May 2007 Grocery Challenge

jo101_2

HI

I am going to have another go this month too, last month my budget was £250 and I did go somewhat over at £270 ish but we did have a couple of takeaways with friends which ate into the budget. So I feel hopeful this month as I have a full freezer and OH went to Aldi yesterday so I am going to try £220 for 2 adults and 2 children including all food, cleaning and toiletries.

Good luck to everyone.

JO

Janeryan

Welcome to all newbies!

fell off wagon last month & it will be a bit of a challemge this month as have Bank Holidays & school holidays then DS is off on study leave for GCSE's so will need to have constant stock of nibbles(healthy & otherwise) for him & his mates who are "revising"!

Have set £250.00 for the month but have already spent £103.98 so it's looking a bit iffy!

We shall see how we go-good luck everyone!

rosieben

jswaminathanuk wrote: »

I think my target can be achieved but I need a mentor who can guide me on how to cut the cost in Groceries.

you will have lots of mentors on this thread!

I'm fairly new to this challenge myself but I found the best advice was to meal plan for the week ahead and then shop for only what I needed. I had a good look through my cupboards and freezer and used what I already had as the basis for the meal plan

I also make a point of not wandering around the supermarket, and definitely not going into the aisles where nothing is on my list!

This thread and the forum has really given me good ideas for managing my money better and eating more healthily and I cook everything from scratch now.

Good luck everyone!

jswaminathanuk

rosieben wrote: »

you will have lots of mentors on this thread!

I'm fairly new to this challenge myself but I found the best advice was to meal plan for the week ahead and then shop for only what I needed. I had a good look through my cupboards and freezer and used what I already had as the basis for the meal plan

I also make a point of not wandering around the supermarket, and definitely not going into the aisles where nothing is on my list!

This thread and the forum has really given me good ideas for managing my money better and eating more healthily and I cook everything from scratch now.

Good luck everyone!

Thanks for supporting me but I cannot take the 100% meal plan route.
See problem with us is that we have used spice since childhood and every day we want a different food. it is not that we take too much spice but we are used to have so much variety that cooking one day and use it for 3 days won't do(atleast now). My 21 month old daughter wants a different item every day.
If I bring planned menu to my home both my wife and my daughter will revolt. I will rather cut on wastage and unnecessary spend this month and next month will try to introduce menu plan.
I am living in a rented accomodation and fridge is very small. I am looking for a fridge on offer in my local freecycle. Once I get it I will buy more milk etc and make maximum use of my trip to super market.
I will make some chutney etc and store in fridge this will come handy if we both are tired and cant cook.

I have offered 50% of the this month's saving to my wife.I will use this to bring her to menu plan.
I learnt this from companies. set the company objective so unrealistic that you can have an excuse of not giving bonus to employees. In 3 months (finger crossed) my target should £175 and 50% of any saving from that will go to my wife.
Also I would like to take this opportunity to ask people is it advisable to do Grocery shopping online from Tesco? is it worth paying £5 for delivery. I guess I can have 10 - 15 pound off on £50 shopping voucher but havent tried that.
When I go to Super market I look for bread , milk with longest expiry date. I am not sure what I will get if I order online

newster

Hi.

I'm a newbie here. I would like to join in as well. Good to be accountable to someone :-) I generally cater for 8. I have found myself spending more each week, mainly due to going on a diet, which I didn't really need to ( have decided it's quicker to lose unwanted pounds by not giving into temptation :-) Sometimes, some of these diet plans, although they offer you more food to eat, it ends up being very expensive!!) Anyway. I was spending about £520 a month, which is little more than we can really afford (one wage coming in) so I'm setting myself a target of £320. As I shop weekly, then that makes £80 a week.

lil_me

jswaminathanuk- You could try a menu plan without set days etc. Or even a 'mince something' or 'chicken & pasta something' etc at first that way it eases them into meal planning a bit more gently. That way you're setting out the main part but still allowing choice by just adding what you have in to go with it. I sometimes find this easier as it's more flexible. I usually put at least one, sometimes 2 quick and easy meals in the menu plan to make it easier for those tired days. Can be homemade chilli that is in freezer etc.

southern_chick

Hi everyone

i'm in again this month, i really love this challenge and am now taking so much notice of what i spend that i have managed to stay in credit since January. i am sticking to £110 again this month as it is a 5 week month. my first weeks shop was £19.89 so hopefully the money should last out the month

good luck to everyone else

SC XX

hollyh

Hi

I'm going to join again i'll just try not to fail this time.

I have reasonably full cupboards and freezer and have loads of nappies, washing powder and toiletries so i should be able to manage on £90 for the month for me and 2 ds's.

Night-Owl_5

Hi, my first time posting on this thread

There is just me and OH have been menu planning but still am not managing to restrict my spending so I am going for it this month.

My monthly challenge will be 150 pounds for this month and then I am hoping to get that down to 120 next month

Good luck everyone

gems2381

My tesco shop came to £51.05 which is more than I usually spend but did it for the 1000 extra points. It should last me more than a week anyway. Just need to buy some fruit now from the market.