May 2007 Grocery Challenge

lil_me · 30 April 2007 at 8:12PM

Hope Pink doesn't mind me starting it but noone else has so far so thought I would. I've directly copied her post apart from editing fourth to fifth.

Hello everyone,

Welcome to the fifth Grocery Challenge of 2007.

Another new month is about to start for most of us, while some of you are already well into things.

As always this challenge is to reduce your own grocery budget to levels that you will be pleased with, not forgetting that we always recommend that you stay inside your own comfort levels and take things gently one step at a time.

If you are new to the challenge I have quoted the advice from Galtizz below which will help you get started.

Please post into this thread for help and advice and support at any time. Good luck to everyone taking part!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Galtizz

I have said this before, but for all the newbies to the challenge;

For the first month I took a guess at the budget but I really had no idea how much I was spending.

I found the best thing is to have a guess the first month but SAVE ALL OF YOUR RECEIPTS (and yes, that does include the ones from the local shop when you run out of milk ), then at the end of the month add them all up and have a look if you were on budget, if not, it doesn't matter because your budget was a guess. For the next month you can use the total of your receipts and take a bit off to get a realistic budget, just shave off as much as you think you can, it could be £1 a week or £20 a week.

If you are currently spending £200 a month don't suddenly drop it to £100 - you'll never do it but if you cut £20 a month off for a few months you'll get there eventually without feeling you're missing out on anything.

You might think you've done everything you can in the first month but someone always comes up with a new idea and, if you try it you often find you save a bit more (unless you are SarahSaver who is an expert at this and could only save more if she turned her back garden into a paddy field and lived on rice ) In the first month I thought, I'm planning meals, I couldn't possibly save any more, but then I started double cooking and freezing, and making soup instead of buying it in tins.

I've been doing this since Feb but only saved ALL of my receipts last month, it has given me a much better idea of where it is all going. Budget for next month is £80 for 2 of us, I'll start on 30/4. I could probably save more, by eating different foods but I can afford to live on £80, I have saved a lot of money since Feb. and I don't waste food or money any more. So I'm happy with my budget.

I hope it's a good month for all of you!

belfastgirl23 · 30 April 2007 at 8:24PM

Oooh I might get to be first

To date I've managed to come in under £200 every month and since I have a good bit stocked up it's time to tighten the belt a bit more. I'm dropping to £120 - £150 this month for two of us. I've already done a big shop at £38 - would have been less but Tesco have a half price offer on good XV olive oil so I spent £6 on 2 litres. :eek: We do get through a lot of the stuff though!

I'm hoping that's enough of most of the basics and it's just topping up with fruit and veg and occasional nice bread tho I've been making this as well.

I just want to say a huge thanks to all of you. I am learning SO much and thanks to all your tips have managed to cope with huge increases in gas and rates by cutting down on stupid spending. Alas all the home baking has taken a toll on my waistline but that's another story.

Here's to us for the next month :beer:

WelshWoofer · 30 April 2007 at 8:27PM

After my success in April I'm in too!!!! (Coming in well under budget)

Same rules for me - £100 to buy all food, cleaning stuff and toiletries. That's for 2 adults and 1 very greedy little dog.
Good luck to everyone else...............

lil_me · 30 April 2007 at 8:37PM

Well I managed £260 last month but this month there is an extra week. Weird how my months work, but I am going to be harsh on myself to try to make me try harder, and stop me overbuying. I had a few items wasted this month just down to poor managing food etc. Really annoyed myself.

This months target - £300 for 5 and a bit weeks inc all food (inc meals out, takeaways etc) toiletries, cleaning etc for 2 adults, 2 children (inc all meals as either home or take food) and the animals in 2 dogs. Oh and at least once a week 3 adults as DPs brother tends to land and definately eats more than us 2 put together.

Good luck everyone

slscarborough · 30 April 2007 at 8:41PM

I managed 262.47 last month but seeing as that was my first GC I am going to stick with a target of £260.00 - I think that is fair for 2 adults and 2 kids.

Good Luck

loumac · 30 April 2007 at 9:09PM

Well I totally fell off the MSE wagon last month and this is reflected in my bank balance!

In addition I forgot to monitor shopping so last months balance is based on bank statements only and as I often do my food shopping with cash this is probably not very accurate!

Back on track for May..............!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :j

Solwaykid · 30 April 2007 at 9:52PM

I'm in again. Thanks for starting the thread Lil_me, wonder where Pink went?

I went over last month,I think it was bad planning and a few unexpected visitors. One of the big things I need to tackle this month is getting the 2 moggies onto something a little more budget. Fussy pair.

£120 for me and the moggies. This is just food and household stuff. The shopping purse and fun purse way is still working for me but I may go back to a weekly cash method. Having the whole £120 in my purse was just too much of a temptation this month. It does mean there's still a lot of non-perishable stuff in and I plan not to do anything more than milk and fruit and veg 'til after the Bank Holiday. ( Edited to say the first B Hol, not the second one!)

Good luck with your challenges this month.

isabelle304 · 30 April 2007 at 9:55PM

I failed last month's challenge but am back for more belt-tightening

. My budget for food and cleaning products this month will be £100 - just for me, on a vegan diet. As it's a 5-week month, this allows £20 per week.

Today I felt adventurous and wandered into my local Indian/Pakistani/Halal shop and realised it will be much cheaper for me to go there for certain exotic items I use (eg sweet potatoes, fresh coriander, spices, tamarind, plantains, coconut etc) as well as "normal" items such as rice, nuts and dry pulses/beans, which they sell in much larger bags and are much better value for money than the small bags they sell in normal supermarkets. I therefore did my first week's shopping there and it came to just under £20 so I was well chuffed as usually my first shopping trip of each month tends to get out of control

Good luck to everyone.

lil_me · 30 April 2007 at 10:03PM

Oh crikey Solway you just reminded me, bank holiday and school week off fall in my month (see after the month we are on holiday

so any savings count more!) which means I will have to be even more careful. Bah humbug @ kids holidays!!!

As for Pink, no idea, just hope she and everyone in the Pink-Winged household are ok.

Isabelle I love those shops, unfortunately closest to me like that are about 30 miles away. I tend to buy loads when I do go - 3kg of lentils and 6kg rice to get through before I run out

I did shopping today but need to sort receipt as wasn't just buying for me, will sort my signature and amounts tomorrow. Think it'll make a dent in it as was BBQ stuff, always expensive!

smiler34 · 30 April 2007 at 10:07PM

I'm in for the first time. £150 for the monthly grocerys (inc. cleaning stuff) for me (eating for two lol), partner and 1 year old daughter. I have already done a big shop to prepare me for the month and cut back quite a bit with the help of meal plan.

Good luck to all.

ilovecakes · 30 April 2007 at 10:32PM

Hiya, Can I join in too?

I need to cut down on my grocery bill this month - I have an appointment with my (non nhs :mad: )dentist and its going to be £75 for a check up and clean :eek:
sooo...My budget for this month is £100, I normally spend about £150 for food, toiletries and cleaning things for just me, so I'll have to cut back a fair bit. I've got a lot of basics in so hopefully I wont have to venture to the shops until after the bank holiday.
Good luck everyone,

ilovecakes x

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May 2007 Grocery Challenge

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