November 2007 Grocery Challenge

[Pink-winged]

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Hello everyone,

Sorry it's late, but better late than never!

Welcome to the eleventh 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 October 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!

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

Originally Posted by Galtizz

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.

Have a good month everyone!

Pink

[MRSMCAWBER]

Hoorah....

Well, i came in well under budget last month ... 45.75 euros or £ 34.41 to feed me and hubby for the month... and id allowed 80euro/£60...

I have just got my 400 euros house keeping off hubby for this month... and im going to put it all away as i have 55euros left in my purse (plus a bit hubby owes me-when he gives it me back ) -
I have checked my freezer, cupboards and worked out that i have pretty much enough HM food that i have frozen - plus veggies i have blanched and frozen -to last 6 weeks so i have drawn up the menus.. and apart from a bit of extra veg, milk... i have no reason to buy anything :rolleyes: .. so i am going to declare the 55euros in my purse as this months budget

We are still eating brilliantly and im now up to 2st2lb lost in 11 weeks.. so im a happy bunny

Good luck everyone

[angelavdavis]

Well done for starting the challenge Pink! I am with you this month - no earnings for October! I am setting my target at £160 and spent £85.00 yesterday!

So, its time for me to tighten up the belt buckles and update the meal plan!

On the upside - we have a full freezer and are eating at MiL's tonight!

[mikeD]

I've given up on October (a) As I have not been able to access the site since the 25th and (b) As I had no chance of coming under budget any way

Will update siggy ASAP and as DS3 is back from America next weekend will go back to my normal spend for 3 adults . It's been hell catering for only two as my stores included certain things that DS3 would eat, but as he is away we could have the things that we liked but are not possible when he is here. BUT it is very difficult to get certain products for one or two people that are cheap and will keep fresh. DW does'nt eat much meat, does'nt like cabbage, cauliflower (give her the wind she says ), onions (indigestion), tomatoes (indigestion) etc. etc. On top of that I'm a bloke with not a lot of imagination re. the catering front.

[patentgirl]

Yes please count me again this month missed the past couple of months and it shows on credit card and in bank so getting back in to watchhing the pennies not sure of my total yet will check bank account in a minute and see how little is left for housekeeping it will be low I am sure, got a fairly full freezer and store cupboard so will do at least a fortnights plans and report back on here later

[Liberty9515]

I am going to join in this month with the Grocery Challenge!

I am going to set a target of £250, I'm not really sure how much I normally spend so I will see how I go!!!

I did a major shop this morning and liberated £96.75! (saved £8.67 on multibuys!) But at least the cupboards and freezer are now well stocked up and I have done meal plans for the next 2 weeks!
Wish me luck!

[QOTD]

Count me in this month as well. I have budgeted £220 for the month with £100 coming out of the first shop since I had practically nothing left in the cupboard on payday. Then its £40 a week.... First shop went slightly over at £108 but I did buy some extra dishes which is included in this amount so that I can make double portions and freeze one... therefore in my head I figure I'm still on track

[Tired_Mummy]

Hi, Can I join too please? I'm fairly new to the site but I've seen this running for a couple of months now and it's about time I took the plunge!

I haven't got a clue how much we normally spend so I'll try for £250 as well - this is for 2 adults, my DS 4 and DD 1 year, hopefully it will be realistic.

Best of luck to everyone ...

[meanmarie]

I'm in again and am going to try and crack this meal planning as I seem to still have two full freezers!

Did better in October than in September, but still €15 over budget....MrsMCC...admire your ability to feed you and hubby on so little....bought meat this am for about 14 dinners and it cost me €45...and we are not big meat eaters!

Am staying with €330 for the month, seems to be as low as I can manage at present.

Good luck everybody!

Marie

[Disdisbiff]

Hi All

I'm in again for this month budget is £300 for the month
This is for 5 of us and includes all groceries,toiletries and cleaning products.

Biff

[MRSMCAWBER]

Hi mean marie..Thanks...

I am so lucky to have a hubby who :-

• isnt a fussy eater... as long as its not apricots or roasted veg...
• eats what is put in front of him
• doesn't think about food unless i mention it
• doesn't throw loads in my trolley
• and very rarely even looks in the fridge unless it is to get milk out or occasionally cheese n biscuits

We still eat meat most days, just less of it.. so i make my own sausages - he only eats 2 at a time.. me 1.. before i was OS/MSE ing.... we would have used 1lb at a time ..which i now can see was plain silly.. not to mention greedy .... now i just bulk meat out like my mum n dad used to when we were little and money was short.... bless my mum - she loves the fact that i have taken over where she left off ..
It also helps that some stuff is much cheaper here than the UK...Not sure i would fare so well back home...

[brummiebabe]

Overspent a touch last month...but less than usual!!!

Am again setting my budget at £400 for me, DH, 2 DSs (7 & 4) and my DD (1 on Saturday )

This is from 31st October - 28th November.

Includes my DD's little birthday tea party food aswell.

Have just done my BIG online Tesco shop (we'd run out of almost EVERYTHING!!! ) - and with food for DD's party...came in around £217 . However, I've got £10 voucher code off, plus I think my multibuys/BOGOFs etc come to around £23!!! This shop includes all cleaning/household products for this month (loads of washing powder etc - probably enough to last me 2 months!!) nappies, toiletries etc etc

If I budget that it'll come to £200, then I'll have £66 per week - not too bad!!

[susan1]

going to join the challenge and set budget at £100 for 2 adults from nov1st to 29th as we go away then! this will include everything hopefully, cleaning stuff, toiletries vitamins and cat food. should make life interesting. (have just spent the last of my vouchers, all £12 of them today)

[nopot2pin]

Hi All....

I am going to try this again.... and hopefully will be more successful than last month.

I was rather unsuccessful with the food shopping last month..... so I will try the same budget.. £120 for 4 weeks.

On the plus side... the money I spent on diesal was less than I anticipated so I am also going to try and keep my diesal down to £100 for this 4 weeks.

I will be starting on 6 November

Good Luck every one

[miss_phish]

Ooh, can I join you too please!

I'm moving in with my partner on the 1st (WOOHOO!!!!) and money is gonna be a little tight so....

I'm hoping that £100 - £120 a month will be ok when we are up & running but I think the first month I need to allow £150 to stock up with some basics.... what do you all think??

Also my partner is a builder, so presumably he needs a decent amount of protein in his diet - does anyone have any cheap way to feed him well on the least amount of money please?!

Cheers all

[Angelraesunshine]

Ok so i mucked up big time In October over spent by way too much ( nearly £80).

Do have 20 out of 30 meals already in the freezer and the shopping arrives tomorrow for November fingers crossed is at just under £200 but the bogof's etc have to come off that yet.

Well hoping in can get myself back on track for November only been doing this for 5 months now and only Octobers was over budget. Good luck everyone

Will be realistic and sticking to £330 this month again.

[MRSMCAWBER]

Hi miss_phish

My hubby is a soldier so he too likes good solid meals.. he isn't a huge eater - but still likes good food.

If your partner takes sandwhiches i would consider making your own bread... its not only cheaper, but much tastier and more filling than shop stuff... i make mine by hand and its a doddle - in fact the BM has been packed away..
There are loads of ways of bulking out your meals....
sliced potatoes and onions in a dish, with plenty of seasoning and some stock.. cover with foil and bake in the oven until soft then uncover and allow the top ones to crisp up.... it is seriously tasty and costs pence -i would be quite happy with that on its own.. but you can put sausages on top or bacon or even corned beef through the middle....
casseroles/stews , cornedbeef hash should go down well.. especially if he is out in the cold all day.... shove dumplings in or make a yorky.
A flask of home made soup and a chunk of home made bread should keep him warm at work - my hubby is taking them at the moment - and loving it..
You will soon find loads of ways of stretching your money..
oh and congratulations on moving in together..

[gunsandbanjos]

:confused: Ok count me in!!! Its me, DH (who likes his food, but will eat anything as long as its not liver or quiche ) and DD, plus some fish and birds, may have to eat them by the end of the month if money is tight...
Have started making most stuff from scratch, anyone know how makro compares on price to supermarkets as i have a card and was wondering if its worthwhile for food??
Going for budget of £300, because i have no idea what i spend:confused:

[MERFE]

Will be doing my best again this month but its not going well so far, was going to reduce the budget but I'm starting a new job, woohoo, so just incase I end up with less time to cook I'm gonna stick to the same budget 170 pounds. Tesco came last night and that was 63 pounds already and I forgot to buy potatoes and bread (how?) so am gonna have to pop to asda at some point. Good luck everyone

[freyasmum]

Yay! November's Challenge!

I did quite well last month and I have a full house so I am setting a limit of £20. This is for me and DD (16mo). I should only have to buy milk, eggs and veg and I don't need mmuch of those at that.

Good luck everyone!
Lx