March 2014 Grocery Challenge

chirpycheap

Well we came in under budget in February so very pleased.

Please could I be put down for £250 for March

I was really pleased with my budgeting last month and have been cooking most meals from scratch. I think however that I could easily lower my budget this month even though it's a longer month.

What I am finding is that my cupboards and freezer are now groaning but I keep buying more stuff.

Every time I make a meal I freeze a portion but we are forgetting to eat from the freezer as I am enjoying trying out new recipes.

I have bulk bought stuff like lentils, rice and baking ingredients and need to make sure I use them up. Frugal food lasts longer than ready dinners so I need to adjust my shopping and resist buying stuff just because it is on offer!

My son left home last September and think that I am still shopping for three! We both need to eat a little less and learn that just because it was cheap to make (that huge slow cooker full of rice pudding!) we don't have to eat it all at once!!

Anyhow my month runs from 21st Feb to 21st March and we have spent so far £16 in Lidl, and £8.41 between Poundland and B&M.

Will update my signature.

skintmum2012

rPlease can I join I followed last month and it helped so much we have managed to get out of £900 overdraft last month and pay my mum back £100 so we start a fresh this month I would like to be put down for £300 really sorry I cant see how to get it any bigger. I have already spent £98 at approved foods on a stock up and I plan to spend another £40 at Aldi to stock up on meat when the newspaper voucher comes in. And I have spent £106 just on Formula and nappies for 3 month old So that leaves £56 for the month meaning I am going to have £14 I think that's going to leave a lot of Aldi shopping.

kunekune22

It's a while since I did this, but we've got a lot of bills this month. My budget for March is $(Aus)1000. It sounds a lot but we usually spend more than that. I'm still in stashdown mode with the pantry, so will be looking to substitute things where possible to avoid spending. Watch out for some odd ingredients!

joedenise

Didn't come in under budget last month after having an extra 2 mouths to feed for half the month but was quite pleased to only have spent just over £50 extra.

Today is payday so the start of March for me. Please put me down for £250 for this month and hope I can come in lower than that, although it won't be a good start as need to spend on some more fruit - only one manky banana and a satsuma left!

Need to update signature which I'll do after I've been shopping later today.

Denise

lushlifesaver

My month officially starts tomorrow (payday) but we do need a couple of bits today so will take those from this month's budget.

Had to call to ASDA on Saturday as we were off to a party to celebrate a friend's engagement and their little one's second birthday but I had neglected to pick up the presents. Didn't even get through the door before I remembered why we avoid supermarkets on weekends and during evenings! No food bought though despite the fact we could have done with a few bits so ... yay.

Have already made the lasagne for tonight's tea (we like to eat quickly on an evening so it's nice to be able to prep/cook the night before and just have to heat it through/cook or add accompanients).

This week we will be needing:
Milk
Block cheese
Wraps for lunches
Cereal
Bacon
Baked beans
Eggs
Dried fruit
Squash
Soft drinks
Mixed frozen veg
Snack a jacks

Most of which will last longer than a week so that's OK!

We are out tomorrow for most of the day (I've booked a days holiday so we are off to a shopping centre before I go to a training session with bf) then Wednesday we have a late night training session too (so I take tea with me - usually a pasta salad and a few snacks) have meal planned the nights we are home based on bits we already have in.

I baked a few treats over the weekend so they are in my lunches (bf has all his sport friendly snack a jacks etc baking is my guilty pleasure) as well as available for little treats now and then.

Think I'm going to take some tuna and sandwich thins to work for lunch today - not so good at planning interesting lunches yet! Wednesdays plan is a jacket potato with left over bolognese, Thursday I will take pasta salad and Friday...not sure yet possibly sausage roll and salad

pinkie_pie

Put me down for £500 please.

spendinglikemad

£300 again for me this month - as I have run down the freezer so need to do a proper plan as not got any freezer meat to use up.

My budget is for calendar months and for all food, cleaning, toiletries, cat treats for 4 and a cat

SLM

dylan2011

skintmum2012 wrote: »

rPlease can I join I followed last month and it helped so much we have managed to get out of £900 overdraft last month and pay my mum back £100 so we start a fresh this month I would like to be put down for £300 really sorry I cant see how to get it any bigger. I have already spent £98 at approved foods on a stock up and I plan to spend another £40 at Aldi to stock up on meat when the newspaper voucher comes in. And I have spent £106 just on Formula and nappies for 3 month old So that leaves £56 for the month meaning I am going to have £14 I think that's going to leave a lot of Aldi shopping.

Hi skintmum, don't mean to pry but the £106 on formula and nappies seems very high, is that for more than 1 month? I have a 9 month old and a 2 year old and get the formula for the little one and nappies for both and wipes for £75 a month maximum. Have you tried aldi nappies? They are great and only £4.50 for a massive pack, which usually last me 10 days. Little one is on follow on milk now so is only £8 a week, but before was on the comfort which was £10 a pot which lasted a week, even then was only spending £80-£85 for the lot including 2yr olds nappies as well. Like I said, dont mean to pry, just curious as it may be an area you could make cutbacks from. x

Coxy11

Morning all,

Budgets updated to here

Welcome to:
rokat, skintmum2012 and kunekune22

Good luck all
Coxy

mummytojack

Can I join in plz? Been reading since start of Feb and really could do with reigning in what I spend. It went a bit mad and I was buying lunch most days and going to supermarket every other day spending between £15 and £20 each time. My budget for March is £150 and is calendar month so starts on sat. Hopefully won't need owt til 8th/9th as just had a big shop from mr t delivered. Budget is just for groceries for me and 19 month lil boy. Want to get it down to £100 eventually.
Good luck to you all
Mummytojack xx