June 2007 Grocery Challenge

irishwexford

Although I do intend to cut my shopping bill during July by £40 per month(spending £200plus extra at times) I did have a start this. Put £5 in piggy bank straight away and still have £10 left for milk and some veggies so spent £35 so far.
Searched through freezer and cupboards and found food I forgot I had. Made a batch of meat sauce for a spag bol and lasagne. Hubby cooked up 4 curries to freeze so have a load of meals for week. Popped into Tesco friday to look around and actually forgot to take purse, refused to use debit card so found it was a good way to browse. Want to surprise hubby with our holiday spending money for November. Great boards these.:j :j

EagerLearner

I am not doing too good this month on shopping, don't know what's happened - I think it's the odd bit of sunshine and the Pinot Grigio calling

Bad, bad... July I will be better!

Curv

Right... I caved in last night and agreed to have a chinese - it was Fathers Day and DH really, REALLY wanted one - how could I refuse? :rolleyes:

I've had a look at what I need when I go shopping tomorrow and I think I could probably manage to cover the cost of the take-away and still get what we need. But, normally when I come in under budget I put the surplus into our Mortgage Pig, which obviously I won't be able to do if I use food shopping money for the take-away. I'm tying myself up in knots trying to work out how to have my cake and eat it, so to speak.

Would you guys take the cost of the take-away from this weeks budget or find the cash from somewhere else?

Sorry for rambling...

Curv x

rosieben

Curv wrote: »

Would you guys take the cost of the take-away from this weeks budget or find the cash from somewhere else?
Curv x

As it was a birthday treat, do you have a birthdays etc budget that you can take it from?

Usually I include take outs in my food budget but I think I would treat this one as a celebration treat.

Curv

Cheers, rosie

I haven't organised a 'celebrations' budget yet, but we could cover it from spending money. In future I'll take it from the food budget if it's a 'can't be bothered to cook' take away (ha! that will make me think twice!!) and I'll go and organise my special occasion budget right now...

My Mortgage Pig will be pleased

Thanks again

Curv x

Nova5

Curv wrote: »

Right... I caved in last night and agreed to have a chinese - it was Fathers Day and DH really, REALLY wanted one - how could I refuse? :rolleyes:

Hi Curv,

Remember it's making cut backs without changing lifestyle. Denying your H a Chinese could of had disastrous effects :eek: and may of started a long line of arguments (!!).

At least you had an enjoyable meal with money spent. I wasted loads of ingredients trying to make large Yorkshire Puddings, (yes I have noticed you are from Yorkshire so any tips gratefully received!). I even had to send out DH for more supplies. Usually we'd have Aunt Bessie's, but since trying to be OS I thought I'd make my own. This turned out not to be very OS as oven was on for a good few hours at really high temp and I wasted silly amounts of ingredients while I made loads of attempts. My 2 step-daughters (whats the abbreviation?) came over for Father's Day and everyone, (including my DD who at nearly 3 always tells the truth), said that it tasted good, even tho Yorkies were flat. They did make a joke about having them for pudding with sugar and lemon!

I think I'm going to go over budget as getting online delivery, (got £5 off £50 in Tesco toddler club mag), Wednesday and want to use 700 point clubcard voucher instore before end of month. Think I may of been over ambitious at target - well I guess that serves me right for being too enthusiastic at start. Also, the fact I did £60 Waitrose shop, (only got stuff in for weekend) at the start of month before I started challenge didn't help

Anyway, wishing fellow MSers success in the grocery challenge

Nova x

Angelraesunshine

Curv wrote: »

Would you guys take the cost of the take-away from this weeks budget or find the cash from somewhere else?

I never have takeaways and the odd time we do as a treat we find the money for else where and not the food budget.


OOOOOOOO:eek: I want to go shopping

its been a week and i really want to go lol

We are going on our hols the end of july so yesterday i decided to do the meals plans right up until we go ( am i mad?????) 2 weeks left of june and 3 weeks of july considering i am not really doing that badly so far only got to get about 8 meals in as i got a few bargins in with this month shopping and still under budget. thats not including extra bread, milk,fruit, potatoes or school lunch box bits etc

I was hoping if i do that then i only need a online shop adn can get away with wanting to spend in store.

Worse thing is i really will be going to the shops maybe wednesday as i am chairperson of my kids school PTA and we are doing the refreshments at the drama evening on friday and i have everything for it except biscuits so must buy them. And while i am there i got to get milk, potatoes and fruit for the packed lunches :eek: arghhhh i am finding this really hard i know if i got to the little tescos i can get everything and should not spend anything else but i really want to go to Asdas lol.

rosieben

Nova5 wrote: »

... Remember it's making cut backs without changing lifestyle. Nova x

Absolutely true! We should look much more at what we're achieving and much less at what we're not achieving yet!

Everyone on this thread seems to have made big improvements so :T :T :T :T

I try not to buy anything ready made but the yorkies sometimes win with me if I'm short of time. I am a little over budget and still 2 weeks to go (though only perishables to buy) but when I look back at how I was spending a few months ago I know I've made good progress.

Sounds like Flylady - Progress not Perfection!! :rotfl:

lemanie

Did perishables shopping on Saturday plus cleaning products and toilet rolls etc from Wilko so shouldn't need to buy much this week (DH away 3 days again). Then only one more week to go. So it's looking hopeful but if I don't manage this month then I shall look at what I could have spent (and usually did) as per you lovely folks advice. The spending diary is at least making me more aware of how much I'm spending :T

redsquirrel80

Does it count if you spend someone else's money? Was 'treated' to a few bits and pieces at the weekend (I had to cook though )... about a tenner's worth so even if it had been mine I'm still under budget :j

Cannot wait till payday though (Friday)... bored with pasta and toast!! Next month will hopefully be a bit more disciplined - no going mad on the first shop then having to cut back later in the month... honest!