April 2023 Grocery Challenge

Auti

Really enjoy reading how you all organise things and wish I could work it out. For various reasons struggling as food issues for both of us and coping with cooking - use gas cooker only. Every time we go shopping things are 5 -40p more than the previous week but same for everyone. Thank you to everyone for posting here.

number_23

NSD again today, that’s two in a row. Using up what we have in, though fruit and veg is low so will need to do a top up at the weekend. 

Decided to review spending from the start of the year and do an annual budget so I can see what we were spending vs what we spend going forward. It will be an eye opener for sure, but lots of admin to start with. Going to work out a routine so that it doesn’t become a big task 😀

CA23

mumtoomany

Milk! £1.70 from local shop, saved going into town and spending on things we don't really need. Total spend to date, £653.27/£2640. Hugs to all, mumtoomany.xxx

KajiKita

AnnabelSaves said:

Morning savers!

Reviewed the joint budget yesterday and the grocery spend. Planning on eating out of the freezers this week, although have my parents visiting at the weekend so I'll have to get some stuff in for that. 

Currently eating some oats I had in the office, with stewed rhubarb from my allotment and peanut butter. Brought leftover curry in for lunch, and will be making a tuna and rice dish for dinner with frozen tuna steaks. Other than my commute costs, which I put through my company, planning a no-spend day. 

Hope everyone is enjoying the sun!

Rhubarb and peanut butter ….? 🤔 Is that nice? 

(It’s just something I would have not considered putting together.) 

KK 

Soontobeoap

Meal plan has gone to pot completely. Its been 2 weeks since I did the big shop and having been ill I cant even remember what I bought. We have had no apetite until today and so I have been making myself small jacket potatoes and sausage wraps whilst DH has been having sandwiches and things on toast to keep us going. Today I decided that I should start making proper meals again so took a chicken breast out of the freezer and made chow mein with some dried noodles, carrots, spring onions, garlic and ginger from freezer. We thoroughly enjoyed it and it was worth the effort. Have taken another chicken breast out for tommorrow and if we dont fancy it will cook for sandwiches  on Friday. It is hard getting back to normal as we are both fancying different flavours. I think I will do a freezer stocktake tommorrow if I have enough energy. I will also check through the fridge to make sure that I use everything up. 

ancientmum

I've just caught up with this month's thread, so belated congratulations to elsiepac, and welcome all newcomers. As others have said, it is not a competitive challenge, but a way of helping ourselves and each other to eat well without spending a fortune, and sharing ideas.  Like Suffolk Lass I am always learning from people here.
Up until the beginning of April I was feeling smug at spending below my budget - since when I've had visitors and been entertaining family and have ended up over the top before the middle of the month!

Basically, I've bought booze and meat that will last over the next few months but saved money buying now.  The wine was in the 25% off six offer and meat was cheaper buying in bulk from the butcher, so next month will be more frugal.

Also I'm away for five days from next Friday with all costs coming out of the holiday budget, and apart from the YS loaf I got today should not need to go shopping again before then.

Cocobeans

Arrived home last night after visiting family for Easter. Some service station spends to add plus a late night spend to get milk and bread when we got back. Have a click and collect ordered from Morries to collect this morning but will add this once collected as will no doubt pop into the shop too! 

£79.56 / £250 spent

Suffolk_lass

I picked up a TGTG bag of lovely F&V from Morries yesterday evening. £3.09 bought me:

2 packs of cut flat-leaf parsley (will be chopped, frozen and incorporated in hm pesto)
1 YS pack of raspberries that the lady swapped for a head of calabrese (broccoli), as I mentioned there were two
1 smaller pack of YS wonky raspberries
1 pack of blueberries
6 clementines
1 burst bag of new potatoes
1 bag of large broken carrots
1 head of calabrese

I popped back round for a big bag of small apples for £2.99. I didn't pick up milk but I should have. It turns out I cancelled my milk from today, instead of Saturday. I will get some locally later today or tomorrow. I can water down some single cream if it comes to it (to tide us over), and keep the last of the bottle of milk for tea. I do want to use up two leeks and the calabrese before we go away in maybe a cheese sauce, so milk will be needed for that and tea!!

This means before milk I am up to £92.69 this month and hopefully that is it, as we go on hols Monday.

I have 6 big portions of food made (2 of cottage pie base, 4 of spot the meat chilli). This used up the last of the joint of beef I cooked on Monday. It was 4.72 and has made 15 portions of food now (4 chilli, 4 cottage pie, 3 roast, 2 big sangers and 2 cold cuts with JP and salad) which works out as 31.5 pence per portion. Bargain. - Just like rubber chicken for those that remember that thread

Nelliegrace

Morrisons 3 for £10 meat and poultry offer looks quite good.
I look at getting the maximum number of meals and the best savings, a whole chicken, chicken thighs and drumsticks, a pork joint, a gammon joint, bacon, turkey mince, or Morrison’s 97% pork sausages or chipolatas. I avoid anything padded with cheap ingredients like bread crumbs, batter, pastry or sauces.  
I need to make more room in the freezer. 

number_23

I spent £3.56 this morning on fruit before heading into work (6 apples, 6 satsumas and 2 bananas) as I realised I hadn't had any for a couple of days and back in the office today (had veg and salad though). 

I have spent £11.79 at lunch (planned visit to a different shop, near work, which I find less pricey), on ketchup, bits to accompany tea tonight and over the weekend, bread and some chocolate raisins (bit of a treat and will last me well into next week). 

Not sure if I am up to date with full spend on here so when I update my budget at home I will confirm total spend this month so far (rest assured it is far, far less than it would have been if I hadn't joined this forum and given myself a kick up the b um!)

CA23