October 2011 Grocery Challenge

Pixie_Fairydust

SallyHat wrote: »

I must warn you I do have Monica (from Friends) ike tendencies! However I will tell you what I've been doing (despite the titters from friends at my organisation)!! I make my monthly mealplan on a spreadsheet. If I have leftovers, I put them on next month's meal plan. For example, last week I made a double sized chicken pie. I served up half & then put the other half, labelled up, in the freezer & then put it on my November meal plan so that it doesn't get left at the back of the freezer. Then, when I come to complete November's month's meal plan, some of the day's are already completed.

I know this is probably 'too much ' for some but it works for me:)

Tell me more, in 'Monica' style detail please :rotfl:

I have never ventured into spreadsheet territory! But would love to give it a whirl, anything to help me get a grip on my grocery budget!

Thanks in advance.

Pixie

prettypaula

Pixie_Fairydust wrote: »

Tell me more, in 'Monica' style detail please :rotfl:

I have never ventured into spreadsheet territory! But would love to give it a whirl, anything to help me get a grip on my grocery budget!

Thanks in advance.

Pixie

i second that!! im pants with spreadsheet making

forever_saving

More money spent, £17.57, so am now over budget. Have updated signature. I really don't want to spend anymore this week but will see how it goes. If i don't go out, i won't spend .
Hope everyone else is doing ok.
FS

pennywisepoundstupid

£8 paid to milkman, thats me well and truly over budget and with a week to go as well:(.

mummygems

I have gone over budget this month AGAIN! I have kept a spend diary though so I pretty much know where and why we went over. I do wish my DH wouldnt invite our friends over at the end of the month for food and drink as this accounted for £30odd of the £65 over spend grr.

Today is the start of my November GC and I would like to be put down for £500 please.

I have decided to go back to the way I used to do it and get all the large bulky items for the month in the next 3 days (so its a trip to Tesco, Costco, Asda and Sainsburys to get the best offers!) and then it should just be a case of fresh stuff in the week. I know its going to look terrible spending loads the first week but it used to work for us so will give it another go.

We have no plans for Halloween (I am working anyways) and my girls get a bit frightened by it all. Bonfire night I am again working and have no plans but I might get some sparklers for the girls to have the day before or the day after. We usually get some fireworks with the in laws and go to their house for a mini display but dont think that is happening this year which should save us a bit of money.

I went to get some basics curry sauce from sainsburys today and cannot believe its gone up from 9p to 25p (same with the basic Sweet & Sour and pasta sauce etc). I think all the basic stuff has gone up from a couple of pence to three times the original amount in the past 2 weeks. Mental it really is. Stocked up on nappies, baby wipes, basic squash, baked beans, tinned spaghetti, washing up liquid and pasta sauces for the month as well. Off to Costco later with my mum to get chicken breast, cheese, toilet roll, dishwasher tabs and maybe some more washing tabs. The washing tabs last me more than a month but will come out of this budget so am not sure yet whether to wait until next month (and risk not getting there if it snows!).

Hope everyone else is doing ok.

nannygladys

Oh dear gone over budget again, as soon as I see what I think is a bargain I feel I have to buy it, I MUST stop as I have little enough to spend on food as it is. Going to defrost the freezer later today so hopefully will find a few bits and pieces I can turn into meals as my week doesnt finish until Friday, and I have the grand total of NIL left, mind you I shouldnt have to buy anything as I have bread, milk etc in, I'm on days off until Friday so I dont think I will go out anywhere and then I wont be temped! Love the ideas for couscous as my daughter gave me a big packet and I wasn't sure what to do with it.

lisakay_2

as per title:j spent £16 yesterday on beer for DH. taking my total spend for the month to £266/£300. very chuffed and now have a start point on where to cut some more off.

The new month starts today, payday. and runs to 25th next month. new budget is £200.

so £100 less than last month, but the first 5 days of this month are all nsd as i'm not going near a shop. DH has promised he's not going to come shopping with me, so will spend a lot less without him there anyway;). I have promised if we come in under budget this month then i will treat him to a chinese next payday (out of his money:rotfl:).

his_missus

Yesterday was a NSD, yippee! Have just done that top-up shop we've been putting off since Sunday, a quick step around Mr T's, spent £17.81 but got everything I missed on Saturday. Still on budget for a fortnightly spend of £120, will only need to buy some more cat food and some wine for the weekends. Fingers crossed for NSDs for next few days.

prettypaula

questions re: costco.... is it worth the membership fee for meat etc

and could i get a card using my business card?

Rainy-Days

I don't seem to be on the front list so I have now lost track of how much I have spent for this months GC!!!

Today I have spent

Sainsburys

£17.05

Lidl

£26.83

Total £43.88 for this week

The Lidl shop included the £7.99 Christmas cake that I have bought, otherwise the shop would have been that much cheaper. I take it that even with Christmas food shopping we are still adding that in to the monthly spend regardless?