December 2014 Grocery Challenge

WantToBeSE

peaceandfreedom wrote: »

I think a good approach would be to:

1. Keep a more detailed record of what exactly we are buying with our food shopping. Could do this using a new dedicated budget on YNAB.
2. Keep a record of what gets chucked out
3. Do a rough food plan for the month and a more detailed one for the week ahead, based on the family's calendar. Run it past them all for approval.
4. Do one big shop based on the monthly meal plan. Do fewer small shops, preferably in Lidl, and keep to a list.
5. Do more bulk cooking and get it in the freezer.

Sorry for going on for so long - I suppose I am trying to work out what to do - I think I need a better understanding of what I am spending it all on first. :cool:

Thanks again - any and all comments are welcome.

Hi P&F Welcome to the thread.


I think your plan (as outlined above) is a very good one. For the first attempt at doing the grocery challenge its always recommended that you just be mindful of what you actually spend. So all of those top up shops, those pints of milk at the corner shop, as well as the big shops, need to be noted down so that you know EXACTLY how much you spend in a month.
From there, generally its recommended that you don't try a huge decrease in the first month or so, as its difficult to stick to.


For December, for example, you could just keep an eye on what you spend (I would do Christmas food in a different budget for this, as you wont get a realistic amount for December) and then at the end of the month, see how much you've spent.
Then, in January, reduce it by (for example) £20, then a further £20 in February etc etc.


The quality of meat is so much better at the butcher, I totally agree. My butcher is amazing at quality and very good at prices too. Maybe look into cheaper cuts of meat, or base your meals around what offers the butcher has on that month.


Does your OH have 'meat and 2 veg' or a meal with meat in it? What I mean is, does he have a hunk of meat with veg/potatoes on the side, or does he have more things like stews/casseroles/chilli/lasagne with mince in? If its the latter, have a look at how you could bulk the meals out with other things, so you may use 100g (again, for example) less per meal, which adds up over time.


Good luck, I am sure you can do it

Poddly

A couple of meals I do with very little meat in, which go down well with my meat-loving teenage boys, are pasta bake with a cheese sauce topped with crispy bacon bits or chorizo, and egg fried rice with a small amount of chicken or pork or beef (I usually use leftover roast meat). Also do stews bulked out with lots of root veg, and sausage casserole where you can get away with fewer sausages if they are cut into chunks!

kathrynha

Well I managed to do an Asda shop yesterday and I normally spend a fortune there as it's a massive out of town place, but I was good and stuck pretty much to my list.

I have taken a few things off the final bill, as some stuff I will be claiming back from Guide's, and a Christmas present and wrapping paper come from a different budget, so £70 for my first week, which I am really quite happy with

CH27

NSD failed

I spent £19.98 in m&s but have got enough to last the week with freezer bits & bobs.

miss_try_to_save

hi all my total was down from £450/£397 I had a spend of £14 today taking my total now down to £383 for the rest of the month hopefully I wont need anything till Thurs now after realising how much rubbish I was actually buying and food waste I actually had on my first month(Nov) of doing this challenge it was a huge eye opener and so this month Christmas or not I plan to get what I need over Christmas and not go barmy as I always have done in the past

scotmumof3

£18.73 spend for me at asd*
£24.40 spend at tesc*
Total spend today £43.13
I now have most of the meat I need for the month and most of the store cupboard stuff so not too bad

Bobarella

£3 spend here today. Deodorant, new toothbrush & some milk, a packet of biscuits. Also bought rum for the cake & a £10 living Christmas tree but those aren't in the GC budget.
I also found a brand match coupon for 65p when leaving the shop so that was handy for next time.

lynnejk

peaceandfreedom wrote: »

Hello everyone - I've just discovered this thread even though I've been hanging around on MSE for years.

Welcome to the Fred and I agree with WanttobeSE

I would like to say that for many of us this challenge includes all grocery and household stuff, though up to you what you include and some add alcohol and pet stuff as well.


Another suggestion is that you have a look at some of the recipes in the first posts and also see how you can 'cheat' the meat-eaters by adding things like lentils. I also buy all my meat from the butchers apart from chicken, duck and bacon - much cheaper in A*di or other Sms


You don't say where you live but I would suggest you look at A*di and the pound stores for some more bargains. Also another way of saving ££££s is to look in the Sms for reduced (YS) stuff, especially meat and veg. Remember if still in date you can freeze and use later :money:


I had a whizz around a few shops and first spends of the month came to £ 53.32. Best bargains I found were standard N*scafe 200gms at £2.39 and sugar at 49p in £-stretcher :j


Hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday
Lx


:xmassign:

Caterina

Trip to ald1 to use the £10 voucher and various other coupons and the total spend was £66 something (lost receipt) after discounts. Excluding £8 for DH's Christmas present from DS (2 packs thick socks), but including whisky for DH and rum to make vanilla essence (£25 in total), the food expense was £58. Lots of fruits and nuts to last a good few weeks I hope. Going to update sig.

Good night.

CH27

I'm hoping for a NDS.
I'm sending OH to pick up a DVD in his lunch hour as I should avoid temptation.