October 2012 Grocery Challenge

Godiva500

She who cannot cook - No I didn't see it? What is it?

Bluegreen143

Hey everyone! My October doesn't start until the 1st but wanted to get this up now as I've just read from the start. Thanks for your hard work Coxy!

We're experimenting this week (still in September budget) with OH doing the meal planning and shopping, with an agreed budget of £55, so to keep it consistent, I'll aim for £55 a week again or £220 in October. Looks like an increase from September but it's only cos we were away for a week. Think I'll be a bit sad the next five weekend month though if I have to increase it do other people budget more for a five week month or just try and spend less every week?

As usual, money spent covers food, groceries and toiletries for me and OH (an unwilling victim of my grocery thriftiness :rotfl:) and food and litter for our cat.

Pearla*Merle

Mr Merle racked up a spend of around £20 today, but a few good offers in there (he went Off List! Naughty! Two boxes of Honey Nut Loops, I ask you! But since it's the beginning of the month I suppose I can forgive him ). The rest were all bits for Macaroni Cheese tonight (which was a new recipe, well, version, which... didn't quite work. I ate it - I thought it was ok! - but he refused and had crackers instead. Each to their own! :rotfl:) and bits for burgers tomorrow. We saw the most amazing sauerkraut burger affair on Man v. Food, so lets hope this next adventure into the world of untried foodstuffs works(!)

The burgers, eggs, cheese and pancetta he grabbed should do a few meals, so hopefully there won't be any need to rush back to the shops for anything too major for a while. We really need to do a decent food shop (haven't done a big one in a while), but I think we're going to put that off as long as possible until we use up some of the cupboard bits first. I've got a list of meals developing, but really need to hit the cupboards and see what's lurking in there. I used to have this all on a spreadsheet, but since we moved it's been out of action - time to resurrect it, methinks! x

lovelife79

1St day of budget and haven't spent anything. Good start I reckon!

Go me!

Also put a ham hock in slow cooker to make stock. Need to get some veg in morn to make soup with it. House smells amazing though! :-)

System

Starting my shopping from tomorrow. Please put me down for £90.00 as this will be our first time doing it (two adults and a cat) but I want to reduce it by a huge £110 this month. I'm not going to do this every month but going to do an inventory, lots of home baking and use up freezer and cupboard items that I've had for many months. Also, I fancy a challenge so why not this! Thanks for your work on this thread guys

Suffolk_lass

Bluegreen143 wrote: »

... do other people budget more for a five week month or just try and spend less every week?.

I do the same each month but try to replenish things that are storecupboard items without them being stock items :question: so I don't buy sacks of flour but I might buy a spare packet of something in use like cereal - then when I have a five week month I try to keep to fresh stuff - it seems to fit better with my hoarding tendencies

Bluegreen143 wrote: »

... As usual, money spent covers food, groceries and toiletries for me and OH (an unwilling victim of my grocery thriftiness :rotfl:) and food and litter for our cat.

I love this statement Bluegreen143 - my DH doesn't actually come out and say he resents it but a couple of references at a recent party we attended about my unnecessary obsession with this forum and budgetting when we can afford... means I know it's there.

We will be a smaller household when DS moves out (originally that was this weekend but I refuse to make the current tenant homeless so we told the landlord we would rather wait than force him onto a sofa somewhere). It is also a lesson for DS in getting things sorted out (he's had four months) :doh::wall:. It means freshers week may involve the odd 06:30 bus in to town for him but that's his life lesson :rotfl:. I'm a cruel woman, I know :think:.

I know I should reduce my spend for October to take account of this but I have to make Christmas cakes and puddings (lots) so have allowed for the ingredients in October and as DS's chosen bank has so far taken seven weeks :eek:to process his application, (:money: recommended) I will be buying his shopping until his account is set up and receives his student loan as there is nowhere to put it yet.

We start with October today as it is payday. Good luck everyone - keep posting and thanking as you go (you can find your place then!)

SL

Duvessa

First spend for October £48.38 / £200 have a meal plan and food for main dinners for the next 12 days

jedi82

Hello, went over budget by £38 and spent £438 in Sept. Couldn't update on her cos our laptop died and just suddenly turned off. In another life, I would have left it at that but thanks to MSE, I hunted out the warranty etc and phoned them and they are gonna pick it up and repair/replace.

Am going to go for £400 again this month and stick to it. Off to do the first shop in L!dls this afternoon and remember to be good! We had a huge unexpected car bill on monday and although we had money set aside in our rainy day fund, we need to boost this again...

Will update sig and totals later when I get back from the shops.

Take care, jedi x

milky1991

I am completely new to posting but have been reading MSE for some time and need to sort out my finances so here seems as good a place as any to start.

There is only me but from what I have been spending lately I am going for £200 for October , might seem a lot to some but it's my starting point.

cheerfulness4

Popped to Tesco last night because couldn't resist their offer of Mr Brain's Faggots @ 74p a 6pk. Got 10 packs for the freezer!
Love those with mash and mushy peas or made into Faggotty Pea stew.

Also got the 2x tins of chocs @£4 each, 2xCrunchy Nut cornflakes @ £2 for 750g and a couple of extra bits.
TOTAL= £21.84

£60.81/£200.00

Will make a menu plan for next week before going to morries tonight. Have a card to return that didn't have an envelope in the packaging and a £5 voucher to spend so thats £7 towards my bill if there's any bargains tonight!

MILKY - welcome to MSE and hope your first grocery challenge works well for you.