May 2017 Grocery Challenge

2childmum

A shop of £14.38 today, mainly to top up the fridge and some fresh veg, but also 5 carton of fruit juice which will last the 3 of us a while (different story when DS is home!). So that's a total of £71.47 for my first week, £8,53 below budget! And I have food in the freezer and cupboards for at least some of next week so I am optimistic about next week too.
I need to find another source of fruit juice though. We have been buying the Morrisons 3 for 2 offer for quite a while, and it includes some more unusual varieties, but they have stopped it now and £1 carton is a bit steep.

YorksLass

Week 2 is now over and spends this week came to £48.13, with 5 NSDs. Week 3 began today, a market shop totalling £22.83 (no sm shopping).

£40.77 left in monthly budget of £160 with 13 days to go before end of this month's challenge. Doesn't sound good on paper but we shouldn't need anything else for at least a week, other than perhaps milk. I've done a meal plan for the week ahead to use mainly what we have in the fridge plus a couple of things from the freezer. The last week of the challenge will probably see us living out of the freezer but that's no bad thing as there's lots in there and I want to start seeing some space!

Signature updated.

amandaatnumber7

armchairexpert wrote: »

I am unreasonably excited to meet someone else who understands my figures and won't blanch at my prices, hello!

Hello Armchairexpert Its nice to 'meet' a fellow aussie, I know what you mean I look at my budget compared to others and think 'crikey!!'
There's nothing as good as MSE on any Australian site that I've found...

I've had nsd's since doing my shop on Tuesday but I may have to get a few bits for school, but then again I may just make do
Mother's Day here tomorrow so I'm looking forward to a lie in and breakfast in bed with my babies - except the teenager as I'm sure he wont rise till lunch time :rotfl:

mhagster

Trying to get my head round accounting for what I spemd! Still within my budget for this month's so far ($600AUD)

Took cash out at start of week $60 then ended up getting a cash refund for a physio appointment ( had paid on card last month) so had $128 in total. Used $50 of that to pay towards grocery shop yesterday with rest on card had $10 off shop yesterday with rewards points. Thank you very much.
Have $13 of that cash left. Can account for most of it but must do better!

Shall just take $50 out this coming week.

The ever hungry Labrador is well stocked up for food, it was on offer last week so bought 2 x 7.5 kg bags .

Onwards...

Have a lovely weekend from very autumnal Melbourne (brrrr)

amandaatnumber7

mhagster wrote: »

Have a lovely weekend from very autumnal Melbourne (brrrr)

Another Aussie hello!! :hello:

Wysiwyg49

Hello to all the Aussies :wave: Your prices do sound high compared to the UK. Ours are definitely on the way up though...we have had unnaturally cheap food for quite a while.

Now on £191.77 after a couple of top-ups. Making leek and potato soup and Jack Monroe's chickpea and tomato brunch loaf for lunch. Haven't tried that recipe before and usually my bread turns out terrible so it will be interesting! I kneaded it for a good 10 mins so hope it will be better than usual.

Skintmama

£3.58 spent at Tesco by DH on his favourite teabags - although there are still plenty left in the tea caddy It is interesting that he worries about running out of his favourite things (and has to get stocks in)because he will basically eat anything that is served up to him. If we run out of something that I like, I just eat/drink something else instead until the next shopping day.
My next shop will be on Wednesday because I have meals planned until then. The fruit bowl will just about stretch; there is fruit in the freezer and dried fruit in the cupboard if needed.

I do think that many vegetables are good value. Cashiers sometimes comment on how low my bill is considering I have bought so many vegetables and fruits. Salads can be made from all kinds of cheap roots, pulses and greens, raw or cooked. I do grow my own herbs though as they are pricey in the shops. I also have sown a tray of baby leaf salad which are now providing nice pickings to go with standard lettuce.

I will update my signature after posting this.

Good luck to everyone in keeping to your respective budgets

elsiepac

Basil and sponges bought in A1di last night. Sponges were needed, basil wasn't, but I enjoyed it in my roast veggies last night!
I ran out of shower gel 2 days ago - I usually have a spare of everything, but I'd bought a load on offer so was out of the habit of buying it! So I'll need that later as well - I've been using soap in the interim by the way, not just smelling !! :rotfl: That'll be another £1 later.



................................£150 Budget
Date.......Shop......Amount.....Remaining
27 Apr.....Wa1tr0se..£80.19.....£69.81
28 Apr.....H&B.......£00.08.....£69.73
28 Apr.....Tesc0.....£29.45.....£40.28
3 May......Co-0p.....£01.29.....£38.99
3 May......Tesc0.....£00.80.....£38.19
4 May......A1d1......£16.45.....£21.74
4 May......Tesc0.....£05.00.....£16.74
11 May.....A1di......£07.05.....£09.69
11 May.....Tesc0.....£04.00.....£05.69
13 May.....A1di......£01.28.....£04.41
13 May.....Tesc0.....£01.00.....£03.41



Date....Fresh/Frozen..Cupboard/Dry Goods..Cleaning/Toiletries..Treats..Bags
27 Apr..£24.14........£11.24..............£28.01...............£16.80..-
28 Apr..-.............£00.08..............-....................-.......-
28 Apr..£20.36........£09.04..............-....................-.......£00.05
3 May...£01.29........-...................-....................-.......-
3 May...£00.75........-...................-....................-.......£00.05
4 May...£16.45........-...................-....................-.......-
4 May...£01.66........£03.34..............-....................-.......-
11 May..£07.05........-...................-....................-.......-
11 May..£03.00........£01.00..............-....................-.......-
12 May..£00.69........-...................£00.59...............-.......-
13 May..-.............-...................£01.00...............-.......-

Doom_and_Gloom

Since last post we've spent £46.66 over a few shops.

No spend day today. Shouldn't need anything till Monday but we shall see.

£98.79/£155
£56.21 left.

XSpender

I managed to run out of soap powder today when I could swear blind I looked at it earlier in the week and thought I wouldn't need any on this week's Mr T delivery. Mr T delivery and soap powder, bread and cereal and a couple of treats in Mr S put me on....

£347.48/£500

I have increased my target from £400 to£500 as my goal is to spend no more than £100 on everything per week and this is a 5 week month. My average spend Feb- Apr was £142/week and to drop to £80/week this month is too much to manage.