June '06 Grocery challenge

Kazonline

I think I should rename myself 'spend-a-lot-on-not-a-lot':rotfl:
As I have said in another post my spending seems to be very high compared to everyone else...
So, for me the challenge is to stick within my £125 grocery spend (weekly ahem:o ))for me, 3 sons (16,12 and 7) and dog. I'll make sure I don't go over this and see how well I can do inside this. Freezer is not very well stocked thanks to DS accidentally leaving it open:eek:
My grocery allowance is my 'housekeeping' so incorporates everything bar petrol and bills - is that how everyone else does it?
Cheers all, and good luck -
Kaz x

biglass

Hi all! I am a totally new girl to this website and am taking up the challenge as our food and booze outgoings for our family of 5(2 toddlers who don't eat much and greedy teenager)-sometimes it's been £800!!!!So my challenge is to make it £80 per week for us and make more use of the wonderful Lidl,start cooking more instead of grabbing stuff from supermarket,etc.OH and I work shifts round each other so that we don't have to worry about childcare ,which is great ,but has kind of shot organised eating and cooking out of the window-but need to take control now as or food bills are extortionate!!!Any advice gratefully received!!

wanna-be-mortgage-free_2

Giving it a go this month again. Set my budget at £200 for two adults, a toddler and a baby. Have a lot in the freezer so hoping to use it all up before having to get any additional items. Goodness knows what meals the DH and kids will be eating this week :rotfl:

Mint1955

What do we include in the budget? Food obviously but what about cleaning stuff toilet rolls etc?
We are 2 adults and 2 teenagers (who eat as adults) a dog and a cat.

3 people take packed lunch the other eats for free at work lunchtime does anyone else have the same dynamics for me to comapare spends with?
Sheila in Kent

bluekp

Hi everyone, I'm new to this challenge and also new to grocery shopping. OH and I have just moved into our newly renovated house after living with my parents for the past year.

We stocked up the freezer last month so this will be our first real month trying to stick to a budget.

I had originally budgeted £125 pcm for the two of us but having read what other people are achieving on here, I've reduced it to £100 so will see how we go.

Spend so far £4.67 (month runs 25th to 25th)

Good luck everyone, keep up the good work!

ps Anything we manage to save is going towards our Honeymoon so I feel I've got a good incentive!

knithappens

Well i am in to, after reading the May thread and this one, i spend way too much, i know this anyway, i think it is out of laziness grabbing things off the supermarket shelf.


Well there is myself , my daughter 10 and my son 3 ( almost 4)

So i really should n ot be spending that much, i think i average £400 a month.

I want to ahlf this, my month runs from the last day to the last day of each month, so today is the start if my month, so far i have sent 0

I work weekly so i think £50 a week for food and toiletries ect, and £8 a week petrol.

I really need to stick to this, i know i can. I have quite a lot in the cupboards so far, so will use those up this week.

Wish me luck.

nicnacnoo

evening all...
Its not gone too bad, bought loads of meat from the butcher, toddler nappies, baby nappies and baby milk as well as my weekly shop from Asda and ive spent £48.74 was hoping to only spend £44 a week, but i wont need so much next week so it might sort itself out.

fablad75

I'd love to take part but before I do:

Can anyone tell me what counts as groceries? Food for main meals, or do I count snacks and soft drinks as well? Because if I buy a pack of Mars bars during my shopping, I'd count that - but a single bar on my lunch break wouldn't really qualify, would it?

And what about stuff like shampoos and moisturisers, especially ones on BOGOF that last me for months and months. Stocking up on them would cause a spike in one month's budget, but it wouldn't reflect the cost properly.

Similarly, I buy loads of reduced food and stick them into the freezer, to be eaten at a later date - sometimes months later. Does this still fall under this month's budget?

Steel_2

I'm going to have a go at this. I'm due to get married next month and the bills are crucifying me and OH (I'm self employed and building the business up)so any money we can save this month will be a huge help.

Normally we're up at around £200-230 a month for two of us. That include toiletries, cat food and household cleaning stuff. I'd like to get that to £150 this month if I can. I've got a bit stacked in the freezer and cupboard and my niece bought me all three of Marguerite Patten's wartime cooking books so I'm going to have a go at some of the recipes in those. I also grow my own fruit and veg, although the weather has knocked some of them for six this year.

OH has to drive to work 20-30 minutes to work and he usually takes his car out on his deliveries (postman), which has been bumping our petrol costs every month to around £150. He was assigned a van driver to take him out and drop off extra bags, but he wouldn't bother to turn up, hence the personal car use. He's finally been assigned a decent van driver to take him out so hopefully petrol costs will at least halve this month.

When I was a student I had £15 a week for food and toiletries (about 8 years ago) and managed quite happily. What happened???????????????????

toria27

I'd like to join this month, I think it's going to be hard. I have a budget of 160-200 a month thats for 2 adults and a 9month old, (aiming for 160, 200 is in case of emergencies like last month)

Trouble is I have already spent 136.28!!! on my big shop of the month, have got enough meat to feed an army have already made some meals and froze them, babies food is all made for the month and pantry is full, so should only need fruit, veg and milk.

Although thinking about it need a couple of packs of nappies and some shampoo and conditioner. I reakon 200 is going to be needed.

Good luck everyone!