March 2017 Grocery Challenge

armchairexpert

Franalamadingdong wrote: »

Hi armchair, i have shopped at the end of one month, for the next, and billed myself for the stuff used for the items used in either month, i see no problem in it so long as it is billed somewhere!

Thank you, this answers not only the original question, but my new dilemma about how to count my huge Costco run into the monthly challenge! I bought heaps of things, most of which will get used next month, so if I count it all into this month's budget I'll feel like I'm cheating next month (and I'll fail this one!) I think I've gone a bit mad, honestly.

PennyGrabber wrote: »

Hi armchair,

I meal plan a month at a time...

I start by writing down the dates and days (helps to know which are weekends!). Then I cross off days that my ch are with their dad - I just eat leftovers or freezer surprise those days. Then I put easy meals on the days I know we're busy - weds is a difficult day for us, so pizza or stuff on toast, or soup. Then I get my children to choose a couple of meals each which I spread out. Lastly, I fill the rest of the days with things I know we have in the freezer etc.

Every week, all I then have to do is look at the plan and write down what I need to buy for it. Usually not a great deal, as I've got the hang of planning from what's in!!
The trick is to remember that it's just a plan, and you can deviate from it without punishing yourself - in fact, I quite like having to carry meals over to the next month, even less to buy!!

Hth

PGx

That does help, and I thank you. I'm hoping it means I can work smarter: like, poaching an entire chicken on Sunday for one meal, using the meat for sandwiches for another and then freezing the chicken stock for a future week.

pamsdish

£14-45 top up yesterday as needed a £10 sack of dog food included in my totals

t14cy_t

spends of £7 on ys bits in morrisons yesterday, so £34 left out of budget for the month. loads in so will be ok. chooks are laying like mad so im giving eggs away to everyone!!!! xx

poohbear59

I needed some fresh items so nipped into the 5par and came out £25.65 lighter :eek:

zafiro1984

Just updated signature and realise that I've only 31.83 left to last until the end of the month. I'll have to be careful but I expect I can do it with what is in the fridge and freezer. I don't know how my parents managed without a freezer and mum worked full time which was a rarity in the 50's I'll never know.

Suffolk_lass

I do so hate it when the supermarket overcharges me. I have just checked out my receipt from Morries and they charged me 77p instead of 50p for grapefruit. I checked with the Marketplace staff who assured me they were 50p so I bought 4. So that is £1.08 I will queue up to get refunded when I next shop there.

I have the overwhelming feeling that I have bought enough to last the month out now. I do hope so. A five week month is such a struggle!

purpleybat

have done 2 shops in the last few days £.4.91 and £33.90 both in lidles.
I needed to get vegetarian sausages for my sister and husband and was a little distraught to find they no longer stock linda mc ones that she really likes so she got lidles own brand Lincolnshire ones. I think I over baked them (the oven was on with other bits of dinner and I like to fully utilise it) cos she said they were a little dry but apparently they were tasty. I think dousing dinner in veggie gravy helped


totting up so far I nearly had a heart attack when I saw I had £3.12 to last the next week and then remembered that i'd upped this month by £10. £13 for next week should be okay, will only need some veg I think, I will have to be strict with myself.

Ginmonster

In typical small child fashion my son whinged this morning that we don't have any cornflakes in the house, despite the fact that I had to use the last lot up in cakes because he never wanted them, so I promised I'd get some for his breakfast tomorrow. What's the betting he won't want any by tomorrow morning?


Anyhow, I picked up a few other essentials like butter and bananas and a couple of non-essentials like some veggie sausages and nuggets for easy meals when my hubby gets back (he doesn't like cooking and I find having things like that in means I can head off the call for a takeaway). £9.75 spent so still under budget for the month. I think I should be able to make with just over a week to go.


£84.85/£100

pamsdish

£10 today lidl and poundstretcher, not much more needed this month.

armchairexpert

Fantastic rant upthread, Ginmonster. Saving money on groceries with small children around is the WORST. My kids aren't so much fussy as they are changeable, so if I find a bargain on wraps they'll go off wraps, and if I bulk buy cornflakes they'll be sick of them by Wednesday. So frustrating. I'm going to feed them spaghetti bolognaise for every meal ever at this rate.