July 2007 Grocery Challenge

rosieben

Moniker wrote: »

Why not take a visit to the Library? ….. know it is nice to 'own' them , but how often do you read them again? …

Funnily enough I’ve been to the local library this week to see what they have/can get. I’d like to check some of my wish-list craft books out before I lay out the cash.

I mostly have reference books and I tend to scribble notes in the margin so I really need to have my own copy. I do check out second hand and charity shops whenever I can but not much there that’s any use to me unfortunately.

The_shuffs wrote: »

do you think it would be better to use cash or card i want to get this right i think cash and a menu that has got to help i did that before but the kids got bored any ideas

Meal planning is the way to go, honestly! list all the meals you can think of that you and the family like, even real basics (for me that’s egg and chips!); when I did this I ended up with more than enough for a month. That’s enough meals to make sure I don’t get bored and I don’t cook fancy! Check what’s in your freezer and cupboards and base some meals around what you already have.

You might try working on a plan for each week, eg mine goes vaguely like this

1 x roast
1 x pasta
1 x rice
1 x vegetarían
1 x fish
1x egg or cheese
1 salad

It’s a case of finding whatever suits you and the family.

I only ever take cash when I shop, enough to cover my shopping list and a couple of pounds extra in case I spot a real bargain. Don't forget to include breakfasts, lunches and a few little treats on your list especially as its school holidays. Good luck!

lka200

I did it!!!!
my first challenge and the target for the month was £140 and total spent is £129.94 YAY!!!!.£10.06 under budget.
Im hoping i can do as well on the august challenge.
Well done to everyone this month
lka xxx

shell2001

I am feeling pleased with myself. I have got £18.15 left then opened my purse this morning and found another £10 (so £28.15 left) plus I reduced my allocated budget by £20 so am almost £50 under my £350 budget. Well happy.

I have also got quiet a lot left in the freezer - whole chicken, joint of pork, chicken drumsticks, HM fishcakes, bolognaise, fishfingers, sausages so I think at least a weeks worth of stuff their.

So am gonna aim for £300 next month. I have kept all the reciepts from this month so I can see what unnecessary items I bought from Somerfield so I am more in control.

redsquirrel80

rosieben wrote: »

I'd be interested to know what other budget we all have? :question:

Mine are:

- Rent (includes utilities), council tax & bills (phone/ internet/ TV licence)
- Debt payments (grr)
- Groceries
- Weekly bus fares and bits & pieces budget (this includes generally daily spending such as any snacks bought at work, lunch if I forget/ can't be bothered making it)
- Everything else (toiletries, clothes, nights out etc).. which usually ends up being whatever's left after the above, though I am trying to save a bit per month at the mo!

mikeD

lka200 wrote: »

I did it!!!!
my first challenge and the target for the month was £140 and total spent is £129.94 YAY!!!!.£10.06 under budget.
Im hoping i can do as well on the august challenge.
Well done to everyone this month
lka xxx

Well done you!!

mikeD

rosieben wrote: »

I'd be interested to know what other budget we all have? :question:

I have a budget for all the indivdual costs that one normally has to bear and put them under separate headings, e.g. "Groceries" comes under my "Household budget" as does "Tools", "Utensils" etc. My budget is split between Income and Expenditure, and I do it at the beginning of the year for the whole of the current year. At the end of the exercise I can see whether or not my bank account will go up or down. As an ex manager running an accounts department of course it is easy for me to budget properly, the problem comes when I try to stick to it .

My aim is always to spend less that budget, and this is how it should be, however I don't get fussed if I go over, even by a lot, just have to knuckle down and try, try, try again.

rosieben

Thanks redsquirrel and MikeD :beer:

I can see there's much room for improvement in my budgeting system! I find it a bit scary looking at the month tbh, but will will take the bull by the horns and plan longer term.

Shortie

Hmmmm... this month seems to be sprialling out of control a bit....

DS in hospital for a week, a long weekend away and then a week off work seem to have really thrown me out of kilter....... Plus I'm trying to boost my Tesco points at the mo so am popping into Mr Ts more often than I normally would (argh!)

Another £6.53 added to the total, and we're just about to go out and (hopefully) do the last meat shop of the month and also get some more fruit while we're out

I've still goit £60 of the target left to get me to 18th Aug but I don't think it's going to happen this month

Hapless_2

meant to add, I only got 1 meat pack in July as I couldn't afford the usual second one due to those lovely income support people.

x_raphael_xx

I desperately need a shop, but I'm waiting until August Challenge, I'm already over July budget so I don't want to increase it!
I need potatoes and bread and lots of salad stuff. Woke up this morning wanting toast, but had no bread!