March 2024 Grocery Challenge

SausageDogSandwich

Unfortunately we didn’t get to go on holiday this week as my youngest came down ill in early hours of Sunday morning, which has mucked up grocery chellange as I’d run everything down before going away so husband went shopping yesterday for enough to last til the sains shop I had ordered for Saturday comes. It’s one thing after another here at the moment 

currently at £253.62/350

Soontobeoap

Looks like you are doing ok to me @ sausageDogSandwich. 😊

Pennypincin

Sorry to hear sausage dog sandwich.
Hope your youngest is better soon.
I've not stuck to the budget again and lost the plot.
I'm going to try and do damage limitation and start again next week.

Suffolk_lass

diminua said:

Budget blown. I went up to Sheffield to visit my brother at the weekend and between coffee shops, the market, and lunch out I'm at £240.96. 

@diminua we all organise our budgets differently but I keep a separate heading for treats and entertainment that includes all alcohol (SM and in bars/pubs/restaurants), meals out, coffees and the naughty things like chocolate or ice-cream that spontaneously jump into my shopping trolley. It's a great way to check I am not going mad on treating us. I quickly mark up my receipts with any T (treats) or S (stores) when I get home. I do include stores in GC but I find it helpful to track it so I don't hoard too much, as I know this and off-list buying are my failings

Sallyp2

Pennypincin said:

Sorry to hear sausage dog sandwich.
Hope your youngest is better soon.
I've not stuck to the budget again and lost the plot.
I'm going to try and do damage limitation and start again next week.

Hey I've joined the April challenge but am reading through this months. Have you tried paying with cash and being really strict to not pay with card?
I paid for the groceries saturday with cash and its stopped me buying more this week - especially today when I am tempted to pop for a few things ... a few things that I actually didn't need when I looked in the freezer. Its worth a shot

Sallyp2

Suffolk_lass said:

diminua said:

Budget blown. I went up to Sheffield to visit my brother at the weekend and between coffee shops, the market, and lunch out I'm at £240.96. 

@diminua we all organise our budgets differently but I keep a separate heading for treats and entertainment that includes all alcohol (SM and in bars/pubs/restaurants), meals out, coffees and the naughty things like chocolate or ice-cream that spontaneously jump into my shopping trolley. It's a great way to check I am not going mad on treating us. I quickly mark up my receipts with any T (treats) or S (stores) when I get home. I do include stores in GC but I find it helpful to track it so I don't hoard too much, as I know this and off-list buying are my failings

The hoarding thing is very real especially after the covid lockdowns when we stock piled in panic! I am trying to reduce my food stores to 2 kitchen cupboards and only have 1 of each item, which needs to be used before being replenished

Pennypincin

Hi sallyp2.
I use cash for food shopping, kept separate from any other money I have.

Suffolk_lass

Hi Sallyp2 - I don't restrict myself to one spare because I buy certain things only when they are on offer (especially brands) for non-perishables like shower gel or toothpaste, tins and so on. I do have a walk-in larder that is the place, but no other stores that are not frozen, and the list of meat in the chest freezer is helping to reduce that pile of too tempting YS and other offers

Amateurretiree

Well I’m going to call March, 330/300.

£30 over , considering I’m having the family over for a meal at Easter I’m not going to be too harsh on myself.

Im also telling myself even if I don’t stick exactly to the  budget , I too tend to stock up on the brands we like when they are on special offer, at least half of my shopping is usually on offer.

ancientmum

Total grocery spend for the first three months of the year is £215.39.
I'm staying with family over the Easter weekend and will be contributing to the food budget, so not closing on March yet!