December 2013 Grocery Challenge

just_the_two_of_us

Hi all - first of all Meg apologies - I didn't get to look last night but am going to local Mr T first thing this am.

Last night we had a trolley each and 2 shopping lists which was a nightmare as I had to control both lists! When we got to the till the cashier said we could have had it all in one trolley and he would have used both vouchers!!!!:eek: Will remember for next time. Our Mr T is enormous - takes us about an hour on a normal big shop to get round never mind with two trolleys. Nearly ended in tears - if you know what I mean!!! And then we were accosted by lady doing survey as store just been updated - it's much improved.

Have been up early calculating what I have spent already out of Dec money as bought well ahead to get money off vouchers. Now have all Xmas booze in- party anyone? and lots of things like cheese bics and crisps etc etc. ( if I can find where have hidden them)

Total spend is as signature. Hope I'll manage - really depends on cost of butcher shop just before Xmas. Can get a gammon joint early as they are vac packed but the rest will need to be ordered and last year was about £50!!!

Like Zafiro however I am feeling in control and optimistic about managing this Christmas.

Thanks to everyone for your support and the organisers for running this thread xx

Soworried

CountingPennies wrote: »

Evening all!!

Thanks to all who help run the thread. After a hugely successful November I am setting a ridiculous budget for December of £600!! Please note tho, this is for the 5 of us, plus a dog, plus the 6 i have for christmas lunch, plus all christmas alcohol, plus all new years alcohol and new years food as we are on holiday for new year.

Really REALLY want to cut back on takeaways this month.
Gonna plan better to take food to work ect. We will be eating out next week for my birthday though (different budget).

Kicking off this months budget with £3 in Iceland and £25.10p at Mr T's.

CP xx

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4832833

This challenge that I go on might help you

physicsgirl

I'm still on the November GC until the 1st, but will set my budget at £200, we're going to be at our parents for Christmas and Hogmanay so don't have to worry about buying food for nearly 2 weeks, but I'm making lots of edible Christmas gifts so the cost of ingredients for those will be included.

Has anyone looked at prices for foil cases for mince pies? I got a Betterware catalogue through which had a pack of 36 for 79p, which seems pretty good to me, has anyone found them cheaper?

just_the_two_of_us

Hi - update- Meg the pork is boneless and vacu-packed. Have pm'd you.

Also done the last of my monthly "big shop".
Aldi - £4.52, Home Bags, £12.68, sausage - butchers £2.44, Mr T £5.20 and £12 M n S*** for meal deal and 4 packs fishcakes (had a £ 3 off voucher). DH likes haddock and I like salmon so cheaper/easier this way!!

Just calculating what else I need to buy but everywhere is full to bursting - until Xmas that is! This method seems to work for me - well it did last month anyway - even though there wasn't much left at the end of the month.

Doing the Mr T/ FareShare volunteer collection tomorrow so will spend again there for a donation when my shift is finished but hope to have lots of NSDs next week.

gakko1986

£150 budget for 28 Nov till 19th December this makes it a 3 week "budget month" however with festivities approaching I will be stocking up on the Xmas specific food from this budget.
Know that the following 6 week 'budget month' will be extremely long.

Done a big shop in Mor****s yesterday which included dish. tablets, laundry detergent, kitchen towels and 3 bird roast together with few other long date Xmas staples and some ingredients for a freezable fish pie.
Totalling 63.20 - £5 off voucher - £3.28 multi buy saving = £58.20 so just over a third of budget.
Will have to get to Te*** today as a few items of my shopping list were unavailable yesterday.
Looking forward to getting 3 NSD's in a row over the weekend.

lushlifesaver

Just remembered (memory prompted by gakko1986 - cheers!) that we get paid almost a week early this month...or so I'm told... as they can't pay us on Christmas Day.

Apparently we're paid early in January too to balance out the early Christmas pay/5 week month.

How do people usually manage that within their grocery budget? It's never really something I've had to think about if I'm honest but just thinking it may mean either there will be more left over or we'll end up spending stupidly thinking we have the give in the budget.

Do people usually adapt their budget to suit?

apardion

Hi, can I join the GC this month? We have just been paid and I would like my budget to be £200 until the next pay date (which will be before Christmas).
Just spent £67 online at Sainsbobs, that should last a while

*Jellie*

Hi!
I'd like to join please. Haven't tried this for a while and will be first time I attempt December so my target figure is a bit of a stab in the dark.
£350 please

2childmum

lushlifesaver wrote: »

Just remembered (memory prompted by gakko1986 - cheers!) that we get paid almost a week early this month...or so I'm told... as they can't pay us on Christmas Day.

Apparently we're paid early in January too to balance out the early Christmas pay/5 week month.

How do people usually manage that within their grocery budget? It's never really something I've had to think about if I'm honest but just thinking it may mean either there will be more left over or we'll end up spending stupidly thinking we have the give in the budget.

Do people usually adapt their budget to suit?

Hi - DH always get paid early in December to and I just ignore it! His money goes into the bank account and I pretend it's not there - I don't even write it in my bank account book until the end of the month when he usually gets paid. That means i just carry on as usual with budgeting.

meg72

2childmum wrote: »

Hi - DH always get paid early in December to and I just ignore it! His money goes into the bank account and I pretend it's not there - I don't even write it in my bank account book until the end of the month when he usually gets paid. That means i just carry on as usual with budgeting.

I do this too when my pension goes in early, in the past I have spent it and then really struggled later.