April 2023 Grocery Challenge

[Deleted User]

number_23 said:

So, to confirm, I’m completely failing at my very first grocery challenge as we’ve spent quite a bit this month already and it’s only the 7th 😖. I’m going to do a running total later after I’ve taken DS to an Easter party (at a pub but I’m not drinking). We’ve got lots in though so I’m hoping through the support of others on this forum and by looking at other threads (I’ve found one with lots of meal ideas which is amazing!!), I’ll be able to pull it back quite a bit. 

I’m proud that this is being addressed, and a lot of my decision is because of this challenge - it’s opened my eyes reading a lot of the posts on this thread as others really are doing so well, and I’m learning lots, so thank you. 

Hi @number_23, what you are describing does not sound to me like failing.  It sounds like the grocery challenge is working for you as you're starting to become more aware of where money is going and make decisions accordingly.  Do check out the recipes listed at the start of this thread, thay are all tried and tested and I find it really helpful when I just cannot think of ideas for my food plan for the coming week.  The 'What are you making for dinner' thread is another one I find really helpful for ideas.  Well done for being honest with yourself and making plans to address things.  

Soontobeoap

@elsiepac thank you for taking on all the extra work to keep this challenge going and congratulations on being accepted as a forum ambassador. 

Saver-upper

Did a big-ish shop today. Got a few YS items. 

Main shop was at ASDA , =£57.50. This included a whole chicken, and leg of pork for Sunday.

A bit of a top- up shop at Sainsbury, £10.49 ,for a few bits I couldnt get at Asda. I also bought easter eggs, though won't take that from grocery budget.

Total spend £67.99

April spend: £162.16/£300.

I have so much food in the house now, I really shouldnt need to go shopping for at least a week!

Saver-upper

number_23 said:

I’ve made a decision this morning to stop drinking alcohol. 

Hi @number23.

Well done on the decision to stop drinking. Even cutting down is an achievement. 

I was just thinking, if you are interested, there is a "cutting down alcohol" thread on here, and it is very good. I have always been teetotal, but I stumbled across the thread, and now follow it. It is inspiring to see people support each other in their quest to decrease/stop alcohol. And everyone is very motivated by the emojis that are handed out as they reach milestones, hehe.

I havent worked out how to link to it. Just a sec.....

Edit: sorry,  i have had a couple of goes, and can't work out how to link to a thread. Maybe someone cleverer than me 😂😂 will come along and help , but it is called "Giving Up/Cutting Down Alcohol Thread part 18" .
Good luck!

Nelliegrace

£150 budget, £60.31 spent, £89.69 left

We went to Tesco where the half leg of lamb was on offer, but they had sold out, so I bought the smallest leg of lamb at £6.50 a kilo, for £11.50. It is too much for us, so I shall remove half from the bone, tie, and freeze it.
I bought milk, 19p bags of potatoes, parsnips and carrots, and 2 x 4 hot cross buns for £1.
£17.17 spent.

We stopped at Aldi for mushrooms, bananas, grapes and oranges, and pumpkin seeds.
£5.65 spent.
total £22.82 

DH forgot to mention he was going out early for a bowls match this evening. I can see some point to ready prepared vegetables, the TGTG pack from M&S, meant I got his tea done in time. 

number_23

Thank you to those who have commented and offered advice and support, it is appreciated. 

I’ve checked and so far, in just 6 days… we spent the following;

groceries £257.85 (this includes takeaways)
pub £221.41 (this includes meals too)

I’m horrified as we can’t afford this to continue.  

This month is going to be tough to bring in under budget but I’m going to do my best. I’m also going to look at the other forum that’s been suggested re alcohol (I’ve already checked out the list of recipes and will be pulling together a meal plan using as much of the food I’ve already got in. I’ve also checked out a group who are discussing what they are having for meals 😀). 

On a positive note, I’ve removed TikTok from my phone, continued with my declutter of the house and made a note of some other goals I want to achieve. 

Thanks again, means a lot 🥹 

CA23 

number_23

Saver-upper said:

number_23 said:

I’ve made a decision this morning to stop drinking alcohol. 

Hi @number23.

Well done on the decision to stop drinking. Even cutting down is an achievement. 

I was just thinking, if you are interested, there is a "cutting down alcohol" thread on here, and it is very good. I have always been teetotal, but I stumbled across the thread, and now follow it. It is inspiring to see people support each other in their quest to decrease/stop alcohol. And everyone is very motivated by the emojis that are handed out as they reach milestones, hehe.

I havent worked out how to link to it. Just a sec.....

Edit: sorry,  i have had a couple of goes, and can't work out how to link to a thread. Maybe someone cleverer than me 😂😂 will come along and help , but it is called "Giving Up/Cutting Down Alcohol Thread part 18" .
Good luck!

Thank you so much for your kind comments and suggestions 😀

number_23

[Deleted User] said:

number_23 said:

So, to confirm, I’m completely failing at my very first grocery challenge as we’ve spent quite a bit this month already and it’s only the 7th 😖. I’m going to do a running total later after I’ve taken DS to an Easter party (at a pub but I’m not drinking). We’ve got lots in though so I’m hoping through the support of others on this forum and by looking at other threads (I’ve found one with lots of meal ideas which is amazing!!), I’ll be able to pull it back quite a bit. 

I’m proud that this is being addressed, and a lot of my decision is because of this challenge - it’s opened my eyes reading a lot of the posts on this thread as others really are doing so well, and I’m learning lots, so thank you. 

Hi @number_23, what you are describing does not sound to me like failing.  It sounds like the grocery challenge is working for you as you're starting to become more aware of where money is going and make decisions accordingly.  Do check out the recipes listed at the start of this thread, thay are all tried and tested and I find it really helpful when I just cannot think of ideas for my food plan for the coming week.  The 'What are you making for dinner' thread is another one I find really helpful for ideas.  Well done for being honest with yourself and making plans to address things.  

Thank you so much, I really appreciate your support 😀

thriftwizard

@number_23, it sounds like you're taking big steps to get on top of things - more power to your elbow, as they say!

Bit of a failure here today; I've lost yesterday's supermarket receipt. I can see how much money went out of the account, but it wasn't all from the grocery budget! So I've added in a best-guess figure, which is probably an over- rather than under-estimate, bringing the weekend's spend to £99.71, after adding what I spent at the market and the butchers. We shouldn't need much more to get through the week; sliced bread is the only "weak link" that I'm aware of. I'll correct my total when - & if - the receipt turns up.

PipneyJane

@elsiepac congratulations on becoming a Forum Ambassador.  

@number_23, welcome to the Forum.  It sounds like you are experiencing some light-bulb moments.  Don’t be disheartened.  You are smart, you are determined and you will conquer your budget.

Don’t compare yourself to others.  (Some of us have been doing this a long time.). Being organised is the key.  Know what you have in stock, what you need to buy and think ahead to what you want to cook/eat, so that you can prepare in advance (e.g. defrost the meat).

I have a small spend to declare.  As planned, I walked to our local C00p in search of bargains. There wasn’t a lot available, but I picked up 2 YS packets of 12% minced beef (£2.18/450g each) and a YS soughdough pizza (£2.65). £8.71 spent in total.

The mince is now in the freezer, divided into 225g bags, and I’ll have the pizza for lunch tomorrow.

The above brings our total spend to £38.08/£152.70 leaving £114.62 for the rest of the month.

The goose is now defrosting in the fridge, to be roasted on Sunday.  I will need to buy onions, some oranges (to go in the stuffing and to make orange sauce), and perhaps some fresh broccoli, but that should be it for the next week.

- Pip