October 2011 Grocery Challenge

quintwins

lidl usually have boxes lieing about u can use that only really helps if your in the car

nsd today kids are still off sick, gonna make chicken stir fry later with my 10p stir fry and 10p bean sprouts will work out about £1 for all of us hopefully the kids will be up 2 eating it

valerie57

Well I have been watching this thread carefully for the last couple of weeks but have got really behind with posting my spends. The bulk of the spending for October has been done. Christmas cake and pudding are made and I still have fruit left to make a couple of small cakes for presents. The ILs have been, my lunch for 14 has taken place and the veg rack, fruit bowl and freezer are pretty well stocked. I have learned that;
it must be much easier to post little and often than have to do the big catch up I have just done!
just doing the challenge has made me much more aware of spends and I have been careful to take advantage of bargains
doing an outline plan for the month was the most useful thing I have done. I didn't do a day by day menu planner but based on what we had in I did a plan for the number of lunches, teas etc required and then chose from the list closer to the time. I am going to stick with doing this as it means stuff will get used up.
I am confident that I will come in under the challenge in what has been an expensive month. The tips on this site are amazing.

PaddyPaws

Crikey, just realised I've not posted on here for over a week:eek:

I started off really well a week ago, I needed a shelf for my storecupboard and had found this but didn't really want to spend that much. Then I found this in Dunelm Mill at a much better £4.99. DH wanted to come with me as he'd not been to Dunelm Mill before - we spent £49.23!! This included 2 flannellette sheets so they aren't coming out of my GC challenge, but the rest of the stuff will have to - so £15.25

Then DH started with a cold, so had to get cold stuff - spent £6.20.
And then on Thursday went to A!di and spent £34.78 (did include 2 packs of xmas cards and 2 rolls of wrapping paper) and then to Mr T for the few bits I couldn't get from A!di - spent £6.09. Total spent in the week £62.32. I think that leaves me just under £40 to last till the end of the month - fingers crossed

Better go and update my sig now
PP

ETA: phew! I actually have £66.48 to last till the end of the month - that's better!!

fluffy_princess29

Hi,

I feel its a bit late to join this thread now but I will keep an eye on it.

Will there be a November challenge? If so,id love to take part.

Thanks

quintwins

fluffy_princess29 wrote: »

Hi,

I feel its a bit late to join this thread now but I will keep an eye on it.

Will there be a November challenge? If so,id love to take part.

Thanks

yes theres one every month if you keep any eye you'll see us all posting our new nov budgets soon, or you could do a weekly budget til the end of the month just being in it in anyway helps you to think twice about what you spend

tessie_bear

hi.....been out and about sorting the winter bed quilts and covers today...blimey pillows are pricey but its good to have nice ones and it isnt grocery budget....i need to peel some veg in a minute and put chicken in oven for tea

had a little spend in aldi this morning....£6 ish and got a few bargains....50% off a few bits which is always helpful....i got a massive cabbage for 39p and a swede for the same price....i find the super 6 very useful

take care tessa

quintwins

someone just showed me a few good deals on amazon as a result i spent £8.12 on 10 bottles of fairy and 12 bottles of cream cleaner which will prob last me a year lol, i'm gonna count it in nov budget because i don't really need it this month (or next for that matter) but it was money well spent

Long_tall_sally

Wow quintwins - that does sound a good deal!

Well I have well & truly blown the budget, I think! I went food shopping this morning with the kids (it is half term here) & that was a big mistake because I let all sorts of extras end up in the trolly. I have also not posted or kept up to date enough & therefore wasn't keeping track of how much I had spent so far. I may have included the cost of a pair of trainers that I bought from Aldi by mistake in my spends ( I cannot remember deducting the cost of them from the total) & I may even have included a couple of receipts twice BUT even so I would still be well over & still have till the 26th to go. The silly thing is the freezer & the cupboards are well & truly stuffed but it doesn't seem to stop me spending on more. I think it is time I did a big stock check. Again!

forever_saving

Had a nsd yesterday, so that makes a change. Have spent £8.07 in sainsburys today. Needed some bits and bobs and dog food. Thought i was getting paid tomorrow but it's not until next Tuesday :eek:. Will update signature in a moment. Promised the kids take away for tea tomorrow so that will have to be put on hold.
Hope everyone else is doing ok.
FS x

debbiedeejay

Just dropping by - had a particulary naff week last week so am having to tighten the money belt even more now - just generally all round.

Anyway the only spend so far since last time I posted was

£4.09 at Mr mozzies.
£5.13 at localsupermarket.

Offto update spends.

on a good note the chilli sauce I bulked made and froze - had one today and it was lovely so very happy on that