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June 2009 Grocery Challenge

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  • Herewegoagain
    Herewegoagain Posts: 2,370 Forumite
    Debt-free and Proud!
    WOW JackieO
    That's fantanstic, not only how you stretch your meals:A but also the stamina for doing all that typing:rotfl::rotfl:

    PennyPincher
    Some more good info there thanks:D

    Nicelandguy
    Lucky you with the reduced items, if your choosey, you can do very well there. Just follw the good advice on here:Dgoodluck

    Xspender
    I think smaller shops are better, you're not so tempted with inpulse buying, and I always bulk cook and freeze, it's not only cheaper but also less time consuming in the long run:D:j
    hello everyone i used to post on here - did have a yearly budget which i as sticking to but then had my baby and lost track - so was thinking i will go back to mthly! Will be reading the rest of this mths and join in on julys. Just wanted to say hello again and hope your all getting onok with your targets. :)

    Hiya, welcome back I have only recently returned but have kept up with the challenge anyway. Like you I am offically back for july so good luck to us both:D

    HWGA xx
    lost 3stin 4mnths GC nov£90/£51.65 July£100/£97.67 Aug£90/£18.59
    LBM Nov05 Loan £4910.65 Paid April07 sealed pot challenge#256
    Nov06 CC £2,590.56 Paid aug07 + Savings07/08 Night Owl 22#
    Mortgage £87,000/£84,000/ £82,261.00/£81,785.30 £80,268/£75402.00/£71229.15 DFW NERD 987 Long Haul member 125 debt free 24th aug 07
  • cw18
    cw18 Posts: 8,630 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Next biggest spend was on milk - £65.27 on approx 112litres - which equates to 0.8litres (1.4 pints) each per day - which is higher than I'd like, but not overly excessive seeing as the kids will choose it over other drinks most times, and hubby is a big milk drinker too. I reckon I can cut 20-25% off if I'm careful - which with the 'treats' pretty much gives me this month's overspend.
    I don't know how old your kids are, but that doesn't sound a totally overboard figure on milk in terms of quantity. So far this month I've bought 18 litres of milk (and need to go out for more today), which equates to 0.72 litres a day. This is for me (a smigden in my cuppas, but a pint will last me more than a week for this!), DS (who's 18 next month), and the odd bowl of cereal for my GDs after school when they decide to have a change from toast (normally once a week). So the majority of that milk has been drunk by DS, putting him pretty close to your family average.

    I do use slightly more 'milk' than that implies, as I prefer soya milk on my cereal. If I used standard milk, then I'd increase fresh milk slightly (though still nowhere near double).
    Cheryl
  • Jedilibrarian
    Jedilibrarian Posts: 119 Forumite
    edited 25 June 2009 at 11:51AM
    :T to JackieO- that is amazing!!!!

    Welcome back to mummy2mygirls :hello:

    I am declaring £119.46 for June, still not under target but better than last month! I really need to get meal planning as I think this is whats holding me back. I am going to try for £100 for July.

    Hope everyone else is pleased with their efforts, and if not there is always next month! :D
  • earthmother
    earthmother Posts: 2,563 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture
    cw18 wrote: »
    I don't know how old your kids are, but that doesn't sound a totally overboard figure on milk in terms of quantity. So far this month I've bought 18 litres of milk (and need to go out for more today), which equates to 0.72 litres a day. This is for me (a smigden in my cuppas, but a pint will last me more than a week for this!), DS (who's 18 next month), and the odd bowl of cereal for my GDs after school when they decide to have a change from toast (normally once a week). So the majority of that milk has been drunk by DS, putting him pretty close to your family average.

    I do use slightly more 'milk' than that implies, as I prefer soya milk on my cereal. If I used standard milk, then I'd increase fresh milk slightly (though still nowhere near double).

    The kids are 8,5 and 3 - I've always worked on the 'pint a day' idea, and thinking about it, if I actually looked at what everyone uses, I reckon the kids are about there, and I know I rarely break half a pint as I only have it on cereal - it's hubby who consumes the most - I've known him clear a 6pt bottle on his own in a day - so I need to retrain him, lol

    :)
    DFW Nerd no. 884 - Proud to [strike]be dealing with[/strike] have dealt with my debts
  • Hi sorry i havent posted on this board before. I was wondering if i could join for July? I dont know how it works, will there be a new thread or does this one carry one?

    There are two adults and a baby in our house. I do try to do meal plans and cook from scratch (especially as i'm now cooking for DS so like to know what's in his food) but somehow the shopping bill is still always about £80 per week and I'm forever throwing fruit and veg away :mad:. The £80 does include absolutely everything including nappies, wipes, toiletries for us, cleaning products etc. But i still think it's way too much so I think the challenge of this might help me get my bum in gear :o

    If anyone's got any tips on how I can cut back then that'd be great.

    Thanks
  • cw18
    cw18 Posts: 8,630 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 25 June 2009 at 1:46PM
    Hi Willpowerfree - and welcome aboard both MSE and the GC (grocery challenge) :T

    There is a new thread each month, which goes up in the dying days of the previous month. So the July thread will appear some time in the next few days.

    You need to set your own personal target - this can be 'human food' only (like mine), or include all pet foods and household cleaning etc (like many others). Once you've decided on your target post it on here (preferably in a larger font, and in bold red so it will be spotted) and MrsMc will add you to the list of participants.

    Then at the end of your personal month post how you did the same way.

    Feel free to come and chat/report yoru progress during the month - but this is done in general text.

    Some people run a budget for a calendar month, some run a pay month (which can even be mid-month to mid-month), and others are running weekly or annual budgets.

    ...... and I'm forever throwing fruit and veg away :mad:.
    Do you have a freezer? I never throw veg away anymore, as I just prep and freeze anything that ends up 'lurking' ;)
    Cheryl
  • xx_Jo_xx
    xx_Jo_xx Posts: 2,858 Forumite
    Uniform Washer
    edited 25 June 2009 at 1:52PM
    Hi All - I joined this thread a while back and lost my way - but Im part time at work now and really need to cut back what Im spening in Supermarkets.

    I dont spend lots on food, but am very guilty of not sticking to my list, buying clothes, CD's or housey-stuff......and I cant resist a bargain.....the only problem there is, I probably didnt really need it, so it wasnt much of a bargain at all.

    I have full cupboards and freezers and a full fridge (at the moment). Today is payday for me, so my month starts today!!

    MRS M. Can I join in for July please and budget to be £100? Thank you :D

    Hopefully, I can get buy on fresh fruit and milk...... and will need toilet roll and washing powder but hopefully £100 will be MORE than enough!!! (she says :rolleyes:)

    Thanks all xx


    ETA - just so you all know - I am feeding me, and my seven year old son who has hollow legs. That budget includes all cleaning products, toiletries, etc. We eat all meals at home (i.e. no breakfast club at school), and we both take pack ups to work/school. I cook mostly from scratch; I will use the odd packet of cheese sauce (cos my own is always awful) but I will buy the odd pizza etc. Im a single mum who works, so unfortunately not able to hand cook ALL meals from scratch all the time. xx
    :)Sometimes lurking, sometimes posting, but always flying:)
    You are supposed to be the leading lady of your own life, for God's sake! - The Holiday
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  • Thanks cw18. I think as I'm spending around £80 per week i'll try reducing it just a bit this time and see how i get on. Then next month I'll have a better idea of what to aim for.

    So please could I aim for £325 for july? I know that sounds high but it includes everything including nappies, toiletries, cleaning stuff etc.

    I do have a freezer - when you say you prepare and freeze vegetables do you mean you cook them or just cut them up? Sorry, I'm a bit clueless when it comes to cooking :o. Before I had DS my idea of cooking from scratch was opening a jar of curry sauce. But I am trying to get my head round it and can throw together a pasta sauce from scratch without a recipe now (this is an achievement for me :rolleyes:).
  • :hello: to the newbies and returnees :)

    Did my first wee shop of the month today and got some bargains I thought I would share with you all.

    Iceland:
    Triple Velvet loo rollx12 £4!
    Quorn chicken pieces 50% extra free on regular size £2!
    12 Kingsmill rolls for £1

    Well done Iceland :D
  • cw18
    cw18 Posts: 8,630 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I do have a freezer - when you say you prepare and freeze vegetables do you mean you cook them or just cut them up?
    Mushrooms, peppers and onions I chop/slice and freeze in their raw state

    Brocolli, cauli and carrots I chop, dunk in boiling water for a couple of mins (blanche), drain, rinse with cold water, allow to cool completely and then freeze.

    I tray freeze all of them before bagging them, as this stops them 'clumping' as much ;)
    Sorry, I'm a bit clueless when it comes to cooking :o. Before I had DS my idea of cooking from scratch was opening a jar of curry sauce. But I am trying to get my head round it and can throw together a pasta sauce from scratch without a recipe now (this is an achievement for me :rolleyes:).
    That's one better than me :T
    Cheryl
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