March 2014 Grocery Challenge

Franigan

Soworried, Cinnamonpie, Lushlifesaver:

Thank you very much for your words! I want to start to TTC with the beginning of June so I asked him to quit with the 1st of the year, then the 1st of Feb, now the 1st of March, but he is postponing..mind you he has known since last Septermber/October when to start for a baby! He isnt struggling, he is not trying at all!
I used to smoke too, but probably half as much as he does, so maybe I can not conceive how hard it is..
..unless he is waiting for our anniversary on the 5th to stop as a present!

For the food:
I actually have quite a bit to make, but it's all soooo boring! I wanted to try a more exciting* menu but it will get very costly!

*More Exciting so to speak as if you look at my week, 1 night is eggs and beans on toast!!!
"Exciting" for us isnt anything WILD. It would merely be Gammon or a chicken and veg pie (done with left over after a roast chicken). It's just that as soon as I try to do something "different" the food bill goes up a lot!!

YS are not an option as I find they are rubbish both where I live and work! For example, 2 chicken breasts for 3.01 in Tesco (when lucky) or a medium-ish whole chicken for still £ 5.something or £4.98. Head Cabbage or Broccoli £0.50 instead of £1. Bread £0.45.
On here I sometimes read about vegetables practically given away!! ..I guess when I can go it's never the right time!

But take me with a pinch of salt, I just like to have a good whinge!! :rotfl:

joedenise

Franigan wrote: »

For the food:
I actually have quite a bit to make, but it's all soooo boring! I wanted to try a more exciting* menu but it will get very costly!

*More Exciting so to speak as if you look at my week, 1 night is eggs and beans on toast!!!
"Exciting" for us isnt anything WILD. It would merely be Gammon or a chicken and veg pie (done with left over after a roast chicken). It's just that as soon as I try to do something "different" the food bill goes up a lot!!

YS are not an option as I find they are rubbish both where I live and work! For example, 2 chicken breasts for 3.01 in Tesco (when lucky) or a medium-ish whole chicken for still £ 5.something or £4.98. Head Cabbage or Broccoli £0.50 instead of £1. Bread £0.45.
On here I sometimes read about vegetables practically given away!! ..I guess when I can go it's never the right time!

But take me with a pinch of salt, I just like to have a good whinge!! :rotfl:

I have a similar problem with YS but do reduce my spending by doing some veggie meals, particularly using beans and pulses which are much cheaper than meat. For example, this week we're having spicy beanburgers from https://www.agirlcalledjack.com website which out at 9p each for the burger. Obviously that's only part of the meal but I'll be doing HM oven baked chips and some baked beans with them so still a very cheap meal.

The website is a very useful one for cheap veggie meals. Definitely worth a look. There are several cheap foodie blogs around worth looking for.

Denise

Frugalsod

Kayalana99 wrote: »

Currently spending £400 (£80ish) on a 5 week shop and *usually* when I know its a four week I don't bother even trying to cut back so we end up spending around same amount. Their are four of us, me and OH & 18month and 5month.

We don't buy nappies as my Nan buys them but we do need milk, both are still on formula (I know people say its cheaper on cows milk but a whole tub of my 18 months milk will last about 3-4 weeks for £9 ? I just can't see it being cheaper considering how fast milk goes off)

Have you considered terry nappies with disposable nappy liners? After the initial outlay the costs drop significantly. Though it is probably worth keeping a pack of disposables for emergencies.

babes21

Can you put me down for £250 please for March?

Elisheba

Can you put me down for £160 for March please? 2 adults and 3 cats.

This week's shop is tonight, but toiietries hasve already been bought so £153/160 left over so far...

Franigan

Hello Joedenise,
Right with you on the veggie meals! I have only tried the "perfect falafel" from Jackie Monroe. Done it twice and boyfriend and I loved them!
Last night I batch cooked a "Golden Veggie Shepherd's Pie" from bbc goodfood. 500g of green lentils instead of mince. As I was dividing it in 6 portions to freeze I ate some of the bits that were "accidentally" falling from the serving spoon and it tasted delicious!!
Yeah, I do similar things, whether is lasagne or fish pie or baked pasta, I allow 1 portion to share between the 2 of us and I do steamed veg or a big mixed salad to go with our half portions. I'm pleased with that 'cause those 6 portions will probably do us for 6 dinners!
But these meals are off limits during the weekend! :rotfl:

Thank you for the reply! x

chocoholic_chick

Afternoon all!

Really want to join in again but I'm struggling to set a budget. I used to put aside £280 per month for 2 adults and pets and would normally come in around the £200 mark. Now there are 3 adults and I'm struggling to set a budget. I've somehow managed to spend £106.43 already :eek: so really need to get my spends under control and start utilising what I have in the house more.

I think we spend around £20 a month on pet food, so is £260 a realistic budget for 3 adults? ( to include all meals ). I can't afford to go over that really as DH will be dropping to SSP soon and we're going to struggle with money as it is.

I've tried searching to see if there's a thread about budgets but can't seem to see one

lushlifesaver

Chocoholic_chick I would suggest starting at £260 and then working out where you can trim costs as you go through this first month doing the GC.


The first time I tried I didn't really know what I spent and just randomly picked an amount. I stuck to it but it was hard as I wasn't as used to planning as far in advance as I do now and my 'store cupboard' was whatever had taken my fancy on the first day after student loans came in!


I now work to a budget of £120 per month divided up in to categories. Our categories are 'pure' groceries (anything foodie), toiletries and cleaning, pet supplies and the bulk buy kitty and work off £20 per week (in a 4 week month) for groceries for myself and bf. I don't change this in a 5 week month although many do add in an extras week's worth of money.


This works for us as we have access to Makro so bulk buy mince, chicken breasts, toilet rolls, laundry detergent/conditioner and a few other bits depending on how long it is since we last went etc.


The main thing to consider is whether or not you will be up to three adults permanently or if this is temporary and then think about how you prefer to shop (weekly/fortnightly etc) and what sort of meals you like to eat and go from there.
If you are usually setting aside £280 and not spending quite that much then I would try on that amount again for the three of you

Soworried

I have spent a huge amount of our monthly budget already and I have to last until the 21st on the little I have left :eek:
This shouldn't be a problem if I just stop spending and use up what I have bought over the last week

I've decided to list my fridge and freezer to help me. I normally just keep track of my freezer and I'm also going to keep a track of my daily amount left so that I start to feel at ease as it increases. At the minute I have only £5.38 a day for 2 adults and 2 hollow legged teens, so £1.34 per person a day

deejayp

Annoyed with myself today - I've got lots of food in the house and I didn't bother making lunch today for work so got a sandwich from the shop (comes out of a different budget, but still maddening) :mad:

Menu plan for this week for me (vegetarian) / for children -

Tonight - Jacket Potatoes with cheese and salad
Tuesday - Pasta bake and salad
Wednesday - Leftover pasta bake / Spaghetti Carbonara
Thursday - Chickpea curry & rice / Beef casserole

I will be bringing soup to work for the rest of the week for lunches.

Going away at the weekend - so will be raiding my Dad's food cupboards