January 2011 Grocery Challenge

buddiebabe

Hey

Not been posting much but will really need to start as its the only thing that stops me shopping so much!!

Declaring £122.76/£120 so only an overspend of £2.76 which isn't too bad for my first month of doing this!

Didn't include money for eating out or lunches if we didn't take something from the house so this month i'll be including everything that i spend anyway but keeping the budget the same. Off to find Februarys thread

Well done to everyone that came in under budget... here's hoping its me next month

Buddiebabe x

Spiggle

Billie-jo wrote: »

Thanks Spiggle and well done you too on your even better underspend. You have done well this month.

Thanks Billie-jo but I feel it's a bit of a fraudulent total this month as I used my vouchers and points for big stock shops.

Well done everyone! :T Wow the under budgets are fantastic and especially for our newbies. Some declarations are so close as to be regarded as on budget. And really, if you've gone over it is absolutley true that you won't have spent as much as if you weren't doing the challenge. As AlwaysHappy's brilliant signature (which should be a mantra for all of us) says: I'm not a failure if I don't make it, I'm a success because I tried!

I'm with you NickJW, don't be so hard on yourself adelight. Congratulations on such a small spend. :T

Mooloo I think you can excuse yourself when you're doing one of the three most stressful things, moving house! :eek: Well done for even keeping a log of it in the middle of moving! :T

Unhappy_shopper conditional spend vouchers can be our worst enemy. :mad: If we only need to buy £20 worth of stuff why should we spend £60 to get a bit off? :doh: That's not saving and no bargain in my book. (But I am a bit strict! :rotfl:)

Take care all,
Spigs

katholicos

Can't be sure but i don;t think i spent any more than about £60 in January, on groceries.

larmy16

Just reporting in my January results. I aimed to spend £260 but came in at £310.29! An overspend of £50.89.

I'm not thrilled with this, but when you work out that it is over 31 days, it works out at £10 per day for three people which is £3.33 per person per day. So put like that, it sounds very reasonable!

Added to that, we all started diets (healthy eating plans) so are buying more expensive quality foods and very little cheaper junky stuff. Plus there is the 20% VAT to factor in, so all in all I am not too disheartened!

I have written down every single penny each day too.

Well done everyone. Looking forward to the February challenge now.

mummyroysof3

Jolaaled wrote: »

Have got a glut of newly made marmalade the mo'!..thanks to all the Seville recipes and helpful tips I found on here.

So today, have made my mum's Spiced Marmalade cake ...soooo easy!..and each time, it comes out so well (except the sultanas always sink to the bottom). I think the recipe may have originally come from a Yorkshire WI recipe book, but not sure. As a result, I use the old-style 'big' tablespoon measure IYSWIM.

Heres the instructions:

6 oz SR flour
1 tsp mixed spice
3 oz margerine
3 oz sugar
3 oz sultanas
3 tbs hot water
1 egg
2 tbs marmalade
2 tbs golden syrup.

Heat marg, sugar, marmalade and golden syrup in microwave.
Add sieved flour and mixed spice and stir well.
Add the hot water.
Stir in floured sultanas
Lastly, add the beaten egg.

Put in well-greased tin and cook for about 20-30 mins 160 degrees C.

would this work without the mixed spice? looks lovely:D

EllieA_3

I'd like to declare £227.40 for jan please nicely within budget :j:T:j:T:j

prophecy_grrl

Hi I'm declaring £228.37 for Jan - £28.37 over budget but not too bad for my first attempt in GC in quite a while! See you on the Feb thread!

angelatgraceland

Declaring at £399 on 31st January. £1.64 under! Whooppee!!

waltzingMathilda

Declaring at £434.66 for Jan. Pretty pleased and hope I can maintain. We have had no visitors in Jan which is unusual.

nmlc

Morning all

End of my JANUARY GC SO WANT TO DECLARE AT £402.17 - £27.17 OVER BUDGET! PLEASE SIGN ME UP FOR FEBRUARY FOR £375 Need to keep trying!!

nmlc