January 2013 Grocery Challenge

couldsavemore_2

tomorrow we will have to do a shop for the week. we dont need much just milk bread and some fresh veg so hopefully no more than £20. we have lots in fridge and freezer so should be a very cheap month but will see how it works out.

will put all older veg in pan and make soup and freeze for lunches during week.

we do go to c**tco and buy things in bulk if the price is right about once a month but not planning a trip there until end of January.we have enough toiletries to last a few months along with dog food and wild bird food.

spending Sunday doing spreadsheets/budgets so will be able to update signature etc.(will also know exact debt not so good but has to be faced) I'm getting excited now only 2 days to go.

FrugalFinn

Hi there,
Can I join this challenge please? I haven't been on here for ages and I'm really keen to make this year the year that I get a handle on our finances!
At the moment I actually have no idea how much we spend on groceries, or anything else for that matter, as I don't record it anywhere, we each shop on our way home for bits n bobs and I don't keep receipts to check back on! So this will be a challenge in lots of ways.
Plan:
Make a menu for each week
Do a shopping list and stick to it
Do one shop per week, with only absolute essentials bought in between times.
Keep records of how much we're spending.

There's 4 of us, 2 adults and 2 kids, 9&3, plus a dog, cat and 2 tortoises. This budget will also therefore include pet food and supplies, plus all our cleaning stuff and toiletries. Erk!

To start with I'm just gonna have to guess a figure and once I've started actually checking what I'm spending I can work out ways to cut it right down. So initially it might look like I'm spending loads, but eventually I'll (hopefully) be keeping up with the best of you! I'm totally in awe of those of you who have whittled your spend down to £15-£20 a week! I spend that in one day at the moment! BUT I'm really hoping to make huge improvements, so any words of encouragement will really help.

So, I suppose I'd better put a figure to it now. My challenge amount per month is £400to start with. I think that's about what I spend at the moment, so lets hope I'm not in for a horrible surprise!
I've got plenty of food left over from Xmas so my challenge will start on 1st January and my months will be calendar months to make it easier for my untrained brain to get to grips with.
Keep your fingers crossed for me please! I hope to keep posting once a week to keep everyone updated and to keep myself motivated.
Is there a 'poke' feature on here to remind me? Lol.

mossy

Hello, still away (at mums now ) so haven't had chance to catch up properly yet. Spent £1 on parsnips for Christmas dinner, gave them a fiver and they gave me two £2 coins for change so have to hold them hostage and will put them in the sealed pot when I get home. Which means £5 off my grocery budget.

gien

Can I join back into this thread please? I did quite well back in October and November and this month we are so tight I need to really keep a close eye on things.
I won't start until the 3rd (we're away on holiday until then) so I'm going for 400€ for 23 days! Should be doable, and really has to be doable as there's no wriggle room at all!

Samantha22

Good evening everyone,
Hope you've all had a wonderful Christmas & are looking forward to your New Year challenges/celebrations.

I would be very grateful if you could put me down for £200.00 for January 2013 Grocery Challenge, please. My month will begin on Weds January 2nd. 2013. I tried a few in 2012, but did not do as well as I had anticipated. Hopefully, 2013 will be much more successful on every front. Apart from trying to budget the food shopping, I also need to de-clutter my home & try to sell some unwanted items on eBay. To add to my list, I need to lose a whole load of weight. Paying off my Credit Card, is another item on the to-do-list. I was very happy to clear one of my Credit Cards early in Dec 2012. Now, the other one needs tackling. I'm pretty good at paying my bills on time, so have not got any interest charges. That, I'm very grateful for. I need to update my signature, as soon as I've posted this message. It's been so long since I've been on this site, I feel like a newbie, all over again. I am very grateful to everyone who has helped me with their ideas, etc. in 2012.
Wishing you all the very best for 2013.
Kind regards,
Sam22

Samantha22

couldsavemore wrote: »

we do go to c**tco and buy things in bulk if the price is right about once a month but not planning a trip there until end of January.we have enough toiletries to last a few months along with dog food and wild bird food.

Hi couldsavemore,
I've heard soo much about costco & would love to be able to shop there. Does one need to own a business to shop there, or can anyone go there?

Thanking you in anticipation,
Samantha22

lilian1977

£10.02 spent in last two days from budget, Sig updated.

Zend

Hi, I joined last year but the budget went out the window due to travelling long distances twice a week to visit ill parents. Hope to have better luck this year. As we have hardly eaten any of our Christmas food yet, could you please put me down for £ 100. My month starts on January 1st.

Thank you.

Coxy11

Hi everyone,

Budgets done to here

Welcome, and welcome back to:
Islandmaid, Morgana3577, angel13, Suzexxx, stafftopets , FrugalFinn, Samantha22 and Zend.

Looking forward to joining you all officially on Monday.

Coxy

skilly

Morning all, can i Be put down for £400 please I will start on the 1st ..31st .I would like to use more items from my store Cupboards this month well that's the Plan lol.