August 2010 Grocery Challenge

newroadahead

Hi All

Well August was not such a successful month as I went over budget:o

However onwards and upwards.:)

As my month runs from 21st to 20th, yesterday was pay day yippee:j and last night I did the big monthly shop at A***. I spent £95.28 which is a lot of money but I bought lots of meat , chicken, veg, toiletries as well as some Crimbo pressies (Actually maybe I should deduct them.....mmm)

Tomorrow is bit , massive cook off day and the freezer will be fit to burst. I have even started making home made soup now to take in for lunch at work, and yesterday had a look at Weezl's thread and found recipe for Houmous (I have 3 tins of chick peas in cupbaord which I havent used) and pate , both of which can be frozen.

Anyway I will stick to a budget of £200.00 for September (Im hoping to come in well under Fingers and everything crossed.

Off to meet a friend soon to get a few bits in £land and cards for birthdays for the month (I know I should make these but my art talents are sad to say the least).
Tonight going to friends to watch X Factor and try to keep knitting, more crimbo pressies.

Hope everyone has a good month.

love


NRA xxxxx

KITTY_2-2

Thanks to who ever mentioned the tesco offer in the sun. Got 2 papers last night to use this week and next. I've decided that while this offer is on I'm going to stock the freezer and tin cupboards and make a start on the Christmas supplies. I know it's early but better to get them now than run the risk of not getting them closer to the time.

These spends will put me well over this month's budget but I think the investment will pay off. I'm also going to increase my budget to £300 for the next few months to account for the extra costs with doing Slimming World and to get in extras for the hampers I'm going to make for presents.

Have a lovely weekend all Kx

Hippeechiq

There are as many of us that go over budget as those that come in under budget (if not more, actually) newroadahead, but like all of us, you're trying, and that deserves a :T

I definitely wouldn't include Crimbo prezzies as part of your Grocery budget, but that's just me.

I see this challenge as being more about setting budgets for yourself and trying to stick to them - and getting/giving support to/from others who are trying to do the same - rather than being in direct competition with what others are doing, cos we're all different, aren't we?

CupOfChai

Afternoon everyone, must add a spend of £23.12 today which brings me up to £88.90. I wasn't able to get everything I needed either so that means I will be going over budget next week, however £5 out of my current total was for a box of washing powder tablets which will last donkeys and which I don't strictly count so it's not so bad as it seems.

AND those tablets were £2 less than they should have been thanks to my finding and using a voucher :money:

But then I have just completely negated any sort of MSE behaviour by going and spending about 65 quid on my hair . In fairness it REALLY needed a doing, I hadn't been since before Christmas. Now it's all cut and coloured and lovely, I keep looking at it and playing with it.

Hippeechiq

CupOfChai wrote: »

But then I have just completely negated any sort of MSE behaviour by going and spending about 65 quid on my hair . In fairness it REALLY needed a doing, I hadn't been since before Christmas. Now it's all cut and coloured and lovely, I keep looking at it and playing with it.

Good for you!! It's good to treat yourself

CupOfChai

Cheers Hippeechiq, and quite true isn't it? Nothing wrong with spending money on whatever you want, so long as you have the money there to spend!

Besides, now I don't look like I live in a hedge :cool:

Hippeechiq

CupOfChai wrote: »

Cheers Hippeechiq, and quite true isn't it? Nothing wrong with spending money on whatever you want, so long as you have the money there to spend!

Absolutely - couldn't agree with you more hun

pepsi-kins

Gone over budget, yet again! £168.18 spent so far, and probably a little more to add before the month is out. I don't know why I find it so difficult there is only the two of us, and usually I budget at £200 a month (although £150 this month,to try to re-coup funds from last months over spend) I really don't buy anything that isn't a necessity, I meal plan and even manage to stick to it. I know i've bought a few little bits that were on offer, and too good to miss like 9p tinned tomatoes at the co-op, but even so.

I bought some bits in the co-op today, but not going to count those, as I was sooo bored I thought I would make some rocky road, just for something to do, - (trying to break by addiction to cleaning!) whilst OH did a bit more to the decking (in the rain, bless)

On the plus side I had a count up of vouchers that I have been saving, and have £95 between tesco, morrison and sainsburys, I want to keep those, to get some staples, to start the new year with!!!!

Have a good week everyone x

angelatgraceland

Hippeechiq wrote: »

Hello everyone :wave:

Not been around much this week as it's been a bit hectic on the appointments front.

Had total spends so far this week (or since I last posted) of £36.57 - bringing my total spend so far to £191.16 out of my £275 budget. It's doable, but it's gonna be a close call.

I usually do a "big" shop fortnightly, but if I had shopped Tuesday for my usual Wednesday delivery, that would have meant there would be 3 fortnightly shop days next month, the 1st, 15th & 29th (if anyone is following what I mean) and we only have enough funds to do 2 fortnightly shops a month, and even if we didn't, I don't like paying out more than £7pcm on delivery charges.

Soooo - I deferred this weeks shop until next Wednesday which means shop days next month will fall on the 8th & 22nd.........well it makes sense to me :rotfl:

Anyway, my no shop, mean it "appears" that I have a lot of money left to play with, I doubt that will be the case, but we'll see.

Good luck to everyone for the last 11 days

Why are you "paying" for delivery??? There is usually a code somewhere. Do look for one. Who are you shopping from? Asda? Tesco? Delivery=cost of 8 meals on Weezls site!(maybe up to 20 actually if you pay a fiver)
I went in Tesco last night as I had to take my son to a wedding party 10 miles away so made the most of the fuel. I got a fantastic selection of drastically reduced food for £16.01. French bread 6p trout 19p cobbler fish x 3(2 in each bag) 15p each 4 steaks 74p total donuts 10p each bananas-15p per bag-the list is endless! I didnt NEED any of it I admit but it really was moneysaving! Separated the steaks and the fish and bagged them up and froze them. DH had the trout tonight. Fridge is full of bits to use up-cooked some fresh burgers for a snack tonight-they need eating up fast. Thawed out a pack of beef mince so I must make something with that tomorrow also. Total grocery spend for this week is £40. Truly amazed this week!:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j

notjustlaura

I didn't go out today after all and will get the TV paper after Church tomorrow so today's another NSD and I'm feeling very proud of myself. Going to have lunch with a friend tomorrow so that will be a spend (lunch = food = groceries so it does count) but as I'm dieting I shall be sensible - both with calories and pennies!

See you tomorrow.