June '06 Grocery challenge

Pink.

Hello everyone

Another new month is about to start, for most of us, while others of you are already well into things.

As always this challenge is to reduce your own grocery budget to levels that you will be pleased with, not forgetting that we always recommend that you stay inside your own comfort levels and take things gently one step at a time.

If you are new to the challenge I have quoted the advice from Galtizz below which will help you get started.

Good luck to everyone. Please post into this thread for help and advice and support at any time.

Good luck !!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Galtizz

I have said this before, but for all the newbies to the challenge;

For the first month I took a guess at the budget but I really had no idea how much I was spending.

I found the best thing is to have a guess the first month but SAVE ALL OF YOUR RECEIPTS (and yes, that does include the ones from the local shop when you run out of milk ), then at the end of the month add them all up and have a look if you were on budget, if not, it doesn't matter because your budget was a guess. For the next month you can use the total of your receipts and take a bit off to get a realistic budget, just shave off as much as you think you can, it could be £1 a week or £20 a week.

If you are currently spending £200 a month don't suddenly drop it to £100 - you'll never do it but if you cut £20 a month off for a few months you'll get there eventually without feeling you're missing out on anything.

You might think you've done everything you can in the first month but someone always comes up with a new idea and, if you try it you often find you save a bit more (unless you are SarahSaver who is an expert at this and could only save more if she turned her back garden into a paddy field and lived on rice ) In the first month I thought, I'm planning meals, I couldn't possibly save any more, but then I started double cooking and freezing, and making soup instead of buying it in tins.

I've been doing this since Feb but only saved ALL of my receipts last month, it has given me a much better idea of where it is all going. Budget for next month is £80 for 2 of us, I'll start on 30/4. I could probably save more, by eating different foods but I can afford to live on £80, I have saved a lot of money since Feb. and I don't waste food or money any more. So I'm happy with my budget.

catznine

A three week month again for me (1 week hol) so I am aiming for £50 a week again (hopefully lots less) so total of £150. Finished last month with £28 over.:j Have already spent £20 from June budget - £130 to go!

redballoon_2

I'm going to give this ago.

I did junes food shopping yesterday and spend 32.00 of my 95.00 budget.
Managed to get two weeks worth of meals form tesco and iceland!!
was quite pleased with my efforts!

poppycracker

Well, last month was a disaster due to uncontrolled OH spending money all over the place again... HOWEVER...we're going to be living on fresh air by the end of next month if he doesn't stick to our budget so by hook or by crook I'm gonna get him to stick to it!!!!!!!!!!! Think I might increase it a tiny bit to £160.

Wish me luck! Please! I feel like I'm the only one trying to save money in this house.

joannasmum

Ok Really tight month.

Junes budget is £150 for 3 adults, 1 toddler and a cat. Not as bad as it sounds as the freezer is full to the top so it should only be fruit, veg and milk.

CosmoCat

I'm in on this one!!

thank you for this. I'm watching the old style board like a hawk now, trying to figure out how to do a menu plan.

£150 budget (down from £250) set. I'm also on the benefits challenge so this will give me something to focus on.

thanks guys

Katharine

My old monthly grocery bill was £200+ (including beer) for the both of us, going to be careful and see what I can get it down to this month.

Boswell_2

Good luck everyone!

I'm in again with a budget of £300 for two adults and a cat.

helen81_2

count me in. £130 budget for 2 adults, 2 kids, 2 cats and a dog!

feeling quietly confident

nicnacnoo

evening all i would like to join...:T
After finding you a few weeks ago i decided to keep a track of what i was spending and im horrified to see ive spent £107.54 in 15 days :eek:
Ive noticed as well that i buy something nearly every day!
theres only me, my 2 year old that doesnt eat that much and my 8 week old baby so just nappies and milk for him.
ill be having a 5 week month from 31st May - 28th June so going by my normal ways that should be around £250 so ill aim for £220 in 5 weeks. I hope that sounds realistic enough?
Nic

fredsgirl

I don't know how this works do we just post and then at the end of the month
tell everyone how we have done or do people post tips on best buys etc
I am new and I am still trying to find out how I keep track of my posts and threads that I want to track