October 06 Grocery Challenge

BusyGirl

It's not going too badly this month. Yesterday I spent £22 in Aldi, £25 in Tesco and £3 in Home Bargains (on food). I did only plan to spend around £40 but I picked up a couple of bargains (as usual). In Tescos the Quorn mince was £3 for 2 bags and the broccoli was only 24p in Aldi.
So I've got £70 for the rest on the month, that's £35 each week...I know I can do it! I've got a FULL freezer and a cupboard so full of tins, dried food etc that my husband is too scared to open it in case something falls out and lands on him! :rotfl:

Boatie_Bird

I thought I was doing ok this month, but I've just found a receipt for £19.77 which I'd forgotten to take off the budget, so only have approx £80 to last until the 25th instead of £100. I'm still fairly confident that I can do it as I have lots of storecupboard basics in. I'll just have to be on the look out for reduced cuts of meat etc.

Jellybaby

Well as I said at the start of this month as a newbie I was going to collect receipts this month to get an idea of spend then do the challenge next month. I can't believe how much I've spent already - also just realised how many times I 'just pop' into Tescos, Asda, Morrisons, M&S etc etc. I'm absolutely horrified. OH can't work this week due to health problem which means no pay next week so I guess I'll just have to bring that challenge forward and start today! Wish me luck

JillD_2

Jellybaby, that was my big downfall. I was forever popping into Asda or the garage or waitrose (!!) for a few bitsd and inevitably spent £20 - this would be like 3 times a week on top of a big shop. where di it all go ??!!

Anyway I now try extremely hard to do only one shop a week. I buy enough milkto last, and I freeze it. I make myu own bread so don;t have to go back to the shop for that.
And anything else can wait til the next week.
So far its working and we have come down from £350 to £250 ish a month on food :T :T :T

JillD_2

and I should also say I can't believe how easy its been! I don;t feel like we are skimping or having it tough at all. I menu plan for the week ahead and I no longer agonise over what to cok every night. i love it :j

the_optimist

the_optimist wrote:

So, I'll try harder this month: £200 it will be.......

That's what I said on 02/10 and how much have I spent already? £135,40
:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:
...and 3 weeks to go - well, that's going to be some weird meals for the rest of the month, with what's in the cupboard and the freezer.

Alternatively, maybe a budget of £200 is not enough and maybe I should increase it to £250? :D

cheerfulness4

the_optimist wrote:

how much have I spent already? £135,40
:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:
...and 3 weeks to go - well, that's going to be some weird meals for the rest of the month, with what's in the cupboard and the freezer.

D

In exactly the same boat. Only got just over £70 to last the next 3 weeks with no option of more money. Lots of mismatched food in freezer and cupboards, I MUST get myself organized. :mad:

Cheers me up no end to come on here and see I'm not alone and I'm gonna search that mega list and pull some wonderful meal plans out the hat. Oww feel tons better now, was all down before. :T

toria27

Well i've only got £31.55 to last untill end of the month!!! I was trying to reduce it to £150 though
Will hopefully only need the usual bread milk, fresh fruit & veg though. I've got loads of meat, rice, pasta, spuds etc.
I always get to this part of the month and have none left I'd love to be able to do it the other way round.

Good luck to everyone else.

shell2001

Well I set budget of 350 but trying desperately to come in at 300. I have about 95 left so 45 of what I want to spend left. I have meals planned till end of month and all I have to buy is fruit, veg and a joint of beef (HM bread plus milk in freezer). Out of spends so far have paid 12.50 for DD to go to lunch club at nursery once a week, that covers 5 sessions so into November. Also had to buy her new tights so another 9 gone.

Am hoping and gonna try really hard to keep that extra 50 back to go in spends on holiday. Gonna try and up the potty training during half term too then think that would be an extra 30 a month at least we would be saving on.

Doing the meal plan for the whole month has been well worth the time it took to sort out.

angelavdavis

Have some good news and thought I would share it.

I have had a great week so far.

Monday, I got a notification from the Water company that my bill has reduced by £10 per month (extra careful with water use over the last 12 months and using water butts in the garden, etc).

Tuesday, I was offered a new job and they have agreed to take me on contract for the initial three months to help me out financially - meaning I will earn over 3x my usual salary after deductions.

I have been really lucky! I start on 23rd October and there is even an offer of a permanent job in January paying more than my last job!

This will mean (at last) I can really bash down those credit card bills that I mounted up whilst paying for my MBA (next exam this Friday).

I will still be monitoring the spending though - I know I will be tempted to spend now I know I will be earning, but I really need to ensure the maximum is paid off the credit card debt. Its on 0% until December, so I am keen to put the money into my Alliance and Leicester account in the meantime to safe-keep it and earn interest until I pay off the credit card at Christmas! What a Christmas present!!!

Its such a relief at last!