January 2013 Grocery Challenge

the_cat

Have joined in previously but feel that the food budget has completely got away from me over the last few months. High cholesterol has been noticed in 2 of the 4 of us living here and we have changed our diet accordingly. The food bill has shot up as we can no longer use traditional home baking and cheaper foods like a HM pie/quiche etc and are eating much more in the way of lean (expensive) meats and particular brands of low fat snacks. Ive not really been counting properly but estimate we are spending at least a third more than we used to! Any advice/recipies/links to help here would be much appreciated

I'd like to do an annual budget this year I think as it will smooth out the bulk buying into a more even pattern. Will aim for an approx of £90 per week plus an extra £100 for Christmas, which makes it a truly terrifying £4800 annual target. This is for 4 adults, plus a regular guest for all food,toiletries,cleaning,entertaining at home etc etc starting from 1st January to 31st December

Thanks for all the hard work to those running the thread!

Bluegreen143

elsiepac wrote: »

... We have got a payment plan worked out but on the basis that I throw in any extra when I can, so I want to do this as they're not really in a position to have lent me this. Mum was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer just before Christmas - she's not the usual patient they would expect - fit, not overweight, healthy and she's only 51. It's under 2cm and hasn't spread but they need to move quickly as it's really bad cancer to have, so they might have to go private. She's at a chemo consultancy today as they want to shrink it before operating. No idea on costs, but will be thousands. They'll probably have to sell. the house. I hate that I'm not in a position to help them financially, and worse, that they lent me this money (before we found out), so I want to pay it back asap...

So sorry to hear about your mum, will keep my fingers crossed for a speedy recovery.

Hope everyone had a fantastic (and cheap!) Christmas. Coxy, can you put me down for £200 in January (gulp!). Not sure I'll manage this but we are away on holiday for a few days so that should help as we won't need as many groceries.

Congrats to whoever the two people were that are expecting little ones .

rebz

I'm new here, but I really need to get a grip of the grocery spending. I have no idea how much we are spending each month and I am always either OD or using CC OR asking DH for more money
There are 6 of us - 2 adults, 4 kids 9, 7, 5 & 3yrs
I am going to go with £350 for Jan 1st to 31st

I know I've seen a link to spreadsheets somewhere, but can't find it now, can someone give me a link, please

StressedSteph

Hi all, can I join.

I had my LBM in November, and for November & December I managed to stick to a £70 per week food budget.

January and February 2013 will be a little tight so I thought it was a good time to par my shopping budget down to £50 per week.

Have not factored any food shopping during the first week in January as I thought we could live off the Christmas food shop.

So please put me down for £200 (Jan7 - Jan 31) 4 weeks

We don't have any meat to pay for so hoping I can stick to it. My main problem is imagination for cooking decent meals, so going to check out some of the recipes at the beginning of this thread.

Good luck everyone

Sammy_J

Hi all,

New to the forum and new to the Grocery Challenge, but really looking forward to taking part.

There's just me and my OH in our household and at the moment we have no real control of what we spend on groceries - it's just too easy to stop by the local shop on the way home from work to pick up something we 'need' rather than make do with something else.

I'd like to go for £150 running from 1st - 31st January.

optimistic-mummy

hi all id like to join you all again please.

could you put me down for £3000 for the year please. starting tuesday 01/01/13 many thanks
this is for 2 adults 1 child, a lab (dog) 3 pet rats and 1 hamster to include all pet stuff, toiletries, food etc. (it doesn't include vet bills)

cw18

Rebz wrote: »

I know I've seen a link to spreadsheets somewhere, but can't find it now, can someone give me a link, please

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=58070023&postcount=3303

DanielleNic87

1st spend of the new year. Had a sack of spuds delivered. Spent £10.90. The price seems to be going up everytime i get a new sack.

bossymoo

Mr T £75

Still, we are well stocked up now...

njk2125

Were on our fifth GC NSD but will need to nip to the shop tomorrow for milk. OH has offered to go but that could be lethal, so I'm going to have to try and get out of the house before him in the morning.
I had a rummage in the fridge earlier and discovered prawn toasts that needed throwing away :eek:. So thought I'd best check on everything else in there. Ended up cooking a stupid amount of mushrooms that were looking past their best making soup with half and i'll figure out what to do with the other half tomorrow. Also rescued an unopened ham joint which is now safely stuffed in the freezer.
Does anyone know if you can freeze fresh brandy sauce and fresh double cream? Have a fair amount left in the fridge that I haden't planned using over the next few days.
Planning not to throw any more food away!