September 2012 Grocery Challenge

sistercas

right i really need to knuckle down for september. DH has retired due to ill health and so we will be on half what we were, plus DD1 is going to uni and somehow we have to find the money to support her too , and DD2 is about to start driving lessons :eek: i really dont know how we will manage this, everything is happening at once and i think its going to be a big shock . i cant work things out exactly as we havent had his pension yet , i know it doesnt cover all the bills though and i will have to make up the shortfall from my meagre wage

on the plus DD2 has managed to get a saturday job in a cafe minimum wage which at 16yrs is around £3 something i think :eek: but hopefully it will pay for her driving lessons

I have a till spit for sainsbugs for £14 off £70 :j so that will definitely come in handy,

im sure i can do it , if anyone can its us on GC thread

jedi82

Hi everyone, after a lovey summer hols (knew I wouldn't be able to keep up with the Aug GC!) I am back and raring to go. I am going for £400 again (will update in sig) and this will start friday when Dh gets paid.
Jedi x

happy_chick_3

absolutely - I often cook a few this way then microwave them at work during the week. All the oven cooked flavour and ready in 5 mins!

WantToBeSE wrote: »

Advice please!

Yesterday we cooked baked potatoes, but my son wasnt well, so didnt eat his. I wrapped it in tin foil and left it in the fridge overnight.
Can i reheat it in the oven? If so, how?

happy_chick_3

Caterina wrote: »

So far I am on a "low spend" weekend rather than a NSW/end as planned.

I gave a small sum of money as a gift to a kind young friend who fixed my bike, then this morning I went (on said bike!) to the Farmers Market to get some apples for the week - even though I was meaning not to spend.

I feel ok with this because:

1 - I really wanted to give a little gift to the lad who did me a favour and apart from anything else he used his own oil and lubricant on the chain

2 - It makes sense to get the apples from the Farmers Market rather than the shops, they are cheaper, organic, local and delicious, new season's ones just out!

So, still feeling ok about minute amount of spend during the supposed NSW/end.

Caterina - where is your farmers market? I live in London too and have been looking for a good one in SW

she_who_can_not_cook

A whole 50p at iceland and 2.15 at adli on reduced and oj

WantToBeSE

Hi Guys.
Yesterday was almost a NSD, but ended up going to Mr T at 4pm and getting some fruit and veg YS stuff.

Planning on tiday being a NSD though, and am hoping that all week can be as low spend as possible.
Need biscuits and bread, so going to bake my own today

belselmo

Hi there,

As you can see I'm totally new to the forum but have been lurking throughout August so I feel like I know most of you already!!

I'm very aware that I spend a small fortune on food/consumer sundries and am the biggest culprit for nipping into the supermarket for milk and coming away with £20 worth of 'stuff we needed that will sit in the cupboard for a few months but it's ok because it was on offer'.
My supermarket addiction has gotten so bad that my 2 year old girl will cry her little heart out if we drive by the 'Green Supermarket' without stopping in :eek:

My circumstances have recently changed and I need to reign in my spending so thought this would be a good place to start. I have kept a loose spreadsheet for my August spends so have a rough idea of where our money has gone but there are a few receipts missing...particularly the ones from the visits my partner has made and come back laden with Cherry Coke and bacon!

Anyway, enough waffle (I have a habit of doing that...). Please can you include me for a budget of £180 and that is for 2 adults, 2 small children and an occasional extra 5 year old boy inside a 22 year old's body

Oh and I think I'll start from September 1st? I'm a bit all over the place really as I'm used to getting paid on the 28th but am switching to 4 weekly, my partner is also paid 4 weekly so we no longer have a fixed pay date - so I think I'll try and do a straight 1st to the end unless you lovely people have any tips on how best to manage a budget - as you can see I'm totally useless....and like to talk, sorry!

Thanks in advance

belselmo

Oh and I have a couple of questions (really sorry if the answers are glaringly obvious or previously mentioned)

What does YS mean?

And do I include everything in my budget like food, baby consumables (nappies, wipes etc), toiletries and cleaning things? Or are those personally set parameters?

Thanks

mummyyof5

Ys..yellow stickered ie reduced food items...some good bargains to be had if you catch them at the right time

What you include in your budget is totally up to you...personally I include all food, cleaning stuff,toiletries for the 8 of us.

Caterina

happy_chick wrote: »

Caterina - where is your farmers market? I live in London too and have been looking for a good one in SW

My nearest one is in Blackheath but if you have a look at this link https://www.lfm.org.uk you might find one near you.