November 2012 Grocery Challenge

Honey_Bear

I haven't had time to catch up with the thread yet, but so far this month the spending has been pretty much under control, I'm pleased to say. Knowing I have to be honest here stops me! Total so far, £57.79, so right on target to come in under budget. Yay.

I'm really looking forward to comparing the spending in the months before I joined the GC with after, because I've learned to keep very careful track of my money. It's one of those things I plan to do at year end so that I can begin 2013 with a clear idea of how and where I can tighten things up, based on how much my behaviour changed once I started managing my money rather than just spending it.

meg72

[QUOTE=xxlouisexx56

;57305335]£34 in stressco this morning, it was manic[/QUOTE]

Love the stressco,just about sums it up:rotfl:

MrsCD

meg72 wrote: »

Decided to take advantage of the 6.00 bonus on Asda christmas card.

I have bought two so 12.00 bonus,so I now have at least 3 months budget on cards.

I've bought one, meg, and paid with my M&S card (which I will pay off as soon as the bill comes in!), and they pay me for using it - win, win! Silly me, I didn't think to buy 2!!!!

liz-paul

Looks like I will come in on bdget a the end of the month with some planning. But I am concerned that I have not written somrhing big down as it looks like I will come in on budget despite buying a dozen bottles of wine for xmas, a good bottle of whiskey for OH for xmas prezzie and we're having a party next sat..... Hopefully it's all down to good management and not being forgetful

Spending_Vs_Saving

Small spend of £4.22 mainly on dogfood but also forgot squash and milk last time.... nothing else purchased woots ! I hate when the supermarket is manic maybe i should go more on a saturday if i only buy whats on the list!

[Deleted User]

hi everyone, hope your all well. I don't really have any spends to report as such, but wanted to post about a grocery money saving app (which i don't have yet), as ive not had the time to properly check it out, which sounds like it could be good. I am posting, because i will forget and im sure it might help some of you savvy shoppers. http://moneytothemasses.com/the-browser-add-on-that-will-slash-your-food-bill

I hope this helps

Hurdler

Hi - would like to join ... I put aside £75 a month to a Mr T Clubard Saver account - they don't offer these anymore, and when I took redundancy last year, I was going to get shot of it, but realised that I got points (yes I know they want my custom) and interest, such as it is, on the balance. At least I KNOW there is money put aside each month specifically for food.

I recently did a massive sort out on my freezer and larder (I live SUCH a rock and roll life, huh!) and was so angry when I discovered two full packs of burgers (one was hidden so I had just gone and bought another) and jars and jars of sauces.

SO... my project is to use up my stores and only buy stuff when I NEED it, not just having it in the larder to merrily go out of date!

I realised that I had been over-bulking out jars of chilli/spag bol with half a kilo of mince, when half of that would do, with more healthy sized freezable portions (just me on my own) - just batch-cooked up two jars and have 3 portions of each in the freezer, so that should last me a while before I need to get more mince/another jar.

I try and batch up at least ONE type of home-made soup (normally 3 or 4 portions) a fortnight, if not two.

My £75 went in last week, and I have an overall balance of £147.26 to last me until December 6th, when the next £75 goes in.

I shop at Mr T fortnightly, and I go on a Sunday morning, when they have just stocked up with fresh stuff that lasts typically through a week and a half.

A friend recommended the Lakeland stayfresh veg bags - she swears by them, so I am hoping that my veggies can last the full two weeks instead of greeting me as I come in the door half way through my second week! Trying these out for this fortnight's shop.

My last "basics" shop (so mainly the fortnightly consumables) was £49.50 so I want to try and make this shop no more than £47.26 tomorrow, as that will bring my balance to £100 (I am a little peculiar like that!).

Just took a look at the list for Sunday - have added Veg Pies in there but if they are not available, then I will just take them off the list and try not to be tempted by other stuff.

Hope I have the rules of the challenge right!

Edited: I have 2 potential full shops in plan until the next payment to the savings account (always on 6th of the month)

Starting Point: £147.26
Target Shopping Dates: Sunday 18/11/12; Sunday 1/12/12

tattycath

Has Mr As stopped taking manufacturers coupons please? They tell me they haven't taken them for years-even if you buy the product :mad:

Nicky_Noo_Na

Well a massive £40.73 spent in MrA (should have been 45! but had a voucher to use up). Unfortunately there some bits I needed that they didn't do so also had to nip to Mr T, another £6.77. Very big spend for us but didnt have much in so bit of a stocking up the freezer shop.

Technically only one more weekend shop left in Nov so will definately be under budget but hoping to come quite a lot under!

meg72

tattycath wrote: »

Has Mr As stopped taking manufacturers coupons please? They tell me they haven't taken them for years-even if you buy the product :mad:

Pretty sure my Asda take them.