September 2010 Grocery Challenge

EvieSaver

Oh no, spent another £6.30 on cakes at the local shop today. We had lots of visitors arriving to drop off birthday presents for our nearly 1 year old so had to put on a spread. I know I should have made my own but been so busy lately with holidays, friends 2 day wedding, starting a new job (and not quite finished the old one yet) so I just haven't had time.

It's looking very tight for my supermarket shop on Tuesday, just over £60 left and I need to get bits and pieces for the birthday party too! I'm aiming to make his birthday cake, not just to save money but because I think it makes it more special - just got to find the time somewhere!

Gintotmelinda

Hello all

Declaring on £452.35 for September as OH gets paid tomorrow. Quite a bit over but I am satisfied I know where it has gone. I stocked up on toiletries and washing gel this month, bought some bits and pieces to send to DD abroad and paid the postage, included a shirt for OH from Sains*****, baked beans too on offer from Mr A, a birthday present or two......I still have about half a week's meals left.

I am going to try keeping a running total as I go this coming month rather than adding it up at the end. Doh why didn't I think of doing that before?

Well done to those who came in under target and hugs to those still working towards.

£375 for October please Mrs M :A:)
Off to update sig.

Take care


Gintot

cw18

A few spends for me since I last reported any

£1.09 on milk last Friday
£2.56 on salad items and new potatoes yesterday
£1.52 on Whoopsies (some sweet, some savoury) yesterday - original value of goods was £8.38
99p on frozen mixed veg today

By the time I deduct what I've used from my 'pre 1st Jan' stocks from my monthly budget - as well as what I've actually spent this month - I have £3.20 left for the next 4 days....... and that's just to not be even further in debt against my annual budget than I was on 30th Sept :eek:

Should actually be OK as I can't think of a single thing I actually need - just have to resist the Whoopsies between now and then (And I can't actually do any 'final clearance' Whoopsie shopping on Thur/Fri, as I've picked those shifts up as holiday cover - and that means I'm not allowed to shop as I'll be clocked in)



Next month will be interesting as I have to stop playing at using up stocks while still replenishing my freezers/cupboards, and actually spend as little as I can genuinely get away with doing (milk, fruit and veg being the three things that immediately spring to mind as still being needed - plus T-bags unless I remember to start using my herbals at least a couple of times a day). I started running in May, and over the last couple of months have had one leg injury after another - the latest resulting in X-rays to confirm I hadn't managed to fracture one So I had to go and get some new running shoes yesterday - ended up with a top of the range pair with loads of cushioning/suspension, so that was a totally un-budgetted spend of £83.50. Unfortunately the only way I could pay for them now (without immediately going into my overdraft) was to stick them on recently cleared credit card..... so I have 5 or 6 weeks to pay that off before they start adding on any interest (only just had a statement from them in the last couple of days, so I couldn't have got myself any longer if I'd tried). Luckily my next pay cheque (a week on Friday) will have some over-time in it, so that should cover over a third of the cost

Billie-jo

Another £7.00 spent this was on milk -12 litres for £6 UHT and 2 bottles of flavoured water.
Did leg of lamb in the SC and did 4 meals with it today plus enough for 3 tomorrow. Will just need to do either some mash or a jkt potato tomorrow to have with it.

Annoyed with myself because had to throw some brocolli away today, it was to far gone to use really. Must keep a closer eye on veg as am finding it doesnt last as long lately for some reason. Picked the very last of the runner beans as well today.

Total now standing at £99.88 so have £60.12 left. Tomorrow should be a NSD

adelight

I've just spent £18 of October's budget already! Tesco order to arrive on the 1st of rices, dried pulses, dried soy mince, soy milk, veg, spreads, syrup, pasta, tin tomatoes, pasatta, plums, apples, bacon, garlic, choc digestives, bread, ham...

loulou0327

Thank you everyone for your support.
I'm just going to bite the bullet and try and reduce my GC budget a little bit for next month though considering I was spending £300- £350 before GC a month. Even though I have a couple of pounds to add to this months target I've come along way already. I know i will come in under budget, so no excuses for future months huh?
I'm still not convinced we will be able to afford Christmas it may come to the point that i only buy for my children and leave everyone else out. I know that they will all understand but its really a hard thing for us to do.
We had some very good fortune over the weekend when my MIL was given a bread maker new in the box by a friend who suggested she give it to her son (not my OH ) and she said if you don't mind i will give it to my Daughter in law as i know she would love one!
So 2 loaves made already from the baking ingredients I always have in and they were scrummy!
It's these sorts of acts of kindness through the year as well as my parents taking us shopping every week and providing us with lots and lots of fruit and veg all year from the allotment that is making me feel so guilty for not getting them even a small present at Christmas.
I'm hoping that it wont come to that but it is looking that way!

gdyr1945

Memo to self DO NOT CHECK DAN APPRO FOODS! You have enough 'stuff' even if it is REALLY CHEAP!
I really must learn not to buy something just because it is a bargain. I have lots of storage space and so have really stocked up on coffee, bread mix, Lloyd Grosman sauces and soups, rice and pasta. I DO NOT NEED TO BUY ANYMORE:eek:.
I know these will all be used up but if I carry on we will have enough food to last a year.
DD came today and told her partner that 'if we were stuck here for 6 months and couldn't get out we wouldn't starve' a slight exaggeration but you get the idea.:rotfl:

Plan is to only buy milk until end of 'my' month (18th-17th) as have enough of everything else to last.

Before joining this board and reading all the tips and advice I would have merrily bought things without giving it much thought and I know I wasted a lot of food because I had no plan for our meals or budget. I have been amazed at how much I have managed to save just by being better organised and taking advantage to all the support and advice. Why isn't everyone on this board? Do they tell young people about this site in school? It should be a compulsory part of the curriculum.

Well done everyone who has stayed within their budget:T and good luck to those that didn't quite make it this time. Give yourselves a big pat on the back for trying:grouphug:

sistercas

going to start on my october budget today as i want to make the most of the lidl and aldi offers
its going to be a heftier month moneywise as its DD2's birthday and she wants an indian takeaway ( last time we ordered it came to about £40 :eek: but it was absolutely fab and so she wants the same for her birthday
she also wants money so she can go clothes shopping ( she will be 15) i have no idea how much to give her ?

franby64

Morning everybody

Well... I'm over...but not too much

I ended up spending about £12 yesterday but some of this was on offers that looked like they were going to run out soon (£5 on T-bags, and chicken nuggets) as well as fruit, reduced sausages, eggs.

I've booked a T*sco shop for Weds night so that will go in Oct and everything else 'til Thurs night will be Sept. Like some other people I think I might go annual next year as I often start to faff around with my budget like this at the end of the month!

Regarding Christmas I have already "suggested" to my kids that we're going to have a modest Christmas as I'm not prepared to blow money on a load of c*rp and spend next year trying to sort it out (me and OH won't have anything much either). But I would like to send more cards/ small pressies to the wider family as I think our last few Xmas's have been too kiddicentric.

Anyway, hope those under the weather are feeling better and good luck to everybody for the last few days.

highland_fling_2

Good morning everyone,
very busy day at work planned so will be quick meal tonight of pasta and hm sauce(defrosting at the moment).
Mrs Mc could you put Highland Fling down for £150 for October GC please.

Will have to buy some bread today and possibly milk.

Have a frugal day everyone.