May 2015 Grocery Challenge

lynnejk

Evening all


Seems like quite a few new peoples are a bit surprised at their spending. It is so easy to get pulled into the big sm tricks and all they want is your money. I think though, the first couple of months is a big learning curve and it takes a bit of getting used to a different mind-set.


Hope you don't mind if I suggest you do a month's meal plan, taking into account stocks you already have in the cupboards, fridge and freezers. I know it seems daunting but it gets easier after the first time - honest. Then make a list for each week as to what you need to buy and stick to it. Don't forget to check what fruit and veg are in season/on offer so you will save some more pennies


A couple of things to add
- a meal plan isn't set in cement so you can move meals about to suit during the month (I often put things like 'chicken and veggies' or 'chicken and rice' and decide nearer the time exactly what according to what I fancy/what's left over)


- always try to batch bake, at least double and preferably treble. It will save you loads of time and money in the long run :money:


:mad: Spend today of £1.99 on old potatoes that DH didn't think we needed when he shopped although I put them on the list :mad: Sorry - rant over


Hope you all have a terrific Tuesday
Lx

joedenise

Great post Lynnejk! Absolutely agree with the meal planning. I've been doing a monthly meal plan for several years now and I try not to repeat meals too frequently. I think we eat a more varied diet doing a monthly meal plan that we did when I did a weekly one as we'd often have the same things week in week out!

Had DD1; DGD & her boyfriend for dinner yesterday but as we'd been away for the long weekend I didn't have anything out of the freezer so had to go to Morries on the way home and buy some burgers and buns (DGD's boyfriend is a very fussy eater and doesn't seem to eat anything other than burgers & pizza - and absolutely no veggies:eek:) - definitely don't want to be feeding him too often! Burgers & buns plus salad stuff came to £9.36! Need to add to signature later but will leave until I get back from getting the rest of the shopping I need today.

Denise

wishus

mmharko - yes, that's a trick they use. I keep getting vouchers for £40 weekly spends and money off, but I'll only use those if I'm going to do a stock-build. Not every week!

I made a list on Saturday of all the vouchers I had and all the deals on Shopitize and Quidco, and I stood in the shop and still tried to work out the best value options for the same sort of goods. Yes, I might have a bonus 40 points on offer if I buy bread A, but that's only worth an eventual 20p, so not at all worth it if something else is already 20p cheaper!

Lynnejk - meal planning is awesome.

joedenise

Didn't have time to shop around as I usually do so ended up doing all the shopping in Mr Ts - ended up spending £32.65 although that did include a multipack of cider and a multipack of lager, neither of which I usually include in the GC but as there is money left in the budget decided it could come from that. Now standing at £151.36/£250. Have also had another couple of NSDs so also need to add those.

Will need a few things when I go into town on Thursday but still should have quite a bit to add to savings at the end of the month.

Denise

Frizzle_2

2. 67 spend in aldi on ham, coke and salad cream as we had ran out of all three!

mrs-moneypenny

Need to do a meal plan and add this weeks spends up - there have been quite a few that aren't on my total. Next weekend shop should be a light one as we've have overstocked cupboards and freezer.

scotmumof3

joedenise wrote: »

Great post Lynnejk! Absolutely agree with the meal planning. I've been doing a monthly meal plan for several years now and I try not to repeat meals too frequently. I think we eat a more varied diet doing a monthly meal plan that we did when I did a weekly one as we'd often have the same things week in week out!

That's a great idea doing it on a monthly basis. I have been doing a weekly planner and as you say I seem to be putting the same meals in week in and week out. As of June I am going to do it monthly and see how that goes.Thanks
£6.17 spend for me today

sheba

Ayup my chickadees,

So I can declare my full and final ahead of tomorrow's cut off point (for us anyway) as am out all day tomoz and meals pre-sorted with no need for further spending. So.... (drumroll please) Having spent a further 38.48 in the past couple of days across 4 shops and an eaterie I have come in at a total of 555.27 so 55.27 over my desired budget of 500 ( think disappointed bugle sound)

As previously stated I am actually pleased with this as my past CC statements reliably inform me that pre-GC I was spending an average of about 675 a month on groceries etc, so being mindful (and using shopping apps) has already reduced my spend by far. Am setting myself the same target for next month and the main thing I've learnt is to pace my shopping better and not glut buy the more treat based aspect of my grocery list. I still intend to glut buy things for my store when they're at my preferred price but perhaps in not such great quantities and also I want to not leave things in the freezer so long but have a more rolling stock thing going on there so gonna defrost some of the long term inhabitants before incarcerating some newbies in there.

So hopefully some lessons learnt, that may result in savings also, btw, have for first time ever planted crops!! Soft lettuce, chives, chillies, tomatoes, raspberries, rhubarb and strawberries, so maybe some saving there too??

I shall sign off now and bother you no more except to wish you all well and may your purses stay shut!
Ttfn

Sheba

lynnejk

sheba wrote: »

So hopefully some lessons learnt, that may result in savings also, btw, have for first time ever planted crops!! Soft lettuce, chives, chillies, tomatoes, raspberries, rhubarb and strawberries, so maybe some saving there too??

Sounds like you're getting sorted there sheba - and plenty of fresh produce will be adding to the savings later in the year :T


Managed another NSD today. We had French omelettes, salad and new jersey royals (thanks A*di) for dinner and was yummy.


Hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday
Lx

marmiterulesok

I've blown this week's budget,but don't feel too bad as I still have some money in my account and it was only a small overspend.
I'm going to change my budget amounts as I think I'm being too stingy towards myself.
I really need a separate budget for 'storecupboard' items that I buy when on SO or that last months.Using my ordinary grocery budget for those items doesn't make sense and throws everything out.