January 2007 Grocery Challenge

malvena_2

Hallo everyone

I have been meaning to join in on this challenge for a couple of months now, but I guess the start of a new year is as good a time as any.

I am guessing that I usually spend about 90.00 per month on food for myself and cat. I really want to bring this down a lot but I am going to set myself a target of 75.00 for the first month. Hopefully I will come in under that as the cupboards are fairly full at the moment.

Fingers crossed

gargoyle

Well not spent much as haven't got much. Mine will run from 28th to 28th and I'm targetting £160 for two adults, one child, and three cats. Spent so far .....£5.81.

LJM

right im in, in our household there is 2 adults/2 kids and a cat,i estimate that we spend around £200-£250 a month on food,so im hoping i can get this down to a resonable amount.i know i have already cut back a bit as i found stardrops/borax and soda crystals so cleaning shop bought products are mainly out of window,plus im cooking from scratch for the main of our meals,no take aways,and since xmas left us with enough munchies to open our own shop,there will be no late nite raids of the local shop.i have a new year day party to cater for so this will be included in my budget for the month so i will see how i go,cant wait

lil_me

Pipkin, might be worth checking school meals again, must say those in my boys school has improved hugely in the last few months, with so many more healthy options and no junk on the menu like it used to be. If they are entitled to a free meal which would save you on the pack up lunches aswell, I'd maybe go and enquire again, you can ask for the menu and schools food policy (most have these in place now, just been through my sons schools recently as part of my gov duties)

rebl43

I would really like to join in. I have £200 per month for groceries and petrol and I also have £60 each week for things like school trips, birthday presents, and basically everything else (but not bills). I would like to get this down so I can save as much as possible each month.
This is for 4 of us.

fairy3

Hi there,

I have three teenagers at the local school and am surprised at thriftykatesdaughter being able to eat for £8 per week (and pleased I might add!). On average it costs £2.50 for lunch each for my three and my DD tells me she can get a sandwich, muffin and slushy for that and often other children take up to £3.50 per day! The school offer a range which is still left up to the children to choose, perhaps that is the problem?

It would cost £180 per month for them to have school meals :eek: so I know that the lunch boxes will be coming out very soon. Thank you squeaky for the links as they are always so damn hungry.....................

I recently bought some mini tubs for raisins,fruit,cucumber etc from homebargains which were 6 for 99p in a netty bag with space on the top for a sticky label.

Today I have spent nothing! Been making an inventory of what is already in which is a challenge enough, will need lots of help to make decent meals of it all, just what do you make with two tins of chestnuts, couscous and enough dried beans to make a dent in the ozone layer?

Still fired up and ready to go!

J
x

lotties_mum

Never posted before, but would love to join in the grocery challenge, £200 for Jan for two adults and two teenagers, 1 dog and 4 cats, wish me luck !!

Lurleene

I too have been lurking for ages and have finally admitted to myself that I need to join in! Compared to people I know I don't appear to overspend, in fact I am reknowned amongst my friends for getting bargains from car boots and charity shops, but lately times is tough and I am beginning to tip over into debt land and I need to put the brakes on fast! I went back to work a year ago when my son was 5 months old, and I don't think I have compensated yet for the drop in hours and increase in child care!

Through reading MSE I have realised that my overspending actually relates to the grocery side of things, supermarket offers and stuff which I have always classed as a necessity but is actually very ill thought out and wasteful!

Therefore, for January I am aiming on £200 for the month for two greedy adults, 1 10 yr old girl and a 1 year old boy ( oooh and 3 yr old guinea pig). I don't know how realistic that is but it is something to aim for at least. Fingers crossed!

lil_me

Good luck to everyone, especially the newbies, I did my first month last month and admittedly found it hard, but I was so pleased when I seen what I saved, how little I threw away and how much healthier we were eating (rather than convenince foods) and I lost weight too without really trying to

Here's to a more thrifty new year for us all

miggy

fairy3 wrote:

just what do you make with two tins of chestnuts, couscous and enough dried beans to make a dent in the ozone layer?

!!!
Bung 'em all in together and stir in some curry powder and anything else lying around?
I too have the chestnuts, beans and cous cous, and am working my way through the curry...