November 2009 Grocery Challenge

scotmumof3

HI I would like to set my budget at £240 this month please Did ok last month but mum was sick and I went to look after her for couple of weeks leaving DH and kids on their own . Will do better this month:o

Curlytop40

Hi all, I've spent £29.53 in waitrose this morning-all my catfood for the month as its on offer, and £3.08 in Mr S. I'll need some fruit and veg on monday (from netto) and some basics gammon to cook for packed lunches and will possibly need milk by wednesday. Apart from that-IF I stick to my mealplan we shouldn't need anything else until my new week starts next friday, though we may go swimming and have lunch out on monday. £20 should easily cover the rest of this week.
I'm writing this down in the hope that I won't spend on anything else.
I MUST stick to a tight budget this month so I can pay CC off in full and increase my standing orders to savings accounts next month.

indiasdad

Hi Everyone,
I'm not sure if everybody knows about it or not but I've just had the weekly email from lovemoney giving a roundup of all the food deals in the various supermarkets. I can't post a link because I'm still a new user but if you go to lovemoney.com and look under Article Archives you'll see it under shopping 2009 articles (It's called 'Frugal Food')


There seems to be a few good offers this week, especially the half price mince and cheese.

Anyway, hopefully someone else will be able to make use of it as well :j

jc2703

Hello

Did the big shop today and spent loads but i should only need 'fridge' and veg for a couple of weeks

J x

MC_Emily_2

Right, I'm joining in!! I'd like to set my budget for £250, which I should easily smash!! There's just me and my husband and I'm allowing for food, toiletries and household items. I'm not including my dogs and cats as we have a farm and I see them as part of the livestock. I already have 2 chickens, 1 turkey, loads of pork and some mutton in the freezer.

YIKES!!! Just had to add to the above paragraph that because I see dogs and cats as livestock it doesn't mean I'm going to eat them!!! It just means I don't count their food as household stuff

So, now what do I do? I gather I add up everything we spend at the shops but what do i with the figures? Do I 'report' them every so often? If so, how often? Or do I just give the figure at the end of the month?

Alos, what do all these things mean in peoples' signatures? DH DS1 DS2 DS-D DS-S DD??

Thanks everyone....I think I might enjoy this!!

highland_fling_2

hi everyone,

welcome to all the newbies.
DS,DD etc stand for "dear son", dear daughter" etc and their position in family.
Most people keep receipts or a running total of spends and some post total in their signature. However you can just post it at the end of the month on thread. It is really just so that you can be aware of how much you are spending and if you are keeping within your budget.

Hope everyone is having a frugal Saturday.

helen_jelly

MC_Emily wrote: »

Right, I'm joining in!! I'd like to set my budget for £250, which I should easily smash!! There's just me and my husband and I'm allowing for food, toiletries and household items. I'm not including my dogs and cats as we have a farm and I see them as part of the livestock. I already have 2 chickens, 1 turkey, loads of pork and some mutton in the freezer.

YIKES!!! Just had to add to the above paragraph that because I see dogs and cats as livestock it doesn't mean I'm going to eat them!!! It just means I don't count their food as household stuff

So, now what do I do? I gather I add up everything we spend at the shops but what do i with the figures? Do I 'report' them every so often? If so, how often? Or do I just give the figure at the end of the month?

Alos, what do all these things mean in peoples' signatures? DH DS1 DS2 DS-D DS-S DD??

Thanks everyone....I think I might enjoy this!!

DH = Dear Husband
DS1 = Dear son 1
DS-D = Dear step-daughter
DD = dear daughter
DW = Dear wife [not dish washer] :rotfl:
GD = grand daughter

Post your totals as you want to, there is no set rule, its whatever helps you that counts. I post everytime I shop and then its easier to keep track off what I'm doing.
Please don't try to smash your total, try to come in under it :rotfl:

Have fun
Helen x

ariarnia

Went out to dinner today, paid for out of the MIL's contribution as she wanted to go to spoons to meet some people and wanted to eat once we go there.

this is going to push my meal plan back a bit, but not to far as she decided she's changed her mind about going away tomorrow so now wants us to cook for her unexpectedly...

I think I'm learning what parents with teenagers feel when they say they're like a b&b:rolleyes:

Tonight we spent £15.95 on dinner for 3 adults, and 8.97 on deserts for 2 (I didn't want one)

Thats a total of 24.92 making my total 27.42 :rolleyes:

I haven't even been to the supermarket yet this month!:rotfl:

Oh, and also a bar of choc from the local market 350g for £1.50 to be used to make cristmas chocolates.

Rachel021967

I always fail miserably but I would be pleased to come in at around £450.

scotrae

Hello Folks! My boys are going to find this painful but we're back on the MSE-GC as of 1st November (besides trying to reinvent myself in terms of health, organisation and homeliness after losing my job).

We did pretty well with the GC last year but my sons have both discovered mighty appetites since then (and in fairness I've been eating everything in sight for the past 6 months too!). Working long hours and Mr S opening a shiny new store nice and close has resulted in lazy shopping habits too.

I think I'm going to be brave and say £200 for the month, which will mean working our way through lots of cupboard goodies and hopefully clearing the freezer. I've stocked up on my Poundland tinfoil freezer trays and the butchers at our local farmshop are doing half price minced beef (besides their usual 3 for 2 if it's a 'whoopsie' and they freeze it). At least now that I'm without a job I can focus on frugal catering!

I need to get some groceries in tomorrow for starters. Here goes!