August 2011 Grocery Challenge

mrs-moneypenny

you can start your month whenever you like as long as it only last about 4 weeks and reaches from payday to payday its a month. its up to you what month you call it i think a'd call it the month i started the money in.

boultdj

Another £1 to add, bought the bowl of veg off the market, 6 large carrot's, 1 round cabbage and a cauli should last us all week, don't need to buy fruit as I'm getting strawberrie's and raspberrie's off the garden and been given cooking apple's and plum's of Dad this week.

Nimeth

Been feeling a bit unwell this week, so did a Te$co internet order to be delivered later in the week, spent £48.20 including delivery. Thank goodness I had vouchers through the post or I'd have spent more. I've got company coming up at the weekend, so I will have to make a pitstop at Morrison$ probably at some point to pick up some things I couldn't get. So not declaring just yet.

Also had another 4 NSDs since my last shop.

Savvy_sewing

The two purses talked about above reminded me that when I was very young and first married, I used to have a list of the contents of my shopping on the back of the door, and on the side of the freezer, and I would put away the cost of the food into a jar, and use that to go shopping from. So that I could restock my freezer from the Meat on the market etc etc. I really should think of doing something similar.
We needed milk as DGD drinks loads of it, and the bread is a bit old. So my helper went to the local Co-0p for me, and bought me the milk and a loaf, and as she works there part time got me a discount as well! So I had change from £4.
I am going to put the bread in the freezer this time, and take out exactly what i need, when I need it instead of having the bread out. AS there is mostly only DGD and I, we dont always eat a loaf before it goes off. I used to keep it in the freezer but as the last time I bought meat i had a bulk lot there was no room for the bread, and I got out of the habit since there has been space.

MILLYMOLLY

Tesco again last night spent £56.** updated sig

angelatgraceland

It is really up to you how you calculate from one date to the next. Just ensure you average out your month around the 30 or 31 days/ So you could say 16th-16th of every month and call it August now. Personally I find this method frustrating and therefore regrdless of when payday is I calculate from the 1st of the month until the end of it. If you are noting your daily spends it really will not make any difference as you are stating what you spend rather than what you are receiving into the household.

angelatgraceland

If you do have bread left over going dry pop it in your foodprocessor and then freeze the breadcrumbs.These will then be ready for a future recipe.

Islandmaid

Hi all,

Was woken by a very sorry for himself !!!!! cat this morning, he lokedmlike the Gruffello with one of his canine teeth sticking out at a weird angle, one trip to the vets later ( and £80 lighter!!!) he,s feeling much better - just his age they said - bless him x

With that unexpected extra cost, it got me thinking about how I am going to deal with next months budget in general - I am debating whether to withdraw a wadge of cash out at the beginning of the month and splitting it into food and general spends, then hiding my bank card - my only worry is if I have to actually 'go' to the shops as opposed to ordering online will I be tempted to spend more - any tips gratefully received.

HM burger and chips for tea - yummy

Have a great evening all x

cattysmum

meg72 wrote: »

rej-c wrote: »

I



Oh, and I've finally found a way to make a start on a '2nd purse'-type strategy [couldn't quite get my head around it for a while there]. I spotted that a local Mr S was clearing out a washing detergent I like for less than half price, so I nabbed... erm, let's just say enough to keep us going for years ...and paid for it out of my 'pocket money'. Every bottle I use from that stash, I'll buy 'from myself' with housekeeping money as and when [and put an equal £ amount into a yet-to-be-decided savings pot].

What a great idea.Think I will go for this in September.As virtually all of my stocks are either whoopsies or or too good to miss offers
I like the idea of bargain shopping from home.:T

Brilliant Idea when I spot great deals it comes out of my budget but makes quite a big hole in it so the idea of buying back from yourself and using a second purse is very appealing

cattysmum

Well a no spend day today for me, went into Hull yesterday Entertaianer had some good offers on for toys so picked up a few bits not our of my GC budget HOWEVER I was with very pregnant daughter and had miscalculated how long we would be in the car park for and how much extra time it took her to waddle round the shops and I nearly choked when my car park fee came to £6.00 this came out of GC budget and now quite well over target GRRRRR