January 2012 Grocery Challenge

sproggi

Quick update

Yesterday was another NSD, that made it 5 days in a row, a first for me!
Had to give in and visit Mr T for milk, fruit etc, spent £14.80.
Getting very close to my budget now with another week to go, it is going to be a close call.

Sproggi

kerri_dfw

Last day of my 3 week grocery challenge today and I can proudly say I made it
Can I be put down for £80 for February instead please as I think I can stick to £20 a week if I don't eat out every lunchtime.
May I also have an annual of £1040 please as I think this is doable now that I'm 2nd pursing as well Will update signature in a second.

On_an_Avon_Mission

feb budget £400 please for 2 adults, 3 kids and a cat. To include all food, cleaning products, alcohol etc. 1st try at this so fingers crossed. Set myself an easy budget to begin with. Hope to improve over time. Loving the support on here!

helen_jelly

Afternoon everyone

I've been closing my eyes to what we are spending this month so decided to do the banking today - to say I feel sick is an understatement. I can't even type the figure down its so gross! I chose to do this GC to make DH and I aware of what we are spending. I upped the budget to include other things - big mistake - HUGE MISTAKE. I kidded myself that the new budget was just for food - gone over that and some.

So for Feb I am going back to the food only budget, I'm doing the banking on a daily basis and DH is fully onboard with buying only what we absolutely have to - we'll be bankrupt within a few months if this continues. Kids are suffering too - they need new uniform etc and I haven't got the money [could feed them for a month of Sundays if needed] and I'm baking more

Ta ra for now - I need to sit down now - feeling rather faint, coffee needed to survive the shock of how glutinous [sp?] we've become

Helen x

PennyGrabber

Helen jelly - look at it as a close call. You've realised your mistake and now you're doing something about it. You can't change what you've done, but you can change what you do from now on. We're all here for moral support. I'm the same, in that my hosue was FULL of food. It still is, to a degree, but I've learnt from my mistake, and I'm actually planning to use the food I have in, and reducing my spends. It's such an easy trap to fall into, so please don't beat yourself up too much about it.

Do you do the grocery cash into a purse thing? It helps me, that's all.

PG xx

flis21

hey all,

Can someone advise me what this 'second purse' thing is all about? noticed a couple of people posting about it and I have no idea what it is!!

Not doing too bad on the shopping front, my weekly shop was only £32 this week and since then I've only spent £1 (on sweets for kids) and that's been it. Am looking forward to next week when I join the challenge properly!

Flis x

kj*daisy

Just spent rather more than I intended in Al@i today cos I stocked up on the bargains while I was there rather than just getting what I needed so spent £76.79. But won't have to go back there for a bit now, I do find it stressful shopping there and having to repack the shopping into bags once they have flung it all off the conveyor into the trolley.
Also spent £4.55 on milk in As@a as ran out on Monday and needed it for Tuesday breakfasts.

Still within budget but got to be careful now as am taking the jan challenge all the way to the 31st!!

cw18

flis21 wrote: »

Can someone advise me what this 'second purse' thing is all about? noticed a couple of people posting about it and I have no idea what it is!!

Second Purse challenge here - loads of posts in it to explain things

helen_jelly

Penny Grabber - thanks for the support :] Unfortunately I'm no good with cash, I'm better off not having any in my purse, that way I can't spend it - silly I know but I have no control if I have cash.

DH is on board with things that I've implemented - poor DH, he got a right moan via text from me lol

Helen x

aberdeensaver

helen_jelly wrote: »

Penny Grabber - thanks for the support :] Unfortunately I'm no good with cash, I'm better off not having any in my purse, that way I can't spend it - silly I know but I have no control if I have cash.

DH is on board with things that I've implemented - poor DH, he got a right moan via text from me lol

Helen x

Helen,

I hear what your saying as I used to totally agree with you now. Have to admit now I leave my bank cards and CC at home when I go shopping and only take an amount for food shopping, our budget is £250/ £200 so I would aim to take £50 a week shopping with me, plus £10 in case there are any good deals on that I hadnt accounted for. As the embarrasement of not being able to pay for your shopping at the end makes you count up how much your spending and also makes you compare prices of similar items.

This board is full of lots of helpful hints and very lovely members who will all help to support you on your journey.

Also have to announce I am ending this month slightly early, had hoped to cope till Friday but the little furry four legged moggies have eaten all their dry food so must go to SM tonight for that, and as OH got paid today I will take him with me to stock up on tinned food and other heavy items that I dont like carrying when I am on my own. So I can officially report we have underspent by £7.62 this month. I would like to set the budget for February at £240.00 that is from the 25th January - 24th February.