May 2014 Grocery Challenge

SarahB1989_2

Budget jumped around a lot this month due to being away a lot, but should come in at under £50 - on about £46 at the moment, mostly still under budget only because of today's shop! Used a £10 gift card, £2 clubcard vouchers, and nearly £2 of coupons, so only had to pay about £4. Fridge and freezer well stocked now to get me into June.

physicsgirl

Spent £3.10 in T3sco today on sandwich fillers and strawberries (YS to 60p). Spent £1.72 on a half price frappuccino yesterday, along with £4 on a pizza from M&S that was meant to be a nice treat but wasn't actually that great :S I'll stick to Ald!'s 90p pizzas in future. Spent a lot on snacks and treats for my OH on Friday but can't find the receipt just now so will report back later.

Jellybaby

Shuffles in, hanging head in shame...failed this month's challenge epically:eek::eek: Not even going to reveal the final figure. It's done, my new month starts on pay day tomorrow so off to inventory the cupboards, fridge and freezer.

physicsgirl

Found receipts from other stuff this month:

The Ald! snack shop for my OH came to £23.13 (:eek: although he has finals atm so I guess any amount of money is worth it if it helps him out).

Spent £1.50 at the beginning of the month on YS-ed courgettes and stir fry mix in Sainsbobs.

Spent 60p on basics ketchup (a great Heinz substitute) and YS carrots.

Went to FarmF00ds for the first time, spent £5.70 on bake-at-home baguettes (cheapest I've found at 6 for £1), Nicky toilet tissue (didn't realise it was the scented stuff when I bought it though...) and 1kg of bananas for 75p.

Also had three meals out this month, one I've already included, another trip to the same noodle bar cost us £13, and a meal out with my mum cost £31.50 (although it was pretty rubbish but I'll save it for the TripAdvisor review!!).

That takes me to £135 exactly (always weird when that happens) with 5 days to go, but even if I do go over I won't be too upset as it's been a pretty manic month, I can't wait till the 13th June when OH's exams will be done, and my blood pressure can return to normal.

Ladyluck1

Updated signature....

PennyGrabber

Did the shopping today with bf's help as my back is still bad . Spent £19.19 in ald!, about £13 in asd@, then a few quid in ffoods. Gone over budge by a few pounds, but so much less than in previous months. Went to ffoods by myself, to mooch and see what I fancied for dinner, as a way of not doing my work really!! Anyway, couldn't find anything I fancied, and as I have loads at home I thought I'd find something to have from home. Ended up having a pork loin steak, waffles, roasted onion and mixed veg, with apple sauce and gravy. Delicious!! Would've done real spuds, but couldn't be bothered, and wanted to make space in the freezer!

Might have the same tomorrow, to finish up the waffles. Have done a use-up weekly meal plan for this week, as it's half term so I'm home to cook more/for longer.

Bf fed me yest, which he plans on doing more now he lives nearby, so it'll be interesting so see how that impacts the grocery bill.

Friend is visiting tomorrow, so need to pop off and do some cleaning! We're having a work from home day, so I'll be feeding her lunch. We're having par baked baguette, with a choice of fillings - I'll choose whatever she chooses to save opening two things!! Fruit and natural yoghurt for pudding if we want it.

Catch up later,

PG x

Frizzle_2

Another unexpected NSD today. Chilled out day at home and then a bike ride this afternoon! Which was not as relaxing as it sounds! My five year old learnt to ride his bike last summer without stabilisers! We bought him a new, bigger bike for Christmas. He hasn't really taken to it at all. We have taken him around a country park (us walking while he bikes) and he was ok so today we all went out on our bikes! Within 5 mins he had nearly collided into cars, kerbs, the road and me! To finish off he then rode straight into a lamppost breaking his pedal! :eek: Could you not see the lamppost in front of you? To which he replied "I've forgotten how to ride my bike!" Bless him! Anyway after another few minutes he remembered again and we had a much calmer time after that. We have decided he needs to go out more often so he doesn't forget!
Anyway, I have just baked a banana loaf to use up the last few bananas in the fruit bowl so I will be having that shortly with a cuppa and oh can have some for his packed lunches this week!

mrsdwhite

My last shop of the month was delivered today. So I can add my final total for May.
I did go to the market in town on sat, treated dd to some cherries which she loves and bought some bananas which turned out to be massively overpriced :mad:
Went to lidl and bought some bits which I know are cheaper than asda where I usually shop.
So, with that added to my delivery this weeks total is £54.63 £2.63 over the weekly budget, which without buying the bananas from the market and paying twice as much I reckon I'd have been on target :mad:

That aside though, I am so pleased to have stuck to my budget. I always say my budget is £55 a week. It's what I work to on all of my budgets and have for years. But even though my deliveries are usually around that I tend to buy other bits that are never accounted for. Not only have I stuck to £52 a week, we've got loads of food and I've meal planned (not religiously) using what I have at home before buying any extras.
Off to the June GC challenge now, see if I can keep it going :T

Solstice_3

Morning all, was almost a NSD yesterday but DH went to corner shop and I stupidly decided to get some bread from there (asked DH to pick it up) £1.49 for a loaf!!! Should have made do and bought some today. We live and learn

Today £5.05 spend at Asda, squash, basics fizzy water and potatoes. I don't buy squash often as it lasts a while though with the warmer weather approaching I might be drinking more. I make my squash up with fizzy water to curb my soda cravings (Cola), it's cheaper too.

Tomorrow my Dad is visiting so hopefully a NSD as don't want to be dragging him round the shops when he is only down for a day. Plus I should be all good for food at the moment.

Happygreen

NSD today and I'm glad as just about under budget for May. Splashed out yesterday on a bottle of Lidl's Jeeves on offer for the hot days in the garden to come