February 2018 Grocery Challenge

tighteningthebelt

Hi.
I'll start on the first of Feb with a budget of £80 There's only me for most of the month, and I need to work through the freezer. That is for all shopping including toiletries and cleaning items, and any drinks I buy while I'm out. Should be ok, as far as I can plan and see.

tighteningthebelt

Oh, and I'm aiming for 14 no spend days... half of the days in Feb.

elsiepac

PipneyJane wrote: »

Still posting in January, but count me in please with a budget of £50 for the month (starting 1st Feb).

I’m going to be doing my £50 February challenge again - do you think I should do a separate thread for that??

- Pip

Go for it! also post here though lol - we want to see how you're doing too! But a separate thread would be good for people to see how to cut costs

I've done a massive first shop in Feburary - I had really run my cupboards down and used loads of meals from my freezer over December and January, so it's a lot more manageable now!
I've filled my cupboards back up and my new aim is to write something down when I use it so that I buy another following week. This way should eliminate buying loads at once (for the most part) and also ensure I have a good "float" of long lasting cupboard stock.

I've also popped to H&B for a couple of pots of nutritional yeast as they *actually* had some in stock for once! This is something else I'm going to try and buy as I run out - I do not want to be left without it again! I eat it virtually every day! I currently have one pot on the go nearly empty and 3 in the cupboard. I want to keep a "float" of two in future. I get through 1-1.5 a month a think!!

Currently scoffing a portion of a lovely chickpea noodle soup I made for tea last night - improvised after reading a few recipes online.. it's cheap and delicious and nutritious, if anyone wants the recipe just shout.

I am now aiming to stay out of the shops until Thursday which is my shopping day. Although I seem to be eating a fair bit of fruit, so that's the only execption I'll allow myself until then, *if* I run out of clementines and kiwis (totally addicted at the moment - the Tesco 90p cheapo ones are really tasty at the moment!)!

I have just under £30 a week for the rest of my month, which is fine with me, should be plenty.


...............................£200 Budget
Date.......Shop......Amount....Remaining
26 Jan.....Tesc0.....£76.25....£124.78(WEEK 1)
27 Jan.....H&B.......£06.58....£118.20(WEEK 1)

K9sandFelines

£270 again please. This is an approximate amount as my budget is yearly.
Would like to aim for this, or slightly lower if achievable. Fingers crossed it will be, given the shorter month.

Maisie_M

£68.12 spent this weekend in Sainsbugs, home bargins and Lidl.

I am aiming for 24 NSD this month - one more than last month which should really help with my wee adhoc shopping trips.

Glenda

Could you please put me down for £150 again. Hopefully I will do a bit better this month with my budget.

Tales17

elsiepac wrote: »

I've done a massive first shop in Feburary - I had really run my cupboards down and used loads of meals from my freezer over December and January, so it's a lot more manageable now!
I've filled my cupboards back up and my new aim is to write something down when I use it so that I buy another following week. This way should eliminate buying loads at once (for the most part) and also ensure I have a good "float" of long lasting cupboard stock.

I've also popped to H&B for a couple of pots of nutritional yeast as they *actually* had some in stock for once! This is something else I'm going to try and buy as I run out - I do not want to be left without it again! I eat it virtually every day! I currently have one pot on the go nearly empty and 3 in the cupboard. I want to keep a "float" of two in future. I get through 1-1.5 a month a think!!

I use an app on my phone called Out of Milk. It is pretty cool and probably has features that I don't use on it but I have set up various "pantry lists" on it to keep track of what I have and I try to update it at the end of every day on what has been used.

I have then written a sentence in the notes of each item that I want to keep a stock of "Minimum of ..., Currently have...". The minimum number is the minimum number I want in my stock cupboard before I look for offers on it - this is usually 1 or 2 months supply. I update the "Currently have" section and when these numbers match I then add it to my shopping list as "look for offers".

Most of these items will be on offer during the period between then and me actually running out and I will then stock up 3 or 4 months worth when it is on offer!! Means I very rarely buy household cleaning items, toiletries and tin food etc. at full price!

It was a pain to set up originally and time consuming but makes it so much easier now, I just check the boxes I want and they are added to the shopping list. I also have a "checking list" for all other items that I don't stock pile such as fridge items, fruit and veg etc. Just means I can create my shopping list on my phone very quickly and easily by nipping round the kitchen and ticking the boxes I need!

Hope the info helps!

ma-ri-ella

elsiepac wrote: »

Go for it! also post here though lol - we want to see how you're doing too! But a separate thread would be good for people to see how to cut costs

I've done a massive first shop in Feburary - I had really run my cupboards down and used loads of meals from my freezer over December and January, so it's a lot more manageable now!
I've filled my cupboards back up and my new aim is to write something down when I use it so that I buy another following week. This way should eliminate buying loads at once (for the most part) and also ensure I have a good "float" of long lasting cupboard stock.

I've also popped to H&B for a couple of pots of nutritional yeast as they *actually* had some in stock for once! This is something else I'm going to try and buy as I run out - I do not want to be left without it again! I eat it virtually every day! I currently have one pot on the go nearly empty and 3 in the cupboard. I want to keep a "float" of two in future. I get through 1-1.5 a month a think!!

Currently scoffing a portion of a lovely chickpea noodle soup I made for tea last night - improvised after reading a few recipes online.. it's cheap and delicious and nutritious, if anyone wants the recipe just shout.

I am now aiming to stay out of the shops until Thursday which is my shopping day. Although I seem to be eating a fair bit of fruit, so that's the only execption I'll allow myself until then, *if* I run out of clementines and kiwis (totally addicted at the moment - the Tesco 90p cheapo ones are really tasty at the moment!)!

I have just under £30 a week for the rest of my month, which is fine with me, should be plenty.


...............................£200 Budget
Date.......Shop......Amount....Remaining
26 Jan.....Tesc0.....£76.25....£124.78(WEEK 1)
27 Jan.....H&B.......£06.58....£118.20(WEEK 1)

can i have a recipe please

NeverendingDMP

Can I join with a budget of 390. My month is 26th to 26th. Have already spent 95.67 across three shops but aside from bread and milk during the week I'm sorted. Aimed for 90 in the last week or my wage in the January grocery page but was about 115 -ooops. It was my first attempt though and the cupboards were bare. Hopefully will be more successful over the Feb month challenge!

debtfreeforlife

Signing up for £200 for February, please!