June 2007 Grocery Challenge

katzen_2

Right then, this is (virtually) my first post on these forums. Realised that I've been in my first F/T job after Uni since July and I'm still way in to my overdraft, which is soon to start charging so I'm trying to pay that off and get in to good habits before I move to London on student Teacher salary!

I'm in on the June challenge, my month started on 19th May, based on the clever 'what you spend' tabs on my Egg money card I reckon 80 is reasonable to keep my food-obsessed self full-here goes!

Shortie

Evening all

Went to Mr Ts last night and bought some frozen veg, washing powder, frozen chips and 'bits', lots of tinned tuna and a few other bits and pieces and spent £16.64 which brings my new total spend to £51.86 which leaves us£68.14 for the rest of the month. It still needs to include weekly fresh fruit and veg and meat top ups

teedy23

managed to get Boots to take back 2 tubs of the vitamins I bought, was a bit of a struggle as they dont normally take back medicines and the like, but I pleaded menopause, cant concentrate, forgetful blah blah, so £15 back (it was the big tubs) also took back shoes I didnt need and didnt fit well anyway, £12, and the dress I didnt need goes back tomorrow, £25, I also bought 2 multi packs of cat food, had a voucher for bogof on these, but cat walked away backwards from it, got £2.89 back for 1 pack and selling the other to cat owner in work for £2.00, so I,ll actually be up on the deal. Really must get a grip on myself

dm1465

I'm in at £200 again, last month was a real struggle to keep on track, so thought I would stick at 200 and if I come in under then I'll reduce for July. I have an additional challenge, my BIL bet me that you can't feed two adults and two children for £50 a week, so from tomorrow I have to prove to him that you can! I have very very careful menu plan and shopping list for the next week. We are away in June for a week as well, so any extra left over will go in PMS savings. Good luck all, have a great day. Deb

teedy23

good morning people, days off to a good start. A very nice man just delivered a huge box of soap powder that one of my survey sites wants me to try for free, YAHOO no spend on that this month then !

Linda32

Hello all,

May finished up at £267.93

I shall aim at £260.00 for this month, finish date 27th June, (four weeks from yesterday)

Start £19.05
Plus milk for next four weeks (milkman) £5.28 (one bottle short this week)

So, £24.33 to start.

Hapless_2

our shop so far this month is £207.58 (including the meat box due next thursday)

Spooky_Pooky

Does anyone have a particular strategy for dealing with events where you might spend more money than usual whilst undertaking the Grocery Challenge? For instance a birthday party or BBQ? Of course I try to keep the costs of events down by home making a lot of the food etc, but there is always some extra spent on alcohol and food etc.... is it best to count this in or maybe have a separate fund?

If the sun ever comes back out I hope to have semi-frequent open invite BBQs so would quite like to work out my strategy now!

Thanks for any help - it's lovely how supportive everyone is here! xx

smiler34

I'm in again this month, went over budget by £1.65 in May but thats because we had boyfriends parents over for bank holiday monday so went a bit mad on shopping last saturday.
My budget for this month will be £140.00
consisting of £90 for big shop and £10 per week for perishables. Think I definitley could have stayed under budget last month if I had used my meal plans more as I have loads of things still left in freezer from last month so will try and be good this month and hopefully come in under budget and have some money to save.

Linda32

Spooky_Pooky wrote: »

Does anyone have a particular strategy for dealing with events where you might spend more money than usual whilst undertaking the Grocery Challenge? For instance a birthday party or BBQ? Of course I try to keep the costs of events down by home making a lot of the food etc, but there is always some extra spent on alcohol and food etc.... is it best to count this in or maybe have a separate fund?

This is what I do, every other Thursday we have OH's parents over for supper, which involves cheesy biccies, sausage rolls, nuts and nibbles etc.
Plus Sherry for a drink or two for OH's Mum, (I just have wine) The sherry I don't include as once the evening is over, I put it to the back of the cupboard for the next time. If I didn't do this, I'd drink it then have to buy some more next time.

The various nibbles and things I add to salad things which makes Fridays tea.

So if I have left overs then I include the whole amount in the money spent, and if these not going to be any leftovers then I don't include it.

I guess if you wanted to really do it right, then you could cost out how much would be your families portion as you would have had somthing that night anyway.