July Grocery Challenge

squeaky · 29 June 2005 at 9:23AM

Good morning all.

I just realised that nobody has written about their July grocery challenge yet even though some people will have started theirs already due to the strange way that some pay days work out.

Anyway, it's given me the chance to get a word in first (a rare event these days

) and add that I'll track back, when I have a moment, to the first of the challenges which help define just what the grocery challenge is and then edit this post to include that description to help the GCV's (that's Grocery Challenge Virgins

) to read up and start planning.

In the meantime I'm doing really well on the July Grocery Challenge because I haven't spent a single penny. But maybe that's because it's not July yet

Good luck to everyone joining.

Galtizz wrote:

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 anymore, 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 anymore. So I'm happy with my budget.

omega_2 · 29 June 2005 at 12:13PM

Thanks Squeaky, for starting this off, and helping to keep us on the straight and narrow!

I'm going for £185 again this month. Spent £54.67 so far, BUT:

- the store cupboard is pretty well-stocked;
- there's enough “spare” meat/fish in the the freezer for 7 main meals;
- I’ve got enough cleaning products (aside from laundry powder & loo roll), baby stuff and toiletries to last the month and probably got enough boots advantage card points to deal with anything unplanned.
- I’m determined to give “portion control” a push this month.

All-in-all, hope to come in under target, so my pin money gets a boost, and I can justify lowering the budget next month!

Loadsabob · 29 June 2005 at 1:15PM

Hello - well, I don't know what my challenge should be for July, as I spent June just monitoring what I spent on food. I averaged just over £20 per week (for just me), and my month doesn't end until this Friday. There are lots of things in the store cupbpards - pasta and rice - and I am mostly eating out of the freezer this week, my HM readymeals. It was a five week month for me.

So, for July, AT LEAST stick WITHIN £20 per week for food. Try and get that down a little I think...I really enjoyed monitoring it though, and seeing how I do. Thea meal planner has helped, and when I make a shopping list I total it up, too, so I know what I can expect to spend. I'm pretty good at not buying extras.

Rebob · 29 June 2005 at 7:10PM

I sould like to try this but think that I am better sticking at starting one challenge at a time so I can adjust gradually. I have been using vouchers, making more storecupboard meals and hunting for freebies so I am trying to be a good ms'er!

squeaky · 29 June 2005 at 7:25PM

Rebob wrote:

I sould like to try this but think that I am better sticking at starting one challenge at a time so I can adjust gradually. I have been using vouchers, making more storecupboard meals and hunting for freebies so I am trying to be a good ms'er!

yep, one step at a time, entirely at your own speed is the pain free way to go

I've only just got around to starting the PMS Challenge myself this coming month and I don't intend starting the Grocery one until next month, though I will be saving all my receipts through June to give me some idea of what to aim for.

I'm sort of doing a store cupboard challenge every month because that's how often I get to do my main shop

So... watch this space...

Janeryan · 29 June 2005 at 8:11PM

I really need to watch the pennies this month as Hubby is off sick from work(which means only SSP for him!)

It's only a 4 week month this month and have arranged some extra hours at work(where I can get lunch) so maybe I won't need all of the £200.00 I usually allocate.

Last month I had £250.00 allocated and spent £250.76 so that was pretty good going(still not under budget though)

Wish me luck!!

Rage_in_Eden · 29 June 2005 at 8:12PM

Got paid on 25th. Went directly to Asda (not collecting £200 pounds on the way - boo

). Spent £56.30 on a massive spend but that means that the freezer is fully stocked (in fact said to OH today that I will be able to get all the apples off our tree this year and freeze them. OH replied there wasn't any room!) That gives us just under £100 for the rest of the month. Last month wanted to go to £100 but went about £20 over so setting it at £150 should be easy...... especially as there are so many things i can't have now i'm on a big low fat push boo-hoo...........

Mumstheword · 30 June 2005 at 9:07AM

Hi,
You all seem really good at this challenge business. I would be hopeless, as I give in too easily and have takeout (sorry for that bad language!!)

Wonder if you can help me, though.

Does anyone have an idea of what I could get my spending down to for a family of 5 (kids 9,4,2). I know it's a bit of a 'how long is a piece of string', but I'm sure you know a lot better than me!! If we saved all receipts, I think we'd have a shock!!

ta, Mumxx

rchddap1 · 30 June 2005 at 9:13AM

The first step is to do that 'scary' bit and keep track of your spending. Save receipts, or write it down in a little spending book. Once you know what you are spending, and where you can start to work out where you can make savings. Shock tactics can do wonders.

Mumstheword · 30 June 2005 at 9:37AM

:eek: I'm scared already!! But I might just give it a try.

DH's pay day today, so I could start collecting receipts......

Thnaks (see,can't even spell, I'm so scared!!)

Mumxx

squeaky · 30 June 2005 at 9:50AM

By the time you've spent a month collecting receipts (and looking at them horrified

) you'll be more than ready to start the challenge in earnest next month.

PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING

July Grocery Challenge

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