Grocery Challenge - February 2012

Spiggle

cleggie wrote: »

Hi all, me again!

I dont even HAVE a budget for entertainment...how much woud you say (per month) is appropriate for me & 2 children?

Lordy me cleggie! You do like questions that demand a 'it depends' answer!!! :rotfl:

There really is no straight answer because it does depend on your circumstances and what you 'normally' do. We're two grown ups with no little uns (except our beautiful GD1 and GD2) and I put aside £70 per month to cover anything that could be termed entertainment, cinema, ice skating, bowling, swimming, socialising, eating out, travel costs for visiting (petrol or rail), fairgrounds, circus, the list is endless.

If we had to, we could stop doing this in a minute but we are very very lucky and I'm thankful every day for that.

The amount has gone up this year from £50 per month last year by the way.

I think the best way to deal with all of these types of questions is to look at what you actually spend over a period of time, perhaps a month or so. Very like the spending diary we do for gc but listing entertainment instead.

It also depends on your perspective too, many gcers include eating out in the gc because its food.

I have lots of piggy bank accounts into which money gets transferred every month so there's ents, tobacco (I know ), car tax maintenance & insurance, vets, garden, wild bird food, clothes, birthdays, christmas, bike expenses (push bike by the way OH doesn't drive), dry cleaning. In all £452 gets saved across those accounts every month but then I always have the money when those expenses come in.

If I didn't do this then we would be back to our pre-2010 days and spending every penny every month and then getting expensive credit when big bills hit.

Like I said we are very very very lucky.

Oh carp, back to not helping again!

See you later,
Spigs

Spiggle

Hiya Twiglet and welcome to the challenge. You've come to the right place for great support, a good few laughs and sometimes some tears but we do help to wipe them away!

All the best,
Spigs

Islandmaid

Hi all,

Just poped in to say I,m still here:j

Have bought alot more frozen veg this month, which has been great, still buying potato's, carrots, fruit and salad fresh though - I,ve noticed alot less waste and I hope that will show in my end of month financial 'weigh-in'next weekend.

Hope your all well xx

nimbo

hiya, all

still not been to the SM, and today i will be fine, as i have made the executive decision to stay in my PJ's all day...

just had yummy home-made soup for lunch...

i have no need to go to the shops tomorrow, as far as i can tel, but i might get some fresh veg from the market, as i have very few in, and could probably do with some fruit...

hope all are well. xxxxx

cleggie

Spiggle wrote: »

Lordy me cleggie! You do like questions that demand a 'it depends' answer!!! :rotfl:

What, meee???:rotfl:NEVER!!

I think the best way to deal with all of these types of questions is to look at what you actually spend over a period of time, perhaps a month or so. Very like the spending diary we do for gc but listing entertainment instead.

Spigs

I reckon £40 is a fair amount every month. And i can't really push it any further.
Thanks spigs!

Twiglet0309

Mum wont eat frozen vegetables with a meal BUT I do use them to make homemade soups which she seems to enjoy. Roll on March when I may set myself a Grocery Budget and join in the challenge

Herbyme

PennyGrabber wrote: »

Cleggie's frugaltastic journey to financial freedom!!

Pennygrabber I love it!:rotfl:

And I love your list too, I don't think you've left any for the rest of us to do! But thank you! :T

123budget

I have hopefully done the last of the Feb shop but will not declare until payday next week.
spent £31.44 between @ldi Mr.T and Wilkins***. Am well over budget this month. Must try harder.

However I didn't get usual viakal for shower screen and sprayed with a vinegar/water mix and it has come up brilliantly so saved quite a bit of money there. Also tried Stardrops cleaner for the first time and I will definitely be using it again - have used it all round bathroom so far and everything has come up realy nicely - onto the kitchen next.
Hope everyone has a lovely weekend.

bunbun2

I have sort of lost track of my budget and spending this month but the challenge has still made me think about what I buy and where I shop:T
one of the problems I have had this month is I have had alot of unexpected prescriptions and was not sure whether to include them in the gc or not.
for next month I need to sort out budgets for medical, petrol, entertainment (more for ds's than me and OH!), cat and dog food

rumblytum

PennyGrabber
umo/ufo - unidentified meat/frozen object

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Thank you so much for doing this list PennyGrabber :T

rumbly x