August 2007 Grocery Challenge

The_shuffs

Hello all havent added up wat i have spent for a few days because i know i have gone over but this is my first time so will be better prepared next month

lil_me

Matthew welcome, is a new challenge each month.

the shuffs never fear, your first month I'd say should be your tester month, see where you are really at, where you can change things etc.

Well, my fruit and veg delivery lady reappeared this week, seems she's been coming when I am out, hoping getting F&V weekly from her will help again as it stops me spending OTT in a the supermarkets/expensive grocers. For £8 I got 7 carrots, 4 onions, huge savoy cabbage, brocolli, iceberg, 6 kiwis, cucumber, 3 peaches, 3 nectarines, 2 boxes strawberries and box of grapes. Her usual policy is xx for £1 which works well for me, I get 50p in what I use less, £1 for what I use more of, usually 8 apples, 6 kiwis are a £1 etc, knowing it's there each week helps. She also gets things like coffee etc cheap, oh biscuits and sweets too which kids moaned for but I was nasty mam and said NO!

Going to work on meal plan for next week, seriously close to the end of my budget, about £30 left and over 2 weeks left (took milk money out which has gone up to £4.86!) Determined not to go too far over, punishment will be adding overspends to next months!! If I don't I'll just keep going over!

Curveygirl

Cheated a bit this week as we were staying with rellies last weekend. Will have to go shopping tommorrow as very little in the fridge, if I don't count hundreds of tomatoes, a big bag of wild plums, and a tub of damsons (started to spot blackberries growing nearby as well). We've also had some garlic and shallots from the garden, and one single baby sweetcorn (I'm fingercrossing for more, as they're soooo expensive -and then there's the airmiles...). But OH WANTS MEAT!

The fact that we're so near the end of the grocery budget at this stage in the month explains why there's often too much month and not enough bank account. I always thought we spent about £200pm, but we're struggling to keep to £240.

Can anyone recommend site/book on foraging for food? There's loads growing round here, but I don't know what half of it is.

Sugarcubed

Well ive had to take an extra £5 out incase I need it, had the niece a day early that I was expecting !@£$£@!! So hopefully i will only go a pound or so over maybe *fingers and toes crossed*.

mikeD

Not a lot happening at the moment. Have gone on the wagon for a bit as finances don't run to alcohol. Still on target for budget and one more big shop this month.

Well done to all you good people who are keeping to their budgets!

Bobbykins

Hello all
back from my hollies this morning.....suitably chastened by the costs of relaxing my guard!:o

Spent around £70.00 for the week, which was really very good considering there were 2 extra adults and a tiddler. DD contributed towards the main shop when we arrived, so only spend just over £50 myself.....BUT, because there was no milkman delivering, I had to buy milk, which led me to realise that I hadn't included the normal milk bill in my previous spending....which led me to realise I'd actually gone over budget last month after all....oh dear.:mad: ...big sighs, hangs head in shame!

Still, chins up, I could just say that my budget excluded milk couldn't I? I think I'll have to up my budget a teeny bit next month and start including the milk and then I can start squeezing it back down again once I've properly established how much I'm spending. Does that sound reasonable to everyone else or am I just kidding myself and making excuses?

(TBH, I also realised I haven't been including the dog food but I'm going to keep that out of the budget for now)

Off to Mr T's shortly to get what I need for the rest of the week. Hoping to spend about £25, which will leave me about £20 for the last week of the month, but I think I have enough in the freezer/cupboards to see us through......I do like beans on toast!

redsquirrel80

Just done what was hopefully my last shop before payday (Thursday) - spent £5.46 which included £1 on four cans of lager which were reduced cos they were a bit battered :beer:

Should have enough to keep me going till Thurs, the only thing I might need more of is cheese as I'm getting through the current stuff at a frightening rate

Have decided to try for £50 next month, including cleaning products and toiletries, I've got about £6 in Clubcard vouchers on the way which won't be included in that, and I am away most of a week later in the month when any food will be coming out of holiday budget. There will definitely be another Tesco £1 3kg bag of pasta being bought as the last one lasted me two months!

rosieben

I havent updated for a while, not been shopping (or eating!) as I've been ill _pale_ - getting better now though. I'll probably come in under budget this month, but its a drastic way of doing it and not recommended!!

Well done to those who are in budget, and for those who have strayed over - just think back to what you were spending a few months ago and remember what Scarlett told you - tomorrow is another day!

teedy23

Hi all, Hi Rosieben hope your well on the mend. I,ve hardly touched my shopping as I,ve been too rushed and too tired this past week, I,ve forgotten to eat mostly. I think I,m cheating a lot though, I use too many coupons and then dont count in the money I,ve saved with them as money actually spent. i dont think this is the idea at all, but right now i cant do anything about it. Also, if I get a load of toiletries and pay with coupons, I sometimes sell them to buddies at work and buy my lunch with the money, so thats cheating isnt it. I,ve lost the plot altogether I think, but I,m eating and not spending so I,m happy with that. have spent another £5.70 on bread and milk and wee daft things though, so will edit my sig.

lil_me

Rosieben sorry to hear you've been poorly, hope you are feeling better.

Teedy in a way yes, possibly cheating, for example if you lived where I do you wouldn't be able to use them or if they stopped it, but if it helps you and works for you that is what matters.

Not been to a shop so no spending since Thursday, not planning on going tomorrow either. 2 weeks and £30, argh!