March 2024 Grocery Challenge

redofromstart

I am not a fan of supermarket scheme cards and the way they work but worth noting that the MrM 'Collectors' opt in thing credits the spend value before the more card discount - so I could have bought one leg of lamb at £20 to get £3 of points, and paid £10 in real money, so £7 after discount. Same with multi buys like salad and bacon. 

weenancyinAmerica

I used to cash my checks in dimes (here in America). When I was shopping and having to hand over a lot of them to pay for groceries, I would really work hard to cut down on the spending. Maybe using pound coins (or smaller - but I will admit inflation has hit) to pay for groceries would make it easier try to save. We have been getting back to basics here. Oatmeal or eggs and toast for breakfast, homemade soups for lunch for instance. I think your inflation rate for food has been higher than it is here, but people are complaining everywhere. From what I have seen in shopping carts though, it is mainly on foods we wouldn't have been buying 10 or 12 years ago. Lots of new short-cut foods that have less food value for the money instead. 

Sallyp2

weenancyinAmerica said:

I used to cash my checks in dimes (here in America). When I was shopping and having to hand over a lot of them to pay for groceries, I would really work hard to cut down on the spending. Maybe using pound coins (or smaller - but I will admit inflation has hit) to pay for groceries would make it easier try to save. We have been getting back to basics here. Oatmeal or eggs and toast for breakfast, homemade soups for lunch for instance. I think your inflation rate for food has been higher than it is here, but people are complaining everywhere. From what I have seen in shopping carts though, it is mainly on foods we wouldn't have been buying 10 or 12 years ago. Lots of new short-cut foods that have less food value for the money instead. 

Very interesting - I agree going back to basics for meals does feel better value for money 

keggie

I did an Aldi shop during the week and am well below budget so feels like a good month money wise but feel we could have eaten better. Plan to eat more nutritious meals in April while I’m off work.

So final count for March
£213.11/£300

Blackcats

@weenancyinAmerica - back to basics makes so much sense.  We now have oat based breakfasts or weetabix with banana and/or defrosted frozen berries.  We need to get organised with a better range of lunchtime basics.  I'm not a great fan of bread so sandwiches are not my favourite option.

I have finished my March budget and in order to balance the books and reconcile spending I probably need a PhD in creative accounting.
we had a few days away self catering so spends could be from holiday or grocery challenge.
the cat food was bought in March whilst on offer but isn't needed until April 
we had 4 meals out or at friends or family so it wasn't a completely full month 

anyway ..... I'm going to take the easy option and say that I'm neither over budget or under budget.  See!  Creative accounting at its finest.

I'll apply a greater scrutiny to the detail in April - promise!

Pennypincin

I've a final spend for this month of £1.62.
I've managed to be on budget too.
I've managed to get some vegetarian food reduced plus some of the cheap veg on offer.

JingsMyBucket

Hi folks, I hope everyone's having a nice long holiday weekend. Our tally for March £345.42 / £350.00... technically. I say technically because we got a Tesco order for £75.90 on Saturday the 30th but I'm just going to count that towards April's total. 

ancientmum

The last spend of the month and giving a contribution to my hosts for a family meal brought the total  for the year so far to £250.99.
I went shopping today, but will record that as April, because it is.  See you on the new thread!

SausageDogSandwich

Late it wanted to declare at £377.04/350.