January 2011 Grocery Challenge

Georgiegirl2012

I have just emptied my grocery cupboard. And have shocked myself with some of the "sell by dates" which I think must be wrong. I know I've bought custard powder in the last 18 months. I have 2 tubs in there - one of which has a best before date of June 2008, and the other about a year later. The 2009 one looks ok, and it smells ok, so I'm going with it is ok. The 2008 hasn't even been opened.

I have 12 tins of beans, about 8 tins of tuna and pasta, rice, cous cous and noodles till they are coming out of your ears.

I do have other stuff as well - I will go and write it all down, but maybe in the morning. Might look in the fridge and freezer next.

But with careful planning I shouldn't need to buy much at all during January.

SuziQ1962

Hi can I join in too please Sign me up for £300 for January -aiming to spend £60/week for 6 of us including packed lunches-is this realistic?

SuziQ1962

Hi,me again,anyone know where I can get a list of vat free foodstuffs-I know some are vat free but quite a lot aren't-just thinking that I would rather have the 20% in my purse than in the governments,have done a search on the internet but couldn't get a comprehensive list,Thanks in advance :-D

LJFreeman

I'll be getting off to a good start on my GC tomorrow as I don't plan to go out so therefore will be a NSD, I will need to go out on Sunday though to buy some packed lunch stuff for my son going back to school, food shopping days are on a Wednesday and my weekly budget is a paltry £30 however I plan on doing a big shop around payday so that each week is just a top up shop which will also cut down on transport costs.

I normally get a taxi to Mr A from work every week but my new plan is to make the use of the shops in town which is within walking distance of my house, i know Wilkinsons do some great deals on washing powder so I might pop in there for cleaning products and the like.

I suppose its just the convenience of supermarkets, I'll see how I go this month before I set anything in stone.

Well done to everyone for keeping going for whatever personal reason, mine is I spend so much money on crap and I find that I throw a lot away so meal planning and budgeting is the way forward for me. I'd really love to take my kids abroad this year and if I can cut down the amount I spend on food then it could be do-able xx

suzybloo

Can you [lease put me down for £200 for January ( 5 saturdays at £40) . This is less than half of my normal budget but we are going to live out of the freezers and store cupboard, as I made a January box gradually over the previous three months picking up offers here and there, so this will now be out into the cupboards to restock them,
Many thanks

Pink_Giraffe

Hi

I have been lurking round the boards for the best part of a year and decided to take the plunge and join in for the New Year. We normally spend £120 a month so I'd like to aim for £100 please. This is for food for two of us and cleaning basics but excludes toiletries etc which aren't paid out of the household budget.

david69_2

I want to do this I'm fed up with going to supermarket and spending £100 a week and theres only 2 of us
I do try the cheaper supermarkets and local butchers aswell but i need to try harder £250 a month would be good but i bet i can do it for less if i try.

jammy_dodger

i have just uodated my sig spent £3.19 in asda bought many reduced items to freeze including 4x packs sausage meat ( 20p ) and 4 x packs bells puff pastry ( 50p) all will make fine ,meals alsogot pots of fresh bolognese sauce reduced to 9p so another great bargain for the freezer

happy new year everyone lets hope its a thrifty un x x

majjak

I'd like to join in (again ) if I may? Have been on here a few times now but always fall off the wagon. :mad:

I'd be ever so grateful if the powers that be could give me a good hard kick up the jacksy if I get lazy again. :eek:

This is the year I have to get in control of everything, a little bit of debt to shift, a lot of weight to shift and 2011 is definitely going to be my year .

I'd like to set a budget of £350 for January please Mrs M (2 adults, 3 teenagers, 1 nearly-teenager and a doggie).

Happy New Year everyone ! xxx :beer:

smiler34

Probably a bit steep but mine is just an estimate till I've done a spending diary.

Can you put me down for £400 for January. That is for 2 adults, 3 young kids.

I am determined to get this amount down.