February 2007 Grocery Challenge

Herbyme

Pennypincher, how do you manage to shop at Waitrose and still spend so little? One thing I've had to do to cut down the hideous excessive spending is to change to Asda and sometimes Aldi/Lidl - the cost difference is astonishing but I do love Waitrose - please tell me how to make Waitrose a bargain!

Casperthefriendlyghost

Hi everyone

Am so pleased, NSD for me today. :j

lotte123

I am watching this thread with interest and recording all my grocery spends this month so I can set a goal for March. Getting lots of great ideas already. Thanks!

shell2001

Well will update my signature with spends to date. Not brilliant but have checked what I need to buy for rest of month so as long as I stick to plan we should be fine. My budget I cut down from £350 to £300, just as well as drains blocked and our share was £35, so at least we had the cash to pay for that without it coming out of our other budget.

So think I have £35 per week left until end of month. Will do butchers shop on Friday and fruit and veg.

lil_me

carolinerunner wrote:

Pennypincher, how do you manage to shop at Waitrose and still spend so little? One thing I've had to do to cut down the hideous excessive spending is to change to Asda and sometimes Aldi/Lidl - the cost difference is astonishing but I do love Waitrose - please tell me how to make Waitrose a bargain!

I think it's with using coupons, some stores accept them even if you don't buy the item, unfortunately no supermarkets near me, including Waitrose, accept them. Don't try to compare your spending to that of others is the golden rule. Some have local cheaper stores, good value markets (ours is on the same pricing structure as M&S I think) can use coupons etc

Not going too well, spent so much so far but have been trying to shop more locally. Just hoping I can still come in under budget and support smaller traders at the same time, fruit and veg delivery tomorrow, milk money due Friday so will have a lot to add by the weekend.

fairy3

lil_me
this is the second month we have been doing the challenge and methinks we should buddy up as this is your second post bout being overspent and this is only the 8th! I am all for suporting local shops but I forbid you to spend over your limit! Does no good and just makes you feel awful, we are so going to make it this month.

Lots of luck

J
X

LJM

ive been doing really well but have to pop to sainsburys this eve so we shall see :eek: i have my list though

EagerLearner

mum2many wrote:

Should i/could i list my shopping so you can see where i could reduce it??

Can give it a go if you like - although our budget is just for Mr EL & me so prob doesn't compare to yours.

If you buy 2 jars of coffee for 2 weeks, would you be better off buying a larger size that would last longer? Or can you get a cheaper brand of coffee or look out for BOGOF on your favourite brand (if you can't live without that brand)?

newlywed

Overspent for week 2 so far. But think we have everything we need till 15th so should be ok.

Also have bought pasta and rice that will last us through the rest of the month too so hopefully be able to make up some of the £10.94 overspend next week and only £5 left of my extra budget for monthly household supplies and extras

So next week's budget is £24.06

Definitely working out easier for me to see when I'm going wrong by budgeting weekly rather than monthly.

spiddy100

Feeling a bit better....... I *know* it is only the 8th. However, we are stocked up on stuff after a trip to Lidl today. Will only need milk, bread and a veg box for the rest of the month. Freezer full to bursting too with meat, fish etc (that's how my total is so high already :rolleyes:).

Still think I will overspend but hopefully not too much. Very impressed by my trip to Lidl, spent only £15.08 once you take out the helicopter lampshade I bought for DS1