July 2009 Grocery Challenge

BlimusOreilly

Declaring at £192.59 for July :j:j

(£37.41 under budget)

Julimk

Declaring at £199.49.

I seem to regularly come in just pence below budget, which suggests to me that although I am able to stick to the budget I also spend what I have even if I don’t actually need to. :rolleyes:Therefore, maybe I should be trying for lower & lower again (as I did when I first started last year).

However, I am not taking part for August as we will now be away until after August’s pay day, so something to think about.

I certainly shop differently to the way I did, paying much more attention to what I am actually buying, taking advantage of special offers & whoopsies, sticking to a list etc. And I have my spending & inventory spreadsheets up & running.

cw18

Had an unscheduled NSD today..... needed potatoes for tea, but had to switch to pasta after I fell asleep around 4pm and didn't wake up until after 8pm (when the local stores close) :eek: I didn't get much sleep last night so clearly needed the nap, but DS was thrilled by the switch as he doesn't much like potatoes in any form !!

Takes me up to 18 NSDs this month - which slaughters my previous best of 15 (in May) :T I'm really impressed with this, as I didn't think I'd manage to match the 15 due to a Mr M opening just down the road from me I think it's all down to having meal planned the entire month up front, with as much of the plan as possible based around meats I already had in the freezers.

I currently have £53.76 left of my July budget, but can't declare yet as I'm off out shopping tomorrow. Need milk (the last lot I bought - on 21st - ended up lasting much longer than normal, so I ended up having to shove a litre of it into the freezer for a few days to make it last as it was dated 27th! that one was defrosted yesterday, but is now half gone), and bits for the pizzas for tomorrows tea.

But am also off to Mr T to get as much of what I need for my August meal plan as possible. I'm hoping that what I have left of the July budget will cover what I pick up tomorrow - but I also have a further £58.40 available from my first 6 GC budgets of this year, so can nudge over if necessary to get the few items I need for my cupboards that don't get bought every month (and all seem to have run out at the same time!)

Only problem is going to be lack of freezer space - which has shocked me given how much old stuff I've used from them this month, and how little Whoopsie spending I've done (the normal culprit for filling it up) But it's still Whoopsies to blame, as I managed to get 4 dozen bread rolls on mark-down....... and I still have 3 dozen of them in the freezer :rolleyes2

Barneysmom

I have £3.36 left our of this challenge. I spent £16.64 in Morrisons but this does include loads of packet of cat food that was on the reduced shelf, for my mom's cat.
I also bought some plastic cutlery and plates for our semi-planned camping trip.
There's been no cheap Gold Blend this month has there, hopefully everyone will hold out on buying till it drops in price again?

So this month I've spent £156.64 .
I think I'm failing miserably at this challenge, I'm always so close, mind you Twink's hobnobs have been amazing :cool:

fletch3163

Hello everyone

I've absolutely not been around this month, sorry. Flying by the seat of my pants this summer again with holidays and me boy goes to high school in a couple of weeks. We've also decided to go up the west coast of Scotland for a week, getting back 2 days before school starts so how's THAT for a panic.

Have just gone to the bank statement and can say that, without trying too hard, I've managed to be just over my target which I'm so happy about actually. I've spent £411, give or take and am amazed. Just goes to show that some of these habits actually rub off.

Mrs M can I please declare £411 for June and ask £400 for August. Many thanks

scrummy-mummy

Am declaring for July @ £193.16. This is £86.84 under budget as i decided to go through my freezer stocks to make up for last months overspend. I'm about even again now, so can start August with a clean slate. See you all on the next thread

pinknfluffy

Sorry! took my eye off the ball and have blown the budget... don't want to get demoralised by adding it up so think I will draw a red line under July and start again in August.

earthmother

I'm declaring for the month - still got the weekend to go, but can't see that I'll need anything more.

I've spent £401.40 - an overspend of £16.40 - but I'm happy as it's not far off - had this been term time I would have done it

Still spending more than I should on cakes, puddings and treats, but I have brought it down from last month, and again, the holidays haven't helped.

But, all in all, I'm a lot closer to target than last month, so I'm going to trim next month by the equivalent, and see if I can pull it down a bit more again

little_miss_moneysaver_3

I think i'll have to declare £182.00, not calculated to the exact penny yet but way over my target of £165. Spent a lot of fruit and veg though, need to have a separate budget for that rather than justify it cos it's "healthy."
Oh well, will do better next month...I hope

LMMS

Essex-girl_2

Hello Everyone

Can I please declare £380.34 for July :j:j