December Grocery Challenge

squeaky

Hi everyone and welcome to the December Grocery Challenge (though I know some of you will have started already)

For those of you new to the challenge there's a helpful guide by Galtizz in the quoted section below and it goes without saying that I wish you all the very best of luck.

So I won't say it!

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 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.

SuiDreams

Giving myself a very tight budget of £170 this month, not doing an online shop this month as I think I can manage with out, so hopefully should be a bit cheaper this month.

rchddap1

Its going to be an expensive December for me. Am planning on a rather large Tesco Online shop to fill the freezer. So, if the cupboards are empty this weekend I will book it for next week. This will be the last proper chance I get to sort the shopping out before Xmas. I live in hope that I'll still come in under my £100 a month budget, but I'm not holding out much hope on this occasion.

Alfietinker

Normally spend £40 a week and have stocked up on stuff with vouchers recently. So, aiming to spend £35 a week (starting Wednesday) so we can allow £20 for nice Xmas turkey and stuff.

nabowla

My target's £80 (or £20 per week). On the plus side I'm going home for Christmas so I don't have to worry about stocking up on turkey etc. On the minus side I'm planning to have an At Home afternoon (lots of HM goodies and mulled wine) and a couple of dinner parties. I've no idea whether I'll come in, over or under budget!

lily_the_pink

Hi,

I have been meaning to do this for about 3 months - probably not the easiest month as I have my mum and my in laws coming for Christmas.

I have a seperate pot saved for Christmas spending so I am going to exclude the Christmas day meal from my monthly spend (have ordered an organic turkey so will not be cheap).

I am going to hazard a guess at £250 as we are not that well stocked up in the freezer.

:rotfl:

skylight

With the extras I need to buy (crackers, drink etc), I think I will settle for the £400 for 4 weeks.

£100 a week - for 2 adults 4 kids and a dog.

I do have money off vouchers to use, so I do think it should be a bit under that.

jcr16

well i gonna still have £200 this month. as that was a suitable amount. i am hoping to be under that but not worried if i don't. my £200 a month feeds 2 adults, 2 children ( both in nappies and one on formula milk , and 2 cats )

brummiebabe

Well I'm in again this month. Unfortunately went over budget last month, but am going to try and stick to £300 this month!

Mom & Dad are coming to ours on Christmas Day ( and they buy the turkey!), we are then off to Scotland on Boxing Day to stay with relatives for a few days- so xmas spending SHOULDN'T be too excessive (:rolleyes: )

kiwichick

Having managed to come in £20 under last month :j this months target is £380.

Burlesque_Babe

last month was my first attempt.....and I went over by about £60.....I was a bit disappointed, as I thought £250 was about right, but, what I have learnt is that I spend a small fortune on the trolley at work and so I'm going to be strict on myself - if I want something during the morning, I add it to my weekly shop rather than paying through the nose!

I'm going to go for £250 again (grocery and petrol) and see if I can stick to it this month. There are only the two of us for Christmas, so food wise it isn't a nightmare.