April 2024 Grocery Challenge

Suffolk_lass

Back from hols and the cupboard was bare. I had to go to the nearby town yesterday to drop DH off to collect his car (seized brake calliper and burned out windscreen washer pump) so I shopped from my list on my phone. I spent £12 more than I had on the list but £5 was on two packs of sausages, which included last night's supper, with the remaining 3 meals worth frozen. I casually mention the overspend but it is exactly why I have reduced my shopping trips to one a month at the big SM. I just can't do it. At least I know my weakness and I manage around it as much as possible.

I'm off to add the contents of the basket to my various categories and top up my spending spreadsheet!

SausageDogSandwich

Have been avoiding adding up all my spends as thought I’d spent a lot but it’s not as bad as I thought. Got an Asda delivery tomorrow night, than shouldn’t need anything else until may! Have run out of a lot of things so will be a bigger shop, usually shop on Sunday but pushed it to Thursday as had fruit left so that’s all been used up now. 

£223.93/400 spent. Although I am aiming for 375 as I spent 27 over last month. Should be doable now. Fingers crossed!

PipneyJane

Pennypincin said:

I've £22.26 left after buying value washing powder and value clothes detergent in Morrisons, plus some reduced price eggs and peppers in Tesco.
I don't know how good the Morrisons value clothes washing stuff is, but I thought I'd give it a go at the price.

I’d be interested in your comparison, @Pennypincin.  Please tell us if there is a noticeable difference, after you’ve done a few washes.  Also, is the quantity specified for use different from your old washing powder?  (Most people use more than the specified quantity, so “portion control” is important if you want to save money.)

- Pip

debtfreewannabe321

thriftwizard said:

DFW321, I feel your pain! I'm only roughly on track because I'm ignoring a huge takeaway receipt (Saturday night, the birthday/wedding anniversary, 11 of us) and a couple of "extras" like running up to W8rose & buying a second chicken for Sunday lunch when it became apparent (on Saturday evening!) that DS2, DDiL2 & DGS could join us. it was all so last-minute I didn't really have a chance to plan & cater in advance, as I normally do; I'm counting it all as "Entertainments" but otherwise I'd be about £200 over by now!

this makes me feel a bit better that it's not just me we have used our pocket money funds and float to cover this one - thank goodness we had it in there otherwise we'd be in the overdraft now

NeverendingDMP

I think in general it's all got harder. First time I did this challenge my budget was 433 a month. Few years ago. And I was almost managing it. Now I'm 150 a week not including school dinners and going over budget still with money allocated for other stuff. 

elsiepac

May GC Now Live!!! (How is it MAY already!!!)

otb666

bit annoyed with myself managed to pick up 2 packets of andrex coconut toilet paper 16pack and they were 8.50 each.  Thats 17.00 on toilet paper.  They did not have any of the other larger multi packs on shelf. They smell horrid as well. I am onto may budget as well and we somehow spent 150 instead of 100. on weekly shop.  Must do better.

Suffolk_lass

otb666 said:

bit annoyed with myself managed to pick up 2 packets of andrex coconut toilet paper 16pack and they were 8.50 each.  Thats 17.00 on toilet paper.  They did not have any of the other larger multi packs on shelf. They smell horrid as well. I am onto may budget as well and we somehow spent 150 instead of 100. on weekly shop.  Must do better.

We get toilet paper delivered normally (big river, it ensures 15% discount for subscription things) but this month our deliveries have come via Royal M and the big river dispatcher specified as must be age verified and signed for. Having just returned from hols there was nobody here to sign, so I had to top up locally and I can say the Leedle quilted stuff is nice and no offensive smells. I've tried Aldo's previously and they were a bit thinner and less robust, although both are usually a bit cheaper, if there's one near you

Suffolk_lass

PipneyJane said:

Pennypincin said:

I've £22.26 left after buying value washing powder and value clothes detergent in Morrisons, plus some reduced price eggs and peppers in Tesco.
I don't know how good the Morrisons value clothes washing stuff is, but I thought I'd give it a go at the price.

I’d be interested in your comparison, @Pennypincin.  Please tell us if there is a noticeable difference, after you’ve done a few washes.  Also, is the quantity specified for use different from your old washing powder?  (Most people use more than the specified quantity, so “portion control” is important if you want to save money.)

- Pip

Me too - I haven't bought their laundry detergent (I use about 25% of the recommended quantity of a liquid, or just washing soda or nothing at the moment).

I do buy their lemon savers dishwasher tabs (£1.99 for 40) and run the machine alternate days with a winged platinum tab. The savers work best on 50 degree economy wash. At 70 (needed if the dog gets to the plates and does a pre-wash) I use the liquid winged ones as we had a white powdery residue (might have been shortage of rinse fluid) with the Savers at 70 once or twice

PipneyJane

navelorange1 said:

Some very good news today! My landlord offered me £350 compensation and I sold a games console which I haven’t played in a year, and altogether this had paid for my cat’s operation! Feeling very happy

That’s excellent news @navelorange1.  You must be very relieved.

I have no spends to declare.  We will be going shopping tomorrow for fresh produce, so I’ll post an update then.   Also, I’m drawing up a shopping list for Wednesday, when I get paid.  We will be taking advantage of several L!dl+ offers on that day.

- Pip