March 2007 Grocery Challenge

hollyh

Hi can i join in please.

I really need to stick to my budget but however ard i try i fail.

So if i have to confess all on here it might make me think twice about those things i don't really need.

This month i have £164.24 left once all bills have been paid, so this will be for shopping and any other bits i haven't already budgeted for.

This is for me, a 10yr old and a 1yr old.

Shouldn't be too hard;)

Blairweech

Well, I forgot my lunch today, but was very good and picked up something from Somerfield on the way to work, instead of waiting til lunchtime and going to the garage (£4+). And when I went back later to pick up a few bits, I did only get what was on my list.

£117.19 + £1.62 + £5.64 = £124.45

beckie89

I'm not part of this challenge but just thought I would throw my twopence in!
There are 6 of us in my house, 2 adults, 4 children, I am the eldest child, and am in charge of the house pretty much (long story - mum's in hospital most of the time, dad works most of the time!), and therefore getting the shopping done falls to me, to fit around our very hectic lives I tend to use sainsbury's to you, when I first took over the shopping it was all quite erratic spending, a lot of ad hoc meals and not very economical or healthy! Now I have our weekly shopping bill down to about £70 one week and £60 the next, roughly alternating between those because more expensive things like soap powder etc last two weeks. But then there is the odd week where it hits £80!

One of the things that helps me budget is to plan all the meals for the week out, and buy the ingredients in the exact amounts, and actually not always taking the offers because they aren't always that good value for money.

Also shopping around for things like soap powder/washing up liquid/toiletries etc, wilkinsons is great for low priced brands.

Anyway sorry about interrupting!

DonnaP

Beckie

I don't know how old you are, but your parents should be very proud of you.

I have only just got the hang of meal planning etc at the age of 40! You put a lot of people to shame.

Well done

Donna

Janeryan

I agree with Donna!!

The skilss you have learnt at a young age will stand you in good stead for the rest of your life-I would be very proud of yourself if I were you!

Elise1

Well done Beckie !
Wish I was that organized - still trying . Meal plan seems to go ok until things like having to take one of the children to the GPs evening surgery (seems to happen quite regularly at the moment!) , having a really bad day at work , husband working late , etc. happens . By the time this happens , the plan has gone out the window & we just want something really quick & easy to eat ! trying to keep away from emergency ready meal buying (usually taste vile anyway!) or takeaways .
Anyway , managed to spend just under £45 in the first week of this challenge out of my £200 March budget . Considering I spent at least double that for the last few weeks , feeling quite proud !
Better organize some more meal plans ...
good luck to everyone else .

lil_me

Well done Beckie, sounds like you have it sorted

Decided to just do top up shops at the minute, have a lot in and trying to run it down, £21.40 spent today inc treat for DSs and a stack of fruit and veg which should last us well into next week. Milk money due tomorrow.

As for how did I spend so much before, easily! Bought more than we needed and threw a lot out, one week I threw out food which cost about £25+. Bought a lot of ready made products which were expensive. Bought a lot of healthy but expensive junk. Bought excessive amount of different cleaning products. I didn't even make mashed potato I bought pre made Bought big brands only, never any value ranges etc. Large majority of what I bought was organic and any fresh meats etc were the best cuts only. Takeaways were weekly if not more often, would throw something I'd planned to cook out as went off because bought takeaway instead to keep DP happy. I spent £20 a week just on Coca Cola for DP if not more, £15 a week on mineral water sometimes more, £20 sometimes much more on fresh fruit juice :rolleyes: That's more than most peoples budgets for just those things each week and that is without food. So how did I spent anything up to £800 a month, quite easily. Downside was I could afford to so didn't even think about it.

Boy how things have changed!

EagerLearner

Just a reminder - my NEW Frills Spreadsheet in my sig now has a Monthly Shopping Challenge section that calculates what you have spent to date in the month and what you have left...

millionaire_in_training

I am doing much better this month so far. Can't believe what I spent last month and it has given me a right royal kick up the a** to be more organised. Last month I thought I was being really frugal until I got to the end of the month and costed up what junk I had bought !!!!!!!!! Scary!! Any way onwards I trot and hopefully will be in budget this month.xx

alwaysonthego_2

Sarahsaver wrote:

I know in the past people have posted shopping lists for a £15 budget (Black_Saturn) and a £20 budget (meself) Can I see a list from someone who spends anything between £50 and £100 a week :rolleyes: Unless this includes petrol I am slightly bemused! We are still at the max. £30 a week for 2 adults 3 kids. Had a lovely chicken in gravy today - got the chicken from the co-op for 99p:)

I spent around £50 a week at morrisons

courgette
3 peppers
bag of bananas
apples
potatoes
j spuds
broccoli
coleslaw
mushrooms
grapes
8 pts milk
10 litres of morrisons value water
crisps
fajita mix
pasta bake
2 x beans
3 x biscuits
cream cakes
fish fingers
vegi sausages
icecream
2 x custard ambrosia
2x crumpets
toasted teacakes
fruit bits
noodles(for d/h)
4 x tuna
chicken breast
2 x bacon
beef steak
vegi gravy
washing powder
bleach
fish in crumbs
newspaper and mag
muffins
oatabix
yogurts
fromage frais
innocent smoothie(dd)
apple strudle

cant remember everything though I got 78 items with a saving of 15.65