August 2008 Grocery Challenge

Brighton_belle

I'm declaing at 199.88, which is 12p under budget:j . That's a 13% saving on what I spent in July, so a very sucessful first month, thank you all.
My month runs to the 31st but we really do have enough in and I am buying nothing else - it was quite hard not buying food as we walked past lucsious grocers yesterday, because I am used to picking up stuff as I pass. But I kept reminding myself, we don't need anything.
I'm going to opt for a £195 Sept budget. Not sure how i can shave another £5 off but so many here seem to do just that that I'm trusting the process. Also we were away for a weekend in aug and given lots of friend allotment produce, so quite a challenge.
I only include food for us, not toiletries or cleaning stuff (2 adults with good appetites but also both lost a lot of weight through SW so can't always mix lots of carbs with proteins: they have to be kept a bit seprate so can't always 'bung everything together to bulk up.)

flubberyzing

Morning everyone!
After waking up to rain, the sun has come out! I'm new to the challenge, but thought I'd come and give it a go! Obv. in September I'll be keeping all receipts and seeing what my total is... Because I live alone, I think I probably spend approx £100 a month... But let's find out eh?!

OrkneyStar

Morning all,
hoping for a NSD today.
Off to church then home [strike]to bake something in the afternoon [/strike]**(not decided yet).
Was a few showers earlier but sunny now so nice plant weather (saves me watering).
Our Aug runs until Friday 29th, so will declare then. Thinking to do the same budget for Sep (£40 a week), without the extra £20 for bulk buy as it makes things too confusing to sort out receipt wise, but will put in red when decided for definate!
Toodle pip.
:wave:
** edited to say back and legs far too sore to bake :mad: so retiring to bed now. Thankfully we have plenty biccies and other bits in so can hold off for a bit.
x

likabu_2

When does the thread for September's challenge appear please? Would like to have a go at that one.

Thanks
Lisa

Sian_the_Green

Some advice from Mrs Beeton

"Snacks: The content of these snacks can make very important contributions when it is necessary to raise the nutritional value of the diet. Conversely it is often from these snacks that redundant food is obtained by those who find themselves more than adequately nourished :rotfl:. The snack meals should therefore be watched as careful as the main meals by those who guard the family health "

In other words, fridge pickers wear bigger knickers

Astonished_2

Morning all and thank you for the lovely welcomes...:D

I've had 2 no shopping days since Friday (although himself did walk in with 2 bottles of wine on Friday night - I could have brained him...seriously!! :mad: the man needs a sign round his neck saying 'my wife has banned me from spending any money on groceries, please do not serve me, I cannot help myself'...) but I am going to deduct the wine from this week's budget so it should work out in the end.

I've set us a budget of £100 from now until the end of August (7 days left)and then I'll set us a budget of £400 for September - less if possible!

I'm looking after my friend's parents' house for a couple of weeks and they have a garden full of fruit trees and we went gleefully 'scrumping' last night and got enough apples and pears to last us for the week! I love free food!

We've got 3 red peppers and 3 aubergines ready for picking along with loads of french and runner beans so it's veg korma for tea tomorrow!

I think himself might be cottoning on to this money saving exercise and I think he's finally beginning to realise that the money is better in our pockets than the fat cats at the supermarkets plus it would give him more in his pocket to spend on things that he can't currently afford (because he spends so much in the damn co-op!)...

p.s. the wine was very nice but I'm b*ggered if I'm going to tell him!...:D

annelouise_2

Off thread I know but quote CCLV3 at paypal stage to get 10% discount off childrens clothes before 3rs September great if you are buying school uniform like me.

Have been busy with move and will be back on board more frequently once back in sunny Yorkshire 4th September.Still working well with budget and will be well under again this month.

Still will be baking Twinks and Pizza before we move and seriously working my way through the freezer stuff and will pack tins,jars and bottles up for OH to drive over in the car.Will also buy 20 bottles of wine at 95c for 1 litre house white which is nice for the price along with some liria at 1.29c.

annelouise



Please feel free to move this post.

mandy_moo_1

hi all :wave:
not finding much time to get on here really, but i'm being good and keeping within my budget

i'd like to declare £184.92 spent out of budget of £200 for Aug please

had a quick trip to Mr M's this morning but there were no whoopsies today, so i just got some fruit to last us the week end

Mrs Mc please can you put me down for £50 a week for Sept?

hope everyone's having/had a good month....got a nice shiny budget to play with soon!! after Sept i'm hoping i can cut mine back a bit further as DD18 is off to Uni :T.......don't know who's more excited...her or me :rotfl:

gillaman

Yesterday and today will be nsd's again for me. I think I've got about £23 left out of my budget and feel fairly confident I won't have to spend this although I've got to last until 31st, hmmm..... - will tot everything up and update my siggy later. That would mean £112 spent this month so might put that in for next month, but will decide Saturday next week. I've already started a shopping list. One big shop at the beginning of the month and top ups for fruit, veg etc seems to work for me provided I make a list and price it before setting foot in the shop. Just making the list is no good as I always assume it's going to come out at less than it does.

Bruv and partner left latish yesterday so I just cooked myself some eggs, mushrooms and baked beans for dinner, followed by some grapes. Bought these from Asda and they tasted almost like lychees - gorgeous. Tonight it'll be a stir fry. I put my own selection of veg in - broccoli florets, onion, leek, pepper, courgette, celery maybe some mushrooms and either add grilled cashew nuts, or almonds or Quorn fillets for the protein plus egg noodles or maybe egg fried rice. Make up sweet and sour sauce rather than buy.

Well done everyone who's already come in under budget, DON'T PANIC those who haven't you will get there - if I can do it anyone can!!

Hope everyone's having a lazy and peaceful Sunday.

wendywitch

I've decided that my GC for September is £230