June grocery challenge - like to join but......

Kazonline

I was going to post this on the 'June Grocery challenge' but it was getting a bit long for there.... Hopefully someone will spot this and give me some advice.
I'd love to join in (grocery challenge) but am amazed at how low all your budgets are and feel quite ashamed that I can't even begin to imagine how to live off that. I used to be quite good, but I've had a few really bad breakdowns and get days where all I can do is make sure the kids have something to eat, even if it's from the chippy, let alone allways cook from scratch. Other days I'm totally different - growing veggies, baking from scratch, cooking enough to keep in the freezer etc. For the most part my 'depression' is under control, I'm quite happy, laugh a lot etc. It's the 'tiredness' that gets me. Take today for example. I did a small shop in Asda and it totally wiped me out - I had to go to bed for an hour when I got home, and couldn't face eating, but did manage to then get up and cook for the boys.
Sorry,don't want this to be a whinge - what I'm trying to say is that my 'budget' is a lot higher than this, but would really like to join in and see if I can start making more improvements, but withought overfacing myself.....
Any thoughts?
Kaz
My weekly grocery is currently (gulp!) £125 - 3 very hungry boys, me (overweight) and dog. Petrol is down from £35 to £25 per week - Volvo estate used daily for school run (too far to walk, and not a bus route) as well as when 'working' (party plan withing income support working allowance)

**purpleprincess**

Your budget will be as much or as little as you need it to be hun. What you could try is cutting it down gradually, for example by a tenner for a couple of weeks then another tenner and so on and so forth.

Don't feel bad, this isn't a competition xx

Rebob

I know what you mean with depression and illness as do other members of this board. :grouphug:

The best thing is freezing leftovers into ready meal amounts so that there is no prep at all for use on a bad day. Doing this and making an effort on the good days means that I have lost 1st 12lbs since december. I understand that just thinking what to do can be too much on a bad day. The other thought I have when thinking takeaways is "thats £x's for 1 meal....I could...... with that much!" :whistle:

HTH :idea: pm me if you need a bit of support or just a moan!:coffee:

Chell

when you have a good day and cook you could make a huge pot full then freeze for future meals. Today I made pasta sauce for dinner but froze some for another meal when I don't have time to cook.
I also made chilli which I can freeze then serve with wraps/rice or cous cous. Cous cous takes seconds to prepare, as quick as phoming for a takeaway.

bargainqueen_2

(((Kazonline))) I know exactly where you are coming from, in fact I could have written that post (just didn't have the guts). And I don't even have kids. Anyway, whatever YOUR budget is will determine what YOU are sticking to. Everyone else is just here for support, guidance, fabulous ideas and a shoulder to hang your head on! So go ahead and do the challenge, as the only person you are challenging is yourself - and knowing the OS'ers, anyone who has a swipe at you for having a higher than average budget will immediately be swiped from all directions of people around you
Good luck and get storecupboarding!

Chipps

Hi Kazonline

Don't worry about trying to compete with anyone else (although I realise that is probably not a conscious decision).
It is a good idea, as Rebob and Chelltune suggested, to do extra cooking on your "good" days, so that dinner is sitting in the freezer ready for those days when even going to the shops is hard work. One thing I have done at times is to make up quantities of things like bolognaise sauce (and it's really not much more hassle to cook up 3 quantities than 1) then freeze the spare ones in ziplock bags; they are then very flat, don't take up much space in the freezer, and because they are so thin, don't take long to defrost. And when it is a really down day, I know that even too much time & effort to defrost can be offputting.

Also, don't forget that many of the people posting very low weekly spends have probably taken a while to get to that level. I'll be honest, I could not afford to spend £125p/w - it's just not there! But on the other hand, I probably spend more is strictly necessary, and usually because I don't bother to meal plan & then panic as to what's for dinner. I swing between being extremely organised & having everything planned ahead, to the total opposite and I don't know why.

But I do know what it is like to find everything exhausting, and feel totally overwhelmed with all that needs to be done.

So don't try to do everything in one fell swoop. Make little changes, gradually those little differences will build up, and you will hardly notice until you suddenly look back and see how much things have improved!

rchddap1

My budget is pretty low because I've been working at it over a long period. My partner has also joined in which has helped a huge amount. Everyone's target is personal to them and their situation....as everyone's lifestyle and preferences are different.

The whole point of the grocery thread is a encouragement for people to keep going and to keep trying....not to put them off. I've found that once you start trying its hard to stop.

So please join us and try to enjoy it (I do). Don't worry about other people its yourself that's important.

saving-grace

Kazonline wrote:

3 very hungry boys,

No doubt about it, boys can consume an amazing amount of food, so no wonder you're spending a lot.
Don't be too hard on yourself. I'm sure what you're spending could be reduced but don't tackle too much at once, just change bit by bit, as much as you feel you can cope with.
As others have said, its not a competition, its just a challenge with yourself to save some money.
After a while things like cooking extra to freeze just become routine so its really no extra effort.
Do your boys snack a lot on crisps biscuits shop bought cakes etc? as the cost of these can be significant. Do you serve a pudding to fill them up?Sponges and crumble mix freeze well. On your good days could you stock up the freezer with home baking. encourage your boys to have a couple of slices of toast if they're hungry between meals or when they get in from school.

Kazonline

When I woke this morning I was wondering whether I should delete this post or not but I'm glad I hadn't now. Although I've tears in my eyes they're good ones, it's so nice to find people who understand that it's not laziness.
yesterday had been a bad day - but thanks to this forum I'd managed to overcome the need to go to the chippy by doing a 'storecupboard challenge' and gave the children what I thought was a bizarre meal concoction - yet they loved it!
I've got to dart today as I've made an appointment with the lone parent adviser to see if I can get back to work - it's worth a shot! However, thanks to you guys I'll come back later today and get myself started on my June grocery challenge and re read your posts to take onboard some more tips. Thank you all of you, it really does mean a lot to know that you all understand, and the virtual hugs mean a lot.
Thank you,
Kaz x

abbecer

Hiya,

You mention your depression being 'largely' under control. What help have you had with this if any? I think if this problem is addressed everything else will fall into place. I am talking from experience after having had post natal depression twice. The last time been so bad i was nearly sectioned and was put on suicide watch by my family. That was only last year but seems a million miles away. For me medication was the only way forward, which i was really ashamed about at first. I still suffer with the chronic tiredness but things get better everyday. With the right help things will get better for you and your boys. (If you are like me you will feel guilt about not being a 'proper' mother to your boys).

I personally would address how you feel before you try to make any major changes to your budget etc. If you feel better you will feel ready for the challenge rather than feel guilty if you don't stay within budget.

Good luck to you and your family. Things will get better.

Lots of huggles and snuggles

Rebecca x :rotfl:

saving-grace

Another thought-remember everyone has different circumstances and some people are able to make savings which may or may not be possible for you
e.g.I know I could save lots on fruit and veg if I shopped at a market-however there is no market near me, likewise no Aldi or Lidl. Also some people seem to get amazing savings on reduced stuff at the supermarket-just doesn't seem to happen at the ones I go to no matter what time of day I go. Just saying some saving possibilities may not be available to you so don't feel that others are managing their money better than you.