October 2011 Grocery Challenge

Winged_one

I haven't done great, but not the worst. DH did a large stores shop on an unexpected trip up north yesterday (luckily I had done my list on computer when I WAS planning it a couple of months ago, so there was too much on it but I could cull it a bit in a hurry). So I should be ok for a lot of storecupboard items until into the new year. And we've been reasonable on spending over the past few weeks too, despite being under fierce pressure at work and having an additional mouth to feed (I hadn't budgeted for an au pair at the start of the year). I got 2 "Dine In" deals in M&S tonight, rather than getting a takeaway (and have 2 steaks for next week as AP was out, and a cheeseboard to bring on our hotel break this weekend to nibble in the room).

We are actually getting to eat more fish too recently. unfortunately, work is manic and the AP is not a cook, so I am doing more convenience type cooking (a few more jars of sauce but still fairly healthy and from scratch more than half the time). I think I will go slightly over at the end of the year, but not by that much (and considering I do have another adult to feed and how food prices have gone up, that's doing well).

cattysmum

Hi back from holiday today and happy to say I managed NOT to blow the budget spent about £45 whilst away on food shopping, eating out etc. so quite pleased with myself and will update siggy, I have about £3 left in budget!!! So for October I am declaring a spend of £347. I am going to drop it for next month just slightly as I will start to stock up on xmas food. Can't beleive that time of year is coming round already. grandchildren want me to take them trick or treating tomorrow, we just pop round to a few friends houses so shouldnt take too long hopefully? Then gonna do them a little food party back at home with some spooky offerings (I will spend my last £3 on treats)

166million

166million wrote: »

Hi All,

Spent 17.64 in TWOSCO, new total 113.28/115.00. Got to last til Monday, and need to get some squash but I think that should be all.

Good luck peoples in this last week

Slightly over for October, declaring at 118.16/115. Oops. Must try Harder. See you in November eveyone

Need2bthrifty

Hi All, I haven't been on the forum for a few days - too busy spending money , (well I may as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb) but glad to see in some of the posts that I'm not the only one who's declaring over-budget.

I can however relax now knowing that my freezer, store cupboard and cleaning cupboard are all full to bursting, shouldn't need to buy washing powder until about May 2012 (thanks to the poster, sorry cant remember name, who mentioned the Daz offer at @sda :T)

Along with the cash in hand the plastic has taken a bit of a bruising mostly because I have been doing some "winter prep" lining curtains with fleece, bubble wrapping windows, draft excluder and curtains for the doors, feels cosier already.

So I will be reining in the spending next month and reverting to a Grocery budget of £50.00 for November and aiming for loads and loads of NSD's.

Good luck to all taking part in the challenge.

Living_proof

Owing to the Dine in for £10 offer I managed to overshoot by £9.52 but as it is so near to November I will deduct the amount from November's challenge and hopefully it will all sort itself out. I am noticing items rising sharply in price, but also I'm finding it hard to establish the real price of things relative to the different promotions. Thank goodness for Mysupermarket or all these BOGOF/3 for 2/new sizing would baffle me completely. I am having to force myself to stop buying food items because they are reduced, or such good value. Also stopped myself buying one of these huge Ariel offers, as the last one has lasted for almost a year and I have a huge Daz in reserve. All these special deals will come round again, so I don't think there's a need to stockpile yet.

iwanttogoonholiday

Declaring at Grocery Challenge - £193.36/£150 ...this month gonna aim for 200 as i want to start getting a few xmas things as well...learnt alot from this month though

PaddyPaws

Went shopping on Thursday, knew I only had about £10 left in my budget so was only buying what we absolutely had to have before 1st Nov. Spent £5.63 in A!di and got everything except fresh chillies so treated myself and went to Waitrose - got the fresh chillies and realised I needed a few toms, this was going to leave me with about £4 so I treated us to a small box of baklava as DH loves it.

I think that brings me in just under budget - best go and update my sig then hop over to the Nov challenge

PP

Puzzledbubbles

Declaring for October at £159.25

Not ideal but under our £160 budget so not bad.

See you in November

suzybloo

Well thats the first month for a while I have taken part in the challenge right through the month, and I am quite pleased I have spent £397 so I am slightly over but my store cupboard is still really full, freezer is three quarters full but I will continue to buy what we need so the store I have built up stays that way. Will pop over to the November challenge now and sign up for that.

Sue14

I've not been keeping a close enough check on my spends this month, so I've just added it all up and found that I've gone way over budget! :eek:

Since my last post where I said I was going to try to live on what we had in, I have spent £2 in £ shop, £6.08 in Mr S, £7.26 in Mr A, £37.71 in A1d1, and 99p in Mr M, making a grand total for the month of £155.12! :mad:

Not going to any shops between now and the start of next month, but must do better next month!