August 2010 Grocery Challenge

Hippeechiq

Oooh, excellent. Thanks for that guccigoo I might have to pop in and get some too then.

I've just been reading a post by someone on another site who says that they may well be BOGOF, but they're not paying £9.99 for a tin, because if they wait until it's nearer to Xmas, the supermarkets will be selling them for £5 a tin :rotfl: ......er.....helloooo....the difference being??? :rotfl:

Herbyme

Hi all,
Well done to those who are having a good August and commiserations to those finding it tough.

Anyone else find guests to stay totally demolish the budget? I've been spending a fortune almost everyday :eek: despite menu planning. They seem to need proper meals twice a day (I'd only do once if it was just us) and I guess we run out of stuff more often. Hardly dare to update sig. Any ideas?!

Hippeechiq

No suggestions, sorry. But I'm with you on the only needing "proper" meals once a day.

For us it's Breakfast (cereal or toast) Lunch (sandwich or toast) and then a proper cooked evening meal.

I feel for you though - it would destroy my budget if I had guests that expected two full meals a day....well actually, just having guests would destroy it.

Sorry I can't be more helpful - unless you're able to tell them that things are tight and ask them to contribute some money, though I fully appreciate that's a tricky situation to be in

Winky,_The_House_Elf

Hi just popping in to declare £207.04/200 for August.:p

It got a bit confusing towards the end as I wasn't going to include the money I spent on Camping food last week, but I ended up staying 6 nights (sent DH home on the train on the Sunday, and my brother and his 2 kids joined me!) but it seemed like cheating not to include, even though OH is working this BH to pay for our part of the trip!

DH is truely on board at last, I was too tired to do a shop this weekend, (Baby kicking me constantly through the night, and probably shouldn't have gone camping at 6 months preggers), so he said he would go to Mr T's. On checking what we need he said "Shall we have a freezer challenge this week?" I nearly fell of the sofa! He then made a list and stuck to it!

So for September I will aim for £200 again please although the freezer & cupboards are slightly barer so more of a challenge.

Winky x

notjustlaura

I'm feeling inordinately proud of myself at the moment. For the first time ever, I've done the GC for two weeks running! I've never stuck at budgeting and not spending on non-essentials for this long before and am so pleased and proud of myself.

I also had a really good dig through the whoopsied tins/packets/jars today - I've always felt too inhibited to really go through them before - but I did it today and found the same dishwasher tablets that were already in the trolley for 90p! The box is bashed. They're *dishwasher tablets* - hat do I care about a bashed box?

The meat whoopsies weren't so good this week - I was there too early really but I've now learned to check several times during the course of my visit as there was new stuff being put out all the time.

I also stuck to my list and actually came in under budget for the week (I'm trying to spread my spend over the month and not spend it all in one go and end up eating baked beans for the other three weeks).

Really am so chuffed. Thank you all for your support.

mrs-moneypenny

Ive gone to pot over thge last couple of months, found out in june my dad in law had cancer he sadly passed away at the end of july only a month after getting the diagnosis. so with trying to help out at my inlaws then helping with the funeral catering followed by a holiday the last thing on my mind has been keeping tabs on reciepts. i think ill draw a line under the last few months at the end of august and start again in september

Want2Bdebtfree_3

laisbojar83 wrote: »

Hi everyone,

Been a while since I posted anything.
Well, dont even know from where to start.
The whole month was going so well.. I had managed to save 240 pounds, for the first time ever!!
Saturday morning talking to hubby about how things were improving and even said: IF NOTHING HAPPENS, WE SHOULD HAVE A NICE LITTLE POT before Christmas.
Got ready, went out.. when we looked at our car I nearly fainted! Someone damaged the windscreen beyond repair and knocked our side mirror (driver`s side - so no way it was another car!). Because we are both quite young, I am 26 and hubby is 24, we WOULD have to pay he insurance excess 280!! Well, it doesnt get any better.. if we claim through insurance the premiums will go sky rocket high.. oh the joys of youth lol. So, we have decided to not go through the insurance which is going to cost us 383!:eek::eek:
Thats all the money I had managed to save plus everything that was left to keep us going until payday, apart from 40.00.
Last summer holiday weekend, at home I am feeling so down at the moment, its like that everytime I try to save money. Something has to happen.
Now I have to feed all of us until the 01st with 30.00 because 10.00 I am going to put on the gas card and I will have to use my electricity emergency to keep us going until then, as there is only 3.00 left! I just feel like swearing and screaming soooo much :mad:
I will try and stretch the money. Have touse my Nectar points - have 10.00 there and my copper coins too.. there is about 6.50 in 1 and 2p`s (was saving those for Xmas )
And its back to Square 0. Nevermind, I will not give up. Chin up and I will save up again next month, hopefully even more as there will be no more weekends out :rotfl:
Hope you all have a great day xx
L.
P.S.: hey-hoo, hey-hoo off to update my sig I go lolol

So sorry to hear your news and you were doing so well. Just keep perserving and take it from someone who has learnt the hard way do not use credit cards... You will build your savings up again.

Want2Bdebtfree_3

Eviewater - Thank you for the intel on nappy bags at Mr T - I have no babies but do have an 18week old GSD and the bags I use are more expensive. with my old dog I used to use carrier bags until they became Taboo.... and when She died I had just used up my old stock of them. Will definitely get some value nappy bags as her last lot were on offer in Aldi or pets at Home.

For all you others congrats for those that have made this Month unfortunately I have not.! : ( Will declare tomorrow on payday as I need to work out budget now for next month... have holidays so should not be as expensive but then have visitors for our birthdas this weekend so means buying alcohol which we do not normally get s we do not really drink.. Commiserations to all others who are having a rough time at the moment.

Believe me when life goes down the only way is up! There is always light at the end of thetunnel.

Thank you to all on earlier christmas sweetie bargains to.

Gintotmelinda

Hello Everyone!

Hugs to Mrs M-P and commiserations to Iasbojar83 and for anyone else who needs them...

I found some extra receipts so not done as well as I hoped this month. But I have stockpiled some offers so I'm not too displeased. The main thing is that I have been watching what I spend and I am trying to get the monthly spend down.

Well done to those coming in on target and to everyone because we are all trying hard.

Heavy storms this morning but I have sneaked a load of washing out as it has brightened up but is very windy.....fingers crossed as I need to get a new tumble dryer.

And it's my wedding anniversary today.......

Take care

Gintot

greent

Gintotmelinda wrote: »

And it's my wedding anniversary today.......



Gintot

HAppy Anniversary!!!

(it's mine on Thursday -15 years )