January 2007 Grocery Challenge

kiwi88_2

millionaire_in_training wrote:

This is my first real try at this and I am rather disgusted at what I spend. I tweaked my budget last week as I was going to be over. I am still way over.....Oh well at least I know where I am going wrong. I am wondering if others who have been doing this for a while had this problem at the start or is it just me? I am going to continue to cut down until the ned of the month and then set myself a budget a bit lower than I have spent. Should be slightly easier next month as is a short month. Ok onwards and upwards.xx

Hi there
Don't be disgusted with yourself you have taken a large step forward just doing this challenge :T It took me 2-3 months to get my head round everything from budgetting to meal planning so you're doing really well so far :T

One thing I wouldn't do though is cut your budget next month. Although it's only a 4wk month I would still keep it the same and see how you go.

Well done you :T

loumac

WooHoo! I came in under budget! Not massively but I did. :j :j :j

I'm not sure if my months are a bit squiffy but I start Feb on Friday. I went shopping yesterday for a last few bits and was very pleased that I managed to only spend £7.51 in Asda! This is also keep me going till the weekend.

I've dropped my budget a little, I know I should be able to do it for less compared to what some of you spend but I need to be realistic.

Anyway, hope everyone's got on well with month 1! Good luck as the year and the saving continues.

cuddlymarm

Hi everyone:rotfl:

I'm not doing too badly I don't think.
The first week I didn't spend much because we still had lots of stuff left from Christmas (have eaten some wierd meals though, one of the favourites has been buffet sausage rolls and baked beans)
The second week I didn't get to the supermarket (we've had to go down to one car because OH's car engine blew up and it wasn't worth mending and we're making do with one for now) and had to make do with the local shops and what we already had
I had £20 left from the first week which I carried over into this weeks supermarket shop and stocked up on tins and jars (while theres lots of offers on) and filled the freezer so that I've got an emergency stock in case I can't get to the shops. I still only spent £53 in Asda so using a seperate purse and cash seems to be helping me not spend so much.

Keep up the good work

:j :j :j

kezia

I have now overspent by £24 and still have 2 days to go. Even though I am a bit depressed about overspending it has actually been really good, because I now have a clear idea of how much I spend and what on. I am determined to do it next month

millionaire_in_training

I am the same kezia. My first month and have gone over. All I hope for is that eventually I will get down to whatI want to spend per month even if it takes a few attempts to get there. Thanks to the folks for encouragement. my thanks button is not working Im afraid

miggy

I have been avoiding updating my spending diary - never a good sign! However, I haven't been to the shops much either. I did spend nearly £10 on lunch with a friend last week so maybe I ought to tidy up at home and ask her round next time instead of going out.
I was quite good at the weekend and did some baking so people could take some in lunch boxes and save the pennies. It works to some extent.
I am on a quest to get DD to eat healthier packed lunches not just chips. Last week we made up some couscous from a supermarket flavoured packet - not as cheap as homemade but apparently she (and her friends) loved it! I put in some cruditees at her request, too.
This week I made a pan of brown rice thinking she could take some of that with veg in, but she's not touched it so far. I have! I love it cold with cheese!
I managed to forget pasta when I shopped last week so I was a bit stuck today. I was in a frantic rush all day trying to complete a job application form and didn't go to the shops, so I was going to do tuna pasta from the store cupboard. I had to substitute a red onion for an ordinary one, then I had the ingredients...except for the pasta! Searching around, I found lasagne in the depths of the kitchen so I made a tuna and tomato lasagne with a bit of cheese on top and we decided it was good enough to have again.
(Use the oil from a tin of tuna to soften some chopped onion, garlic puree - optional - add some bell pepper - green is nice - some oregano or other Italian herbs, the rest of the tin of tuna and a tin of tomatoes, chopped. Just cook for a few minutes and stir in cooked pasta. It's nice with sweetcorn if you're feeling rich. Today's version missed the garlic but added some sundried tomatoes near the end, layered with lasagne and topped with strong cheddar cheese. I thought it might work with mushrooms or olives, too...)
So anyway, there I am being a bit inventive, and managing to use up something abandoned at the back of the store cupboard, too. I'm proud of myself, LOL!
Okay, okay, that doesn't tell me how my spending is going... off to make a start on it right now!

miggy

Oooh! :j: I know this isn't the board for it but I have to share! :j:
I just noticed I have an extra star (since when?) - I'm now an official regular money saver! What a pity the Bank doesn't think so too!

fairy3

Well done Miggy! Have no idea what it means as am very lowly but well done on being out of the newbie catagorie Hurrah the only way is up then?

J
x

fairy3

Sorry to post again but I just noticed I got 1 star and am notsonewbie! Isn't it exciting!

J
x

miggy

fairy3 wrote:

Well done Miggy! Have no idea what it means as am very lowly but well done on being out of the newbie catagorie Hurrah the only way is up then?

J
x

Thanks!
Hopefully yes, from here on in things improve.
I will admit to slipping up this morning and spending £12 in Sainsbury's. I hadn't intended to go in there at all, which makes it worse. I did manage not to buy a dessert which was reduced and tempting, but unnecessary. Then I bought two for £1 on the market on the way home, so I'm pleased with that.
I'm still within budget but I've lost the receipt for last week's main shop, so I'm quite a long way worse than my signature shows.