December 2006 Grocery Challenge

BusyGirl

Yes I've gone way over budget! Just can't do it at xmas. :eek:
Today I did my big xmas shop and later in the week I just need to get fruit, veg and bread and then I will try to get through the holiday without going food shopping again.
My budget was £200 for the month but I will have probably spent £300 by the end of it. So I'm not too miffed as I used to spend more than that every month! I think that next year I will have an extra budget for xmas shopping.

miggy

I have just updated my signature and it looks as though I've improved as the month went on!
There are a couple of difficulties with this - quite major ones, LOL.
Firstly, I may have missed some grocery spending - quite likely in fact as I'm not the only one who spends on groceries and there are, also, so many receipts flying about at this time of year!
Secondly, as we have a couple of weeks without school dinners, expenditure will jump next week.
All that aside, I've decided to take a £5 'pay cut' each week next month - if I can manage it it would be nice to find something to put it towards, though maybe that should wait till we say goodbye to the OD.
A bit off-topic, but I'm thinking about starting a piggy bank of some sort to cope with Christmas and summer holidays, but maybe an ISA would be better, even though the amounts aren't huge. What works for you all?
I see on the resolutions thread (sorry, lost it again so can't post a link) that people are already getting the garden/allotment into gear to plant veggies and save the planet as well as their purses, and our frozen tomatoes from the shops in August are soooo way better than anything in the shops this time of year that I'm tempted to say I'll join them. Just wish I was as good with veg as I am with flowers - maybe it's like being able to bake cakes but being hopeless at pastry. I know all about that one!
I am definitely coming on the grocery-expenditure tracking thread in January, it helps me to be accountable.

lil_me

I have just been adding as I go along, thought I was going to topple over my target but so far so good, I have 2 days left and money left. I might need a couple of things over the weekend but nothing more than £10 worth. I am so suprised and proud of myself for keeping to it especially as I have done a beef Xmas dinner etc aswell

Well done to everyone else too, December is such a bad month especially as I have just started this I have really felt the guilt and pressure on me to make sure I stayed under budget.

I am so thrilled mainly because I was spending £700- £800 a month before! Saying that I haven't had the packed lunches to make this month either but the children have just had to get used to no labels etc. Putting things like yoghurt in dishes so they don't know has been a good idea, and reusing choccy mousse tubs I saved to put homemade in, same with those jelly pots.

redspot24

Well, first month of the doing the grocery challenge has gone as well as I'd anticipated! Had managed to claw back overspending from early in the month but foolishly thought that we wouldn't need as much this week as we do. Also had a few expensive bits to buy - including olive oil and washing powder. Unfortunately also overspent a bit more as dear bf did the shoppping (what a sweetie!) and got confused with the washing powder- ended up with some handwashing/twin tub Daz so had to buy extra ordinary washing powder! The supermarket was also clear out of risotto rice yesterday, so we ended up with the bags of microwave stuff - it's so expensive :mad:
I guess £15-odd over budget isn't too bad for my first month. Here goes the January challenge....

lil_me

Well done, that is still good going Also braving sending the partner is not something I would do, was bad enough having to take him to help with the Christmas shopping and he threw lots of extras in, would never send him alone, saying that I doubt he would go!

mikeD

O/K girls, you've had yer little giggle. Us blokes can shop when we really try!

Had a bit of luck over Christmas. We were invited out to lunch on the Saturday by 2nd eldest, just had to pay for the drinks. On Christmas day dearest daughter cooked Chstmas eve and Christmas day dinners, although I did provide the gammon and turkey crown :eek:

On the Wednesday, eldest son cooked another Christmas dinner, but we did take over a rather decent bottle of sparkling wine.

All in all a reasonably economic holiday compared to some we've had.

Right I'm ready now for the challenge. In 2006 I've spent around £290 per month on what I call "Groceries". In 2007 I will try to cut that down to £260 per month.

lil_me

mikeD wrote:

O/K girls, you've had yer little giggle. Us blokes can shop when we really try!

Well done, wasn't stating all men are the same of course. My Dad is a great cook and shopper

£290.65 I did it I did it I did it !!!! :j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j

Ok I stopped jumping up and down now, you can all stop staring at me like I've gone crackers!

mikeD

Us gentlemen don't stare at mad ladies, they just put their arm gently round her shoulder and say "There, There". So "There, There".

Budget for January £260. Spend so far £3, but groceries about to be delivered! :eek:

miggy

lil_me wrote:

£290.65 I did it I did it I did it !!!!

:j She did it! :j
WTG Lil me, I bet that feels great!

miggy

I am pleased to report I didn't overspend on food, but I have to admit that's because I made a guess at what I thought we could live within, and I was right.
Not really the way to do it long-term, but it worked as a starting point.
My budget for five of us was £90/week including school dinner monies, total £450 for the month, and I spent £394.74.
My new target is £85/week - see January thread. That's in line with actual spends in December, so I have to try to undercut it.
I would love a smiley with a knife and fork!