October 06 Grocery Challenge

Pink.

Hello everyone

Another new month is about to start for most of us, while some of you are already well into things.

As always this challenge is to reduce your own grocery budget to levels that you will be pleased with, not forgetting that we always recommend that you stay inside your own comfort levels and take things gently one step at a time.

If you are new to the challenge I have quoted the advice from Galtizz below which will help you get started.

Please post into this thread for help and advice and support at any time. Good luck to everyone taking part!

Galtizz wrote:

I have said this before, but for all the newbies to the challenge;

For the first month I took a guess at the budget but I really had no idea how much I was spending.

I found the best thing is to have a guess the first month but SAVE ALL OF YOUR RECEIPTS (and yes, that does include the ones from the local shop when you run out of milk ), then at the end of the month add them all up and have a look if you were on budget, if not, it doesn't matter because your budget was a guess. For the next month you can use the total of your receipts and take a bit off to get a realistic budget, just shave off as much as you think you can, it could be £1 a week or £20 a week.

If you are currently spending £200 a month don't suddenly drop it to £100 - you'll never do it but if you cut £20 a month off for a few months you'll get there eventually without feeling you're missing out on anything.

You might think you've done everything you can in the first month but someone always comes up with a new idea and, if you try it you often find you save a bit more (unless you are SarahSaver who is an expert at this and could only save more if she turned her back garden into a paddy field and lived on rice ) In the first month I thought, I'm planning meals, I couldn't possibly save any more, but then I started double cooking and freezing, and making soup instead of buying it in tins.

I've been doing this since Feb but only saved ALL of my receipts last month, it has given me a much better idea of where it is all going. Budget for next month is £80 for 2 of us, I'll start on 30/4. I could probably save more, by eating different foods but I can afford to live on £80, I have saved a lot of money since Feb. and I don't waste food or money any more. So I'm happy with my budget.

Pink

JillD_2

Well my grocery month goes from payday on the 23rd so I am already in October.
However me and the kids are away at my Mums for 4 days and she has told me she will feed us and doesn't want me to waste time (or money) at the supermarket :beer: That said, Hubs is on his own for the weekend which I suppose means takeaway pizza:rolleyes:

So far I've made 3 small trips to Asda and Sainsburys (no time on Friday to do my usual big shop and also was running down fridge before going away), and tried really hard to stick to small lists plus a fruit delivery.
So this week is looking like:

£4.49 + £19.84 + £1.86 + £7.47 = £33.66

Trying to keep it to £275 for the month.
Been making my own bread all week to save there

catznine

Count me in this month! £160 (£40 a week) for two of us, visiting dd and ds and a cat!

Will try to use up food in store (larder and freezer full) which will make room for Christmas supplies!

crazyhazy

Am going to start this again this month, haven't done a challenge in ages, but starting maternity leave on friday so could do with saving a few pennies. As it's my first month I'll go with a rough budget of £150 and keep all my receipts to see what we actually spend, then do a proper challenge from next month.

Cazzdevil

I'm starting this month too.
Mine will start from Thursday 5th (1st payday in October) and my budget for food/household products/toiletries is £60 since it's just me although I'm hoping to keep it even lower than that.

Good luck everyone!

flourgirl

I'm joining in again this month. September came in just under £200. used up lots of storecupboard stuff as well. So going for £200 again for October, still
have lots in freezer, so just about to do my menu plans before I go shopping.

Good Luck everyone!

joannasmum

Cant beleive where in October already

Budget for this month is £150 for the next 4 weeks. Only 2 adults , 1 toddler and a fat cat

Good luck everybody

Nix143

Well last month's went to pot - halfway thru I lost my receipts and the will to live

So this month I'm starting again - I have pretty full and bulging freezer and store cupboards and reckon with meal planning I can do this one no bother. I've got a bit of an event right at the end of the month where my house will be invaded by guests so it's going to be important that I start the month off slowly and sensibly.


I don't get paid until the 10th but am working on the calendar month. £150 for me and my nipper to include entertaining anyone who turns up

Good luck everyone!

mel_anthe

I'd like to join in this month - I think I spent about £100 last month so I'm going to aim for £90 I think to include all food and toiletries and cleaning things. I know it's still quite high but I'm new to this and I'll see how it goes...

shell2001

I am in again, came in on target for last month £175 for Sept (but was on holiday for 2 weeks).

This month I am gonna plan for £300 (so £50 under our budgetted expediture, although just spending what we have allowed in the budget is a real bonus and saves misc spending on the credit card).

I have done my tesco shop for the month which was £150 (including nappies, wipes, swim nappies, pull ups - God will be rich when I dont need to buy this stuff anymore!) and included ribs, drumsticks, steak mince etc. So all I should need to buy is veg and fruit and then towards end of month milk as enough in freezer for a few weeks.

Fingers crossed!!

Boatie_Bird

Count me in. I just managed to stick to my £200 budget for last month, but I did manage to stock up on pasta/rice etc so I'm going to try to stick to £190 for October.
I also set myself a booze budget of £75 for last month, but the less said about that the better!