November 2013 Grocery Challenge

poppycracker

could I join please? DH and I have had a nightmare month this month, and need to get on top of the Direct Debits etc next month so will need to keep the shopping budget to the absolute minimum. There is me (trying to stay on a healthy diet), DH, 3 cats and 4 birds (they dont eat much!) so I will set a limit of £45 per week (£40 for me and him, £5 for catfood, litter and cleaning stuff).

Please put me down for £180.

I know it seems a lot given what I said at the beginning of my post, but this is my first month.

Gonzo1987

Oooo I'd love to sign up. Can you put me down for £100

...hopefully will get this down next month!

lushlifesaver

Wasn't planning on doing the GC in November but I think I will actually. Going to take some time this weekend and work out some meals we like in colder weather and then write a list of how much each recipe makes (i.e. leek and tattie soup makes 4 good portions, spag bol makes 2 etc) followed by what we will need.

Just to make it more complicated I will then do 4 one week meal plans which include one flexi day (same ingredients could make 2/3 different meal choices) and one take out (bf's treat on 'date night') each. Each plan will then have the associated list filed with it. Each week I will then just shop based on that list (and that list alone) to see how I get on.

Hmm new approach to challenge me!

Thinking about my new tactics please could I go in for £80.00 again this month!

Ladyluck1

Can you put me down for £100 please, starting 1st November.
Fully expect to go over next month as I'm due to give birth and it's DSs birthday... Hopefully will come in under budget for October though!

meg72

Just a reminder that the Aldi 5.00 off voucher is in the Mirror today.

First_Trouble

I have read previous posts and have been inspired to try for myself. I never used to look at prices until recently and was always shocked when I got to the till. My weekly food bill was £150 for 2 people!! Me and my husband are trying to clear debts and hope to eventually own our own home. So something had to give.
I've managed to get our food budget down to £100-£120 a month which I think is a pretty good achievement but I think I can do more.
So here goes.

I pledge that my food budget for November £80.
I hope to get this down eventually to £50 a month. We do own a rather large dog and a cat although their combined food costs £60 a month I have that on a separate budget and gets bought at Pets at Home.
I have invested in a bread maker, food processor and slow cooker. As I recently gave up smoking and the savings from that went towards the appliances.
I am also in the process of turning our back garden into a vegetable plot and hopefully should have that up and running for next year

CH27

First_Trouble wrote: »

I have read previous posts and have been inspired to try for myself. I never used to look at prices until recently and was always shocked when I got to the till. My weekly food bill was £150 for 2 people!! Me and my husband are trying to clear debts and hope to eventually own our own home. So something had to give.
I've managed to get our food budget down to £100-£120 a month which I think is a pretty good achievement but I think I can do more.
So here goes.

I pledge that my food budget for November £80.
I hope to get this down eventually to £50 a month. We do own a rather large dog and a cat although their combined food costs £60 a month I have that on a separate budget and gets bought at Pets at Home.
I have invested in a bread maker, food processor and slow cooker. As I recently gave up smoking and the savings from that went towards the appliances.
I am also in the process of turning our back garden into a vegetable plot and hopefully should have that up and running for next year

Welcome to the challenge

Nelly11

Can I join please, 125.00 for me and a teenager, need to sort out my debts, I'm concentrating on the months mortgage bill that I am behind due to being in Hospital in March, all my bills went up the swanny as I had 5 months of recovery. Now all the pain has gone I need to get on top of all the debt that is keeping me awake at night.

My month runs from 25th Oct to 25th Nov, I'm going to put away envelopes for each week with Grocery payments of 25.00 per week and petrol allowance of 50.00 per week, what is remaining, if anything will go off the mortgage payment. I do get some of my petrol back from work, but still have to travel 60 miles return to acyually get into work!

K9sandFelines

I've just started a new job where food is provided and have to balance out my short one and a half week wage plus any JSA owed til Dec payday, so as it's been a long time since i was in this position and was not a single parent then, i didn't have to think too much about food shopping the way i do now.

I have been doing this now nigh on a year and still haven't brought it down, but i suppose there is no hard and fast rule except sticking at it.

As i keep going over, i am keeping it at £380and hope before the year is out i can achieve hitting target. as, this amount for three people is way too much. I have highered it and lowered it, but my brain just isn't getting on the same page with the shopping habits. It is going to be my NY resolution, to strive to do better

lynnejk

First_Trouble wrote: »

.
I've managed to get our food budget down to £100-£120 a month which I think is a pretty good achievement but I think I can do more.
So here goes.

Welcome - and I'm sure you will find lots of help and inspiration on this site.

K9sandFelines wrote: »

I have been doing this now night on a year and still haven't brought it down, but i suppose there is no hard and fast rule except sticking at it.
It is going to be my NY resolution, to strive to do better

Don't beat yourself up - trying is part of doing.

Good luck everyone for November and remember not to eat all the pies yet :rotfl:
L