May 2015 Grocery Challenge

PennyGrabber

I can empathise with those who worried about feeding their children. when I first became a single parent, I struggled with money and the thought that might not be able to feed us at the end of the month. I also lost a lot of weight, going from an 18 to a 12. I finally realised that I'm given more money every month, and that I could buy new food then. Of course, no one told my subconscious mind, so I still have a ridiculous amount of food in store. I've been making a conscious effort to use things up in the last couple of months, and that's making me feel better, as seeing the full cupboards makes me remember those times . I quite like opening the freezer, pulling out a couple of things, and seeing what I can make with it!

May's meals have been planned ready, using up more. Took my mum to aldililly on Sunday, as she was visiting, and she couldn't believe the prices! She shops in sainsbobs, and I've been telling her for years...

Still in April, although I've declared already, which would've made me worry, but I've had a shift in mindset recently, which is making me feel freer.

Love to all,

PG x

mrs-moneypenny

Declared £387.26 for April and moved into May now as planning an NSD today

My aim for May is going to be £400 again for the month

UMD

Can I join this month please! I'm a long-time lurker but haven't posted anything before, so hope I'm doing this right I'm a single student cooking for just myself, so I'm going to try a monthly budget of £60. My month starts on the 1st and finishes on the 28th so it's four weeks long - £15 per week!

I already try to implement a lot of the MS tactics I've read about on here - shopping at discounters instead of the main supermarkets, meal planning like a crazy lady and making my own packed lunches etc - but somehow my weekly shop is still always £20-£25, which seems ridiculously high for me given that most people can feed a family for that much!


I do eat a lot of fruit and veg and not very much pasta/rice/couscous even though they're cheaper and more filling, as I'm trying the low-carb diet at the minute ready for the summer. Also I buy almost all my food fresh and I try not to eat snacks like crisps, so there's not really much point me shopping online at sites like Approved Food. But I'm a vegetarian so I save money on buying meat, and I eat loads of beans and lentils which are pretty cheap. I also love cooking and make almost all my meals from scratch, and my cupboards are pretty well-stocked with things like chopped tomatoes and spices, so I'm quite well set up already (gulp!).


I'm planning to bring my spending down by trying our local market for fruit and veg instead of supermarkets/discounters, and by not picking up random things that I don't need next time I'm shopping! I always seem to come home with an extra jar of spices (or two) or something that was reduced that, in all honesty, I wouldn't have bought normally anyway. So I'm going to be stricter with myself and stick rigidly to my shopping list for May - and I'm taking out my £60 in cash tomorrow, so I can only spend that when I go shopping and not reach for my debit card.

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

Morning

I thought I had already posted but appears not. I've been sticking to my budget but last month I killed it. Back on track for may is the plan!

Can you put me down for £200 please - this is for me, 2 kiddiewinks, 2 bunnnies and the dog (and incs all household cleaning stuff etc, not just food)


Budget runs from 1st May - 31st (Although I am shopping today instead of tomorrow as we have a new Lidl opened up on the way home from work that I am going to try!)

miss_try_to_save

hi all first shop of may I decided to try lid* for a whole weeks shop came out £56 later needing a few items but however crisps are on offer on Saturday and im trying my cat on a few single pouches of there cat food before I get more as shes quite fussy in her old age lol and toilet rolls I completely forgot about even managed to get dd2 soya milk for about 60p if she likes it well that's another story lol all in al quite impressed with myself as by now I would of spent way more

wishus

April was a woeful overspend for me, so I need to get resourceful.

Sticking to that £150 for May, and will try to be less reliant on processed food while slimming.:A

Tea tonight will be some dabs from the sea, what OH caught all by himself yesterday! :T

Food for free! :money:

missymoo81

Hi,

I used to be good and try and post, but since, well far too long really, I've lost all my old style and money saving ways, but have seen the light and need to make a change!!

I haven't been able to do a cupboard/freezer inventory, but I know they're straining at the seams, and I've been redecorating and making nicer spaces indoors. Consequently, I have spent a fortune and really, really need to reign it in! So, that being said, this month, my aim is to spend £100, that's for me and two toddlers and maybe OH when he gets back at the end of the month.

Going to take a couple of things back, as I now feel I shouldn't have bought them and definitely don't need them.

I'm hoping the new budget will be good for my waistline too!!!

Love this thread thank you for running it.

Much love

Missy

Tidy_Up_Tash

Helloooo!

Sorry, I've been absent for a few months. Had surgery and had to put OH in charge of finances for a while. Now I'm back in control and have a whole lot of mess to sort out!!!

Drawing a veil over March and April. We blew it big time. This month I'll be aiming for £200 again.

It's good to be back

rdone

I'm sorry to hear such sad news, I hope you are doing okay though!

I'd like to join please. Our food shop is probably the only thing I have no idea about!

Could my month go from the 28th April - 28th May please (I know I'm a few days late but I have only bought one bag of crisps!) with a budget of £100.

missymoo81

Does anyone know if Aldi still do a £5 voucher in the mirror, and is it today?

Thanks lovelies