March 2022 Grocery Challenge

Greying_Pilgrim

I just wanted to pop down a couple of thoughts of what taking part in the March 2022 challenge has meant to me.

Firstly, I think that the Act of participating has yielded the biggest win.  I felt accountable, I was in the company of like-minded folk (irrespective of our differing budget sizes, household size/composition and what types of foodstuffs our pennies have to purchase), and I felt that I had to at least try my best, coz I'd have to come on here to fess up anyways..........

Secondly, because I'd 'written it down' (on here) it was more likely to happen, or I was more likely to make an alternative plan if something 'cropped up'.  

Thirdly, I have revisited 'old' recipes, foodstuffs and techniques.  After a few false starts, I finally think that my cooking mojo is beginning to return and I really want to explore dishes (the more economical/frugal the better), cook them efficiently and yes, I want my family to eat them - or if they don't, then at least I want the dish to look pretty  like wot it does in the recipe book...... 😂  I've never relied soley on pre-prepared products, but I notice that I have been buying 'more' in recent years (that has to be seen in the context of rarely buying any pre-LG's appearance on the scene).  I refuse to dispense with veggie burgers/sausages or fishfingers totally, but neither do I need to factor them in to the meal plan, unless I've purchased something at a good price, or really need convenience because of 'life' (and we all need a helping hand from time to time).

Finally, I've baked more cake in March than I have for a long time!  OK, so we don't 'need' cake, but as we don't really do takeaways or meals out, then it's nice to have a modest piece of cake now and again.  And LG has been exposed to quite a few new tastes and flavours this way ie spices or vegetables in cake.

Greying X

Prudent

Greying pilgrim the curries sound amazing. I am thinking of a curry tomorrow evening.

I have spent a total of £147.20 in March which was less than expected so I am happy with that. This leaves me with a margin of just over £50. I didn't buy any cleaning or laundry products though as when I was ill with covid I just asked OH to pick up the immediate essentials. 

mumtoomany

Hi all, just realised I've not posted for a few days on meal plans, well retrospective plans! So....
20th. Roast turkey,YS, roast potatoes, carrots, broccoli,HG stuffing.
21st. Fish in sauce, gifted from DD3, mash, peas, cauliYS.
22nd, Bacon,YS eggsHG, beans, tomatoes, chips HM, 
23rd, Chilli,from bolognese left from earlier in month, rice
24th, burgersYS, boiled potatoes, asparagus HG, hollandaise sauceHM, carrots.
25th, fish fingers, potatoes, cauliflower and broccoli cheese, peas
26th, pasta, meatballs YS, tomatoes sauce HM.
27th, no idea, can't remember!
28th, pizza, HM with YS pizza bases, salad, some HG coleslawHM, jacket potatoes
29th, cowboy crumble, (baked beans; diced carrots,onions,mushrooms; sliced cooked sausage, chopped bacon; all topped with savoury crumble) served with dauphinour potatoesHM. 
30th, enchiladas HM.
31st, leftover bits from fridge, Bacon egg friedbread, etc.

Looking back at the meals we've had this month. Almost every day features, yellow sticker, home grown and/or home made. 

 On pressure cookers. Have had one most of my married life, (a long time!) Good for potatoes, especially the varieties that tend to go mushy when boiled. The see are the ones our veg shop sells for three x 25kg sacks for £10. 

Hugs to all, mumtoomany.xxx

MissRikkiC

Do you have outside space to store the spuds @mumtoomany?

I have a number growing and really need to ensure they don’t sprout but we have resident mice in the shed and the kitchen is too warm even in the back of the cupboards! 

Hummingbird0_12

I've come in at £151.66/ £150 but it's not as good as it sounds as I didn't start to track properly until the 7th so I obviously spent more 😊 This is a steep learning  curve for me but I'm happy as I now have a system starting to blossom. Well done all x

mumtoomany

Hi, @MissRikkiC. yes we have several barns, fortunately. We do, however, also have mice and often rats! Metal dustbins and/or old fridges or freezers, (not working) keep them out. HTH, Mumtoomany.xxx 

Doom_and_Gloom

Doom_and_Gloom said:

£175.53/£170.50.
£5.03 over.

Not going to declare yet as I am sure OH will need to go shopping before the end of the month.

£4.25 was spent at Mr S since that post.

£179.78/£170.50.
£9.28 over.

Considering the low budget and the increases in prices I'm still calling this a win. As soon as I knew we would go over I put £10 in as extra in the container we put coupons and Catalina in. I then stated to the OH that that was all I was allowing as extra. Kept us both very aware of what we really did need and what we didn't!

nannygladys

Carrying forward my signature amount as although I planned going to the community shop today, my car broke down so had to organise that instead.

ancientmum

Just popping to declare March done at £210.19/£210 so far this year.  I got some apples as they were in the offers at Aldi, so went over by 19p. I'll catch up on the posts later.  Happy April Fools' Day everyone.

Dianez3

Hi everyone I’m new to this forum and would appreciate it if you could let me know how it works. I am early retired a few days before the pandemic hit, oh how our plans for retirement were changed! We are currently living in my husbands works pension until he recents state pension later this year but find we are regularly having to ‘dip’ into our hard earned savings.  I have realised that I really need to knuckle down and pay more attention to my weekly grocery spending. I cook from scratch every day for all 3 meals and enjoy doing this. 

Do I set myself a monthly/weekly target on my post at the beginning of the month? Is there an area where recipes are shared? Also I am struggling with some of the abbreviations/acronyms used, is there somewhere that lists most commonly used please?

Any help is greatly received. Thank you!