June '06 Grocery challenge

johanne

Ok so yesterday i had to pick up a few bits (how do i do a big shop online and still forget things?!) also got a few "treats" for myself in shape of 8 bars of chocolate (4 of which ive eaten already :eek: :eek: ) but my excuse is its time for my monthly craving for chocolate if u get what i mean :rolleyes: and im feeling sorry for myself cos im missing OH.:o

Anyway spent:

£4.63 on fruit and veg
£2.00 in home + bargain on chocolate, a drink and some popcorn!
£1.99 in somerfield on tin of custard, sugar + bathroom cleaner

£8.62

Total spend this month so far: £35.66

The bargain of the day was the popcorn!! I usually have a box of microwave popcorn in for the evenings to curb any sudden munchies me and OH might get while watching the tv. Its £1.75 in sainsburys for 3 bags but Home and Bargain currently have some in (which ive had before and its just as good) for only 19p for 3 bags !!!!!!! :j :j :j

Will be going back in the week to pick up some more to stock up on it!

Doom_and_Gloom

I'm going to try this out for this month and see if it's for me. My month will run 4th of June to 2nd of July on a budget of £50 for the month for myself even though I presently get given £80 per month from my parents for food, toiletries and any other luxuries as I live with my BF. They are doing this as I am still in college education until the end of this month so they give me money that I have to budget with so I can concentrate on my education/exams instead of getting a job. I have all the staple foods I need; pasta, white rice, brown rice, soy beans (for soy milk, HM tofu, HM yogurt), quinoa, oats, baked beans, peas and sweet corn in the flat so all is not lost and it doesn’t seem so sad when I remember that.
Being a vegan makes it somewhat cheaper food wise and knowing how to cook dry beans/pulses as well as having the time to do it saves bundles on money as dry always works out cheaper :j .
My parents took me shopping today to buy a few things so that saves me from buying a few things for this week out of my budget. Will have to buy more veggies and fruit at some point but I think that is all I should need to get this week as well as next week .
This month includes my BF’s birthday :bdaycake: so his birthday present will have to come out of that budget also as well as any food my flatmates and I need to get for his birthday :eek: (hrm after remembering that £50 may be spot on but I'm still hoping that I can spend less than that).

Budget = £50.
Spent already = £0 (as month hasn't started yet).
Budget left = £50.

Most the money saved is going towards a treat for all people in the flat (BF + 2 other couples and I) for christmas and/or trips to Camden:D . Also need to save up to buy a wedding present for one of the couples I live with as they are getting married next year so money saved will also go towards that.

knithappens

WEll this week i have spent a grand total of £38.00
I will pick up fruit for tomorrow for packed Lunches from the super market.

I did the race for life today at Manchesters Heaton Park, they had a stand giving away New HEalthy balance Muller corner yogurts. I came home with 12 - free. They had lots left and just told every one if they wanted them come and get them. So that was my best money saver this week. They will do for my packed lunches at work this next couple of weeks.

I am so surprised at just how much i have been over spending on things i want rather than need.

Plus i took stock of what i had in my cupboards already. OMG I have way too much stuff, so i m using up my store cupboard stuff too.

I am really enjoying this challenge, but i am having withdrawl symptoms from just buying stuff.

spurious_2

I'm up for this. My budget requires me to reduce my spending on food and drink to £25 a week. I am only buying for myself. What are the best ways to reduce spending? Obviously supermarket deals are a good starting point... I only have a Sainsburys near me but I noticed that Iceland do free home delivery so would it be worth looking there too? Any help would be appreciated.

gallygirl

lilmrsmullen wrote:

I did the race for life today at Manchesters Heaton Park, they had a stand giving away New HEalthy balance Muller corner yogurts. I came home with 12 - free. They had lots left and just told every one if they wanted them come and get them. So that was my best money saver this week. They will do for my packed lunches at work this next couple of weeks.

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Sorry, that's taking things WAY too far!!!! I am NOT doing a 1/2 marathon to get free food!!!!!!

CosmoCat

Nikki and Jayarr - have you all considered organic box schemes and are there any available where you are? they can be quite cheap and that means you get to stay away from big shiny supermarkets when you want to get your fruit and veg.

Just a thought. Sorry if this has been said before.
hope you all are having a lovely dfw day today.

knithappens

ali007 wrote:

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Sorry, that's taking things WAY too far!!!! I am NOT doing a 1/2 marathon to get free food!!!!!!

HaHaHaHa
Listen i may as well have got something for the pian

nicki_2

Ran out of milk this morning But then all three of us had cereal for breakfast yesterday which I didn't account for as OH and I usually only have toast :rolleyes:

Unfortunately the fruit that I bought on Friday is nearly gone again so I'll have to buy some more but I don't mind. I'll go first thing Tuesday morning as we would have run out by then since I put at least two pieces in OH's pack lunch daily. Eveything else seems to be lasting, but I think I'll be buying cooked meat and cheese this week as well. :idea: If I buy a big block of cheese from Asda on Tuesday when I get fruit then I can bring it home, chop it up into sticks for packed lunches and freeze next weeks, put this weeks into my "sandwich basket" in the fridge and grate the remaining :T I should be able to stretch the cooked meat as well or leave that until nearer the weekend and use the vegemite/sandwich spread that is in the cupboard instead

Isn't it amazing what you can think of when inspiration strikes :rotfl:

biglass

Week one over for me and spent £85which is £5 over my weekly budget for food booze nappies toiletries etc,but much better than I normally do,so I'm feeling really focused for a change!Also doing the storecupboard challenge and feeling glad for encouragement these threads provide,it's great!

oOMiaOo

Hey All!

I would like to join this month's challenge - I have no idea what I spend on food in a month, but I'm sure it's far too much. I'm forever throwing food out because I haven't planned my meals, and always buy things I don't need when I'm hungry.

I know, I know, you're not supposed to shop when you're hungry....but I'm ALWAYS hungry!!!

I did a meal plan for one week recently, and it saved me loads of wastage, as well as improving my diet. However, I'm not very good at sticking to things, and it all went out the window the following week. I'm posting here to see if it will keep me on the straight and narrow!

I'm going to budget £150 for the rest of the month, which is just for little ole me and my boyf (not quite ready to call him an OH yet!), who stays round 3 or 4 nights a week. I'll count anything I buy for his meals, but not any of his contributions - I'd have to double the budget to feed his cookie addiction!

I'm sure some of you pros are laughing in your boots at my huge budget, but I'm embracing the "baby-steps" advice I saw earlier!

I'm feeling really inspired by all the advice I've seen on the forums - thanx!