January 2009 Grocery Challenge

msgnomey

oops lost the plot a bit this month

I get paid next Wednesday so will start again then, I think this month's total has been ok ish!!

£252.77/ £300 and I will shop tomorrow for the week but there is plenty in the freezer so I shall only need milk and a few bits

So February will start on the 28th and my target will be £250

katholicos

rosieben wrote: »

I would say a definite yes, we shouldn't get so wrapped up in numbers/dates that we miss a good deal - if you have the money, then go for it!;)

Thank you Rosieben, i appreciate your advice. You are right that it is important to see the bigger picture, the one of feeding my children, above the numbers and dates.

Bless you!

Lynn11

Well I did my final shop today for january and I blew my budget of £200 as it stands at £211.50. At least I still managed to reduce my outgoing by under £30 as we used to spend £240 for the month. Hopefully I will only need to get some milk towards the end of the week for DD. Hopefully I can try to stick to £200 for february.

angelatgraceland

katholicos wrote: »

I've got a bit of a dilemma now. I just received a Tesco email with a code in it for £10 off my online grocery shop....but i have to order before the 1st Feb...trouble is, i don't have much money left out of current GC for Jan to do a shop. So can i do a shop for Feb this week and take the money off my allotted £280 GC for Feb, rather than add it on to my Jan spends? I know it's cheeky, but i have worked so hard all this month to come in under my Jan £320 GC budget...but i just can't afford to lose £10 off an online shop as it will pay for the delivery cost and some towards grocery's.

What do you all think?

Technically i have enough food right up until 31st Jan so wouldn't be eating the Feb grocery shop anyway. I'd like some advice as this is my first month doing the challenge and i don't know what i should do.

Thanks in advance.

Yes-you go for it! :T You have to do what is most economic and what works for you! We all start our challenges at different points in the month and a few people do exactly what you are suggesting-sometimes splitting the purchase over a few months-especially if its costco or somewhere. I also did this with one of my orders-I split it over 2 weeks as I was in same situation as you. That is why Ive now adopted an annual budget-it will even itself out. Just be strict with yourself and keep note of it-not to be forgotten in February.

415SanFran

I did my first shop of the month, as I go weekly.
Mr M has both rice pasta, and tuna half price so I bought 12 of all three (should last us about 12 months)
I also bought a load of seeds from wilkinsons, fruit bushes and the like and sprouts, sweetcorn zucchini, tomato. Not sure wether or not to put that into the food allowance as it is "going" to be food hopefully.
what do others do about this?

ifonlyitwaseasier

evening all,

JENNYBEE - CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!


so i'm declaring on £80 (just to round it up a little) and am setting next month at the same £100, am trying to keep us under £1200 for the year for food so that was a good start!

ioiwe x

Frugaldom

Just popping in to confirm that I got 12 portions of soup, 2 large family-sized pies and enough extra meat to make the sweet & sour from the second turkey drumstick, so will certaily not be passing up on these anytime I get the chance to buy some. I'm pretty well stocked up after the stockpiling purchases this month but have been debating about one major issue - MILK! I use mostly powdered milk for cooking but we like fresh milk for cereal, however, it costs £1.07 for a litre carton from our nearest shop and, despite liking the theory of supporting local small businesses, it is impossible to do so. Now I am wondering what's the most expensive litre of milk available? (Cow's milk, whole or semi-skimmed.) Anyone?

Rachel021967

OH spent £4.89 on sweets and £29.20 on an English/Chinese takeaway. Daughter has a friend over and she said her friend likes takeaways. Turns out friend likes homecooked food. I think daughter was trying it on. Total food spend today £34.09. Total overspend: £123.08

mouseymousey99

I am way over budget!! But - I have learned a lot from this thread to thank you so much everyone. One lady in particular (I'm so sorry I can't remember your name) gave (me) a really good tip - forgetting the 'favourites' bit when doing the Tesco shop. Its saved me a bundle. Have just aquired a new fridge/freezer (Tesco again, in the sale) so busy filling it up. Although I have spent oodles we are eating really well, and I haven't thrown food away for ages - which I hate having to do. I've stuck to big shops rather than popping out for bits and bobs (always fatal for me).
Mx

katholicos

angelatgraceland wrote: »

Yes-you go for it! :T You have to do what is most economic and what works for you! We all start our challenges at different points in the month and a few people do exactly what you are suggesting-sometimes splitting the purchase over a few months-especially if its costco or somewhere. I also did this with one of my orders-I split it over 2 weeks as I was in same situation as you. That is why Ive now adopted an annual budget-it will even itself out. Just be strict with yourself and keep note of it-not to be forgotten in February.

angelatgraceland, thanks so much for this advice. I hadn't thought of doing a annual budget but that is a very good idea indeed! I shall think about that when my income is a bit more settled.

Rightio then, i will consider myself still in budget for January and do the Tesco shop and then knock that amount i spend off what i am allowing myself for February. Thanks for helping me make my mind up, your help is very much appreciated!

:A