September 06 Grocery Challenge

misery-able

Only found the site last night and already hooked, am jumping in with both feet and joining the grocery challenge. We currently spend about £70ish a week (2 adults and an eight year old), and if could cut down to £60 in september that would be over £500 a year,(why had I not thought of that before?). Regarding cost cutting, I read last night about coupons, where do you get these from? What happens now, do we just watch out for posts to let everyone know how we are doing?

Snow_Angel

:hello:

This is going to be my first grocery challenge too! Just me and I'm planning on spending £40 this month (although me and boyfriend eat at each others houses every night so not sure how that's going to work?!). Also, I have 4 days away this month (fully catered!) and 4 days visiting mum (free food!), so I feel like it's cheating a bit. Oh well, for my first ever challenge it's a starting point!

Good luck to everyone :T

Icemaiden

Count me in again. Our month starts from tomorrow, 31st Aug - 29th Sep. Did really well in Aug came in just a few pounds less under budget. Iam increasing my budget by £20 to £220 from this month as I start to buy the extra food for christmas and stashing them away so its not as much as a shock in Dec.

My budget is for 2 x adults, 1 x teenager(bottomless pit) and 1 x small child. This includes all meals, packed lunches, milkman, cleaning (only stardrops and bleach)and personal care. (loo rolls, shampoo all that stuff).

I do however have various things in the garden which are ready to be eaten, puddings in the freezer (blackberry,Rubhard) HM Jams, HM Chutneys, so this should reduce the amount spent considerably.

Good luck everyone.x

Sarahsaver

so far this week have still £16 left out of my £30 budget YIPPEE!

earthmother

I'm going to give it a go this month


2 adults, 2 children (one at school) and an almost 6 month old baby -
Usual budget of £400 including specialist toiletries and cleaning products (skin issues), formula for one (some on tokens) and nappies for 2.
This months' budget is £275 max (no other money) - but already stocked up on nappies for one and all toiletries and cleaning products as I do tend to bulk buy them every other month.

Tesco deliveries for next week and the week after are already booked, virtually all bogofs and the such, and if all goes to plan this week, we'll only need to buy milk, and some veg on Friday (which is good as I only have £15 in the kitty until Monday).

Hoping I have some money left at the end of the month, as have some money off vouchers that expire then that really are too good to miss for the bulk-buy cupboard.



Wish me luck

Alikay

We've just moved house and are in the process of having a new kitchen fitted, so I may be without use of it for a couple of days when the floor tiles/underfloor heating go in.
So, to allow for takeways/pre-packed stuff for 3/4 days if necessary I'm trying for £350 in September.
Thats for 2 adults, 3 teens, 1 cat and a couple of meals with both widowed mums, but kids have lunch at school. It's gotta cover toiletries and all cleaning/laundry stuff.

jcr16

i'll join in with this. i set myself £200 a month. for 2 adults 2 children ( both in nappies, my daugther will be 3 in oct and just won't use potty at mo.) and 4 cats.

i have so far spent £160. but i am stocked up on everything. ie 10 bags of flour , 3 bags of mince , loads of chicken etc etc. but i want to save £200 a month into savings account for xmas, mot due in nov and our long weekend away in october. and after paying all bills this month and saving £200 we are left with £45 in bank so i can't go over my budget if i do then i won't be able to save what i want.

but biggest prob is , it is my 25th birthday in september and hubby wants to spend about £30 on me. i really don't want him to , as there is nothing i need or want so not sure how i can discourage him. becasue if he does then i'll be left with£15 for veg , milk and bread for rest of month. any ideas welcomed.

our months runs 23rd till 22nd.

Boatie_Bird

This is my first go after lots of lurking so wish me luck.
Have allowed £200 for the month for 2 adults, a 3 yr old and a dog. I have a very small fridge and feezer so its not possible to stock up on bargains when I spot them - most frustrating.
I've also set myself a monthly booze budget of £70 which I started last friday (payday), and I'm appalled to see that I've only got £26 left for the rest of the month, but this is mainly down to a weekend away with friends. I'm not too bothered as it was an extremely MSE weekend apart from that! Trying o get DH to set himself a similar booze budge but he won't play ball at the moment...

gb57

But of course - done it all my life (thanks, mum), having spent early part of life, up until my late 20s being absolutely skint. It is a habit I have never forgotten, even though have not really been hard up for years (that is not a boast, I just have always budgeted - Mr Micawber and all that.)

1) Meal plans
2) Shopping list
3) Buy fruit & veg in local greengrocer or market stalls where possible - my greengrocer often gives me something off slightly damaged stuff. If I want tomatoes for cooking he will sell me ones that a bit damaged or going soft - actually much better for cooking anyway, etc. etc. Parsley is less than half the cost in supermarket (I use so much I can't grow enough). If you have a local greengrocer, get to know him! Make sure you have a feel for prices, though, some things are cheaper in the supermarket.
4) Use up all left-overs - e.g. had a roast chicken for the family? Stew up the carcass with an onion and some veg, strip off carcass. If there is enough meat add some more veg and use as soup/stew, if not, strain and use liquid as stock (can be frozen)
5) Know the prices of everything - compare and look at the price tickets - biggest is not always cheapest (look at price per kilo, or whatever)
6) Be flexible - if there is a special offer on that does not fit the meal plan, take advantage of it (can it be frozen) - but KEEP YOUR HEAD - don't do it unless it is financially advantageous
7) Some times cheaper is not better - e.g. white sliced bread (uurgh) is not filling, more expensive granary or wholemeal is much more filling - therefore you eat less of it, so should work out same price wise (if you can persuade the kids to eat it) - and it is better for you!
8) Grow your own herbs and stuff - in pots on the windowsill is fine -there is a thread about this, can't remember what it is called! See tip about basil - only buy one pot a year, cut tips off, put in water, root, plant up
9) Homemade soups are easy to make and cheap - e.g. soften some onion in butter or oil, add chicken stock and chopped up broccoli (include a fair amount of stalk), salt, pepper. Cook until veg is soft. Cool slightly, stick in blender. Add some milk if prefer creamier texture. Can be frozen (put some in smaller bowls and take to work to defrost in microwave for lunch?). Absolutely delicious - never buy tinned or packet soups now, taste horrible. Can be done with any veg.

Goes without saying - NO READY MEALS (yuk, yuk and more yuk) - fresh food, freshly prepared is much better for you, less likely to make you fat, and much cheaper. NO CRISPS and other junk food (except rare treats for high days and holidays).

Sorry, will stop rabbiting now...

swizzle_2

Count me in!

Went to the supermarket with 2 children last week and taxi home- never again!!
So Mr Tesco is coming round tonight, my month started last week, would like to shop every 2 weeks online but don`t have a big freezer anymore or space to put it!

We are 2 adults and 2 primary school aged children.

Will plan on £250 which is to include every thing-including delivery chargers.
Might end up doing storecupboard challange in last week!