February 2014 Grocery Challenge

Rachiedabbler70

charlieyates wrote: »

Can I join you all in here please? I have no idea on an actual budget, we have just been spending way too much (we easily go through a 1000 for the 7 of us!!) Going off that I would like to set a budget of 500 for the first month. No idea how doable this will be. What actually counts as groceries? obviously food, but do you add pet foods, cleaning products, toiletories etc..

Hi and welcome - as everyone has stated no hard and fast rules. I've had to be strict with myself so every penny I spend during the month on anything other than paying debts and household bills I count in only because I was 'leaking' money in lots of areas and needed to reign myself in quick before I got to the point where I couldn't pay my bills. Good luck - this is a very supportive thread.:j

Franigan

seemasfriend wrote: »

Is there such a thing as being too frugal? I find myself reluctant to spend money on anything unless it is absolutely essential. I am in danger of becoming a bore with no life. How to find a happy medium?

I hear you on that one! I think I am already on the wrong side of frugal!!
My partner always rolls his eyes every time I start to talk about money. Although I believe he does appreciate my efforts as he admitted we would spend a fortune if it was him in charge of buying! He even started to ask permission to buy scotch eggs or a small pack of crisps when we are somewhere shopping! :T
If we think, we are mainly giving up the superfluous for the sake of the important things.
Sometimes I feel like we are not rewarding ourselves enough and that I am too focused on the bl**dy "big picture" to enjoy the present (in a way this is ever so true!). But at the end of the day, it is not a take away or a fancy bath gel that will make me "feel alive".
I am on a very low salary, bf's salary is ok (just about ok). We are going abroad for 4 days next week, we have got all 4 tyres to replace plus other car problems and I am not worried at all. I suppose this is what this is all about (for me).

All fine as long as you don't deprive yourself of everything that makes you happy..!

Sorry I got too carried away!!! :eek::eek::eek: So off topic too!!!

ikesmummy

seemasfriend wrote: »

Is there such a thing as being too frugal? I find myself reluctant to spend money on anything unless it is absolutely essential. I am in danger of becoming a bore with no life. How to find a happy medium?

I have the kind of disposition which means I am all or nothing and as I am determined to get rid of my debt and save a bit of money I am very likely to become "too frugal" so finding people responses to this very useful. I think the idea I like that mny of you seem to be saying (in one way or another) is not wasting money unnecessarily so that you have it when you need it to do things you want to.

Managed to pick up some YS bits yesterday which is now in the the freezer (minus one of the loaves of bread), I may adapt my meal plan for the end of the month or alternatively it means I have a good starting point for next month :T

I have never done a meal plan for so long in advance before (the whole month) but have been doing a weekly one for several years and find we may swap one or two evenings around and sometime even do a different meal completely but largely stick to it. I plan quick and easy things for the days when I am working late and try to do som bits for the freezer when I know I will be stuck in the kitchen for a bit doing the Roast or other meals which seem to keep you close to the oven for prolonged periods.

Rachiedabbler70

Just totalled up and I have spent £100.64 on my big shop for the month. Unfortunately the substitutions on my shop were really weird for example I wanted sesame oil as I do a fair amount of Chinese cooking - guess what I got - you'll never guess they gave me beef stock cubes!!!:eek: and the 3 chickens I ordered all went out of date the following day so I had to freeze them whole whereas normally I would have spent time making them into meals over a couple of days and then freezing them - I'm not getting a delivery again - they keep making a mess.


I am going to go and do some batch cooking now. Will make pasta sauce, pizza sauce, pizza dough, a few lasagnes and a few chillis for the freezer and some flapjacks for after tea today.:)
Have a nice day everyone.:D

cw18

Been out for a few bits today. Some fresh veg, frozen fish and passata (from A1di) and some tinned tuna (from Mr M). Considering nipping back for some more tuna after I pick DS1 up from work (and sending him through a till with another 3 packs while we're there )

debbiedeejay

Afternoon All

Not had chance to really sit down and read all posts but still going to stick to £180 for this month like last.

Last weeks shopping came to Mozzies £27.50 and a mid week dip into a express Mozzies and an extra £7.19 (half of which was a bottle of wine,very naughty but very welcome )

Have written shopping list for this aft -still got plenty in cupboards just fresh stuff needed (oh and pet food)

DD3 has requested brown pasta and rice - fine dont mind but have loads of white of each to use up too - plus she doesn't normally like rice so I hope she like it!

TTFN

Coxy11

Hi all,

Budgets updated to here

Welcome/welcome back to:
cat4772, charlieyates and lynnejk

Couple of small spends to report. £1.97 yesterday in co-op on butter and 2 x freddo , then £3.50 today in Tesco on salad and coleslaw. Children and I are having Aldi pizzas tonight with green salad and coleslaw. DH is off to camp :eek:

Had the camp food delivered by Tesco last night. Rubbish substitutions - ordered burgers in packs of 4 for the 30 scouts (so 8 packs of 4) and they substituted so we ended up with 2 pack and 4 pack burgers totalling 28 burgers. Also diddled us out of a pack of 6 apple pies. The packing was atrocious, bread in with tins. Don't use them for my own shopping anymore, in fact I rarely go into store tbh as the staff are so rude. I mentioned that someone had spilt a whole cup of takeaway coffee in the foyer this morning and when I left the store, it was still there. I can see the £ signs in someone's eyes now as they sue for slipping over......

Sorry off topic, but it makes me so :mad:

Coxy

islandhoppa

Rachiedabbler70 wrote: »

the 3 chickens I ordered all went out of date the following day so I had to freeze them

Have you telephoned them to complain, I have always found them very good at refunding things like this.


I too am one who likes to make savings in areas such as groceries in order to have holidays etc, and I do think that budgeting like this works out healthier - convenience food is often more expensive and less nutritious, so by making an effort to meal plan and cook from scratch is better for us and our wallets.


£8 to report today in Ald!, will be doing main shop tomorrow in Mr S as I have a gift card, just got the things from Ald! that I knew would be way cheaper

Rachiedabbler70

islandhoppa wrote: »

Have you telephoned them to complain, I have always found them very good at refunding things like this.

Hi - no I haven't complained because I had room in my freezer but still annoying as it messed up my batch cooking.:mad: I might still consider it though.

kayester

Rachiedabbler70 wrote: »

Hi - no I haven't complained because I had room in my freezer but still annoying as it messed up my batch cooking.:mad: I might still consider it though.

if it was mr A they will refund, they told me they allow between 3-5 working days for dates at least