March 2024 Grocery Challenge

Amateurretiree

So have got a very expensive month coming up (grandaughters birthday, we always pay for her party , she is an only grandchild and we never thought we would have any so we do push the boat out) .

Also the Dyson cordless vacuum died the day after we got our new downstairs carpet, so there was £350 we weren’t expecting to spend.

We have contingency money for household goods but I just don’t like to use it, as we are both early retirees and living on our workplace pensions, so like to have a good emergency fund.

Anyway, the point of my post is, we are going to live on our stocked up cupboards and freezer this month to a certain extent. This does make me a bit nervous though as I hate to see the ‘stocks’ go down. Going to try to just spend £200 this month instead of £300.

PipneyJane

Amateurretiree said:

So have got a very expensive month coming up (grandaughters birthday, we always pay for her party , she is an only grandchild and we never thought we would have any so we do push the boat out) .

Also the Dyson cordless vacuum died the day after we got our new downstairs carpet, so there was £350 we weren’t expecting to spend.

We have contingency money for household goods but I just don’t like to use it, as we are both early retirees and living on our workplace pensions, so like to have a good emergency fund.

Anyway, the point of my post is, we are going to live on our stocked up cupboards and freezer this month to a certain extent. This does make me a bit nervous though as I hate to see the ‘stocks’ go down. Going to try to just spend £200 this month instead of £300.

Ouch!  Hopefully the new Dyson will last considerably longer.  We’re in a similar boat, @Amateurretiree, although due to very different circumstances, so I can understand your reluctance to raid the Emergency Fund. (I’ve been signed off sick since January due to lymphoma and DH was made redundant on Friday.)   All my plans to replace our dodgy fridge-freezer, the dishwasher and the stove have been put on hold.  (The stove has an unreliable fan oven, a broken grill and a broken second, regular electric oven.)

I have a small spend to declare from yesterday.  While I was having some delayed chemo, DH went to L!dl to pick up a couple of litres of their lactose-free skimmed milk (99p/litre) and 2 packets of mixed nuts.  £5.48 spent.

The above brings our total spend to £38.62/£145.80 leaving £107.18 for the rest of the month.

- Pip

Amateurretiree

PipneyJane said:

Amateurretiree said:

So have got a very expensive month coming up (grandaughters birthday, we always pay for her party , she is an only grandchild and we never thought we would have any so we do push the boat out) .

Also the Dyson cordless vacuum died the day after we got our new downstairs carpet, so there was £350 we weren’t expecting to spend.

We have contingency money for household goods but I just don’t like to use it, as we are both early retirees and living on our workplace pensions, so like to have a good emergency fund.

Anyway, the point of my post is, we are going to live on our stocked up cupboards and freezer this month to a certain extent. This does make me a bit nervous though as I hate to see the ‘stocks’ go down. Going to try to just spend £200 this month instead of £300.

Ouch!  Hopefully the new Dyson will last considerably longer.  We’re in a similar boat, @Amateurretiree, although due to very different circumstances, so I can understand your reluctance to raid the Emergency Fund. (I’ve been signed off sick since January due to lymphoma and DH was made redundant on Friday.)   All my plans to replace our dodgy fridge-freezer, the dishwasher and the stove have been put on hold.  (The stove has an unreliable fan oven, a broken grill and a broken second, regular electric oven.)

I have a small spend to declare from yesterday.  While I was having some delayed chemo, DH went to L!dl to pick up a couple of litres of their lactose-free skimmed milk (99p/litre) and 2 packets of mixed nuts.  £5.48 spent.

The above brings our total spend to £38.62/£145.80 leaving £107.18 for the rest of the month.

- Pip

Oh no you are in a much worse situation and now I feel terrible for complaining. Hope you are returned to health soon and your DH finds a new job.

Take Care

PipneyJane

Amateurretiree said:

PipneyJane said:

Amateurretiree said:

So have got a very expensive month coming up (grandaughters birthday, we always pay for her party , she is an only grandchild and we never thought we would have any so we do push the boat out) .

Also the Dyson cordless vacuum died the day after we got our new downstairs carpet, so there was £350 we weren’t expecting to spend.

We have contingency money for household goods but I just don’t like to use it, as we are both early retirees and living on our workplace pensions, so like to have a good emergency fund.

Anyway, the point of my post is, we are going to live on our stocked up cupboards and freezer this month to a certain extent. This does make me a bit nervous though as I hate to see the ‘stocks’ go down. Going to try to just spend £200 this month instead of £300.

Ouch!  Hopefully the new Dyson will last considerably longer.  We’re in a similar boat, @Amateurretiree, although due to very different circumstances, so I can understand your reluctance to raid the Emergency Fund. (I’ve been signed off sick since January due to lymphoma and DH was made redundant on Friday.)   All my plans to replace our dodgy fridge-freezer, the dishwasher and the stove have been put on hold.  (The stove has an unreliable fan oven, a broken grill and a broken second, regular electric oven.)

I have a small spend to declare from yesterday.  While I was having some delayed chemo, DH went to L!dl to pick up a couple of litres of their lactose-free skimmed milk (99p/litre) and 2 packets of mixed nuts.  £5.48 spent.

The above brings our total spend to £38.62/£145.80 leaving £107.18 for the rest of the month.

- Pip

Oh no you are in a much worse situation and now I feel terrible for complaining. Hope you are returned to health soon and your DH finds a new job.

Take Care

Don’t feel terrible for complaining and please don’t do yourself down in comparisons to others.  We’re here to support each other - all I was trying to do, by sharing my situation, is to say that “I feel your pain”.

 I’ve been on MSE a long time (over 12 years) and have learned a lot of money-saving and budgeting lessons along the way.  I’m lucky.  I have resources and savings. We’ll survive.

- Pip

Amateurretiree

Yes I’m certainly learning a lot on here, I haven’t always been as careful with money as I am now. 

It’s great to be with like minded folk!

Soontobeoap

Another trip to Aldi today. We needed bread, cereal, noodles, rice, lettuce, milk, juice and a few other basics! I panicked slightly that, we needed shopping again already! Then I realised that we are about to head into the 2nd week in March so it's not quite so bad. We had a full high trolly and it only came to £15.60 so I am a bit happier now. We bought most of the meat that we will need for the whole month in the first week too, so we could make it if we are very careful. 

Soontobeoap

Oh no! 🤦‍♀️ Just remembered, DH wanted some options hot chocolate to help him stop eating so many sweet things so we went to Morrisons where they have it on offer at half price for £2.50. We bought 3 so thats another £7.50! When we got home I realised that "options chocolate" is another victim of shrinkflation. For the same price there is now enough to make 39 cups instead of 44!

I am a bit worried I am becoming a grocery shopping nerd! 🤷‍♀️

I have not seen Lactose free cathedral City cheese on offer since January which is unusual (i tell a lie,  Asdas had it on offer last week but ours didnt have any). So cheese is off the menu for a bit. 

LadyWithAPlan

Soontobeoap said:

Oh no! 🤦‍♀️ Just remembered, DH wanted some options hot chocolate to help him stop eating so many sweet things so we went to Morrisons where they have it on offer at half price for £2.50. We bought 3 so thats another £7.50! When we got home I realised that "options chocolate" is another victim of shrinkflation. For the same price there is now enough to make 39 cups instead of 44!

I am a bit worried I am becoming a grocery shopping nerd! 🤷‍♀️

I would not worry about that - being a grocery shop nerd is a positive here! 

@PipneyJane hope your OH gets a new job soon so you can treat the redundancy as extra savings ...


Grocery  £20.50/£150 +  £0 bulk and £1.60 crisps/junk
On way back from sewing I pass a TESC* so £6.55 there - had fruit/nut mix instead of crisp which is good
Plus  some sparkling water  & DF milk.

Also bought some normal milk (I dont drink it as dairy intolerance) for the  chap I am starting to date ...
Is this a date spend?? When do I commit to a YNAB DATE category ?? Next month I think -though we may be travelling end of this month ... 

GF PIZZA dough attempt 101
I tried the set recipe in my Panaso*** breadmaker  to make GF pizza dough - it also makes gf pasta with same recipe/setting
I should have rolled it thinner but still v tasty - cost was 475g of rice flour mainly and 1tbsp of oil so about £2... but double quantity so MSE - I will do it again
I added some  roasted YS  veg - aubergine, courgette, red papper, garlic, carrot , onion and a spicy YS tomato sauce base. I didnt !!!!!! cheese but I could have DF or other..



NSD's - 0 so far! 

Sewing class yesterday - just started a course - was meant to be 10 weeks but teacher was ill last week so only 9 classes but its free!!
Loved it 
I was reminded how to use a domestic sewing machine, used an overlocker for the first time, and we did plain open/closed seams and also bound with bias cord open/closed seams as well as stitching straight lines in paper...  I bought tailors chalk £2.45 and need to buy some cheap fabric scissors and a set square for next week

I want to learn how to make my own simple patterns from 2 dresses I love - apparently we are not covering that but once I learn how to read a pattern I think that will help... 

PipneyJane

Soontobeoap said:

Oh no! 🤦‍♀️ Just remembered, DH wanted some options hot chocolate to help him stop eating so many sweet things so we went to Morrisons where they have it on offer at half price for £2.50. We bought 3 so thats another £7.50! When we got home I realised that "options chocolate" is another victim of shrinkflation. For the same price there is now enough to make 39 cups instead of 44!

I am a bit worried I am becoming a grocery shopping nerd! 🤷‍♀️

I have not seen Lactose free cathedral City cheese on offer since January which is unusual (i tell a lie,  Asdas had it on offer last week but ours didnt have any). So cheese is off the menu for a bit. 

@Soontobeoap - I’m assuming your DH likes one of the flavoured Options, yes? You could try something we do:  we use one heaped teaspoon of Options and two heaped teaspoons of own-brand, unflavoured, low calorie hot chocolate to a mug.  It cuts the price-per-mug considerably but doesn’t have a noticeable effect on the flavour.

- Pip

LotsOfTea

Yesterday I spent £20.30 on Easter eggs and cereal so that's one more job sorted!

I'm up to £24.90/£250 and shouldn't need anything until my shopping delivery next Wednesday.