April 2022 Grocery Challenge

K9sandFelines

@goldfinches

On the contrary, they were kind words meant well. Thank you.
I don't post much anymore, and I'm not overly vocal about what's going on; so of course you wouldn't have known. Oddly, I used to post all the time when I wasn't in quite as tight a position.

My quotes messed up on my phone, so it was easier to do separate posts. 

K9sandFelines

@Greying_Pilgrim

Sorry struggling with long quotes on my phone. 

It does help to know its not just me. I just feel like a bit of a let down at the moment. I've always had more money in the past, when my DDs were younger and access to YS goods, reductions from work or food I was allowed to bring home. So it made things a lot easier.
Now, everything is cut to the bone, and none of those things are available, apart from I got fed previously at work; so kept some costs down. But sometimes you'd be forgotten about when you asked for your meal as they were busy or be at the point of passing out by the time your break came ( but that's a whole other story).
I always deem your posts to be so upbeat aswell and that you seemed to always think of brilliant meals. I also grew up with a working class family, where my mum would walk the opposite end of the High Street to save a penny. It would infuriate me as a teenager, but now I understand why. Although my DDs are grown up now I feel so bad whenever the youngest comes home from uni. She used to feel like she could eat what she liked here (to an extent), and now I've had to ask her to just cut back a bit which I feel awful about. So although they have left home (well one half has), the struggle is similar. I don't have a car so don't have that to worry about, and no other major expenses. Edited to add, I do have cats though. 
Hope you're okay after covid I've had it twice aswell. 
Thanks for sharing your experience, people never talk about the impact "food insecurity" (for want of a better term) has on your MH. 
Also, been on here and the previous forum about 15 years. Phew, that makes me feel old 🧓 😁

K9sandFelines

Me again 🙄. 

I went to Aldi and first mistake was that I forgot my purse; but luckily I had my phone. So whatever I have spent, I will have to throw in the pot towards next month, as I'm trying to pay in cash.

I tried to get the absolute minimum; but it's going to be swings and roundabouts, as I will still need the bits next week. I know I need potatoes but I'm going to get 3kg for a £1 from W'rose, and I have money off coupons for other things that are low. This will bring me over even more. I am currently at 80.13/80 with 12 days left 😩

I dodged getting oil as there was no cooking oil at all, but I do have about 200 ml or so left, and about 100ml of rice bran oil. All the oils are running out together; as I also need sesame oil (I make alot of Asian inspired dishes, but will buy this last), and olive oil (this lasts ages as its only for houmous and the odd dressing).

I bought yeast aswell, because I did try and make a slow cooker bread recipe in the instant pot;but either my yeast was too old, the dough wasn't kneaded enough (although it said it didn't need it)or it was too wet - but I did follow the recipe to the letter. I'm going to try the airfryer buns with the new yeast, whilst I still have bread flour left; and turn the bread disaster into breadcrumbs, and freeze if I can for a treacle tart at some point. I also bought Sr flour, as Ald1 is cheapest and I've been using plain with baking powder to do breakfast pancakes; and they haven't been working out quite the same, not as fluffy! 

That's all from me today. Feeling a tiny bit better 😊

ancientmum

Hello all Grocery Challengers, can I just add that the benefit of this thread is the support we can give each other in our separate ways.  We are here because we want or need to save money, and all have our different reasons for doing so.  But... I think acknowledging that it can sometimes be a struggle is not easy. I have found that monitoring my grocery spends was one way I could feel in control, but then something comes along to bite you on the bum and it feels like all your effort is wasted.
It can be boring,  time consuming and sheer slog like walking through treacle, but at least we can let off steam here with like-minded people. Thank you Martin. 

Enough philosophising! I'm declaring an April overspend of £10.89 and moving swiftly over to May.

Bluegreen143

Sending hugs to anyone who is struggling ❤️

I track my months as calendar months so declaring for April:

Food: £496.06
Treats: £47.38

I think I aimed to keep the two figures together at under £400 so clearly a huge epic fail there 🤦‍♀️ 

A new month and I think I’ll maybe set a more realistic target next time and try to work down a bit at a time.

Doom_and_Gloom

£26.27 is the last spend of the month. The OH is now back and items that were needed were bought. 

So budget totals look like the following 

£161.79/£165.
£3.21 left. 

I'm happy with that. Hoping that we will come in budget in May. Still plenty in the freezer and cupboard so fingers crossed. A few things we need to stock back up on but they shouldn't cost too much.

Greying_Pilgrim

Although my new Grocery Budget Month has started over on the May challenge, I shall still pop in here to read/cheer on any GC'rs still tracking their April budgets.  Keep on - keeping on!

Greying X

Crazycatlady2

Came in at 680 😱 that’s every thing including toiletries cleaning alcohol for 5 and dog and cats things and I think 2 takeaways…..must do better 

PipneyJane

Good morning All

Big hugs to @K9sandFelines, @Greying_Pilgrim and anyone else who is struggling.  I do try to remind myself that I am lucky:  I have a good job, so does DH: my contract has been extended to the end of September (I’m on an FTC); we have savings and we can live within our means.  Having said that, the people who bought the business for whom I work have a tendency to “eat their young” and if the stresses of the last month continue indefinitely, I will be job hunting by Christmas and our budget will be tightening up. (Ironically, my DH’s job is in a similarly stressful organisation.  He’s been there a year and may also end up job hunting.)

@K9sandFelines I feel for you re the mouldy bagels.  Our fridge-freezer has a tendency to draw the moisture out of everything, leaving either a lump of ice on one side or a film of moisture.  The only thing I can recommend is, if you a defrosting bread products, remove them from the bag, turn the bag inside out to air dry it, and then pur the defrosted bread/buns/bagels back in that.  Otherwise, it’s almost instant mould.    (Yes, one of this year’s expenditures will have to be a new fridge-freezer.  Can’t avoid it.)

We have one last spend to declare for April:  £1.05 for milk in MrT’s.

I’m declaring at £135.75/£142.10.

I’ll roll the remaining £6.35 into May’s budget.

- Pip

Naturelover22

Hi, we all made it to the end of the month! I feel for those who are struggling with this and all health issues, life stresses and any other dramas which have been thrown at you. Stay strong and we are all here to help to get by.
Well, this has been a very eye opening month for me. As someone who feels they don't personally spend a lot of money, it is certainly being spent somewhere!
I have kept every receipt and also wrote out little paper receipts for anything purchased online so I have everything together. I have categorised things to see what is being spent where and I feel this has been a typical month. My husband was working away for 2 weeks, however he still spent plenty on snack food and drink to eat for his lunches (dinner and breakfast were paid for)

So the takeaway is ridiculous, this is almost some people's monthly amount. Combination of busy days at work, feeling we needed a treat and my ME/CFS flaring up and not being prepared! That is also 3 takeaways which is very poor value for money.
Pet, more than I though, that did include £30 on guinea pig litter which will last for 2 or 3 months. Keeping my receipts means I noticed that the cat food went up by 10p for a pack of 6 tins from the start to the end of the month.
Household, general bits and bobs.
Food, worked out about right for the 2 people I guess lol.

Starting post at the beginning of month.

Hello, Please can I join as a newbie. 1st April to 30th April. £250 for 2 adults, 2 cats and 3 guinea pigs. Food, household and bedding/litter for animals. I am not sure how accurate it will be but have to start somewhere.  Actual total Food £252.30 Household £48.24 Pets £103.27 Takeaway £69.01 Total: 472.82 ouch Off to the May board to see what changes I can make!