April 2014 Grocery Challenge

Sequeena

Put me down for £60 a week please

a_silver_lining

Hi all!

I've been using an ap on my phone to record my spending and feel that my spending is pretty high for buying food just for me, so this challenge is gratefully received!

I tried to budget a bit better and record everything on my phone for the new year and realised in January spent £164.94 on 'eating out' (as in takeaways, meals out, drinks out, cakes, sandwiches grabbed on the way to work last minute etc) and £60 on shopping (this does include toiletries and cleaning). That's £225 in a month, eep!

So far this month it has been £14.75 on 'eating out' and £170.76 on shopping. Whilst that is only a £40 saving this month due to my stomach being a bit sad I'm eating mostly organic, bought probiotic supplements and lots of raw food for my new diet... so based on just cutting out junk food I'm healthier and so is my bank balance!

The challenge for me is to reduce this further. Next month I will be moving in with my partner and away from central town expensive stores and next to an Aldi and Asda (yay!) I shouldn't need to buy the supplements I did this month which should further help the situation. I'm aiming for less of a spend so I'm thinking £300 for the month for two of us. Is that reasonable?

Crowdpleaser

Howdy! Im in! Can u pop down 250 for me! Thank you x

Ches

I am in again for £200 in April. I won't be starting until then but will keep popping in here to keep ahead of the game while still posting on the March thread. I think I will come in under budget again in March but I am not confident enough yet to reduce the target. Good luck to everyone.

smokies

Good morning, going to go with £250.00 again - I know I have gone over March, using it as a learning curve (first month) so will have a better look where I am spending and seeing where I can rein in the spends...


Also aiming for 15/18 days no spends days ( I just love them) lol

newthrift

Morning. I did post yesterday in March GC although it was for my April GC. Looking forward to doing this again, I am in for £200
Hoping that now I saw where my extra un-needed spends were I might be nearer, otherwise will be adjusting slightly next month.

lushlifesaver

Yay April - don't forget Easter falls in this month everyone; although I'm sure the eggs are already purchased!
Thank you for the new thread zippy

I'm trying to eek an extra week out of my March budget otherwise I'd be joining you all over here next Wednesday - as it stands if I can't it will be a 'ghost week' and stand on its own as its the week I'm due to give birth so that could throw everything up in the air! But there's room in other budgets to wiggle it in and not stress too much about it so as it stands I'll be joining you all on Sunday 30th (Mother's day )

Due to the imminent drop in my wages the GC budget for April will be £80 all in. Also going to aim for 20 NSDs, up from 15. Looking at my shopping habits over the past two/three months I think fortnightly 'stock' shops is the way forward for us coupled with picking up fresh fruit&veg weekly at the market

Should be a do-able drop as that's what I've used for just food the past month or so and I don't need to budget for pet supplies (bf was going to pay me his share of some joint costs back but I said for him to buy a bulk lot of pet food etc instead) or bulk buys (we are well stocked up on almost everything [over 6 months worth of toilet rolls and laundry supplies, plenty of meat etc] and I can easily budget meat in should we need to top up whilst I'm on leave). Cleaning and toiletries are also well stocked. Will need cream cleaner and toothpaste but both are small spends which last a while.

With me being at home on maternity leave it's easier to shop around and take advantage of offers etc (plan to shop a lot in Lidl, Iceland, Fultons and just a little in ASDA/Morrisons). I have a list of easy-to-cook meals for our first month with a little one and a well stocked freezer. Actually think I'm going to appreciate keeping to a budget more and use it as a good motivator for saving money in general I'll be straight back on a major healthy eating kick too so very handy to have time/means to get to the market etc for healthy nibbles and also getting out walking more!

trina2010

Hi everyone,
Ive been lurking over Marchs grocery challenge and trying to keep a bit of track to see how much we are spending before joining this month.
So if its ok im now ready to join, id like to set my budget at £350 to include everything, nappies, baby milk etc, eating out and any take aways and treats.
im going to also aim for 15 NSDs in the month as well and my month will run from 27th March to 25th April.

Thank you all for the great recipes and tips that ive been reading so far, hoping to pick up more and reduce my budget as much as possible, specially with maternity pay being so rubbish!

malamay

I think we'll stick at £180 again this month. Hubbs is enjoying more freedom at the grocery store. He won't come with me on coupon shops, as he doesn't like working off a list!

We could do it for less, but we're quite fortunate as the £180 is less than 5% of our monthly income.

kayester

Going to be over in March, so £400 again please, from April 1st - 30th
My birthday month too and I want to have more NSDs