March 2021 Grocery Challenge

t14cy_t

not more spend for me until 1st april. xx

Suffolk_lass

@D123456789 maybe if you move to an annual budget you can take off a stores estimate for the year to cover your bulk buys and bargains - I do this as though it is a 13th month (with double my normal monthly average) and add any leftovers to that or my December, so we can have a bit of a blow-out at Christmas (or not!)

pamsdish

Suffolk_lass said:

@D123456789 maybe if you move to an annual budget you can take off a stores estimate for the year to cover your bulk buys and bargains - I do this as though it is a 13th month (with double my normal monthly average) and add any leftovers to that or my December, so we can have a bit of a blow-out at Christmas (or not!)

That`s why I  changed to an annual budget, I take advantage of offers, often buying something I use in bulk, enough to last months, i.e washing up liquid, the huge "baby" bottle had 25% extra when I spotted it, 3 bottles will take me nearly if not past the end of the year.
Tallying my spends up, have to add in sub&save from the jungle, but think this month was expensive, got seduced by an unused "ninja" on marketplace £150, not sure where to put that expense. Will try and total up today.

joedenise

Do you have a "Household" budget for things like white goods?  If so I'd put it there (that's what I'd do anyway!

PipneyJane

D123456789 said:

My budget has gone so over this month that I can’t even own up to it. DH has done top up shops most weeks and we did a big bulk buy as well. Will need to have a real think about next months budget. Or perhaps an annual one so it all balances out. Well done to everyone who kept on track you’re doing better than I am!

You may find things easier if you quarantine a little bit of your budget into a Bulk Fund.  That’s what we do.  Each month we set aside some cash and leave it to accumulate until we stock upon rice / flour / pulses / spices / tinned tomatoes.  It doesn’t have to be a huge amount of money each month, but it does add up and is there when you need it.

- Pip

D123456789

Thankyou for all the helpful comments. I think I will add up what was spent in total in 2020 then make an annual budget for 2021 trying to reduce it a bit. Might take a bit of time .....

joedenise

Another one that sets a monthly bulk buy fund.  Use it mainly for stocking up meat from butchers; tinned tomatoes, baked beans, plus etc.

[Deleted User]

D123456789 said:

My budget has gone so over this month that I can’t even own up to it. DH has done top up shops most weeks and we did a big bulk buy as well. Will need to have a real think about next months budget. Or perhaps an annual one so it all balances out. Well done to everyone who kept on track you’re doing better than I am!

Oh bless.  It doesn't matter about the outcome, it's about the intention.  Your already a winner, you got on board.  I'm sure I used to spend about £100 a week and never had any meals to show for it.  Now, It's not that a month.   Ok, my kids have flown the nest, but still...  Your best friend is to stocktake.  See what meals you can make with what's in.  If you have some chops (vegan burgers 4 me lol), wot u got to go with it - huh, rice/noodles/cous cous/potatoes etc., you just need to flavour it different, stir fry, stew, buy wraps, etc, n you got a ton of meals.  That's just with one ingredient, if you count the rice, cous cous, etc as store cupboard items, that you keep in stock.  Bulk buy offers you normally get.  Yellow sticker.  When my kids were young, the local petrol station/sainsburys used to reduce the cakes to 10p at 8pm.  I would go in at 5pm, fill a deluxe bag of cakes, and put them behind the washing powder (wot).  The cakes would sell out 8.02pm ......  ahemmmm, not my deluxe bag. I would go down at 9pm, when it was quite and retrieve said items from behind the washing powder.    I did get a knowing  'oh yeah, where did you get them', look at the counter, buy hey, they didn't give a toot, n I'm a big girl, I could handle it.  My kids were none the wiser.  They felt spoilt.  To be honest, I don't like people that behave like that.  I'm not suggesting you behave 'ghetto' like me, at the time I was pretty broke, so needs be 'hey ho'(!!!).  Where there's a will there is a way !!!   Best of luck.

Ok, so declaring early at £61,98.  I've lived pretty much out of stores, making loads of bean dip, using dried soya, etc.  I'm going shopping with my boy tomorrow, so it will probably come more near budget, but need to jump ship.

My very dear friend of 30 years, lost his fight with cancer and died 7 weeks ago.  He was given a few months, but hung on in there for 2 years (way to go Paul, #LoveYou).  We buried him today.  I'm really sad, but relieved.  He was in a lot of pain at the end and it was painful to watch.  I've mostly grieved him, but funerals have a way of throwing you back down the rabbit hole.  Long story short, I need time out, I have another friend not doing well, so need to be there.  It's been lovely joining back here, I joined in 2008, it has been so lovely for me, see you further down the line.  Que Sera.  Good luck with April, lol, happy shopping everyone xxx

goldfinches

@Save_Dosh so sorry to hear of your friend's death and funeral and sending you a big (((hug))). Go easy on yourself and when you feel up to it we'll be very glad to welcome you back, goldfinches.

flossyblog

good morning everyone, I have 3 lots of shopping to declare €16.49   €21.59  and €20.35. This takes my total to  €302.99 thats an overspend of €52.99 for this month.