June 2014 Grocery Challenge

VickyV

Spent £20.79 in Ald1 yesrterday taking me to £288.03 with just one more day to go!

We're away for a few days now but the freezer is stocked with meals for the kids (and parents/housesitters) and meat etc. so hopefully a few quid for bread and milk will do it! Will be back to declare for tomorrow! :j

Vicky x

recovering_spendaholic

Well I gave done a bit better this month, but not perfect. My new month starts next Monday, and I have enough food to last the week (I hope).

I have spent £340, which is £40 over but an improvement on last month.

You all seem so much better than me at making things stretch.

I have been making better use of leftovers though, and even made a strata with leftover baguette at the weekend - it was so nice I am making it again this weekend!

lynnejk

[QUOTE=FrugalWorker;65844957]I've been lurking here for the last few weeks. I'm hoping to start in next months challenge, but I have a question for all you knowledgeable folks. How do you manage/count your OH's spends. QUOTE]


I had the same problem for ages and ages. Then I opened a 123 account and cc and asked him to use the cc for anything he buys. Then, even if he forgets the receipt (which isn't often now) I can check on the cc statement. We also each have a small personal budget so if he wants to go off cc he can spend his own money :rotfl:

MrsCautious wrote: »

What does everyone think of a budget of £250 a month for me and two 15-year-olds for food, household, cleaning items and toiletries? I think I'm harder on myself about it as I don't recognise enough it's not just food? £3,000 a year to have all that covered isn't that bad is it? After a bit of reassurance really, I'm not in any debt.

I think £250 perfectly ok for what you are covering. Don't beat yourself up as you are also working and you can't expect to do everything you did before. Also, don't forget that the prices are going up and up all the time.


I agree with the others that have commented that you're right to try to be sensible but also you should enjoy your food and your life - have the odd treat now and then and stop feeling guilty as you are doing brilliantly :T


Had another NSD today but spent some money on Sunday. Went to Mr T - £20.21, Al*i - £21.81 and Morrys - £4.27. Did get quite a bit of store cupboard stuff though such as good olive oil at half price in Mr T and much cheaper than 'special' in Morrys. Also another load of fruit as it's that time of year eh.


So getting a bit near the budget (though first month on reduced amount) so fingers xd I'll still make it


Hope you all have a terrific Tuesday
Lx

x_raphael_xx

Bought a couple of bananas on the way to work, so another 38p.
Very quiet in work so I sat meal planning for the rest of the month. If I stick to my list I should make it!

Happygreen

NSD for food today - the only thing I will buy today is tickets for the book festival...

elsiepac

Morning all

I'm going to have to declare at an estimate of £100 / £74, way over but not crazy, only because I haven't had any money!

I can't pledge for July yet as it really will depend on how much I'm paid - Never sure what totals will be once overtime and on call are factored in.

I've now managed to squeeze my meal plan down to £117 from the £135 or so that it originally worked out as. I can get it down more as I go week by week as I've pretty much allowed for the more expensive of most veg to ensure I'm not kidding myself. However my trim down yesterday included factoring in this weeks super 6 for weeks 1 and 2 if I do week 2 shop 2 days early!!

Fingers crossed I get a randomly large amount for my pay because as it stands July is going to be VERY tight!!

I can trim meal plan down more as I will have 6 meals in the freezer, so can cut out one of the recipes I was going to use, however when I was going through it with a fine toothcomb last night, I found that no one recipe has a very large cost to it so wasn't obvious where to trim as would only save a pound or two! I'm annoyingly frugal. So have to hope veg savings will kick in and that I've overestimated on dried beans etc, although trimmed a lot of them yesterday too as my stocks are pretty good so I shouldn't need more till the end of the month.

Sigh. Oh to win the lottery.

LC x

Oh yes, for lunch yesterday, today and tomorrow I did some orzo pasta, a tin of chickpeas, and cooked a bag of frozen med veg, dressed with a bit of olive oil, salt and pepper and divided between three tubs. Very yum Tea tonight is Lentil Stew from freezer. Recipe from The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone - it's really delicious and cheap and healthy!

Solstice_3

Ended up spending yesterday after-all, wanted chocolate so decided to do today's shop yesterday. Will need to get more stuff today now as need more bread flour at least. Small spend yesterday of £11.09.

kate_pixie

Afternoon all,

This is my final post of the challenge as it's payday tomorrow :T

Spends of £12.68 last week. So squeaking in under budget, but didn't feel the benefits of it as I ended up giving my savings to the plumber, grrrr! :mad:

See you all over on July :beer:

elsiepac

I'm off to July as had my payslip early. £110 I can allow myself. Got my meal plan down to £112.40 before "on the day" savings so hopefully this is do-able. Reaslised I haven't factored in bread flour for my breakfasts but I'll have to deal with it later. Or indeed fruit for snacks. Hmm.
LC x

islandhoppa

Declaring for the month (see signature) as payday tomorrow and today is a NSD


Well under budget but that's mainly due to my ill health and eating less and shopping very little rather than being particularly frugal