August 2007 Grocery Challenge

millionaire_in_training

Mags I used to spend that and more easily per month for me and 2 kids. Was only when I came on here that I realised by counting it up that I put most of it on my credit card:mad: absolute nonsense. I got my ASDA shop tonight and considering my kids used to get mega amounts of sweets, crisps etc they were so chuffed tonight with smart price crisps and biccies. My shopping was a different colour than it used to be. Loads of white smart price packets but it tastes absolutely fine and after reading about the same food going into tins etc then different labels going on exactly the same food I will try anything amart price and decide for myself. Good luck to you x

cymrubaby

I'd like to join this challenge if I can please. I normally spend £360 a month in Tesco and that's for 5 of us (2 adults, 3 children) but my baby only has nappies and wipes bought for him because i'm breastfeeding (a saving in itself) so I don't have to pay the top whack for formula. I'm going to try and cook a lot more and freeze more things as I buy a lot of convenience foods such as potato smiles, oven chips, chicken dippers, burgers, fish fingers etc. I also buy at least 10 jars of 12 month baby food per week at a cost of 91p each!!

My 2 1/2 year old son has a few disabilities and suffers badly with reflux and can't manage 'normal' foods and has things blended and mashed. I rely far too heavily on jars of food so i'm going to do my best to cook foods for him and blend/mash them instead of buying jars.

I'm going to try and drop it by £20 this month just to ease myself into it slowly - it'll mean spending £85 instead of my usual £90.

x_raphael_xx

Well I am going to be harsh on myself this month. In July I spent £6.47 over my £70 budget. And I am going to set £70 again for this month, but I am going to see if I can spend no more than £10 a week just on the bare essentials.

So far I have spent £13.34, but £2.60 of that was my monthly Ninja Turtle comic!

7_week_wonder

Ok, deep breath:

Count me in for my first every month. I kept receipts for half of July and scared myself silly! I'm aiming for £250 for a calender month for me, OH, cat and 3 hens. It may sound a lot, but it will be less than we've spent previously.

I try and do all my shopping at local shops and our brilliant farmers market - and have not crossed the threshold to Mr T's since about February.

Hope everyone's month goes according to plan,
7WW

crockpot

I need to join again.

My month started on 20th July when hubbie got paid, was hoping for £200 for month for 2 adults and 2 children 5 and 8 but just added receipts up and already spent over £150!

So better say £250 plus it`s school hols, although they do normally have a packed lunch.

I have decided that I will only buy wholemeal bread- and they are eating it minus crusts! also I will only cook 1 meal for all of us, working better than I thought.

Trying to eat out of freezer and cupboards as much as pos.

Thinking of doing a small £30 online shop next week so I am not tempted but will have to pay £3.75 delivery. Or would you leave kids at home and take cash only so unable to over spend?

Magsbish

Thanks for your advice M-I-T and Rosieben. Yes thinking of it now, it's blindingly obvious if you spend so much each time you go shopping, cut down the amount of times you go shopping ---- duuhhh!!!

Last night me and hubby were talking and agreed we have to cut it down. So from today I'm going to try to cut it to £400 for August to start with. However went shopping only yesterday (£43) and need to go again today - just what did I buy yesterday??

I've only ever shopped in Morrisons last ten years (nearest) but I do have Sainsbury and ASDA within a similar distance so I plan to rotate weekly, I also have Lidl and Aldi within walking distance (shame on me!) so will buy toiletries and cleaning products there (or Wilkinson's which is also nearby).

What is Mr T? Never heard of it in London.

Thanks again and happy money saving folks!

Maggie

7_week_wonder

Magsbish wrote: »

T

What is Mr T? Never heard of it in London.

Maggie

Mr T = Tescos

7WW

orchid-96

Got my Tesco shop yesterday and have ordered a veg box for delivery on Friday so going to do my best to stay out of the supermarket this week (although just noticed that I am out of gabric softener so will need to start next week with a proper plan)

Anyway am doing something now that I havn't done before - cooked a roast chicken last night - I now have leftovers for lunch for me and I am going to make a chicken dinner for my twin girls (16 months) I have put some of the chicken in water with part of the chicken (leg with some meat on) and thought when the meat has fallen I might strain it and mix it with something to put with pasta!! or maybe potatoes!! can anyone give me any tips - this will save me one of my baby jars (£1) today as I like to give them one proper meal a day (either with us or a jar) and then they have a 'piccy tea' sandwiches etc...

I probably should have boiled up the whole carcas for soup or maybe a gravy for the girls - but wasn't sure about this so if anyone can tell me what I should do with it in future - that would be great too :A

lil_me

Damn, went and got a Costco card yesterday, that plus the shopping delivered, think I should total it all up and see what damage it's done to my total. What I did buy however from Costco was in bulk and will no doubt last a while. Off to find receipts then update.

**Edited** Ooops first few days and I've spent nearly half the budget oh heck, best make sure it lasts us well then!

yellowmonkey

Well fell off a bit today. So nice here i decided it was time to dust off the BBQ and have one tonight( BBQthat is :rotfl: ) as it may be the only day of summer. Spent in excess of £30 on BBQ stuff but i have enough to feed a small floatilla and most of it is cook from frozen so what i do not eat will be saved for dinners this month. Off now to prepare pasta/mayo/sweetcorn and tuna and the rice with sweetcorn and kidney beans.

Have a good day

ym