December 2006 Grocery Challenge

miggy

Thanks for the welcomes!
Tesco and I have survived our time together - total £22.45 less the £4 voucher - which I nearly forgot at the end! I had to go back but they gave me the money anyway so I have forgiven them for being unhelpful about something the other week. They gave it me in £2 coins as well so my £2 coin fund is happy.
I was good and stuck to my list, too - and I've started a spending diary. All the pouring over the till receipt to separate groceries from others has reminded me what I bought (duh) so I am reminded I meant to make something big with the mince and freeze half. Funny how I forget between shopping and home.
My husband did the baking while I was out so I'm resting on his laurels there.
Off to update my sig. now.

mikeD

I'm a bit confused about this challenge. Is it about how much one spends each month or just about "Groceries" specifically? . I know I'm an old geezer but when mummy took me shopping in the good old days we went to:

(a) The grocers, then
(b) The butchers, and then
(c) The greengrocers, and then

We went home and ate it all!:T

Some people mention petrol, but none of the 3 of us ever ran away to the circus and became fire eaters :rolleyes:, and others mention presents! So what are groceries?????

We, that is I, spend around £279 a month on (a) to (c) above, but as it's Christmas this month we won't be joining, but will have a go in 2007.

mikeD

miggy wrote:

Hi everyone,
(Slightly overdone nervous smile)
I'm new on this board... mind if I join you?
/quote]Hi miggy. Welcome to us newbies. By the way, you're doing better than me at the moment. On a pro-rata basis I'm spending £107 a week to your £90!!:mad:

kiwi88_2

mikeD wrote:

I'm a bit confused about this challenge. Is it about how much one spends each month or just about "Groceries" specifically? . I know I'm an old geezer but when mummy took me shopping in the good old days we went to:

(a) The grocers, then
(b) The butchers, and then
(c) The greengrocers, and then

We went home and ate it all!:T

Some people mention petrol, but none of the 3 of us ever ran away to the circus and became fire eaters :rolleyes:, and others mention presents! So what are groceries?????

Hi MikeD and welcome

It all depends on your own personal budgeting, not very helpful that I know :rotfl:

Personally I include all "groceries" (love your good old days comment ), toiletries, cleaning products, dog food and any presents I get at MrT but I don't include petrol. People who are really organised have seperate budgets for pressies as well but I'm not that organised yet. That's one for me for 2007 :rotfl:

So really it's down to personal circumstance and choice. Hope that helps :rotfl:

jcr16

november i was under my 200 pound budget last month by 2.88.:T

my december budget is again 200. and i know it is only the 3rd but i only have 39 left.. but that isn't as bad as it seems. as 50 of that was stocking up the drinks cabinet and buying some new wine glasses. and the budget only has to last until the 22nd this month. as i have a seperate budget for xmas :xmastree: and new years. also i can't buy food in early as i eat it :embarasse

my cupboard's are full,and my 2 fridges and 2 freezers and i have milk by the milk man which is from another budget pot.

mikeD

kiwi88 wrote:

Hi MikeD and welcome

It all depends on your own personal budgeting, not very helpful that I know :rotfl:

Personally I include all "groceries" (love your good old days comment ), toiletries, cleaning products, dog food and any presents I get at MrT but I don't include petrol. People who are really organised have seperate budgets for pressies as well but I'm not that organised yet. That's one for me for 2007 :rotfl:

So really it's down to personal circumstance and choice. Hope that helps :rotfl:

Thanks Kiwi. I keep a detailed record of everything we spend using Quicken, so will only use the items contained in the Household expense budget.:beer:

BusyGirl

Ok, so the budget is £200 for this month (again). I will aim to keep as close as I can to the goal but it must be one of the most difficult months to restrain myself in! :rolleyes:
I 've already spent half of the budget but I have bought loads already for xmas. I have the turkey crown, some frozen veg, xmas pudding and sauce, lots of crisps, nuts ,biscuits stashed away. I even have wine and beer!
I also have loads in the freezer and cupboard, so I only need to buy fresh fruit, veg, bread, cheese, ham and yoghurts each week.
I've also (roughly) planned our meals for the month so I don't need to buy much else.

redspot24

Well, all is going well so far with my first grocery challenge. Have spent just under £23 for week one, out of a budget of £140 for the month :j
This is in part because was away at the weekend so didn't need food.
Also, took up the suggested challenge of using what was already in and that's helped out loads - haven't had to buy any meat this week, which is a good saving.
Have been really inspired by all the great ideas posted. I already try to plan our meals, but only on a week-by-week basis; I am going to try to plan longer term from now on, and that way I can freeze some extra portions. Doing this will also mean that I can shop on-line, getting a big monthly shop and then just getting fruit etc each week. As we live in Manchester city-centre and are limited to shopping a Sainsbury's Local, this should be a big money-saving!
Have also realised that might be able to save money on food this month as going away for Christmas.... I just hope that all these savings won't lull me into a false sense of security - don't want to blow all my good work!

squeaky

I blew my admittedly tough target yesterday. Did my month's shop on line with asda and spent £87.

Mind you - £30 of that was gifts for a couple of friends which aren't exactly a food budget and another twenty was on booze for the festive season. (All I've got to do now is find a way to hide it from myself!)

Even being kind to myself and not including the gifts I'm still going to be over budget - but not too badly.

I think I'll let myself off - it is the season of good will after all

miggy

mikeD wrote:

miggy wrote:

/quote]Hi miggy. Welcome to us newbies. By the way, you're doing better than me at the moment. On a pro-rata basis I'm spending £107 a week to your £90!!:mad:

Hi MikeD, I'm catching up on you!
I forgot the children get dinner money and although I see Martin's superdooper budget calculator doesn't count it as groceries, and neither do my kids who would rather go to the chippie or buy sweets, I still think I ought to count it as food money - that's £15 extra and I don't even give them an allowance for a school meal every day.
I found some Iceland lemon sole in the freezer yesterday while looking for something else, so we had a 'free' dinner that was delicious, and I also managed to use up some of the couscous mountain, but I think tonight it's back to mince :-)