January Grocery Challenge 2015

Caterina

I count a NSD if I don't physically spend any money that day. I don't count bills, standing orders, workmen's wages (we are having lots of work still done to the house) as these are all essential and budgeted spends.

My grocery spends are also budgeted but much more loosely and I am always challenging myself to feed my family a good nutritious diet on less money, so any food expense would mean it is not a NSD, but also a frivolous spend (eg cup of tea in cafe, newspaper, beer for the men etc) would invalidate it.

Next Monday I hope to have a full week's fiscal fast, 7 NSDs in a run, but I shall still have to pay my builder, for example, and any materials needed to finish the work. I am roping DH in and will eat mostly from the stock reserves, but will buy fresh eggs, veg and fruit in advance, not stockpiling but treating my last shop before the fast like a normal weekly shopping. As we are vegetarians we cannot be without vegetables at all! I shall also have a look at the meagre remains of allotment veg for this, and will cook and freeze in advance what I already have in the fridge so it keeps better for next week.

joedenise

NSDs for me are days when I don't spend out of the grocery budget, so bills etc not included. I don't count money spent from my spending money budget but would count it if I bought food with "my" cash. So basically, all food spends.

Another NSD today for me so now up to 9 this month.

Denise

bmma

Hi today's spends = £ 4.64
total spends - £108.54/£250.00p

miss_try_to_save

hi all had a spend of £20 yesterday £10 in sains and £10 in mac don for dd2 and ds s lunch today will be a nsd and number 9 in Jan so very happy with that im having beef in ale veg and mash for dinner tonight and have all the ingredients I need thurs is my shop day and next week I intend to only spend on milk bread lactose free milk fruit and only essential stuff if I run out I run out my freezers are jammed so I want to use some up before buying more

WantToBeSE

I am another one who has just Googled 'Tallow' and am disgusted.


For those that use vinegar, is it any particular type, and do your clothes smell of it?

gayleygoo

timetrade wrote: »

My partner has a very expensive habit of drinking cans of ginger beer, and it costs a fortune. I would say that makes up at least £20 of the spend so far. I've tried getting 2L bottles of it instead, but the cans appear to be way too convenient. Very frustrating.

Timetrade, would it be possible to consider asking your OH to buy himself the ginger beer out of his own allowance/treat budget (if you each have anything like that?) It might make him consider cutting down or finding more cost effective ways of buying it, if it impacts on other things he can buy for himself. If it comes out of the grocery budget, it will not bother him as he may not care as much about the budget as you do, or will leave the work of balancing it out to you.

I have different categories for budgets, so that things like DVDs, entertainment, housey things, chocolate, clothes, kids things are noted down without misleading me about what is being spent on actual food. It all has to come in under what our monthly income is, and still allow for savings towards xmas, birthdays, holidays and emergencies. Easier said than done though...:o

Islandmaid

Hi all,

Another NSD today, am back on my feet, which is a bonus....

Darn,t look up Tallow - still a bit delicate

First_Trouble

I haven't noticed any vinegar smell and mostly the clothes just smell like material once fully dried. I use just plain old white vinegar although I have used malt vinegar at a push. Maybe just buy a small amount to give it a try if it's not for you then go back to what you are happy with.

mashedavocado

Ooh dear I've been very neglectful in not posting here.

Have been doing quite well though... had set an aim of £300 for the month including any restaurants, takeaways etc (it was DH's birthday last weekend so we did go out for a meal... actually, thinking about it, we went for two).

So far we've spent:

£83.47 on stuff for home (so groceries, cleaning products etc)
£81.14 on our meals out

So that leaves £135.39 for the rest of the month, which is definitely doable.

We need to buy more fruit and veg on Friday (which will cost around £10 for the week; our local greengrocers is excellent), but we don't need to do a cupboard/freezer shop until next week.

The only thing I don't have any control over is DH buying meals at work, but that comes out of his weekly spending money (as it does for me the occasions I buy them), so it's budgeted for separately iyswim.

Whew! I feel that we're doing ok. Will likely look to reduce our total for next month, but as this was the first month we're doing this, £300 was a bit of a guess really.

Coxy11

Hi everyone,

Budgets list updated to here

Welcome to:
Mamma85 and candylucy

Sorry to see you go greent - hope all is okay

Coxy