March 2022 Grocery Challenge

MissRikkiC

Thank you @elsiepac ❤️ Your efforts are so so appreciated here

To every single one of us on this thread, the simple fact we’re here speaks volumes in itself. For some it’s to help with their finances; whereas for others it’s likely an absolute necessity. Thank you to all that post and keep everyone else going 

Ginmonster

Had a shopping delivery today and due to not paying attention I've gone sightly over budget but I won't need anything else now before the end of the week so I'm going to declare at £201.91/£200.

I've got a day at home tomorrow so I'll do some meal planning and batch cooking then but tonight will be a stir fry with any veg that need using up, tofu and noodles. 

Well done to everyone managing to stick to their budgets - you're inspiring the rest of us to keep trying!

DawnW

I am currently defrosting my big upright freezer, so an ideal opportunity to do an inventory and meal planning. It is by no means empty, and the contents are currently in the coldest part of the fridge, the small freezer and baskets on the floor swaddled in blankets to keep them cold.

boxofpaws

Echo @MissRikkiC - thank you Elsiepac for this thread and everyone who contributes 
@Greying_Pilgrim - your meals just look delicious, thank you for the inspiration (even if you do put me to shame)

Declaring for the month because we have plenty of food apart from perhaps a bit of milk needed

2nd March - Sainsbo
£69.34 groceries 
£1 toiletries.

8th - Discount shop
£10.80 coffee 
£35.95 cat food
£2 h/hold

11th March - cat food £29.99  (forgot to include this last time)

12th March Sainsbo
Toiletries £1
Hhold - £4.50
Alcohol £37 (beer stock up for the husband)
Groceries £90.97

23rd March Sainsbo
Toiletries £2.50
Hhold - £1.50
Alcohol £37 (another beer stock up for the husband and for another family gathering coming up)
Groceries £39.89

6 bottles of wine x £8 = £48

£401.39 of £400 

I also bought some food for a family gathering on 23rd. I am not sure whether or not to include this- i think it should be the entertainment budget but we did eat the leftovers for a few days. This was £60.25

Food Grocery spend was £211 - only makes up half of our grocery spend - astonishing!

Loving this thread for all the insight I am getting into our spending.

Sorry for the long post

Paws

Prudent

I am really happy to have stayed within budget this month. I have had covid and seem to be taking weeks to recover. So I had to send OH for groceries some days (he never shops usually as he hates it) and I haven't been able to cook from scratch as much. I don't have the final total yet but think I will be around £160 out of a £200 challenge. This doesn't include the wine and beer that seemed to pounce into the trolley when OH shopped as I don't budget that within groceries. He buys any alcohol when he is out shopping and I have no idea how much it costs as it comes from his personal spending. I only have a very occasional drink and we agreed it was not fair to split the cost as we do with the groceries.

I did a 'restock' shop today as I didn't ask OH to pick up any store cupboard ingredients. 

Greying_Pilgrim

Good evening,

A NSD for me (yay!).  

Tea was soup and crumpets decluttered from the freezer, and there were 2 portions of jelly made up (decluttered the last half jelly block), with yoghurt to accompany - so the jelly munchers got those 😊 I also had 3 glace cherries left in the pot, so dessert was literally 'with a cherry on top' ..... 🤣 ooooohh, fancy 😊

I have just set the mung beans on to soak for tomorrow's curry - this challenge really does help me to focus and think about meals.  I'm so determined to try to keep to budget that I'm remembering to do what needs to be done 😊

I've set my April target - for an 'emergency' £100 again.  I'm well aware that this is tight, and totally unsustainable.  Honestly, I think I'll be lucky if I achieve it for another month, but this is the worse month coming up, reduced pay packet meets rising household costs, perfect storm....... So i've got to at least try, and see where it gets us.  I will be relying heavily on storecupboard items, and freezer dives.  YS'd stuff/offers and bargains will be utilised, but I can't rely on getting hold of them regularly enough to keep costs down. The £100 is for food only, no household stuff and (never say never) we're unlikely to get takeout in April.

Greying X

Blackcats

I agree that this is an inspiring and non judgemental place and that's an unusual combination.
meal planning has helped me save money and eat better I think.  It is also quite calming to have a noticeboard with a weekly meal plan on it - no need to keep thinking "what's for dinner?" and definitely avoids the "there's nothing for dinner we need to eat out or get a takeaway". 

I enjoy reading everyone's updates too - so honest and open.

thank you all and thank you Elsiepac for rallying us to do our best every month. 

GreenCat80

I’ve completely messed this month up, I have no idea how much I’ve spent, but I have turned to food for comfort and stress relief (a lot) and I’ve definitely gone way over budget 😣
I put all my expected income and expenditure for April on a spreadsheet earlier and it’s going to be tight so I absolutely HAVE to do better and stick to the plan next month. 

Well done everyone who’s still on track or at least trying 🙈

mumtoomany

Back to add in a few spends, not been on much as planting seeds and tending to a sick sheep.
Since I was here last: Aldi £11.76. Vegetable shop £8. Farmfoods £2.63 Aldi £37.83. Farmfoods £35.02. Total from these, £95.24.
Total for the year to date now, £599.34/£2640. Less than £200 per month, (just!) well within what it needs to be to stay on target.
Hugs to all, mumtoomany.xx

Greying_Pilgrim

Good budgetting mumtoomany!

I've just made black-eye bean and mung bean curry for tea.  I made it in the pressure cooker, so it was quick, easy and (hopefully) fuel-efficient too.

Because I have been interested in home cooking (predominantly vegetarian) for so long, i have built up quite a store of whole spices, and greatly enjoy making my own spice mixes.  To that end, I have also made the Kashmiri Garam Masala that can (optional - garam masala works just as well), be used in this curry.  I didn't grate a whole nutmeg in though - I do like nutmeg, but I find it a bit like cloves, very easy to overdo.....   I'm always minded of Weezl 74 when I talk about Garam Masala, as it was Weezl's posts that led me to MSE in 2008 (I didn't join/post until 2010, I think), and it was the inventiveness of her budget cooking/meal plans for families that used garam masala as the 'go to' spice - rather than needing to buy a million little spice bottles.  Gosh, seems so long ago, so much has changed, and yet.........

Today is planned to be another NSD.  

Greying X