December 2008 Grocery Challenge

AlwaysHappy

I feel like crying today - I'd already gone over on my budget this month - and still haven't got my christmas day food, BUT my Mum is staying with us and she likes a pudding, and supper every night!!! Also in my defence my freezer is full to bursting - couldn't even put a yellow sticker in there! Today however has been a disaster - a friend phoned last night and said she would pop over for the Christmas present swop - and could she impose on me for lunch - she's quite well to do and I went into complete panic - rushed to M&S, spent £32.05 - yes, £32.05 and all I have left to show for it is an uponed packet of ham and a packet of biscuits - the rest was lunch. Feel like such a failure - have been really trying to save and in one fell swoop I have spent 2/3 of my weekly budget on 1 meal!!!! Think I need to go for some councelling.

savingfortravel

Always Happy

If it was me, I would put it down to experience. Really enjoy the rest of that gorgeous M and S food.

Then make up a plan for what you would do next time...Maybe buy the odd non-perishable item from M and S and put a small amount of contingency money aside for fresh items.

Could you bake something delicious and put it in the freezer for such emergencies (provided there is time to defrost).

Don't give up..we've all made mistakes... but we live and learn...

SFT

Nikkei

I've sat and read through the thread that was started in 06 on feeding an adult on £12.50 a week. Well the thread has come to a standstill in July and it's left me wondering, 'Is it possible to stick to a budget of £12.50 a person in this current climate?'

I've made a plan to go and buy a years supply of...

Toothpaste
Shampoo
Conditioner
Shower Gel
Shaving Foam
Deodorant
Dishwasher Tablets
Washing up Liquid
Washing Liquid
Dettol
Baby Wipes

As we have a Makro card and get it a bit cheaper for buying in bulk. I'm going to divide the total cost between 52 weeks and minus this from each weeks budget (£25 a week)

I'm hoping for a food budget of no more than £20's a week, £10 of which goes on 1 veg box and 1 fruit box. The contents are more or less the same and I can request specific produce. I usually get...


VEG BOX
Lettuce
Half a Cucumber
Punnet of tomatos
Spring onions
Carrots
Potatos
Leeks
Squash
Apples
Oranges
Banana's

FRUIT BOX
Plums
Oranges
Apples
Pears
Banana's
Grapes
Pineapples/Melon

That leaves around £10 for everything else, but what should be everything else? I've order the Delia Smith Frugal book but what do you do????

So not only am I asking you can you still feed 1 mouth for £12.50 a week, but can you feed 3 mouths for £6.72 each a week.

All and any help really appreciated.

Many Thanks

Nikkei

lola34

Not going to bad but i think theres a few sneaky reciepts I have still to unearth but not big ones- did lots of baking last week and so it was all bits and bobs for that.

however I did win a hamper in a raffle- spent £2 on tickets and must have got £15 worth of food:T Yeah me- never normally win anything must remember to put the lottery on for tomorrow- you never know:p

Unfortunately though the fridge is starting to look a bit bare but don't want to shop yet as it will all get eaten:rotfl:

Always Happy don't feel bad I've done the same- but I bet it tasted good!!

JennyBee_2

Just rearranging my veg plot plan for next year to include more potatoes! Treated myself to a "Grow your own" magazine the other day and apparently due to new legislation being brought in with regards to pesticides that can be used, the average price of potatoes will go from £1.60 to nearly £5.94 for 2.5kg by the end of 2009!!!

gailey_2

scotsaver can I reaadjust now? seems like cheating but i been so unrealistic.
I need at least another £50 as not got bird yet where can I buy cheapest free range bird?
I was doing so well knew i shouldent have let hubby go to iceland.
Confession used to work 4them and everythings gone up and everything smaller.

Oh tonite says wish we had xmas cake and xmas pud but cant afford makes me feel bad!


milk/egss used to be £1 now 1.25
grocery itrems including jars and tins stupidly expensive
hardly any bogoffs
frozen sausage rolls used to be 100 now 80
sandwich fillers and chese smaller in weight
turkey crowns gone up stupid amounts thiy rea now 17 used to be 12/13quid for turkey crown few years back.

must be saving money as all that money they paying collen kerry and jason!
I kid u not bonus one year was signed copy of kerry katona autobiograhy still cant flog it on ebay!

I think dec definatly hardest gc months of all.
Akways happy dont beat yourself up every year up until now we done m&s shop as love their partyfaryre and if u look around some good deals.
Like dine for £10 or 20%off and lots of 3 for 2s

donnajt

DECEMBER WEEK 2 & 3 - why has everything suddenly jumped up in price again?

Week 2 £39.64 (£189.44 remaining)
Week 3 £56.13 Mr T online (but that's nearly all my xmas dinners minus the TURKEY!) (£133.31 eek!)

I may have to "up" my December Shopping as I am now having to cook Boxing Day for in laws (DON'T ASK was REALLY looking forward to being pampered at my mum's!)

recovering_spendaholic

We are also a family of three (although on at least 1 night a week my sister eats at our house, plus DD1's bf on several evenings) and I know that I could not do it. I spend £6 a week on milk, £2 on butter/spread, aprroximately £3 on bread and that is already over the limit!

rosieben

December is the worst month of the year for trying to stick to a grocery budget. Please cut yourselves some slack and up your total if you need to and are able.

MrsM hope you're feeling better very soon. We've missed you!

I spent £3.80 on milk and eggs yesterday. Won't be spending anymore until next week when I do my final shop for fresh stuff and more milk so I'm doing ok at the moment

[Deleted User]

Went into Tescos today ,didn't buy anything ,just checking the prices.Value oats have jumped up in price from 47-51 for 500g to 87p that's a bit of a jump in a fortnight .The yogurts have gone up in price as well. I like to keep and eye on the prices and if I think its too much I just substitute for something else.Didn't spend any cash though, just looking around. Isn't soap powder expensive I buy Tesco's own make liquid detergent in a bottle and its usually about £2.89, but that has gone up in price again so I will be having a rethink before I buy my next lot I may go back to half powder half washing soda.I may have a ride down to Lidls or aldis and check out their prices. I only have my washing machine on once a week as I live alone and don't have a lot of washing. If its only a few bits I can run them through myself in half an hour and it saves putting the machine on for only the odds and ends.
well time to toddle of to bed
night all,JackieO xx