January Grocery Challenge 2015

Bobarella

£1.36 on a bag of grated cheddar. It would have been £1.50 but I used all the found money up that I keep in my backpack.

Trying_really_hard

Just back from Mr S having spent £88.69. Seems a little over the top until I tell you that I seem to be hosting an impromptu NYE board games evening, so about £25 of that was on food for it. People will be bringing stuff and I told them I would not buy them beer. I'm pregnant and can't drink...therefore I'm not stocking others up

Got some bargainous reduced Stilton so we'll be eating Broc and Stilton soup, Squash and Blue Cheese Salad and anything else Stilton-y I can think of. Other bargains included reduced nuts and some TTD pork.

On the naughty side I had to throw away half a cucumber, some mouldy pears and 2 beyond withered spring onions.

WantToBeSE

Trying_really_hard wrote: »

On the naughty side I had to throw away 2 beyond withered spring onions.

Just to let you know that if you use some spring onion and don't want to waste the rest, put it in a mug with a few centimeters of water (for the roots to go in) and it'll regrow

fab_and_frugal

Hi, can I join too please?

I'd like to set an annual budget starting tomorrow and running til 31st December 2015, budget of £4000 to cover all food, cleaning products, toiletries etc for four and a half adults (one is away at university so only home some of the time), a cat and a dog.


Also, sorry if this has been covered (I've not had time to read all the posts) but what should we do if we have coupons? Will it be the total before coupons that is used or the discounted total? Or is it up to us?


Thank you!

Fab_and_frugal x

Snottycat

Ok so had first spends of the month. Yesterday £7.66 at local garage for bread (overpriced :mad:) but got some ys mash & suede/carrot mash & cabbage for the bunnies. Today £6.42 at Tesco local on 15p supds, 0.08 sprouts and a few other ys items. Lastly, time to pay the milkman so £36.40 for the month ahead. I know this is a lot for 2 pints of milk a day but I am supporting our local milkman and dairy so for the moment this is staying :T

Hoping not to spend much more this week!

Debs

greent

Hello! I haven't done the GC for ages, but my fridge, freezer and cupboards are groaning at the mo, so want to ensure my Jan spends are kept reasonably low. I'd like to aim for £300 for Jan.


We're a family of 6 (2 adults, 2 teens (17 & 14, so essentially adults) and 2 smaller ones (9 & 5) - and 2 guinea pigs. My £300 is to cover all food shopping (inc veggies for the guinea pigs) but not toiletries or cleaning products. It will include any out-and-about spends (such as coffee on the go) and also my veg box deliveries this month.


My month will run 1st -31st

cw18

fab_and_frugal wrote: »

Also, sorry if this has been covered (I've not had time to read all the posts) but what should we do if we have coupons? Will it be the total before coupons that is used or the discounted total? Or is it up to us?

Totally up to the individual.

In the past I declared what I paid (so after coupons), but for 2015 I'll be declaring the cost before coupons (and special offers and reduced to clear savings). The money I declare as spent from my grocery budget which I've not actually given to the store (so the value of vouchers / offers / discounts) will then be moved into a different account for me to spend on 'wants' such as books and DVDs rather than 'needs'.

fab_and_frugal

cw18 wrote: »

Totally up to the individual.

In the past I declared what I paid (so after coupons), but for 2015 I'll be declaring the cost before coupons (and special offers and reduced to clear savings). The money I declare as spent from my grocery budget which I've not actually given to the store (so the value of vouchers / offers / discounts) will then be moved into a different account for me to spend on 'wants' such as books and DVDs rather than 'needs'.

Thank you! That's a good plan, I'll start off with this and see how I go

x

Mrs-s_4

first spend today in Ald* of £17.30 on bits like babyfood, wipes, cheese, milk, bread, lasagne, stuff to make nachos for NYE, ibuprofen, garlic bread, mushy peas, mini kids pizzas and reduced chocolate coins for the kids. have a mr T shop coming tomorrow that I need to edit and make a meal plan for the rest of the week.
super tight this month as weve massively overspent at Christmas and I owe far too much money out that ive stupidly borrowed to cover Christmas! no more. debts are being sorted this year!

LegalBlonde

LegalBlonde wrote: »

After joining the GC after years of lurking I just about managed to post once with my target in October and never got round to updating or totting up my figures.

I think I say this every year but something really needs to change for us in the new year. After last Christmas I swore I would be more organised and I'm in the same boat again the year just goes too quick.

Anyway I am aiming for £450

This is made up of the 70 a week I 'think' I spend, taking account of 5 week month, which I never do, adding 50 for household items and 50 contingency.

Although if you asked me I would say I spend 70 a week this is simply not true and 450 would be a massive improvement.

Month runs 23rd-23rd I usually get a weekly shop but hoping to look at month overall to make some savings/bulk freeze - I work 3 days a week

Roll on :rotfl:

First chance I've had to take stock although I've been lurking lots. Got a big shop £120 but well over a weeks worth, intend to plan meals and freeze some. Some unexpected snow and hangovers led to a few trips to the corner shop £30 so spent £150 so far.


Looking forward to making the food stretch as much as poss and having some meals in freezer. Cupboards were bare when snow turned up ☺️

Edited to add --1/3 of the way through the money only 1/4 way through month but hoping to stretch this food and avoid £20 trips to the shop "for milk"