October 2007 Grocery Challenge

[Pink-winged]

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Hello everyone,

Welcome to the tenth Grocery Challenge of 2007.

If your new month starts early feel free to join this thread, or if you're still working on your September budget, then keep on posting in the September Grocery Challenge.

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!

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 everyone!

Pink


Edit Sorry lil_me, I've just realised you had also started the grocery challenge, I've merged both threads together.

[lil_me]

Hello everyone,

Welcome to the tenth Grocery Challenge of 2007.

If your new month starts early feel free to join this thread, or if you're still working on your September budget, then keep on posting in the September Grocery Challenge thread.

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!


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 everyone!

(To moderators could you sticky this when you get time, just thought I would save you a job)

[rosieben]

Thanks lil_me, I'm in starting 1st October. leaving my budget at £80 for the month as I'm doing some winter stocking up

[faye1978]

Hi All,

Well I got paid yesterday so my month starts now. I usually budget for £200 per month for 2 of us but always go over by £50-£80 per month. I have been keeping a waste diary over the last couple of weeks and it's been quite useful. I also started to buy meat joints (ie. small bacon joints for £3 ish and Turkey crowns from Lidl for £4 and using these as lunches. It's so much cheaper. I now budget £200 but am determined to stay in it. I realise this is a lot compared to what some of you are living on for 2 people but my 1st challenge is to keep WITHIN my budget then I can look at shaving it. DH doesn't eat most foods either and is one of THE most fussiest eaters I have ever come across too so cheap fruit and veggies can't be bought in abundance unfortuntely.

[MERFE]

Hiya this is my first month with a proper budget although I have done meal plans in the past when things were tight or were saving. Normally spend 220 per month budget this month is gonna be 170, have done the meal plans for the month and added contingency about 10 per week, we are well stocked up on toiletries and nappies so I think I should be able to manage it. Aim for the future is to get it down to 140 per month but will do that slowly. OH was paid yesterday so our month has started already and had tesco delivery on wednesday night so total for week 1 is 48.49, am gonna need to get more milk for kids and dd has lost her toothbrush so will probably spend another fiver throughout the week but next weeks shopping should be less as got things like 2 chickens for a fiver and froze one. There is 4 of us here but kids don't eat too much being young and I'm the fussiest eater so everyone else just eats what I like which helps.

[the_cat]

Hi everyone

Me too for October please! I have been budgeting and meal planning for ages on my own, but it's easy to kid yourself and 'forget' to add in little bits and pieces. Hopefully writing it on here will concentrate my efforts a bit more.

So £220 from today until 28th Oct, for four adults (kids eat more than us nowdays!!)

[torianut]

I will join this month for the first time please! I usually get an online shop from Tesco once a week about £60 and then go to Tesco at least twice more spending at least £20 each time!!! This month my budget is going to be £60 a week - for 2 adults, 2 kiddies, 1 baby - stocked up on nappies and wipes for at least the first 2 weeks so should be able to do it!!

Can't decide if to do an online shop or just go instore a couple of times a week and get the bargains!!

[The shuffs]

Hi all im joining the GC this month no more over spending have done meal plans with the help of everyone here THANKYOU this month is going to be very hard as i only got paid half my pay been off wk for 2 wks with broken foot and it seems my boss has decided not to pay she could if she wanted to anyway i RANT so im open to all the help i can get
Rachael xx

[newlywed]

Right I'm going to try this again :rolleyes: Just spent out on a big shop as we ran out of virtually everything last month OH has just started a new diet (meaning 6 small meals a day but each having protein and low fat) and we have the step kids 3 days a week (including the whole weekend).

My goal is £240 for the month (and less the following months). That includes all toiletries and household stuff (washing powder etc) too.

[WelshWoofer]

Hi,
I haven't posted for ages but am now getting things back together and want to get back on the metaphorical horse!
It's just me and the doggy now (a good thing!) and so budgeting for food should be relatively easy. I'm a veggie and a rubbish cook and generally shop in Tesco.

My challenge will start today and run through to the end of October (pay day in the middle but if I don't start now I never will!).

So, for doggy and me I'm going to try to stick to £100 from now to October 26th (going away for the weekend 26-30th Oct). This is to include all food (including dog food and treats), cleaning stuff and toiletries.

I'm actually looking forward to being more disciplined again.
Good luck to everyone else!

[rockie4]

Can I join in this month?
I saved all my recipts last month and was shocked to realise I'd spent £251.43 there's 2 of us and a cat!! That included washing and cleaning stuff but not toiletries, oh, and a tenner of it was for dried fruit etc to make mincemeat and a Christmas cake
I need to cut back as OH is now out of work
Anyway I've still got quite a lot of tinned/dried stuff in the cupboards so I'm hoping to cut it down this month - I'd like to keep it to £200 but I'm not bothered as long as it is less than last month!
I've planned this weeks menus and will have a cook-in tomorrow to restock the freezer.

[willow girl]

Well managed to come in under budget for my first month doing the challenge . I know my budget is probably a bit high for just the two of us but that gives me room for improvement.

I'm going to keep it at £40 a week again this month, then probably reduce it in November (well that's the plan anyway!).

The money saved from last month has gone into the pot for when we move (hopefully in the next 2 weeks:rolleyes: ).

Good luck to everyone for October

[kunekune]

I would like to try this. Our food spend is horrendous: sometimes over £200 for a week for two adults and two children. I reduced it by £50 last week and would like to set myself a realistic target of £600 max for the month (excluding drinks and OH's lunches). Then I can work on pulling it down a bit further. Our month will start when we go shopping on Saturday.

[Lizzieanne]

I'm in again for October, but with a £300 budget as I am on holiday for one week. I've only just scraped in this month, I just haven't put my heart and soul into it and I need to start afresh. Good luck everyone.

[whatatwit]

Hi everyone, it's been ages since I posted and I confess that I have not been visiting MSE for a few months and I have slipped back into my old slapdash spending habits, (that's 10 Hail Marys for me).

I am going to aim for £300 for October, it should be less, but the freezer and cupboards are looking very bare, all due to lack of planning.

Good luck everyone.

[Angelraesunshine]

HI all im in this month. Did rather well last month and October being a 5 week month for me am keeping everything crossed that i keep to budget as i am keeping it he same as last month.
Done my 1st shop already this week on tuesday so fingers crossed just need top ups.

Good luck everyone

[Sugarcubed]

Dreading having to sit and work out a managable budget for this month, moneys been a bit up in the air recently. I'll say a budget of £100 for this month but that might change due to circumstances. Blooming shopping!

[redsquirrel80]

Well I started a week ago, with a budget of £60 and I've already spent half of that Am determined to eat better this month so won't be overly upset if I go over budget for the cause! Will try to keep fairly close though.

[LouiseJ]

Count me in again folks, have reduced my budget to £300 and plan to not buy any biscuits again this month, will be baking home made hobnobs and shortbread.

Will do a meal plan for the month and bulk order from either MrTs or Asda depending on who has best discount codes this month.

Good luck everyone!

[Nancy888]

Count me in again, please...managed it again last month.

I started on payday which was Tuesday and already spent a fair bit as I started Slimming World on Tuesday as well so been out and bought allsorts of 'healthy' stuff - I'm not usually a fruit and veg person so we'll see how we go...

The fruit and veg should be balanced out by the deficit left by the absence of booze!!!!