September 06 Grocery Challenge

MegS

I'd like to join too, we spend far too much on food and (horror of horrors) end up throwing out loads. Have menu planned this week, aim to ring the butcher with my order and pick it up on Friday to see if its cheaper. My excuse is DH is away until Christmas, I don't drive and have DS so I shop online with Ocado. Yes I know its expensive but after comparing them all one week it only worked out a couple of quid more expensive than Tesco, Sainsburys and even Asda when you factor in the delivery cost. Have already spent £60 online (delivery Friday) and that only had one bottle of wine and no meat so I think I'm going to cancel it and try something else. Really don't understand what I'm spending it on. I cook everything from scratch so no jars or ready meals, I do buy fresh herbs which are a lot and DS has 'proper' pate in his sarnies (won't eat anything other than egg or cheese in his bread). I also buy loads of fresh veg/salad which costs a fortune. Help please!!! Anyway I'm aiming for £70 a week this month which I know is a lot for just DS and me but babysteps.

Vickylin

Hi,
I'm really new to posting - but I'd love to join your challenge. I really need some help and inspiration.

I shop for 2 adults 2 children and prob spend about £450 a month, way, way too much on my budget. Things are getting ridiculous and we've eaten the cupboard bare this week. I've only got about £45 to spend this week on food anyway.

I'll start by keeping all my reciepts this month and aim for £360.

Jeanne

I'm glad I found this thread. Finances are reduced at the moment and I need to cut back on spending. I used to budget pretty well, but it's gradually crept up.
The budget has gradually crept up to £400 month (for 4 adults) on Tesco CC+ to cover food and petrol. I sometimes buy items locally as well and occasionally buy things on credit card. I'll definitely keep all my receipts this month so I know exactly what I'm spending.
Icklejulez, I used to have a small pan and put pieces of whatever potato & veg we were having in, together with meat cut into really tiny pieces and cook it together with no salt, just rely on the veg for flavour and then mash it with a fork, which is OK now your son is 9 months. As others have said, freeze whatever is left over.

sarahs999

I kept a track of our usage last month while trying to be thrifty and we still came out at £376!!! That included expensive meal out for OH birthday though (£80). So this month (which includes my birthday, baked beans on toast for me!) I'm aiming to get us in at £250. That's for three of us. Lidl here we come...

Sarah

bulchy

I'm joining in this month, have tried, and failed in the past, but we really need to get back on track, christmas isnt that far away, and the way things are going there wont be a christmas in my home if we dont tighten our belts :eek: Will start on friday, will start with a budget of £50 a week, and hopefully be able to cut it back a bit. This is for 2 adults, 2 kids, 2 dogs and 2 cats. Got some meat delivered for dogs last week, dogs freezer is full so dont need to buy them much more food, just tins of fish, cats are fussy eaters, but I've got one sack of JWB left which was bought in june, buy one get second half price or something similar at Pets at home, am hoping this lasts until christmas so I just need to find some cheap but decent tins to go with it. Havent got much in human freezer, cupboards are fairly full, have a box of hm soap powder which should last a month, so I feel confident that I'm going to cope better than normal. Kids are back to school soon, so I'm hoping to get back into some sort of a routine, its great having them at home, but 6 weeks is far too long imo, ds has had 7 weeks as his school is having alterations, so roll on 11th when he goes back. Both kids are taking packed lunches as well, so this will save me some money, dd used to take money, £2 a day, not very healthy for budget or her me thinks.
I'm rambling now :rotfl: so I'll go and make a start on some menu's.
Sue

rchddap1

August went well, as we were back under budget again...which means another £24 for my savings stash. Will need to do a big shop soon, but OH wants to defrost the freezer, so am using what we have in the cupboards at the moment. September shouldn't be too bad, as we still have a few bits in the cupboards and freezer to use, and we aren't expecting any 'guests'.

sammy_kaye18

Ok Im in.

i normally spend about £45 every 2 weeks for 2 adults, 1 2yr old and a jack russell terrier. so £90 a month - this includes all our toiletries, nappies, dog food etc.

so ill start at £90.

I normalyl shop in a variety fo places thgouh does that matter?? its just becasue 4pints fo milk in tescos is £1.11 and in Iceland it is only £1 so i wander over there to get my milk as they are within a 5 minute walk of each other - then i just bung my already broguht milk in a trolley and put my coat over it to keep the cold in (make sure i have the receipt for it though!). i also buy chicago town pizza there too because they are (the 2 pizza in a box -microwave ones) for £1.

I also buy my crisps in £land which is between the 2 - quavers 10 bags for £1 whereas they are nearly £2 in tescos!!!!!!!! so i save myself a couple o quid that way which all helps

x_raphael_xx

Peem wrote:

Dontcha just hate 5 week months!

No! I love them, I get 5 wage packets!! And as I pay rent monthly it goes straight in my pocket!!

Anyway, I was searching for Sept challenge!!
I tried it this month as I usually spend £30/£35/£40 a week on shopping, totals to roughly £120-£160 a month! Which is a little excessive for just me and the dog!
I asked my friend to pick the challenge amount and she said £30. I spent £66.02 this month. Which, although failed on the £30, I am very pleased with as I've halved my usual bill without feeling hungry or deprived!

So my challenge for the month of September will be...£50

Good luck to you all...and to me!

Littlemiss-lotsofdebt

I'm in for this, just worked out I spent £240.00 last month :eek: This is definitely down to 'popping out for milk and spending £30' so I'm hoping to curb this. Have withdrawn £120.00 from the bank today and spent £80.00 on a month's big shop in Sainsburys. I've kept the remaining £40.00 in a separate purse only to be used for bread, milk etc.

Am determinded to do this as have been very undisciplined lately :mad:

EDIT - Just to add, this is for 2 adults.

irchy_mum

I'd like to join the September challenge please.

£50 pw for 2 adults and 2 children- this has already been cut from £85-£90 pw (pre MSE) so feel like I'm getting there.
Kids back to school next week so at least they wont be eating me out of house and home:p

Good luck everyone.