June 2007 Grocery Challenge

rosieben

Busy reading through this thread and and just realised that I haven't updated my own sig for last week's spend!

so week 1: spent £22.52 which included a couple of special offers (£3.45 not on list) and french manicure nail polish (£4.28 for both) - trying to get my nails into shape this summer!

I have the shopping list ready for tomorrow and I've based my meal plan on what I already have in the freezer and cupboards so not much apart from milk and greengrocery to buy.

Been spending a bit on grobags lately and now watering and feeding all my veggies so hope I will be able to pick my own soon rather than buy! :j

Shortie

Tartan_Mum wrote: »

Hi all

<snip>
Last week I spend £107 in the supermarket. DH said he couldn't work out what on so that's not a great sign....
<snip>

Welcome to the Grocery Challenge TM....

OH and I were like this before, but I started to keep a spread sheet of everything we spent our money (drove OH nuts as I was always asking for the reciepts etc) and it was a shocking eye opener as to where our money 'dissappeared' to

rosieben

Just wondering - I've been buying Morrisons savings stamps for the last few weeks but haven't added them into my grocery spend as they're for christmas.

Is anyone else including them in their budget for the monthly grocery challenge?

belfastgirl23

mikeD wrote: »

Ordered my fortnightly shop at Mr T's onlinethis morning. Came to £73 not including discounted items. Hoped to keep it around £60 but needed a few expensive items like washing tablets £4 something, Vanish around £3, Jeyes fluid around £3 etc. so spent a bit more than I expected . Anybody know a good substitute for Jeyes fluid for cleaning outside drains, the DW is a bit finicky when it comes to that sort of thing.

Welcome to all the new posters to this thread :beer:

Just to say that pound shops are often cheaper for Vanish and Jeyes Fluid than tesco. Don't like using Jeyes myself for environmental reasons but unfortunately there is no substitute as far as I can tell.

Angelraesunshine

OMG i so need this HELP

my average shop is over £400 a month and i despartely need to get this down as much as possible.

I am hoping that if i use this and have to tell what i buy i might not buy as much

There are 2 adults ( 1 of which eats a lot)
And 3 youngish children 3-8 All have packed lunches for school
1 cat
2 bunnies
2 turtles
And my 2 nieces i have 4 mornings and 3 afternoons week & 1 evening.

I really really try to keep it down but if i see a bargin i have to get it.
I try to do at least 2 fortnight online shops at tesco adn use vouchers off that too.

But its going to asda during thouse times for my extra bits i just cant stop myself buying.

I really need help Please help me PLEASE any advice would be appreciated i am happy for you to pm any advice over too.


Ideally i would like to get the shop to about £300 a month. but i do include toys and cards etc that i buy in asda as part of that £400 +

June so far is
Tesco £87.80
Asda £00.00

teedy23

Good lord Angelaraesunshine, your a busy woman. The bulk cooking thing would be good idea for you, then you might not have to go to shops so often and see all the bargains. Have a good look around the money saving old style threads, they can save you fortunes, maybe making fairy cakes with kids would cut down on the sweet buying and keep them entertained as well, make ice lollies. Buy a box of mixed cards for all occasions, anything to keep down the shop visits. Good luck
I went down to Asda today and spent £8.52, a couple of store cupboard things and a few reduced items, which will make about 7 dinners, saying this so it wont sound so bad

Angelraesunshine

teedy23 wrote: »

The bulk cooking thing would be good idea for you, then you might not have to go to shops so often and see all the bargains. Have a good look around the money saving old style threads, they can save you fortunes, maybe making fairy cakes with kids would cut down on the sweet buying and keep them entertained as well, make ice lollies. Buy a box of mixed cards for all occasions, anything to keep down the shop visits. Good luck

Thank you Teedt23

Gonna give a good think to the bulk cooking might be better off and not have to worry adbout meal planning as much, maybe i should start actually planning what we eat each week rather than pot luck or what i fancy cooking up.
I love baking and my DS loves baking we play big cook little cook together so yes more fairy cakes will sort out the lunches too.

I have just started to buy cheaper mixed cards found some in asda you get 6 for £1 or something so i got one for each of the birthdays years coming up and a plain set for everyone else, so that should help.

I just really must keep myself out of asda. More help is always welcome

lil_me

Have you thought of online shopping to resist the temptations? Helped me stick to a list etc when I started trying to reduce spending and there is usually codes for free delivery or money off on the discount codes part of forum.

Meal planning and working from a shopping list was the most helpful, looking at what we had in, what I needed to go with it to make a meal etc.

juliejim

Hi All

Well I've been to asda tonight and spent another £28.73 and I've got to pay £20 tomorrow for DS's dinners at nursery so that leaves me with £233.35.

Jue

kittynortheast

Hello
I'm a bit late starting on this thread, but have been mooching for a while and had already started cutting down on my food spend when I discovered this thread.
My shopping spend for May SHOCK Horror was 398.00!!! This is with meal planning, no waste, no ready meals, not much booze (1-2 cheapo bottles of vino per week at most ,<£3.00). This month I am aiming for £250.00, have cut down on meat we are eating less per meal (there are 4 of us by the way) I have chosen more own brand products, have picked more seasonal veg,and am cooking my cheaper meals this month. So far I have spent £159.00 on meat wash powder(big pack will last 3 months) and a months shop at Mr T's for non-perishables, soooo all I need to buy is fruit, veg, dairy and milk (milkman). Any more tips would be greatly appreciated from you OS experts to keep my spend down. Thanks. Kitty.