November 2011 - Grocery Challenge

forever_saving

Just finished counting up what i have spent, another £100.02. Have updated signature and declaring my final total for November, £249.95. Just managed to scrape through.
Many thanks
FS x

MissOrganised1972

So, I concede! My 'shop for the month, followed by fresh top ups' plan has NOT worked! As you can see from my signature the plan (not me!) has failed! By shopping for the month there was no room in the budget for whoopsies or little changes in one week or another.

So, plan B. I have still done a monthly meal plan but am shopping once & week. That way I can asses each week as I go plus I am hoping to avoid nipping in to get 2 items & coming out with a trolley full!!

Therefore I am declaring at a whopping £224.51 for November! Almost 50% over!

Good luck to those still to declare. I have started my December budget & so am off over to the December GC

Thorndrop

Adding £6.55 for my last shop of the month. Total = £35.31.
As it's my first month, I didn't really have a budget in mind. Looking at this though, I'd say £30 - £35 seems like a good amount for me. From people I know though, a lot of them (students) apparently spend about that much on food for themselves in a week! *shock*

flippin36

My aim was £270 but came in at a whopping £320!!!

Thats £40 more than last month!

I bought a bottle of Baileys which bumped it up, plus I've stocked up on nappies as they were on offer. DD had a friend round for tea and I bought lots of nice things for her (she's a very fussy eater too).

So onto next month (Christmas!)

rising_from_the_ashes

Thorndrop wrote: »

Adding £6.55 for my last shop of the month. Total = £35.31.
As it's my first month, I didn't really have a budget in mind. Looking at this though, I'd say £30 - £35 seems like a good amount for me. From people I know though, a lot of them (students) apparently spend about that much on food for themselves in a week! *shock*

Thorndrop - well done .... how on earth have you managed to spend that?

That's about my total for milk alone:eek: so would love some tips!

Spiggle

Downsizing__for_sanity wrote: »

The flu jab these days is an inactivated form, so shouldn't be giving you many more symptoms than a sore arm and a bit of a temperature (but that is supposed to show that your immune system is working). It doesn't cover all forms of flu though, just what is predicted to be the worst versions this year. The virus mutates from year to year which is why we need to go each year.

Apologies for the lecture but a. I'm immunosuppressed myself due to medication, and b. a medical student who has just sat through the microbiology lectures on it! It really can save lives though, so I'd just be concerned if anyone who really needed the protection was put off by this forum. Sorry...

Hello Downsizing_for_sanity,

I wasn't advocating that those at risk shouldn't have the jab. I have been having them for about ten years and as I said the worst has been a sore arm previously.

I was just having a moan about the very nasty effects we and many others I know have suffered this year over a prolonged period. And if it hadn't been for the pharmacist confirming this has been very widespread where we live this year I probably wouldn't have mentioned it. I was feeling particularly grotty and peeved and so blew off a bit of steam. Sorry if I gave the wrong impression.

Everyone must consider their own conditions and risks and make a fully informed decision based on personal circumstances.

All the best,
Spigs

Flat_Eric

I have totted up the numbers this afternoon and *think* my food spends for November total £497.15. Take off my small shop for toiletries (£17.54) in Superd%ug and the £42.84 I spend on bulk buying Nature Valey bars and the total is a more reasonable but still :eek: £436.77. Thats £14.56 a day!! and the month isn't finished yet.....

Oh well, its better than the £686.61 I spent last month!

December will be a strange month. i don't want it to be an excuse to think sod it and will work hard to ensure that up until I finish for xmas, i watch the pennies and only buy what I need. It would be fab to reduce my total again!

Thorndrop

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

Thorndrop - well done .... how on earth have you managed to spend that?

That's about my total for milk alone:eek: so would love some tips!

I'd be happy to help... if I can. This is just for myself, mind. It's not like I have a family or people to buy for.

I didn't think it was particularly challenging. I make a list and stick to it, then take it when I do my grogery shop at the weekend. Apart from the weekend shopping trip, I don't buy anything. Add to that the fact that I'm vegan (meat costs a lot more than beans, lentils, etc), I cook from scratch, including making my own lunch as opposed to buying it prepared for about 10x the price, I don't buy juice/pop/drinks apart from tea bags (value ones)... I buy mostly frozen veg (I generally find it to be around £1 a bag) - for fresh produce, I look at what's the cheapest and buy that. Usually, I'll end up getting fruit, and it's apples, pears and bananas. I buy value brand products wherever possible, and packets of stuff which will last for ages (1kg bag of oats for 75p at the supermarket, similar sized bag of rice for 40p, loaf of bread for 50p, lentils and dried beans which might be around £1 for 500g but are much better value than tinned, pre-cooked ones).

Anything specific you want to ask? I'm more than happy to help out if I can.

Flat_Eric

Thorndrop wrote: »

I'd be happy to help... if I can. This is just for myself, mind. It's not like I have a family or people to buy for.

I didn't think it was particularly challenging. I make a list and stick to it, then take it when I do my grogery shop at the weekend. Apart from the weekend shopping trip, I don't buy anything. Add to that the fact that I'm vegan (meat costs a lot more than beans, lentils, etc), I cook from scratch, including making my own lunch as opposed to buying it prepared for about 10x the price, I don't buy juice/pop/drinks apart from tea bags (value ones)... I buy mostly frozen veg (I generally find it to be around £1 a bag) - for fresh produce, I look at what's the cheapest and buy that. Usually, I'll end up getting fruit, and it's apples, pears and bananas. I buy value brand products wherever possible, and packets of stuff which will last for ages (1kg bag of oats for 75p at the supermarket, similar sized bag of rice for 40p, loaf of bread for 50p, lentils and dried beans which might be around £1 for 500g but are much better value than tinned, pre-cooked ones).

Anything specific you want to ask? I'm more than happy to help out if I can.

I spent your month's budget in one hit this morning when I visited the local convenience store. Your post is food for thought.

Thorndrop

Flat_Eric wrote: »

I spent your month's budget in one hit this morning when I visited the local convenience store. Your post is food for thought.

It is?
Well I'm guessing you're buying for more than just one skinny 19-year-old who has a fear of being broke.

Edit: Convenience stores are horrible. They charge way more than big supermarkets do, just because they're 'convenient'ly located. But there are so many cheaper places which might only be 5-10 minutes further down the road and sell a much bigger range at better value.