January 2007 Grocery Challenge

liewe_heksie

Hi everyone
I am starting my new February 2007 Grocery Challenge tomorrow as my next week runs from Monday to Sunday so that will be 29.01.07 until 04.02.07. Hope this month goes as well as the last. Have even less money to spend in cash but have loads of vouchers and points to use up so will see how it goes, am so excited about trying to stick to my £5.00 a week budget. I have about £40.00 worth of vouchers and points to use up, so that'll be great. I used undeer £40.00 last month and the £5.00 a week is just in case I run out! LOL! or something comes up that I cannot use points or vouchers for. Good luck to everyone, am really enjoying this challenge and it's helping me curb my spending habits. Am also trying to use up my store cupboard and freezer stuff which is loads!

Cheers
LH
x x x

thriftykatie

LJM wrote:

am i still being thick is the grocery shop just that grocerys should i count my cleaning stuff and toothpastes etc in with the food shop,its late and im tired,so im probs just a bit stupid atm

Not stupid - I wondered the same when I started at the beginning of the month. However, I think it's all about what suits you. Reading through the posts it seems some people include petrol, some toiletries etc.

I class my grocery budget as anything I might buy when shopping (have separate budget for petrol for example) so all my cleaning stuff (although non needed at the moment as trying to work through the bottles in the cupboard!), washing powder, toiletries (although could start a shop selling these so don't need to buy at the moment!), loo roll etc is included as well as the more obvious food!

If I pick up other non grocery related items I try to include them in my grocery budget too if I can, so in effect I am spending less on my groceries than budgeted. An example of this is yesterday in Sainsburys when I got some half price Kodak photo paper for £3.99. I do have a small weekly budget for bits and bobs but would rather not use that if I can, and throw that at my debts.

Only new to this DFW lark, but finding a way that suits me and although early days it's helping me stay positive.

thriftykatie

EagerLearner wrote:

Hi all - I pay my monthly money into our joint account on 28th of each month to cover bills/groceries etc - so I am wondering if for the purposes of the challenge, I should only count up money spent on groceries until the 28th? Because on the 29th the joint account has a new lot of money from me.

What do you think?

I get paid on 26th so my monthly challenge started Friday, but will join the Feb challenge when it is posted, although I will already have had a week on it!

Had my first spend - £20 (well £22 but got £2 refund for some satsumas I took back because 3 had gone off so don't count the £2!)

I've done my menu planner and hoping to have a good month as car tax due at the end of the month. I now save £10 a week towards car tax, service etc, but as I only started at the beginning of January I need to make up the short fall so hope to use stuff out of the freezer and cupboards and reduce budget this month.

My DD and I eat lots of fresh fruit and veg and that along with milk and bread cost around £15 a week minimum so it can be difficult cutting back, but I'm working on it!

dobs

I'm trying this too.We have 2 adults and 2 children and usually we spend just on a main shop about £280 every 4 weeks!Istarted it 1st jan and have spent £170 for the last 4 wks so a big saving already!I am trying to spend under £40 for three weeks out of the 4.I'm cutting down on extra shops too by meal plannning, using up whats in the cupboards etc already and making cakes desserts etc instead of buying. I dont like ready meals so always cook ahead and freeze.

freebiehunter29

Hi I am going to do February Grocery Challenge starting tomorrow 29/01/2007 until 04/02/2007. I have read through many of the previous posts to look for ideas from someone similar to myself because I have no idea how much to budget myself but not been successful. There are 2 adults, 4 children (one still in nappies day and night and one only at night) and 2 budgies in our house. My grocery budget will include all food, drink, toiletries, cleaning stuff, toilet rolls, nappies etc. Any suggestions?

benjacksmum

Extremely chuffed with this month's result, have spent £14.56 this week, ending my January total at £58.02! :j :j Just goes to show what a bit of planning with the stuff you already have can do!

Not sure how to play the February challenge though, I'm dreading it to be honest. On the 19th, the builders move in to knock down internal walls etc and the new kitchen will then be fitted, but this work will take in total about 2-3 weeks! :eek: This is 2-3 weeks without a kitchen! Our only usable ground floor room will be the living room which is approx 13' x 12' and has to house me and OH, the two young menaces and the dog! It is just about right in there at the moment with the telly, settee and chair, coffee table and sideboard, but from the 19th there will also be the larder fridge, kettle and microwave sat on the sideboard and boxes of food wherever I can fit them in and probably other stuff I haven't thought of yet! There may still be access to the freezers in the cellar but probably only in the evenings. Luckily we are out at work most of the day and home again by about 2.30pm.

Anyway, panic attack no. 112 of thousands more to come, over with, I will try and take it week by week for the Feb challenge although suggestions as to how to feed the family during those few weeks would be helpful and much appreciated.

Hope everybody else is as successful with their January challenge and if not, well it's all a huge learning curve that took me months to master too. One step at a time I suppose.

Ang x

fairy3

Hi all, last shop of the month for me which came in at £29.60 due to lots of veggies and fruit being on offer from the market near to closing time, have lots of soup smoothies and jam planned.

Have menuplanned till Saturday so will not need to buy anymore. So in total have come in well under and very pleased.

Can't wait to do the Feb challenge which will run from 1st - 28th as this is payday.

Freebiehunter

Regarding advice on how much to budget, this is my first month for 1 adult and three teenagers and dog so guessed at £250 . Can you plan a week at a time, say look in the cupboards for this week and do a basic meal plan which you can then add to week on week. It might help to cost nappies out and bulk buy at beginning of month so they are 'out of the way' so to speak. I am sure someone wiser will come along to help soon, good luck.

J
X

LJM

thriftykatie wrote:

Not stupid - I wondered the same when I started at the beginning of the month. However, I think it's all about what suits you. Reading through the posts it seems some people include petrol, some toiletries etc.

I class my grocery budget as anything I might buy when shopping (have separate budget for petrol for example) so all my cleaning stuff (although non needed at the moment as trying to work through the bottles in the cupboard!), washing powder, toiletries (although could start a shop selling these so don't need to buy at the moment!), loo roll etc is included as well as the more obvious food!

If I pick up other non grocery related items I try to include them in my grocery budget too if I can, so in effect I am spending less on my groceries than budgeted. An example of this is yesterday in Sainsburys when I got some half price Kodak photo paper for £3.99. I do have a small weekly budget for bits and bobs but would rather not use that if I can, and throw that at my debts.

Only new to this DFW lark, but finding a way that suits me and although early days it's helping me stay positive.

thankyou xx

millionaire_in_training

I am giving myself a couple of days off although I am still going to keep a strong grip on my spending. I will start again on Wednesday 31st and run till 27th Feb. Can't be too unhappy with this months as was my first go but really want to stay in budget next month.xx

redspot24

thriftykatie wrote:

use stuff out of the freezer and cupboards and reduce budget this month.

My DD and I eat lots of fresh fruit and veg and that along with milk and bread cost around £15 a week minimum so it can be difficult cutting back, but I'm working on it!

I know what you mean- our fruit, veg and dairy regularly come in at £15-20 per week, just for me and dbf. Get stressed about it but don't want to cut this area back - decided I was taking thing s a step too far when I started hunting for smaller bananas so that they would cost less but mr redspots could still have the same number every day!