Hi, I'm new xx

moneysavingmaia

right - have now added grocery challenge - £135 for a month - i dont really have any idea what i am doing - we will brobably be starving by 15th !!

poorandindenial

Don't worry, the fellow challengers will sort you out. Time to get meal planning and it is only a matter of minutes before you know what a rubber chicken is (if you don't already)

moneysavingmaia

Is it best to just draw out £135 and use this cash throughout the month ? How hard can i make this seem ?? Practice makes perfect i suppose !! i figure if i can practice for the last two months of the year i will know where i stand come January 2009 !!

poorandindenial

When I am being good and sticking to my budget (been a bit slack of late) then I tend to draw out in cash the amount that will see me through the week on a Thursday (so that I can go out over the weekend) and then whatever is left over I live off (some weeks are a festival of pasta and pesto) but I don't have anyone else but me to feed so I can get away with it.

If I took out the whole month in one go I would probably be eating air for most of the month as I don't have a massive amount of self control but you just have to do whatever suits you, try it a few ways until you find what suits you best.

Nomad25

practice for the last two months of the year i will know where i stand

Only you will know what works best for you - they say practice makes perfect [I wish] :rolleyes:.

tealady

Hi. A spending diary is my most useful tool. Also NSD's are good too.
How about trying the store cupboard challenge for one week? That might help with the "What to eat" thoughts.

moneysavingmaia

if i have a no spend day does going out in the car count as spending if i am using petrol ?

Nichelette

I personally wouldn't count petrol, but it's up to you in the end. Good luck

moneysavingmaia

ok, so have spent 38.13 of grocery budget already, surely thats not good on first day ????

Primula

Hi moneysavingmanie
Just wanted to say hello and I am also new here, but like yourself, have been "lurking" for a while reading the forums and getting quite addicted to some of the stories. Absolutely amazing and such wonderful tips and advice. I too have already put a lot of stuff into practice from tips received here and plan to stay around now as I want to clear my debts and stop throwing money away too. I have also joined the grocery challenge and have already spent a good chunk of my monthly budget too on day one! However, I am really going to try hard not to overspend it and plan to try out some of the receipes on other boards too. Anyway good luck to fellow "newbie"!
xx