March 2014 Grocery Challenge

kayester

A BIG Hello :hello: :wave: :j to March, I am so happy to see you after going wayyyy over in February!!

This month will entail more planning, batch cooking and general saving.
NSD today as not getting dressed until tonight (going to see Russell Howard at Sheffield Arena) and OH is paying for the travel/food/snacks.

Not meal planned for the while month yet, but this is what I have so far:
Saturday: OH taking me out
Sunday: Just me and kids, whole chicken (half price) with chips and gravy, maybe leftovers for lunches.
Monday: Sirloin Steak and wedges
Tuesday: Pancake day, either sweet pancakes or corned beef stew on pancakes, will see what OH wants
Wednesday: Pie (in freezer)
Thursday: breaded chicken and noodles/chips
Friday: lasagna (freezer)
Saturday: Pie (freezer)
Sunday: cottage pie (freezer)
monday: pizza (freezer)
tuesday: lasagna (freezer)
wednesday: pie (freezer)


maybe change it a little towards the end of this period to spread meals out more so not getting bored of same thing. hopefeully not do a 'big shop' until around then

she_who_can_not_cook

Posting my first spend of the month.
Aldi crisps for HIM and fruit for me
Or is it the other way around lol....

russetred

Updating my siggy with what I have left for the year. I am being very good at using what is in the freezer and not filling it up again! Starting my healthy eating kick for March need to lose my "winter coat" of a stone so cutting out all the extra little bits here and there upping my exercise and horrors cutting back on beer!

Ladyluck1

Spends the last few days to add to siggy;
£11.35 boots
£6.65 lidl yeaterday
£6.45 lidl today half price mince and some milk

Ladyluck1

Looks like is spent a lot of my budget already but I have 2 jointed whole chickens, 5 packs of mince, frozen tuna steaks, salmon and lots of various other bits in the freezer an a bursting stock cupboard!
Should be ok for meat for the month

ikesmummy

Well my March starts today. Had meal planned the whole month and decided to stick with the same budget as last month but may need to re think that a bit. Had a couple of unpleasant surprises (debts DH had accrued without telling me) come to light last week so may need to try and reduce budget which would mean needing to change the meal plan a bit

Anyway will look at the figures a bit more (in the hope they change in front of my eyes) and then sort out my signature. Will hopefully find time to read back through the thread as well.

skintmum2012

Just wondering what does everyone think is better planning food monthly or planning weekly I am unsure what the best way is to do it. Hubby gets paid Monthly so money wise it would be fine to do it monthly and I am thinking this might mean less is wasted. However do people who plan monthly get bored of what they are eating knowing so far ahead? and to the people who do food plan monthly do you write what you will be eating every day for a month or do you have a list of meals that you can make during that month?

lushlifesaver

Skintmum I budget monthly but try to plan fortnightly so that we have some variation, I plan 12 meals (Saturdays are date night so bf chooses a meal/take out/meal out) then plan some easy substitutions, usually 4/5 in case we change our minds/need something quicker/don't mind taking more time :-)

WhiteSnowdrop

Can I join please for £300 a month. I've been watching what I spend each month but I think joining this thread would keep me accountable!

deejayp

Good Morning all, Hello to March :wave:

So far this morning I have planned our menu for the whole of the month and been to Aldi for the first shop and spent £43.42

Off now to batch cook some items and fill the freezer

Hoping to save time as well as money this month and also lose some weight.

Here's to being far more organised.

Have a lovely weekend everyone xx