ends on Weds, I think I might actually be in budget!

Welsh_Poppy

Meg-glad you are okay:-)

We are off on holiday tomorrow so no spends as such I did get the Marks meal deal but that is out of another budget and a Marks chicken for OH for sandwiches etc.
Any food we buy on hols is out of holiday budget so looks like will come in on target for the month.
Dinner yesterday was sweet potato mash and sausage and sweetcorn it was horrid wont make that again.
Today OH has plaice in breadcrumbs new potatoes and peas with rhubarb and strawberry tart for dessert.Will take wine on holiday with me:-)

Florenceem

Popped in Aldi after Church - spent £10.83 - did buy quite a few sweets - my comfort while the workmen are here.
This is the last day of my month - well - I do 4 weeks to tie in with pension.
Declare at £46.73 spent out of £100 budget. :j
Savings go in house renovation fund.

xxlouisexx56

£28 over the past few days between morrisons tesco and Iceland

Not doing too bad considering the freezer is full but running low on salad and veg

Dinner tonight - lasagne

SpendingSensible

Have not reported for a few days, all a bit disorganised ATM. Do know that I have spent quite a lot since my last post.

Had 2 biggish shops at supermarket /farmers market this weekend, and also some small spends during the week. The problem with not being organised is that I forgot to meal plan and lunches etc. and end up having loads of small shops. :mad:

Have updated sig with £100. I actually don't know what my total spend was as I lost a few receipts, but this weekend alone was almost £75 plus we had fish and chips on Friday night £12, plus the various small shops....Will have to do better again!

The bigger shops did include some stock up on meat/fish/chicken, Also, we're having some friends over for drinks, and while they will bring some bottles, I still need to have some drinks on offer + some snacks.

Meal plan this week:
Today: Roast beef, roast potatoes, Yorkshire, broccoli/cauliflower
Monday: being treated by OH to dinner at posh French place
Tues: left overs from roast dinner
Wed: either something with chicken or steak
Thu: something with fish (but will have to get some)
Fri: drinks evening

Wed and Thursday are also depending if OH is at home or not, if not, I'll try to squeeze in a veggie meal instead. When alone, I don't mind, but OH likes his meat:D

MrsCautious

Spent £11.40 in Sains (down from £18.90 using £7.50 of N points) . Don't need anything for meals planned or bread, milk, fruit, snacks or salad so hoping to *possibly* not spend on groceries at all until approaching next weekend. . .bought YS lemons -- 4 for 69p, and some YS doughnuts for 30p.

..but YS reductions were rubbish on meat and fish so avoided them. May launch a research mission one night this week if I can't ignore the inclination

Checked out Co-op for meat and fish reductions as well and there weren't any apart from one pack of sausages.