March 2008 Grocery Challenge

Moniker

JillD wrote: »

I'd like to rejoin for April, we get paid around the 20th, so any day now, so April begins now for us.

Our spending has gone crazy since Christmas. We had our 3rd baby in September and as I look after the finances, they got in a right state because I had no time to do them. Also we were suffering from sleep deprivation and too-tired-to-cook-or-meal-plan syndrome, so we haqve spent a ridiculous amount on takeaways and eating out, The only reason we could afford it was that DH, who has his own business, reclaimed some money that we put into it years ago. Stupidly I didn't immediately transfer it back to a savngs account and now it is all gone. Frittered away and nothing to show for it. I could cry. In fact I am. I am gutted that we've just wasted it. We could've used it for so many sensible things, I am so annoyed at myself. Got those familiar feelings of panic about it as well.

Anyway am going to try and rein it in a bit this month. We are here for 3 weeks of the month and away for a week which will send it all out of whack again but lets try anyway.

Will set myself a shopping budget of £350 for food and cleaning stuff and nappies - 2 adults, 3 children - 2 in nappies and one in pullups at night.

Just wanted to say don't panic JillD - we got into a similar mess after our first one was born. I never intended going back to work as I wanted to be a full-time mum, but after the first year we found ourselves with £1000 owing on a credit card ( and this was 25 years ago so was more in real terms then). I had to go back to work part-time to pay it off and we determined never to let it happen again. Keep your nerve, take a deep breath and use all the useful posts here to help you budget. You will get back on track in the end. Good luck.

love Moniker

sue09

Must start grocery challenge for april,fell off old style wagon.Need to get back on track.Start march 25th when salary goes in bank.

weemissy

JillD wrote: »

I'd like to rejoin for April, we get paid around the 20th, so any day now, so April begins now for us.

Our spending has gone crazy since Christmas. We had our 3rd baby in September and as I look after the finances, they got in a right state because I had no time to do them. Also we were suffering from sleep deprivation and too-tired-to-cook-or-meal-plan syndrome, so we haqve spent a ridiculous amount on takeaways and eating out, The only reason we could afford it was that DH, who has his own business, reclaimed some money that we put into it years ago. Stupidly I didn't immediately transfer it back to a savngs account and now it is all gone. Frittered away and nothing to show for it. I could cry. In fact I am. I am gutted that we've just wasted it. We could've used it for so many sensible things, I am so annoyed at myself. Got those familiar feelings of panic about it as well.

Anyway am going to try and rein it in a bit this month. We are here for 3 weeks of the month and away for a week which will send it all out of whack again but lets try anyway.

Will set myself a shopping budget of £350 for food and cleaning stuff and nappies - 2 adults, 3 children - 2 in nappies and one in pullups at night.

jillD - don't be hard on yourself, you went thru' a period when your priorities had temp changed, and you used your money to get you thru' a very busy and tiring period, money well spent to keep your sanity

Anyway not done well this month, think I was being ambitious wanting to use budget for everything, birthday cakes, easter eggs etc. So if I don't include tonight's chinese I have £4 to last until 31st - will need fruit, veg, cornflakes, porridge etc so will be over, hopefully not by much.

Now really going against the grain to part with £17 for takeaway, can't believe I used to do this on a regular basis, haven't had one for ages so enjoyed it.

Going to make tortillas and peanut cookies next month. Was going to make caramel shortcake as well but found a factory shop selling thornton's - don't think I could make it any cheaper.

Are GC budgets posted in red I have a problem with my eyes (exaccerbated by glare from computer so sometimes I have periods when I can't come online), so I have 'zoomtext' to alter colour of text and background - mine is reversed so white writing on black background, anyway this means I don't get some of the coloured writing the rest of you are seeing - does this make sense? Sorry rambling again.
X

Casperthefriendlyghost

Hi everyone
Managed to spend £39.08 on my grocery challenge this month. My new challenge is £50 for April as it is a five week month for me. Hope to do some more trimming this month, but will see how it goes.
Thanx so much to everyone for your encouragement and help.
Cheers
Casper
x x x

lil_me

Because of the confessions thread I've just realised I forgot to include a takeaway in my GC target, added now but still should come in under budget....

JillD at times like this I adopt my Dad's theory, you can't take it with you when you're gone, if it's gone it's gone, learn from it and move on wishing you well for April

MSHAWX

Hi
Can anyone let me know where Mrs Mc recipe for tortillas is hiding? I've read so many good reports of it, but search as I do, I can't find it

mardatha

I meant to join this in april and practise quietly in march, but things went totally to hell and now I can't face it. I have spent more money since coming in here to save money, than I ever spent before !!

angelnikki

MSHAWX wrote: »

Hi
Can anyone let me know where Mrs Mc recipe for tortillas is hiding? I've read so many good reports of it, but search as I do, I can't find it

It's here:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=9413775#post9413775

Nikki
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rosieben

weemissy wrote: »

... Are GC budgets posted in red ...

Yes, if we post our budget in red its easier for MRSMCAWBER to find it to add to the list.

MSHAWX wrote: »

Hi
Can anyone let me know where Mrs Mc recipe for tortillas is hiding? I've read so many good reports of it, but search as I do, I can't find it

I think its post #1453 in this thread

funkyfunkymonkey

Moniker wrote: »

I used to have one of those (still do in fact) but water is so hard here it doesn't make a lot of difference, and the water tastes nicer when filtered. I didn't know about removing the chlorine though. None of us have been ill as a result though and I have been filtering the water for more than 10 years!

Cheers

Moniker

Most of these filters have activated carbon which reduces/removes the chlorine.

Do you recycle your filters? Brita has a recycling scheme where you can post the used filters to them - free post so it costs you nothing except an old envelope.

FFM