March 2019 Grocery Challenge

JingsMyBucket

Another NSD! :j I’m so glad to have the bit of break from food shopping. As I said previously, I’ll get some more bits tomorrow (Friday) and that should last until Monday or so.

TOTALS SO FAR:
$80.50 / $300.00
3 / 12 NSD

becky170

I had a MrT delivery last night to make use of my £9 off £60 shop voucher. Spent £74.02 so hopefully we'll only need to do top up shops for bread this week (and possibly nappies as for some reason I forgot to add these to the shop...doh!). MrS have now sent me through a bunch of £9 off £60 shop vouchers so may switch to a MrS delivery later in the month to use these. The only issue is that I don't like the MrS nappies but I can always pop to another shop for these. Anyway so far we've spent £188.15 out of our £450 budget so think things are going ok. I've got to stock up on multi vitamins and hayfever tablets from B00ts so may try and use the grocery budget to pay for these.

becky170

euronorris wrote: »

Have you considered a cloth swim nappy? More expensive up front, but saves loads in long run. I made the switch after a few months of swimming when I realised that DD never pooped whilst swimming (might just be lucky?), and I just pop it in the washing machine when we get home. It goes under the neoprene swim nappy as usual

Thanks for the tip. I didn't even realise you could get cloth swim nappies. Will take a look!

tighteningthebelt

becky170 wrote: »

I've got to stock up on multi vitamins and hayfever tablets from B00ts so may try and use the grocery budget to pay for these.

Hay fever tablets are very cheap online. I always buy the years worth about now. They're about £4-5 for 6 months worth on amazon, free delivery from proper registered UK chemists, cetirizine or loratidine. I forgot them when I went on holiday and ended up buying a box from a local chemist... £3.30 for 1 box/30 tablets... exactly the same brand and packaging, aaargh.

euronorris

£2.30 spent in Sainsburys on sugar, ibuprofen & paracetemol (stocking back up as DH has had a cold and depleted out stores) and a kitkat (because I have no willpower).


£203.86/£300


ETA: where abouts in the supermarket do I find powdered milk? I had a hunt round Sainsburys this morning and couldn't find any. Also, is it the kind of thing that Lidl would sell? I know they have UHT milk, but not sure about powdered milk.

Suffolk_lass

euronorris wrote: »

ETA: where abouts in the supermarket do I find powdered milk? I had a hunt round Sainsburys this morning and couldn't find any. Also, is it the kind of thing that Lidl would sell? I know they have UHT milk, but not sure about powdered milk.

Normally in Morries it is near baking goods, and used to be by UHT milk - or tea and coffee (a second stash by coffee whitener products) - Sainsbugs do a 300g pack that is red.

You could check who does what on mysupermarket.com. From memory not Lidl or Aldi

[Deleted User]

Just added up all the receipts since the beginning of March - £44.18!! :eek: much more than I would have expected but it does include some stuff which will be used over a few months so kind of an investment Think I need to keep a closer eye on what dh is spending as there are a few things on the receipts that we didn't actually need

Airthrey

I've been saving all my receipts and was so appalled to find I've already spent £55.28 after just over a week, that I analysed it in more detail than normal. It does include £9.07 on beer and a cheap bottle of wine, but that will mostly be drunk by visitors (honest). There's also £6.37 on treats- biscuits, chocolate, crisps and cough sweets. I think the main factor is over £20 on various sources of protein - meat, fish, nuts, seeds, lentils. I've also been buying more cheese than previous months. There are no ready meals apart from a couple of W*itrose YS chicken kievs.

I think I need to give up chocolate and crisps and find other ways to treat myself. Perhaps I also need to be realistic about the cost of quality protein. The pack of no nitrite bacon from M*S was £3.

ditty1234

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/75561222#Comment_75561222
I have now listed my full SOA and further action plan - basically the big picture, there is a link above in this post. It will be at least a 5 year plan and I will keep doing challenges along the way.
I have done most of the big things, so I will keep going with all of the smaller every day challenges to keep the fridge full and boy(s) fed. xx

PipneyJane

ditty1234 wrote: »

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/75561222#Comment_75561222
I have now listed my full SOA and further action plan - basically the big picture, there is a link above in this post. It will be at least a 5 year plan and I will keep doing challenges along the way.
I have done most of the big things, so I will keep going with all of the smaller every day challenges to keep the fridge full and boy(s) fed. xx

Big hugs to you, Ditty1234. You have been brave and done the hardest part, facing up to your financial situation.

Do you want to tell us your regular shopping list (i.e. what you usually buy with your grocery challenge money)? We may be able to help you with suggestions/alternatives, etc. Also, what are your local supermarkets and do you have a freezer?

- Pip