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February 2018 Grocery Challenge

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  • 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.
    A bit of grin and bear it, a bit of come and share it
    You're welcome we can spare it, yellow socks
  • Oh, and I'm aiming for 14 no spend days... half of the days in Feb.
    A bit of grin and bear it, a bit of come and share it
    You're welcome we can spare it, yellow socks
  • elsiepac
    elsiepac Posts: 2,667 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited 28 January 2018 at 1:51PM
    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)



    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Old Style, Crafting and Techie Stuff boards.If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
    GC: May 22 £tbc/£250 Vegan 27-8-13
  • £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.
    GC Jan £101.91/£150 Feb £70.96/150 Mar £100.43/150 Apr £108.45 app/150 May £149.70/150 Jun £155.15/150 July £74.69/£150 (includes food, toiletries and cleaning from 13th to 12th of each month. One person vegan household with occasional visitors)
    Forever learning the art of frugality
  • Maisie_M
    Maisie_M Posts: 1,524 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    £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
    Glenda Posts: 150 Forumite
    Could you please put me down for £150 again. Hopefully I will do a bit better this month with my budget.
  • Tales17
    Tales17 Posts: 257 Forumite
    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! :)
    Grocery Challenge 2019 YTD-£820.46/£7200(11%)
    Grocery Challenge Feb - £93.10/£600(16%)
    £12k in 2019 #: Monthly Saving Accounts £500, Cashback & Competition Sites £2.59, Shopping Saving £152.09,Selling £121.26, Interest & Dividends £43.93, Surveys £0, 365 Day Penny Challenge # £103.44
    Total Saved - £923.31/£12000(8%)
  • 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
    £365 a year spend challenge - this has included food/clothes/beauty?? who knows where I am
    20,000 step a day challenge
  • 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!
    Jan 18 Joint debts 35,213

    Mortgage Jan 18- 77224 May 25- just under 65k

    June 25 Debts in my name only £5170. DH can't keep track...
  • Signing up for £200 for February, please! :)
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