February 2016 Grocery Challenge

lollyfin

Went shopping again on Friday but forgot to update.
Spent £66.51 so i have 76.69 left till the end of the month which I am really pleased about.

XSpender

DH was shattered after his fishing trip yesterday and was wanting a take away but I stuck to my guns and made chicken salsa casserole as planned. I don't why they call it casserole on the recipe it is more of an oven baked rice dish.

Bacon butties for breakfast and then out for Sunday lunch with the parents later. There is enough left over casserole rice to add to some sausages for tea or maybe just topped with some grated cheese for DH and I and I will do sandwiches or similar for DS.

I was planning to make DSD a ginger cake for his belated birthday present but had no syrup but found another box of GF flour mix at the back of the cupboard so made coffee and walnut instead I also made some GF bread for me and a GF cinnamon and sultana loaf to have toasted for quick breakfasts this week.

I have given up buying sweets/cakes etc. for lent so will need to make something for snacks this week. Cheese scones and peanut butter cookies maybe.

Yesterday was a NSD and today will be too as the meal out is from a different budget.

mothershipton

We seem to be doin well this month. 256 out of 400 and this is with me on a diet. Trying to stop OH buying treats but he still is. Will have another go at him later.

pajama

Morning
Yesterday called into Aldi and spent £19.07 then spent £6.96 in b&m on some fish skin dog chews and squash. Signature updated

craigywv

nsd today and also tomorrow as off work,shall plunder freezers for stuff to batch cook for coming week.got chicken breasts in sc to make a pie with also some soup. shall go to lidls on wed morning as running out of veg and frui small spend hopefully good luck all xxx

Pepperoni

Hmmm. We seem to do well until half way through the month then things go a bit pete tong, I'm not sure if it's because in my head I'm thinking £60 a month, so in the first x2 weeks if we are over it then reduces the remaining weeks, and that in turn makes me 'forget' about it as I know it's not achievable for us (yet).

Anyone else like this? Tips welcome. I could apply it to every budget, not just groceries!

Suffolk_lass

Pepperoni wrote: »

Hmmm. We seem to do well until half way through the month then things go a bit pete tong, I'm not sure if it's because in my head I'm thinking £60 a month, so in the first x2 weeks if we are over it then reduces the remaining weeks, and that in turn makes me 'forget' about it as I know it's not achievable for us (yet).

Anyone else like this? Tips welcome. I could apply it to every budget, not just groceries!

You might need to start by keeping a diary of what (and when) you spend. This will tell you what is going wrong. You could also look at splitting your monthly budget into weeks so that psychologically if you overspend one it is just that one.

I also have a separate pot for my cupboard stock items (flour, condiments, tins etc) that I pay from that rather than my weekly purchases (fruit, veg, dairy and some meat). All my grocery things like detergents are in the stock budget too. Otherwise your small budget will be distorted when a big thing needs replenishing.

The diary would tell you the split between fresh and store items and also tell you where you are spending more than you thought (mine was overstocking, and I know others could have insulated their lofts with toilet rolls that were on offer...)

HTH
SL

DanielleNic87

Haven't popped on for a little while, but I have kept my receipts. £75.46 added to my total. Shouldn't need much else until the end of the month x

monks

£23.90 left to last until end of month, getting tight now and need to watch every penny! Good luck everyone.

pollys

Spends updated, will need a few more bits before the month end though.

Polly