October 06 Grocery Challenge

kiwi88_2

Curly_Girly wrote:

Going to try this for the first time in October. We used to manage a months food and toiletries, household items for around £200 for the two of us, but it's been creeping up and up over the past year to around £250 a month. We've got a baby on the way so I'm starting now with good intentions, and hopefully we can reduce our frivolous habits! I've done my meal planner for the month and hopefully we'll come in around £200 which will be a good start.

Hi Curly Girly

Hope you don't mind but try the reusable nappies it'll save you a bundle after the initial outlay especially if you look on this site at the cleaning tips for washing powder. Also your local council might give you a one off payment for buying them :T

BusyGirl

This my second attempt as I did fail last month, although I have changed my ways. The main improvement is using cash and not plastic and shopping around eg Aldi, Home Bargains etc. I like bulk buying things like loo roll, pasta (£1 for 3kg in Asda) etc.
My target is £200 for 2 adults and 2 children.:eek:
I now own a breadmaker and I have stocked up on the ingredients needed. I've been using it to make cakes which the children often take in their lunch boxes. My cupboards and the freezer are well stocked.

The biggest achievement is that I've lost half a stone since I joined this site!
Even though I'm making bread, cakes etc I reckon it's because I'm so busy rushing around saving money and we're eating healthy home cooked meals (I must avoid scoffing the kid's cakes though!).:rotfl:

cashsaver

Wa...hay !!!!!!!!!

Well done on the weight loss BusyGirl !!! Good luck for this month .:T

FrugalAussie

I'm trying for $100 a week for 1 adult (vegie) and 2 teenagers (1 vegie but the other a real meat lover). School holidays have just started for us so the first 2 weeks will be a real challenge, therefore I need to plan ahead and make cakes and have cheap snacks in. I have some supplies in the freezer so that will help. I am going to include takeout and wine in the $100 as I find this is where I tend to overspend (because I deserve a treat).

I'm also trying to lose some weight before Christmas so am very focused on getting my act together this month!! I am going on hols for 4 weeks in January so want to save hard for that. Hopefully me eating less, drinking less and taking ALL lunches and snacks to work will save lots of money.

So far so good, only 30 days to go.:rotfl:

Mr_Proctalgia

I am tentatively going to have a go this month but firstly I have decided to eat myself out of my house and home, I moved her in June and some stuff is still there from the move, stuff that will never get eaten so long as alternatives are availailabe!
Therefore the initial effort will be to empty the larder and freezer and then try to stock up on ingredients for stuff that I actually enjoy eating. I am going to plan on an ititial £5 pw (only me here) till stocks run out then it will be a case of hitting the meal planner threads for advice on what to do with half a Kohl Rabi, some Bombay Duck and Meringue Cases!

First lesson leaned is that even if it is Bogof and reduced to 1p it isn't a saving if I don't eat it.

Deedee73

I did it in September, :T :T :T Just tallied it all up now!
I know I can do it this month, espesh with the help of Mr T's refund policy;)

carlih1

Hi all,

I went well over budget in sept bu about £180 this time i will do it because i intend to use everything in the cupboards and plan plan plan, which i haven't done yet. So £200 is my budget.... lets see what happens

pinkparrott

HI
I recently posted a topic about a realistic budget for my family , and got loads of advice and responses so I am all set for thhis months challenge:j

I budget for £350 on food (and pet and hpusehold stuff from supermarket) However I always spend over this and usually around £400 this is for me , my oh and baby boy (7 months) and 2 cats and 2 teenage step daughters who come for 2-3 days a week.

Well this month I am going to be really brave and set a total of £200 as my little boy starts at the childminders tommorrow for 4 days a week and she will feed him lunch and tea (so saving £1 a day as was buying jars!!) and hubby away quite a bit this month with work so just me to feed some evenings , also my cupboards and freezers is full and want to run them down so can clean and defrost them before christmas.

So far spent £26.74 at tescos for the whole weeks shop.:T

FrugalAussie

Hi Everyone

I'm sure others with teenagers can relate. We have just started school holidays here in Western Australia and so I have my two teenagers at home most days. Already I have had to say "NO" (trying hard not to shout) to: pizza from Eagle Boys and fizzy drink. I told my son he would have to eat what was available (I did a shop on Friday, there is plenty of food in the house) until I got to the shops on Thursday night, to which he replied "we will have to go out for tea on Thursday night after not having any food for a week." Then I did shout!

So, this will be a challenge for the whole family but I am determined to take some control of the food budget as it has been getting out of hand of late.

Today should be a no spend, as we have a public holiday and no plans to get out so I have lots of time (except for the homework I have been avoiding for three days) to do some cooking. I am really enjoying Pilau at the moment so will make that and a dahl while son can have that with his steak and maybe bake a cake but as I am trying to lose weight might avoid this.

Good luck with the challenge everyone.

carlih1

Hello,

Done my first ever shopping list, i have it all printed out and know exactly what i need, hopefully this will keep on on the straight and narrow.

Carli