May 2007 Grocery Challenge

rosieben

I did my last shop for May today and scraped in just under target.

But then I called into the local chemist and spent £4.15 on tea tree oil, so that took me a little over but I'm still very pleased with spends this month.

Edited to say - I have a ridiculous amount of tinned and store cupboard food and my freezer is absolutely stuffed full. I'm thinking I may do a really low budget next month to encourage me to use up what I have. I'd love to be able to defrost the freezer too!

meanmarie

Last shop for May done, freezers and cupboards well stocked, so am very happy with my final spend. Will be away for three weeks so will not be joining June challenge, I consider that I can probably reduce my monthly shop for July by quite a bit...depending on how much DD4 and DGS2 leave in freezers and cupboards.

Congratulations to all who have stayed within budget and better luck next time to those outside!

Marie

Elfinwings

Thanks lil-me, I'm hoping that next month maybe I will be able to stick to both the diet *and* the budget. I think it's a combination of having to stock up on low-cal basics to start with, and also allowing myself the occasional M&S 'treat' (I love their count on us range, but it's not cheap...) instead of a mars bar!!

M&S is possibly even more lethal than Waitrose, so I know what you mean!

Linda32

Update from me,

I'm looking £206.00 (the £6.00 comes from a voucher I had which I spent on stuff which dosn't go off)

Finish date is 29th May

This is for two adults, and includes cleaning and smellies, the reason I include those is because its possible to cut down on those costs as well.

Includes wine as well

Previous Total - £196.46

Tesco £21.88
Sainsbury £16.88
Co-op £2.84

Total £238.06 :rotfl:

As I said previously, I shall keep on adding up until I get to 29th May then try to do the next four weeks for £10.00 less.

The Sainsbury shop was mostly things which were on offer, which we didn't need at that time but won't go off.

Oatcakes at 55p a box, normally 70p 'ish
Shredded Wheat 83p
3 Punnets of Cherry Toms, £1.77 we get through these like they are going out of fashion, yet they are very expensive at our Co-op where I normally end up buying them.
2 bags of 12 doritoes 92p each

Also, a tip from the weekly email, I used to buy KP peanuts but it was mentioned that, instead of buying the range you normally go for, try just one down, for instance if you go for Birds Eye, try Shop own brand, just once to see if you like it. Well I tried Tesco value peanuts at 21p a bag. They are fine. I know you wouldn't think peanuts would taste different but they do.

On a smilar note, I used to buy Hellmanns Mayo, having found other own brands to taste like vinegar :rotfl: Tesco own brand is fine.

teedy23

this week I,ve thrown out
! almost full bag of rocket + £1.00
1/2 a mandarin cheese cake= £1.00
3 pints of chicken stock = unforgivable
2 rolls= 16p
forgot to take sandwiches to work twice = £3.50
Total £5.56
really MUST do better

poohbear59

As I was a little over budget this month I am increasing my budget for June. I also will have usual four to feed plus 3-4 extra adults as the uni students arrive home for summer and they are bringing boy/girlfriends for at least a week each. I think I might be optimistic with a £320 budget to include all food for 7 adult size appetites, animal feed (dog, 2 cats, 7 hens), all toiletries, alcohol and meals out. We do have veggies growing in garden, hope soft fruit will be ready soon too and still have 1/2 mutton and 1/2 lamb in freezer. We also have 2 b'days in June but I have seperate budget for those.

Natty_82

I am over budget this month :-( mainly due to cooking dinner for friends and spending way more than i should on it. Oh well, there's always next month ...

brummiebabe

Well...as predicted...came in over budget!! This week's shopping was £83.45 - however, did buy DD's formula x 2 (on offer at Tesco's) and DW tablets (which I didn't need....wish I'd checked before I went :mad: )

This month's total therefore £444.23:eek: :eek: :eek: - it was a 5 week month for us though, but this is still an average of approx £89 per week.

Next month is only 4 weeks though..at £80 p/w that's a total budget of £320 for June!!

mikeD

jswaminathanuk wrote: »

At my home my DW (Dear Wife) usualy doeas DW (Dish washing) as we don't have DW (Dish washer ) at home.

In our house we have a DW but no DW except for me who is the DW, if you see what I mean.
Oh dear! I've gone over budget just as I thought I was doing so well:oand had reduced it by £5 per week, and there are still six days to go:eek:

teedy23

you,ve all done exceedingly well. Life isnt, for most, cut and dried. Who would want that anyway? People who visit should always be welcome, I hope I never get to the stage where I wouldnt want to see someone because they would mess up my budget ! As it is, I will strive to cut down the amount I waste and hope to get some sort of budget in my life. So for June I will try to set myself a realistic amount for spending on food. So , on my own , with cheety cat but visits from son and two daughters with 2 GC in tow, I,ll try £50 per week till I see how it goes, it may be less, it may be more, another voyage of discovery on the horizon. Well done all of you who kept to your budget, and well done all of you who tried, you must have made some improvement