June '06 Grocery challenge

bumpybecky · 26 June 2006 at 12:50PM

couttleberry wrote:

Have read this with interest and think I'll give it a go in July. Not sure what sort of budget to set for 2 adults, 5 children and 2 cats. Do I count my chickens feed (11 chickens and 3 ducks in the total)?

AIUI it's up to you what you include or not

I've got 2 adults, 2 children (8 and 6), 1 baby (16 mo), 1 dog and 3 cats and am inclduing all food, toiletries, cleaning stuff etc and am working on £300pcm. I know we've averaged £350 per month for the last two+ years as we use MS Money to keep track of things though.

I guess it partly depends on the ages of the kids (teenagers are going to eat lot more than a 2 yo!). Do you have any idea of what you normally spend?

esthomizzy · 28 June 2006 at 1:16PM

poppycracker wrote:

I really am in awe of all of you who can budget for a family on less than £100!

Me too. Our household credit card* (there's only two of us) regularly exceeds 500 however we do eat out a few times a week and that goes on there too. Trouble is booking holidays or other joint expenditure goes on there too so last months 1000 was not truly representative. As I will be taking the holiday in July I don't think July will be representative for us either. Perhaps I'll try in August.

* We do pay it off at the end of the month honest

Bellie_2 · 28 June 2006 at 4:53PM

Ok well i have just done my last shop for this month and i am £3.50 under budget. Not sure what my next months budget should be as I am moving on the 15th to my parents till I can move onto my new house. Yay So i have to use up all the food I have here. So thinking of £5 to £10 a week till I move for fruit and veg.

nicki_2 · 29 June 2006 at 9:52AM

Although I didn't exactly stick my budget (Just add it up ... Hit £244.57 :eek::eek: But that does include £45.48 on service station food and unexpected costs ~ kind of budgeted for, I try to leave a little play room each month in my account ~ and I put another £88 of that on the credit card :eek: ) I actually had enough cash left to buy a day buspass yesterday so the money for that didn't have to come out of next months budget :T Must try harder... :rolleyes: