January 2007 Grocery Challenge

md123

Oh well week 1 over and managed to go over budget. I suppose it was only £1.74. I was doing really well, but had a chippy tonight which brought it over budget). I did have an excuse though, I failed my driving test today and needed some comfort food.

I will definatley do it next week. I have made a meal plan and shopping list accordingly and also have more determination.

kezia

kiwi88 wrote:

That's just my way though There are lots of other ways of doing it on here with loads of advice and encouragment so keep letting us know how you're doing.

Thanks Kiwi88, thats the great thing about MSE - people are so supportive and helpful. Since I joined in the summer I have really changed my way of thinking about money. It is just a shame it takes me a bit longer to change my way of thinking about being organised

miggy

md123 wrote:

Oh well week 1 over and managed to go over budget. I suppose it was only £1.74. I was doing really well, but had a chippy tonight which brought it over budget). I did have an excuse though, I failed my driving test today and needed some comfort food.

Sorry about the driving test... but £1.74 isn't too huge an overspend, so cheer up a bit! I'm sure you'll hit the target next week.

miggy

I thought I was doing so well...! On Wednesdays I usually go to the other end of town which is my excuse to mooch around Sainsbury's then come back via the market. Today I resisted both - saving probably £15. I had to take one of the kids to a hospital appointment (nothing too dire) and the hospital is near Netto, but I resisted that too.
Then DS was hungry on the way back from an after-school activity and I gave in and suggested Nettos (my kids are 'allergic' to Netto so I thought I was safe there) and to my surprise he said 'yes', and we spent £5.20. However, some of that was for seeds - did you know you can buy a packet of seeds in Netto for 19p?
I have been pretty good - homemade soup and HM pizza this week, plus we finished up some bits from the freezer, but I am running out of inspiration for HMs for two of the children who don't eat casseroles. Perhaps I will be more inspired tomorrow.
So, I'm within budget so far but not doing as well as I'd hoped.

Spud_2

Hello, I've a latecomer to this 2007 grocery challenge but have been keeping a tally since the beginning of Jan.

For 2 adults my budget is going to be £100 per month. Last year I was spending nearer to £150 per month but since Nov 06 I've discovered the wonders of using internet coupons in Waitrose so have been able to cut my shopping bills by 40-50% whenever I go! :T

Spud_2

md123 wrote:

Oh well week 1 over and managed to go over budget. I suppose it was only £1.74. I was doing really well, but had a chippy tonight which brought it over budget)

Maybe I'm considered to cheat then as I don't include take-aways or meals out in the grocery challenge! I am just noting supermarket/local shop spends. Anything like take-outs is classified by me as a luxury and is budgeted for seperately

earner

Breakfast: toast and remainder of jar of sardine/tomato paste (value 8p)
Lunch: slimfast soup (freebie from a link here) + a special big bread roll 20p

I went out shopping earlier. Got a loaf of bread, dozen large eggs, bread roll and a luxury pie reduced to half price
Total £2.73
I see this as 6 meals (eggs/toast) + the pie as a treat over the weekend with mash.

I can't shop online as the minimum is £25 spend - and then there's the delivery charge!

Also - no Tesco or Asda near me - so no "value range" shops available. Buying/cooking for 1 is more expensive and I have no large freezer. Just a mini one on top of my fridge

My budget is usually £10/week - and that is how I normally live.

shell2001

Well my month is a week short as we were away at my parents until 5th so have reduced to £280.

So far I have done my tesco order for the rest of the month (do monthly meal planner) that was £108.00. Day we came home we had to go to co-op for milk and bits but had things in freezer which we used up for a couple of days till tesco shop came on tuesday. I also ordered the cookery books someone suggested and took this out of housekeeping budget so...

Tesco £108.00
Co-op £10.81
The book people £10.00
Veg shop £2.50

Balance £148.69

Just need to get gammon joint and pack of chicken breast for HM nuggets from market tomorrow. Then top up milk and veg/fruit as needed.

Am hopeful for a good month as mine ends on 26th (DH pay day). Have decided to put any left into a seperate account for birthdays and Xmas. Each month has seen me improving and I think the monthly meal plan has really done that for me.

The gammon will do us a meal tommorow night, will be sliced and frozen for use in sandwiches, pizza and pasta.

Big chicken in oven for roast tonight, will make curry for saturday and chicken and leek pie for freezer for one night next week. If there is any meat left may make a stew and dumplings for me to have as lunch or soup.

newlywed

kezia wrote:

Hard as I am trying I am not doing so well at this. I seem to need one or two things everyday ( bin liners, loo roll or eggs etc) and each visit costs about £15 more than I intended it to As this is my first month at the challenge I am trying to remind myself that it is a bit of a learning curve and I have to be more organised and plan meals better. I am determined to keep going though. Do you find it is cheaper to do one or two big shops a month or lots of little ( but well planned!!!!) trips?

Well I tried big online shops but found I wasn't organised enough and still forgot things So then I had to go to the local shops and was spending a fortune.

I prefer to shop once or twice a week and just take a basket so I can't buy too much. This has cut my shops down from £70-£100 a time to £30-40 a time. Now that I'm getting more organized I'm trying to bring my shops down to nearer once a week.

Meal planning has been the main key though with me as I was throwing lots of food away or buying ready meals when I could have just cooked double on another night and frozen it for those quick meal nights.

Have gone from £450 a month to nearer £200 a month and trying to get lower still - I know it's possible but the biscuits and cakes keep calling to me!!

spiddy100

Coming to this late but can I join in?

The last four months I have consistently spent over £300 at the supermarket. I tend to do two big online shops of around £100 (getting the extra Clubcard points using codes etc) but then pop into the shops throughout the month and spend at least an extra £100.

So this month I have:

- actually gone through my freezer and cupboards and seen what I already have
- planned meals day by day using stuff up from the freezer
- tried to plan meals around cheaper ingredients like beans and seasonal veg for at least part of the time
- vowed to try and stop 'mooching' round the shops and buying stuff!

I've done one big shop so far (split between Lidl and Sainsburys) and have the food for another week of main meals, but will need to go to Tesco tomorrow for nappies, milk, yoghurts, fruit and other perishables. Must stay strong, must stay strong.............