May 2014 Grocery Challenge

OurLass

Does anyone know what's happened to the cheapfamilyrecipes site?Can't find it!:(:(

Always_after_a_bargin

Hi, I think this thread is brilliant! I think it don't matter if your food budget is £ 1000 a month or a 100. To see your spends written down and working to a budget keeps you in control. We are a family of four. Also we have a cat ( my third child) ha ha. We have been putting a steady amount of savings away every month. It goes into a savings account every pay day. We have a entertainment fund and our grocery budget, I allow a max of 300 a month for food but am trying to get it to 250. I am finding when I used the bank card for food shopping I was doing close to 300. This month I have taken the money out of the account and out 200 in one purse for grocery and 50 quid in another for reduced items and bulk buys which are on offer.


My husband works away and sometimes not back for a 2 weeks as I shop mainly at Aldi with a few branded items at the big supermarket ( wherever is cheapest) I have to wait for the hubby to be home to take me shopping so I do it fortnightly. Once a month when the Aldi vouchers come out I stock up freezer and cupboard for the month so every fornight all I need is a restock of fridge. However this month taking the money out for the bank at payday and into a purse and treating the money as that is all we have it's really made a difference.

So far I spent 114 pound at payday for a big shop. I have also bought milk and bread ( reduced which I then freeze) and stocked up on pack lunch items a few days ago so spent a Furthur 30 pound approx of food budget. So I have left 56 pound of the grocery budget. I also have left in my bulk buy budget ( second purse) 38 pound. 2 weeks till payday. I am making meals from scratch and using cupboard stuff etc.

This week I plan to buy puff pastry from Aldi 99p to make Homemade sausage rolls and bacon & cheese pastries. I also have eggs to use up so plan to use my bistro golden breadcrumbs I have in the cupboard and sausages in the freezer to make homemade scotch eggs. We are off out for the day on Sunday so need picnic items says buying shop bought which are so expensive.

Anyway this month I am still trying to get myself in a routine with it. But if I can make our grocery budget to 250 a month we will be saving quite a bit in our savings account and gives us extra then for a nice holiday and the household purchases I would like to buy in next few months.

Will update daily on here as this will really help me seeing it all written down.

smokies

Good afternoon all, sorry I haven't been around for a few days, have been doing a little bit of overtime at work and getting home and straight to bed.....


On the plus side my budget is still on track for May -


hope you are enjoying the sun


Smokies

icontinuetodream

Not updated for a while as have had no home phone or internet due to a fault :mad:

Will do figures tomorrow when I find out what dh has spent but I know it won't be good....had a take-out this week as dil has landed a job and although she offered to pay, no way was I going to let her!! However, it did cover us for two days meals and as I have been working 12hr days - I have been grateful for it!!;)

lushlifesaver

£4.50 yesterday on some baking potatoes and some mullerlights at the little ASDA near the parents (didn't have the flavours I wanted in Morrison's the other day).

No other spends planned until next Thursday for mum's birthday and pay day is either Friday or Monday- depends when pay roll pick as the regular date falls during next weekend which will mark the start of the next month

I've had a lot of silly little personal spends this month which I can't afford next month as this next pay check is my first on just SMP (meaning I'll be getting just under half what I usually do). To focus myself I am going to set myself some kind of mini challenges to save extra money.

The surplus from this months GC will go on extra nappies for bubs (although bf is going to start sending me some money weekly [from our WTC/CB claim] for baby items/groups etc) rather than towards my holiday pot as bf is away a lot in June and it will save multiple trips/orders from ASDA :-)

Now to plan nice food for when bf is around and lovely but cheap food for when its just me. Hoping to come in nicely under budget next month seeing as I'm set to this month :-)

Make-it-3

Went to Sainsbury's today for snacks for the plane, pint of milk and some cereal for holiday breakfasts.

We're packed, fridge is empty and defrosted and I'm ready to hit the beach.

No doubt you will all be on the June thread by the time I return.
I have only £9.48 left to restock when we return - so will definitely be over for May - but hey ho holidays await ....

See you in June.

x_raphael_xx

£18.45 spent tonight on shopping, managed to persuade OH that she didn't need another pot of yogurts, she has 4 in the fridge at home.
Was trying to keep it to around £20 a week, to hit our target of £60 for the rest of the month, total is now £22.82, so slightly over what we wanted, but still a darn sight less than our usual £35-£40 spend!

meg72

[QUOTE now to plan nice food for when bf is around and lovely but cheap food for when its just me. Hoping to come in nicely under budget next month seeing as I'm set to this month :-)[/QUOTE]

This gave me a giggle, so BF gets nice food, but you get lovely and cheap, I`s rather have lovely than just nice.cant you do lovely and cheap for both of you?

lynnejk

Make-it-3 wrote: »

We're packed, fridge is empty and defrosted and I'm ready to hit the beach.
I have only £9.48 left to restock when we return - so will definitely be over for May - but hey ho holidays await ....
See you in June.

I hope you have a great holiday - and plenty of beach


Spent £3.86 in Li*l and 54p in Al*i (yogs) so £4.40 added yesterday. Managed another NSD today


We had venison sausages (Li*l) tonight and won't be having them again Never mind - they were only £1.49 on offer so worth a try eh.


Hope you all have a fantastic Friday
Lx

K9sandFelines

£1.29 spent in rhe Co-*p on reduced bread and brioche buns, and 29p on pasta in Asd*