September 2014 Grocery Challenge

XSpender

I was very good about recording every grocery spend we had last month (not so good about the spends themselves:o) and came in at £360 for everything excluding booze for 2 adults (one GF) a small boy with a big appetite and a small dog. I know we could have done a lot better than this.


September is a 5 week month for us and if I knock a tenner a week off the food part of my budget this months budget works out to £350.



I have restarted my monthly prescription for GF foods but will not include this cost as it covers other stuff as well.


I am planning to have a super frugal September as we are down to just DH wage this month following my redundancy so I am going to use up everything I can in the freezer and pantry. DH has a bonus due next month so I will be able to restock in October.


Ideally I would like to come in at £250 and save the difference so I will aim for this figure in my head but am being realistic with the £350 as this is a reduction on last month and sticking to a food budget is always a struggle for us.


First tasks are to NOT do the usual Thursday shop today, list and organise the freezer contents and stick the list to the front of the FF and do a meal plan for next week.

Tesco-shopper

Hi. I haven't done the grocery challenge for nearly 3 and a half years, but found it helpful then as it gives a degree of accountability - and now I am up for the challenge again!
Please will you put me down for £280 for a family of 5. Thanks.

gollysmissus

Hi all
Don't know if anyone has posted this but there is a £5 voucher off £40 spend in Aldi in Daily Mirror today. :j
I've just recently started this Grocery challenge but haven't joined officially yet but do read the posts as I find them so helpful. So thanks to all that post:)

nearlytherenow

This challenge starts tomorrow for me as I am paid on the last working day of the month. I am aiming to get rid of my loan this month completely which leaves me with a very, very low budget for me of £150 for the month, but it will make such a difference to me to be rid of it.

I am going to withdraw the £150 cash tomorrow and put it in a separate purse and keep all of my receipts for the month as suggested so I can look through next month.

I have a slight confession and that is that I am heading out shopping today for some food for Saturday when we have visitors over. I have received an extra payment today for a job I did earlier in the year. Cheating? Maybe! Also, the cupboards have stuff in already too. But if I can do £150 from tomorrow for what is a long month, I will be very happy!

Good luck everyone, looking forward to reading lots of advice

krustylouise

I get paid every Wednesday, so do I start my Month on September 3rd and end it 1st October? We're getting married in October so need to be as frugal as possible this month!

Pablosmummy

nothing spent today, was going to defrost the freezer as the top drawer is stuck, infact its that stuck I snapped part of the handle off trying to open it. Its been a while since its been opened, god knows whats in there but I've run out of time for today so its gone onto my to do list for tomorrow morning (bleugh)
KrustyLouise I'm also getting married in October! I'm on 11th so 6 weeks to go eeek

krustylouise

Pablosmummy wrote: »

nothing spent today, was going to defrost the freezer as the top drawer is stuck, infact its that stuck I snapped part of the handle off trying to open it. Its been a while since its been opened, god knows whats in there but I've run out of time for today so its gone onto my to do list for tomorrow morning (bleugh)
KrustyLouise I'm also getting married in October! I'm on 11th so 6 weeks to go eeek

17th for us! Are you all sorted? You having many guests? We're having a small do, 28 to the day and approximately 70 to the evening

boredofbeingathome

I would like to join in.Had a lot to pay out recently and still have some household repairs to do, so going to aim for £200 for the month. Cupboards are full and i am menu planning. Hoping to just replace as used once i do a proper inventory.

joedenise

Caterina wrote: »

Hello,

May I join in please? The household is 3 adults (DH, DS and myself) and a cat. DD visits regularly but does not always eat, so her food costs are minimal. I would like to aim for £300 hoping I am not too ambitious in my saving ideal.

Just one thing, DH and I will be away for 5 days in September, visiting relatives in Scotland, and we cannot be too careful with spend while there as we are guests in their home. So there will be a bit of extra for gift giving and food contribution I suppose. How do holidays get accounted for in the budget?

The same will happen in October when I have to visit family in Italy.

Thank you for helping a grocery challenge newbie!

Forgot to add, staring on Monday 1st September.

krustylouise wrote: »

I get paid every Wednesday, so do I start my Month on September 3rd and end it 1st October? We're getting married in October so need to be as frugal as possible this month!

Caterina - it's entirely up to you what you include in your monthly spend. If I'm going to be away I'll adjust my budget for the month accordingly. For example, my month runs from 24th - 23rd so as I am away from tomorrow for most of September I'm only reading this month but I did extend my month for August to 29th - but with no extra money! and managed to come in under budget.

Crustylouise - the same applies in your case. You can choose when and how you do the challenge.

You could set a Weekly amount for Wednesday - Wednesday or you could set a Monthly amount for 1-30 September or indeed 3 September - 2 October.

HTH.

Denise

krustylouise

Please can I join and please can I be put down for £200 for 3rd September - 1st October? {4 weeks exactly}