July 2016 Grocery Challenge

Can I be in for July for £120 please? Need to get back on track after hols etc

hi guys completely new to this but need to get control of my shopping budget ,I feel atm its a complete mess ,literally have no idea what I spend my money on. I just know there is definitely not enough month at the end of my money and that needs to change. There is four of us, DS and DD are both still in nappies and DS is allergic to dairy which pushes the bills up a bit. Will be starting 1ST OF JULY, so that gives me till next Friday to do a complete stocktake.

Mrssnowy, I'm so sorry to have just read about your mum. Sending you both my best wishes at a hard time for you.

First shop of the July challenge yesterday covered tinned and frozen goods, dog food, milk and meat to freeze. £47.00 down so far.

Sorry to hear that mrssnowy! Take care

We have just got back from Aldi (29.49) and sainsburys (13.20 - inc 4.50 on overpriced cat food! - but she is very fussy!)

Editing to add another sainburys shop of 3.45 as I forgot a couple of bits....I did cycle rather than drive...which is another challenge as we have been going over our fuel budget (cycle to work and no kids to ferry around so dont know how that has been happening!!)

I went through the cheap recipe index yesterday and saved a few recipes I liked the look of to a word doc. Then promptly closed the doc without saving it - fool!

I do remember the cranberry beef so I will be making that which uses up an open jar of cranberry jelly. I will make pie with the leftovers - we have flour tp make the pastry which should help keep things cheap and filling.

Im making flapjacks for DH for snacks for the week, he has a 28" waist and is always hungry so im guessing that its because he doesnt eat enough. Im making leek and potato soup for snacks for myself because I dont have a 28" waist but am always hungry :rotfl:

So in theory, it should be NSD to next shopping day - I shall keep you updated to keep myself accountable.

The reason my partner and I need to keep a watchful eye on our food shopping budget is up until the last two months we were having our food shopping substantially subsidised by his parents. Because they have all these special debit cards/membership cards/loyalty cards they always did a monthly food shop for us as my partner and I don't drive, and are on low earnings. We always tried to pay for out own shopping, on one occasion we were at the till just about to pay, but they always stop us because they are financially very well off and they wanted to help us. Which is very kind and of course appreciated, but they are in their 60s and wanting to retire and also although I'm a bit younger my boyfriend is in his 30s! So we did feel a bit uneasy about it.

However recently my boyfriends dad injured himself at home so they haven't been doing a food shop for us, so my partner and I are doing it ourselves.

We set the budget at £185 as that seemed reasonable, but in May we went over by £39.91 and today we ended the food budget month £42.53 over budget. Maybe we are being unrealistic in our budget and the two of us should be spending around £225 a month, but I'm very much of the Jack Monroe £10 a week camp and think we can do it.

Just ordered a new Morrison's food shop, on the basis the money will probably come out of my account tomorrow therefore i feel it technically counts as next months shop. £84.01 including the 50p delivery. It will be arriving between 6-7am on tuesday, but i'm always looking for an excuse to get up early, and they were already delivering to someone in my area at that time so it's better for the environment as well.

Good luck everyone. X