October 2011 Grocery Challenge

katydo12

Feel like I didnt have such a good day today.. not because I spent loads but because I didnt even think about it! I was at university and I don't take sarnies with me because they end up awful after sitting in my bag for ages so I took crisps and a biscuit.. bought a prepack salad and a drink = £3.35. There was'nt much I could have done about it other than starve but I'm sure I could have found something cheaper and filled my water bottle at the fountain for a start, but I didnt even think! Then when I got home the window cleaner was doing his rounds and I have'nt paid him in ages so there went another £5, although I'm not counting that in my budget, my budget is purely groceries/things I buy in the supermarket/foodstuffs.

CompBunny

Well, after my first trial GC September with no target (I wanted to see what we would usually spend, allbeit fairly frugally) came in at £215 including fuel, I feel ready to set a target of:

£200 for October please! :beer:




My partner starts his new job on monday:j:j:j after 8 months of job seeking, so our costs will be increased. I think, therefore, I will not include fuel this month (no idea how much it will cost, but approx 40miles per day I think) and will take into account spending on tupperware, lunchy-type foods (hoping to make packed lunches every day) and other associated costs.

I may have over-estimated this budget, but I have never consistently made packed lunches for him before! I can always adjust for next month Care to share your fave budget friendly lunches? He is a meat eater...not sure how I feel about using it for him...our shared meals are always veggie, but he always used to eat meat at bought work lunches. Hmmm...

Good luck to everyone for October, hope you all come in under budget! :rotfl:

iwanttogoonholiday

im new to the challenge and going to aim for £150 to start - thats two adults to include tioletries and cleaning stuff too

quintwins

recovering spendaholic i would be putting your foot down now i have no time for fussy eaters i don't mind genuine dislikes, if you don't eat wats set infront of you in this house theres no alernative and no pudding, i would go to tesco tomorrow quite late on and try stock up on reduced bread and fruit/veg, i would only take £45 with you so you can't go over too much do a shop online first and then write a list so you can take stuff out that u relise you don't need and i'd buy as much value stuff as you can (aslong as you'll eat it ofcourse) and after a few days they'll be more than willing to eat it


we had chippy tea and hubby got 4 bottles of pepsi so £14 to add :eek:

p-pincher

Well nearly at the end of my first week and im really pleased at the minute. Ive spent £56.18 and thats including a trip to morrisons tonight, I'd normally spend £60 to £70 but decided we didnt need much so i split my £10 off 60 spend with my sister so i spent £32 and got it reduced to £27 and thats including a tin of choccies for christmas.

Im thinking alot more before i buy anything which can only be a good thing but had zero amount of NSD. I finding these alot harder than i thought but I will persevere.

welshlovebiscuit

I'm new to this part of the board - was looking for inspiration.

I'm aiming for £240 this month - September was £278...August was nearly £600!!:eek:..this is what spurred me into action.

I'm trying to pay off debts but also need to save £2000+ for a 'once in a lifetime' trip next summer. Much of it will be through fundraising, but I envisage needing to contribute up to £1000 myself.

Sat here tonight making a plan for the next 2 weeks whilst watching Strictly. Asked hubby to pop in Tesco Express and get 2 pints of millk on his way home...he arrived with the milk, a whole cheesecake and a bottle of wine - really isn't getting this moneysaving thing at all!:(

helen_jelly

Evening

All targets done to here

Recovering - you'll get through it hun so stop panicking, time to put your foot down and tell kids that if they don't eat what you put in front of them then they must buy their own food, as for contributing to the household budget if working - its a must, start another thread if you need help and advice. Explain whats happening [to the kids] and ask them for their help - they may surprise you and be wonderful [hope so] Hugs and best wishes

Spigs - Absolutely amazing post and so informative - well done hun

Helen x

destroyerofdebt2011

Yay this week is over and my oh my what a week its been , gone to the sm and picked up the esentials needed for this weekend including some nice fruit juice for mixers for the well deserved beveages i shall be raiding my stock cupboard for starting like 10 mins ago!:beer:

Just updated my signature to count for the cheap cooked chickens and ham shanks etc i picked up. Is it me or does it seem wrong that the cooked ones u can pick up for cheaper than the ones u cook yourself when it comes to reduced stuff?

D.O.D

Ps now gunna go catch up on thread x

Twiceblessed

Hi new to this. Have two young children and really unsure exactly how much I am spending!

Could you put me down for £250.00 for October

4kids4cats

Hi, haven't been on here for ages. Feeling really fed up as paid today and it's really not enough to pay the mortgage, bills and eat too! If I paid everything I should, I'd have £3 left until a week Tuesday:(
So, decided to take action and start posting on here again. When I read all the inspiring posts on here I feel like it really is a challenge and one I can enjoy, instead of a miserable way of living.
Can you put me down for £400 for October please? That's for me, and the kids and cats. I know I can get it lower in the long run, but I need to start somewhere realistic. I have saved all my Sept receipts but havent added them up yet, so off to do that now - hopre its not too much of a shock!