January 2023 Grocery Challenge

KajiKita

My target for the month was £500.

Currently at £459.58 and unlikely to need any more spend on food before Wednesday this week which is when I get paid and my 'month' resets.

Quite chuffed at this. It has been interesting how being on this challenge has guided what I am doing and the choices I am making. Mr KK laughed aloud when he opened the doors to the snacks cupboard on Friday and it was nearly empty - he hasn't seen that in the 19 years we have been together!    I can see where I am slipping a little - I bought two bags of snacks on the Mr T delivery which arrives late on Saturday afternoons (we can't get morning deliveries where we live) and then a further 2 when I went to Mr M to buy the subs that Mr T wanted to give us that wouldn't work for us - if I had been concentrating a bit more I would have ordered and bought one on each occasion.  Still, they won't go off and will carry over into my next grocery month.

The other good thing, is that even in this month, Mr KK made a batch for his freezer last night (chicken fricassee) and I have stocked up with vegan ready meals (I know, I know) that were on offer. Plus, the final total doesn't nibble into the 2 x £12 money off vouchers I somehow landed from Mr S which technically reduced my available spend from £500 to £476. Even at that level I had £16.42 of spend left. Not amazing but satisfactory. 

I'm not going to set a tougher target for next month - that would be unrealistic, but I shall repeat the detailed tracking and accountability here as I have found it really useful.  

Thank you for this board and thread  

KK

Thevalueofless

Week three spending £49.23,so £146.60/£300 for the month

Happy with how spending is going so far and pleased that we are using up stores and freezer items.  Have been making a weekly meal plan and again didn't quite keep to the plan but did use other things we had instead. Last week's spending ncluded £14 alone on one box of washing powder and a big tub of peanut butter. My failing is to pop in for one thing and then see items on offer so pick them up as well so will work harder on making a full list so only need to shop once a week. This challenge is making me think more about what I buy in all areas not just on groceries. Have a good week everyone. 

Crazycatlady2

I’m at 425. I should have 1 delivery left. This doesn’t include pet food or wash powder or toilet roll as did a separate shop at a place where hubby gets discount in bulk 

ps86edi

We shopped only for what was needed for the week. After a few trips to Waitrose, M&S, Aldi and Asda (somehow we were in the vicinity of the last two and we took advantage) we stand at £66.84/£120 in expenses for the month. I think we'll manage within our budget, but it isn't something I can be terribly sure of. I still need to buy my 10 kg bag of rice and we will probably try a local produce box, though I might push that to March if it looks like we have something else that will consume our budget.
We have been able to buy organic milk at a discount through cashback sites and picked up a few bottles when the nursery was giving them away. My OLIO pickup is providing us with bread and treats, even though I keep on hoping that we'll pick up some veggies, eventually.

Blackcats

We spent £31 at Tesco yesterday.  We don't usually shop there but we had a voucher so we stocked up on items we can't get in Lidl's.  I got my favourite teas - biscuit brew and toast and jam brew.  They are expensive but I only use 1 bag per day which makes me 2 cups so I've got enough to get me through til March.  Stocked up on washing soda, furniture polish, branded mouthwash and blue rib and biscuits for me dad. 

Freezer inventory completed today and we've got plenty of component parts of meals and we've been lucky with olio.

£135 remaining 

otb666

600/600 quite pleased with that Then another month begins of eating veg and beans My digestive system thanks me for this daily.

atrixa

£193.12/£205. 

Nearly at the end of this long month! I've got enough for what I need for the rest of the week, fajitas tomorrow

elsiepac

February GC Now Live!

Saver-upper

Went to Asda this afternoon to buy bits for the next few evening meals. Still shocked at how expensive stuff is getting :
1kg mince, 2 x6pint milk, tray of chicken(think about 7 fillets), 3 loaves bread (90p x2, and a £1.30 loaf),2 pkts bacon =£26.60 😱.

This brings my January spend to £296.70/£300.00 🙃.

EDIT 30th JAN: 
I am looking at my spending for this month, and just realised I have forgotten to post a few spends here:
17th: Morrisons £1.20
18th: milk £1.99
19th: milk and bread £5.49
21st Sainsbury £2.50

Jan spend to 24th Jan was actually £307.88

2Scratters

Well yesterday finally withdrew the 200 grocery money. We had just £1 left and that was from the early payment of wages in December (22nd actually). I am astounded by shopping from our home stores. I think the cold weather has helped keep me indoors and away from the shops. I get paid on the 27th (only early at xmas time) so will aim to push through as far as I can again. DH is definitely more on board with this now.
 
Also putting into practise of delaying taking money from my account till at least the end of the month to make it the norm. This, some months will be nearly a week delayed. There will be a lot of training going on this year and a lifetime of change. 


2 Scratters xx