December 2008 Grocery Challenge

mama67

Can I declare December at £193.00.

Will only need some extra milk and bread rolls and have savings stamps can use for those.

I would also like to be included for January at £150 am also in the 2009 4k challenge but at a higher amount. I have worked out how much I have to spend during the year on groceries and that breaks down to the monthly amount above.

Happy Birthday Mrs M, and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

WelshWoofer

Just popping in to update the totals - I'm officially over budget by a few pounds but nothing too drastic. I'm actually quite happy with the outgoings this month considering the Xmas rush and general mayhem. I'm doing battle in Mr Ts on Tuesday afternoon (should anyone care to join me!) for the fresh stuff for Christmas and then that should be it for the month - its from a diffrent budget though so this month's total shouldn't be affected. We always have plenty of leftovers to get us through a few days after Christmas and tend to eat out a bit.


I'm starting my new month on 29th Dec and running through to the 30th January so its a 5 week month for me. Therefore I'll be upping the budget to £200 and hoping to spend less (maybe trying to cap it at £160ish but with the rest for contingencies). I'm sure we'll have the " must go on a diet!" January so it'll be lots of fruit and veg and no naughty foods - although we'll still be eating tne rubbish left over from Xmas!

So Mrs M £200 for January please, when you get around to doing the list.

Thanks for all of your help through this year - am planning an even bigger effort next year.
Have a very happy Christmas, see you in the New Year!

cw18

rachelmk wrote: »

I'm doing battle in Mr Ts on Tuesday afternoon (should anyone care to join me!) for the fresh stuff for Christmas

I'm hitting Mr A early tomorrow morning - but am likely to have a shopping list for DD as well as us Elder DS is departing on 27th to visit friends over New Year before returning to barracks, so that means I shouldn't need too much for the rest of the month (and my milk bill should halve :T )

Then I'm out late morning/early afternoon at a Christmas party for some 'oldies' along with DD and my GDs, then I get a few hours "off" before heading back to help with the "oldies" Christmas Dinner (tomorrow evening). Then home to collect a couple of bikes that need dropping off at DDs (after GDs are in bed), then hopefully I'll have enough energy to make it to Midnight Mass. I used to go every year, but it's quite a while (2001!) since I've been - I've been staying home and watching on TV, but feel an urge to go to the church this year.


I'm hoping to have my January budget started before 1st Jan, but it all depends on getting DDs budget complete before then so I know how many I'm cooking for when :rolleyes:

LOUBOB

Hi
I have been lurking for a while and thought I would join in Jan 09 if thats o.k with you.....thanks for all your inspiration, I have already been keeping my receipts and diary for December but getting a little confused just taking out the food costs....my cupboards are pretty bare as we have been doing the storecupboard challenge....so for my first month its going to be slightly guesswork.

£150 for Jan 2009 :money:

Does this sound too much for me and DS who is 9...... any guidance would be great.

many thanks

OrkneyStar

MrsM,
Gonna start the new year with shiny new budget which WE WILL STICK TO.
I have done the whole year budget!
Can you put me down for £171.67 for January please. Hoping to be within in that, as we will have loads of freezer stuff full. I am not keeping a 'to the last penny' total, just down to the closest £ or so, and grocery money, as usual, will be kept in a separate purse. Anything left in the bank at the end of the month will go to savings and loose change will go to DS's bank. My Jan starts on 29/12/08. Have said it already but
:xmastree: MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE :xmastree:

findingmyfeet

hi all,
well not done too badly and have managed to come in under budget for december- DECLARING AT £ 363.08 FOR DECEMBER.

wOULD REALLY LIKE TO TIGHTEN THIS UP NOW AS I TOO HAVE JOINED THE LIVE ON £4K A YEAR CHALLENGE , HOPING TO DO THE WEEKLY SHOP FOR AROUND £65 A WEEK BUT HAVE TO SEE HOW JANUARY WORKS OUT.

Not here after xmas( going on hols) but will be back with everyone after 5/01/09.
MRS MC CAN YOU PLEASE PUT ME IN FOR £260 FOR JANUARY
(AND A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU )

off to take so stuff out of the freezer ready for tomorrows dinner. good luck everyone for the new year and a very merry christmas to you all

cw18

LOUBOB wrote: »

Does this sound too much for me and DS who is 9...... any guidance would be great.

I'm going to be working on £1.80/day each for me and DS (19), which means for just the two of us my January budget would be £111.60. (But I have other meals to provide for GDs when they're here around school, so that's not yet my definitive budget)

However I use a LOT of Whoopsie goods -- especially meats -- and this makes a HUGE difference to my bills.

In October (when I was also catering for DH) my £1.80/day/person would have given me a budget of £167.40 (though I'd set it to £145) - and I declared a spend of £121.50. But of that money £47.20 was spent on Whoopsies, and I calculated the full value of my shopping (if I'd bought the same items but with no Whoopsies) to be £234.24 :eek:

It was quite an eye-opener to me, and shows just what savings are out there if you have the time (and energy) to do battle around the markdown shelves :T

kayharcombe

MrsM,

I am going to declare December at 390.64, out of 400 budget. I did spend the odd pound here and there not included, and some of groceries were for mum which she paid me for, so its a round about figure.

It was my first month, and christmas too, but was hoping to come way under, have never really kept track before and its a bit of an eyeopener when you add up all the trips ot shops, rather than 1 weekly delivery and thinking you did good.

I am in for the 4k this year so really need to get groceries down a lot, I did buy a 5kg gammon joint which im cooking today, to get me ahead on cooked meat for next month. Hope everyone has a lovely christmas, and new year, roll on january (just so i can do better next month)

Kay

belfastgirl23

Just dropping in to declare another £53.57 spent making a total so far of £178.63. I reckon I'll have another £20 to spend in M&S since I have one of their £5 off vouchers. i have a chance of coming in around budget but wouldn't be surprised if I went a bit over. Still we had a very sad and sudden bereavement this week and there were some extra costs associated with this in terms of food. And other costs which thank god I have some savings I can use towards - I've never been involved in the financial side of death before and it is expensive!! Anyhow it both made me very grateful that I got a grip on my finances so I could afford to help and simultaneously made me realise that money isn't everything....

Hope everyone else is doing ok.

turbo5019

Happy Birthday Mrs M :bdaycake:
I have failed to keep track of my spending in dec but I know I am under with DH having to come home early to help me with DD who is not very well everything has gone to pot. But I am not worried as I have saved so much since stating the GC back in May so thanks for all your help and advice. So Merry Xmas to everyone.:xmastree:
MRS M can you put me down for £150 for Jan thanks for all your work.