December 2009 Grocery Challenge

Pink.

Hi everyone,

I hope you all had a good Christmas and managed not to overspend too much.

Just to let you know that the January Grocery Challenge is up and running for next year, you can find it here

Wishing you all a wonderful and prosperous new year!

Pink

franby64

Hi all

Didn't see Christmas coming did I?!! Anyway it's started me thinking about how I do things differently next December (mainly saving all my vouchers and loyalty points all year - maybe some saving stamps as well). I won't declare until Thursday night - meanwhile I'm wondering how to deal with the @£100 overspend. Should I set January's budget a bit higher and take the overspend off it straight away? What do other people do?

Spent another £8.28 on mainly bread, milk and noodles yesterday (our staples).

XSpender

Declaring £513.33 for December and £3140.16 for 2009.

December was way over the budget I set myself but this was due more to setting a daft, unrealistic budget rather than silly shopping. I did have to buy a couple of extra bits as BIL wasn't sure what days he was eating with us but even though he did not come when we had planned extras went in freeezer or were used by us. Hardly any waste and my new orange and cranberry topped gammon went down a treat.

Not much in the way of leftovers or waste. Pity I can't do make the mountain of choclates, cake and biscuits into some main meals though, I'd save a fortune in Jan:rolleyes:

SunnyGirl

franby64 wrote: »

Hi all

Didn't see Christmas coming did I?!! Anyway it's started me thinking about how I do things differently next December (mainly saving all my vouchers and loyalty points all year - maybe some saving stamps as well). I won't declare until Thursday night - meanwhile I'm wondering how to deal with the @£100 overspend. Should I set January's budget a bit higher and take the overspend off it straight away? What do other people do?

Spent another £8.28 on mainly bread, milk and noodles yesterday (our staples).

Franby It's personal choice but I always just start a new budget for each new month. If I overspend I just move on with the new month as normal although I try to learn from the overspend & cut back in the current month. Hope this helps.

Helen Please can you put me down for £320 for January please? I still have one more shop for December to do tomorrow so will update totals then. Thanks to everyone for the help, advice & support :T

mark55man

NSD yesterday - we did go out for dinner which was nice.

I paid with tesco vouchers for the food and our friends picked up the drink with cash - and that was win win - I spent no cash, and they spent less than they would have if we had gone 50 50.

not looking forward to totalling up been a bit disorganised, but think I will be close enough. will declare on Friday and start out again - not sure I could face doing an annual target so will stick to monthly

Frugaldom

Declaring my final total for 2009 at £1,245.67

It's £45.67 over my original budget, but I'm rejoining for 2010 with the same £1,200 for the year, please. This is for a household of 3 and includes cleaning, toiletries and laundry products.

2010 challenge amount - £1200

mothershipton

went over december budget, despite having only two extra people for christmas day! also went slightly over total years budget, see sig. this year am going to be more organised as am trying a new diet which will mean i cook separatley for myself and not rely on hubby. Will not allow hubby near shops...

carolt2

Morning everyone, have decided to declare for this month.

Dont need anything else from the shops and TBH anything that is purchased will be used in the new year.

Declare for DECEMBER AT £167.70
£17.70 OVER BUDGET:mad:.
TOTAL FOR 2009 IS £1826.12, ROUGHLY £35 PER WEEK/£152 PER MONTH.

For 2010 we would like to be added to annual GC list. I originally posted a few days ago for an amount of £1850 for 2010, would like this lowering to £1800 please.

See you all in January's thread.

winterfrost

I failed miserably for December (not sure by how much, will go through and update signature later)... but that's largely due to the fridge breaking on the 24th meaning I've had to buy more food than usual over the past few days. I'm going to try again for £120 in January!

Fivenations

franby64 wrote: »

I'm wondering how to deal with the @£100 overspend. Should I set January's budget a bit higher and take the overspend off it straight away? What do other people do?

QUOTE]

It all depends on if you think you can manage with less and how much food you have left over from December. December's spend included £71 worth of bulk buy stuff that I bought for January as I was in CC so I have not included that in Dec but will in my January total. That leaves me with not a lot to play with in January but I'm up for the challenge - well, got no choice really so might as well try and enjoy it!!