March 2016 Grocery Challenge

NewShadow

mummyroysof3 wrote: »

Just can't seem to cut down my spending...we eat loads and are all fussy so I've no idea how I can

By taking baby steps. Little changes first.

Look at what you throw away or buy expensive small top-ups of.

Can you buy more or less of that this month?

I used to buy expensive little blocks of cheese - now I buy cheaper by kilo big blocks and grate it - keep it in the freezer and grab a handful as and when.

Not a big saving, but a start. (Plus I now use less as I used to cut thick slices, now grab much less grated)

Billie-jo

Spent £42.22 this week, this included Mothers day card and present for tomorrow. Happy Mother's day to all mums out there.
We are having a Chinese take away tonight with DD, Son in law and grand children.
Have got some pork left over so think I will cut it into small pieces mix it with some leeks and maybe grated apple, add some sort of sauce to it (perhaps cheese or just a white sauce) then freeze it ready to be used in a pie with either pastry or mashed potato at a later date. Don't want to just slice it and keep it in gravy because I think it may go dry when its reheated. Should be enough to feed us 3 at least twice.
Wont be shopping again until at least Wednesday unless daughter see's some offers on Activia yogurt when she goes on Monday then she can pick me up a couple of packs.
Roast chicken, pigs in blankets, roast potato, mash, cauli, carrots and either sweet corn or cabbage for tomorrow. As usual will do extra meal for mum on Monday and there will be some left over chicken for us on Tuesday and perhaps enough for soup. 10 meals out of a £2.50 chicken is great - daughter 2's partner now works at chicken place and we get 2 for £5 which is great and they are a good weight as well (at least 2kg)

mrsgee_2

is it ok to join in please? i know its the fith but my month starts today.I am hoping to spend £300 for march. thats £50 less than feb was. i have spent £1 today on bread.

there are 4 kids 2 adults and the dog.

lynnejk

Afternoon everyone


Now on 5th NSD :j but definitely need to shop the morrow for weeklies to last up to Thursday night.

mrsgee wrote: »

is it ok to join in please? i know its the fith but my month starts today.I am hoping to spend £300 for march. thats £50 less than feb was. i have spent £1 today on bread.

there are 4 kids 2 adults and the dog.

Welcome to the challenge and good luck with your efforts. If you want to know anything just ask, as we're a friendly sort on here and definitely don't bite :rotfl:

mummyroysof3 wrote: »

Just can't seem to cut down my spending...we eat loads and are all fussy so I've no idea how I can

Difficult to advise from a distance, but if you're used to spending a large budget it will take some time to readjust. So don't get disheartened as we all had to start somewhere.


I think maybe you could -


keep all your receipts for a month and see what and where you are spending


have a look in the cupboards and freezer and see what you can use up


make a menu plan for the rest of the month - taking into account stock-in-hand


make a shopping list from the above


Then, at the end of the month, see where you are. Come back then with some break-down and maybe we can offer some more ideas.


Really HTH
Lx

mrsgee_2

lynnejk wrote: »

Afternoon everyone


Now on 5th NSD :j but definitely need to shop the morrow for weeklies to last up to Thursday night.



Welcome to the challenge and good luck with your efforts. If you want to know anything just ask, as we're a friendly sort on here and definitely don't bite :rotfl:


Difficult to advise from a distance, but if you're used to spending a large budget it will take some time to readjust. So don't get disheartened as we all had to start somewhere.


I think maybe you could -


keep all your receipts for a month and see what and where you are spending


have a look in the cupboards and freezer and see what you can use up


make a menu plan for the rest of the month - taking into account stock-in-hand


make a shopping list from the above


Then, at the end of the month, see where you are. Come back then with some break-down and maybe we can offer some more ideas.


Really HTH
Lx

thank you.x I am sure il be asking a bazillion questions.like if i stop going in the supermarket in the first place will ithelp (it wont)

Suffolk_lass

mummyroysof3 wrote: »

Really struggling to stay under £500 for 5 of us try again for March I guess

mummyroysof3 wrote: »

Just can't seem to cut down my spending...we eat loads and are all fussy so I've no idea how I can

It is really hard when you start looking at this. I used to spend about £700 a month but have gradually changed the way I shop and decided which things I can (and which I can't) compromise on.

This morning in the sm with DH and DS (who lives away now but is not working currently) we decided we could cope with carrots, broccoli and maris piper potatoes - because they were 32p each (1.5k potatoes) - even though I prefer King Edwards for roast. We only have roast once so it is a small compromise and saved £1.45 over the ones I really wanted.

I have a stock fund that I use to buy my brands when they are on offer - so I buy them 4-6 at a time at less than half price. It is sometimes a bit close but I have not run out yet (3 years in from starting this). There are loads of ways of doing this, I just "buy" from that pot which means I can go a little over when there is an offer on.

I am guessing you have already started doing a list and only buying what you need for your meal plans. They make the biggest difference. Then doing a freezer week is good for the squeaky week before pay-day. I also make biscuits and bread as they are much cheaper and better (twinks' hob-nobs are brilliant! only half a quantity at a time for us) - I relax while doing this so it is not a "job"

Do keep trying, it really is worth it

HTH
SL

mildredalien

So far so good this month, just one Tesco shop for £51.44. I did send DH out for a couple of bits yesterday for a curry so I will add that in, and we'll need a full grocery shop in a couple of days.

I have 'informed' DH that any random snacks and drinks he wants to buy outside of our planned grocery shops should come out of his personal budget so we'll see how that goes Last month he managed to spend £180 on random crap :eek: so fingers crossed he'll keep a better eye on it!!

lynnejk

mildredalien wrote: »

......
I have 'informed' DH that any random snacks and drinks he wants to buy outside of our planned grocery shops should come out of his personal budget so we'll see how that goes Last month he managed to spend £180 on random crap :eek: so fingers crossed he'll keep a better eye on it!!

That's brilliant :T


I started doing that with my DH when we were on a really strict budget a few years ago and he would buy 'random' stuff just whenever.


He has his own budget now and it works really well - noticed he's even done the brand thing and tends to buy his snacks/sweets/etc at the discounters and £shops :rotfl:


Let us know how he gets on
Lx

t14cy_t

nsd yesterday. yipee.x

ancientmum

Hi,
Please put me down for £160 again please. I am hoping that my overspend in February is compensated for in being extra careful this month.