September 2007 Grocery Challenge

faye1978

lil_me wrote: »

Tricky one, try the meals for 50p threads etc. Also with a spend of £250+ a week are you wasting a lot ? My biggest change when trying to get spending down was writing a waste diary, I threw out a LOT of money every week, helped me realise how much and where I was going wrong. To be honest sounds like the struggle I have with my partner, I do put peas and carrots in stews which he'll have sometimes as long as it's cooked very soft, like I said raw veg for him is just a no, not keen on carbs either, another meat eater (his family had a butchers) I have said to him it's up to him if he wants to eat healthy now, sick of worrying about him, be lucky if he eats 5 fruit and veg a week never mind a day I don't even remember the last time he ate a piece of fruit I think it was last year. You're not on your own, definately not.

Making your own pasta sauce will save you some money and you also can put less sugar and salt in than they add making it much healthier, you could try experimenting adding extra veg in this.

That is a good idea, the waste diary. I do end up wasting a lot. I usually store it in the fridge with the intention of eating it then it ends up in the bin eventually. I make my own pizzas and he loves those (obviously meat ones), I will have to try to make my own pasta sauces too. I will start the waste diary today I think and look at it on payday, see if there is any pattern emerging. I work FT too so it is difficult sometimes to plan the meals in advance but I do do my best. He knows I want to pay off CC and buy a new car so he should be obliging

Faye x

perfectlypoor

I have messed up my first attempt with the sept challenge but I'm really going to go for the Oct one. I just recieved an e mail from asda saying they now deliever to my area (the closest is around 30 mins away) This month I have not been keeping all my receipts so haven't filled my spending diary out properly, but I am going to try really hard in Oct and at least I can use my (half complete) spending diary to set a realistic budget ready to start October 5th.

donnajt

Week 3 -

HOORAY! I stuck to my guns again so far this week...slight blip on Saturday...dh ran into Tesco and came out £70 poorer, the junk he picked up - anyway, it was his money, not my shopping budget, so I refused to help out and I think it the short sharp lesson he needed, he has always claimed I waste money in Tesco, now we know the truth, so... wait for it


This week's grand total to date...

£49.55 Tesco online shop (- £4.01 in bogoffs, -£7 off money coupon)
Total to date week 3: £38.60

The freezer and fridge remains full and DD and I have made flapjacks and I am loving it...

MissMuppet

Hi Guys... I have just gone bankrupt and plan on starting this challenge in October. I attempted it a few times before but with debts it's very difficult to keep to a budget as well as paying them off.

So just thought I'd say hi and let you know I'll be here for the October challenge, my budget will be £200 for me and 1 cat for all household stuff, I'm sure I'll be able to reduce it loads after I've been on here for a while.

teedy23

well done all, even if you think your going to be over, your still giving it a good shot.

I went to buy some items for my daughters return from holiday last night. Just the basic bread, milk, eggs and a packet of cooked meat. Nothing worse than coming home with nothing in the fridge thats still edible. Ended up getting a few things for myself, silly as I,m going away on Thursday, but thats par for the course for me. Better get another cooking hat out, will make sandwiches to take on journey, driving down to Newcastle for flight, so will try to offset that by not buying rubbish from services. Spent £10.65, off to edit sig

jjef

Well first month of the challenge is almost over for me, stuck to budget but the freezer and cupboards are looking pretty empty now, going to keep them that way and just order what we need for the month. I have found that by planning my meals more carefully then we stick to the plan, however lunches at weekends have been eating into the budget so I think I need to get the family onboard more.

Will aim for £375 next month but would really like to come in nearer £350, will update signature shortly.

redmel1621

trying-very-trying wrote: »

I don't know if I'm doing this right, how does everyone else do it?

I don't keep all of my receipts, but what I did this month and last, was I drew my £300.00 from the bank and work my budget as whatever I have left in my purse. For example at the moment I have approx £94.00 left, so therefore I have taken £206 off as having been spent.

Now here is where I am asking myself if I am cheating.

I use this challenge as a total spend, but what happens if I get extra money? Do I add that to my spending total, putting me over budget, or can I just use that money as extra.

This month hubby gave me some extra money to take my dd away for the week. I think it actually cost me more than he gave me, but I am still budgeting on what is left in my purse, like I say £94.00.

I am also putting any £2 coins in a sealed tin, this month I reckon I've put at least £20 away in the tin. That money is not in my purse, so has been deducted from my budget.

I've been quite pleased with this new way of living on a limited budget, but am I deluding myself and cheating on this challenge??
I don't draw any more money from the bank, but is it fair for me to spend any extra money, eg money found in an old hanbag, cashback form lemonade bottles, shopping paid for in tokens, without counting it.

By adding in any money found etc... you are not really going to get an accurate figure of how much your grocery shopping is actually costing, I personally chuck any 'spare' money I find in coats etc. or odds that i have left over fro shops into a pot then when it is reasonably full deposit it into Crdit Union account for next years camping budget.....

I definately keep a set figure for this callenge and don't ad extras to it, but really you have to find what works for you personally...
Mel x

redmel1621

Hi
Tesco has delivered my shopping this morning, and all in all pretty good.
They had substituted the coffee so I handed that back and they were also 20 mins late so when I phoned cs they said the delivery charge would be refunded:)

Shopping came to £60.51 take off refunds leaves a Total of £52.63....

Mel x

JAMIEDODGER

have done some more grocery shopping this morning and total for month now stands at:£196.07

which means i have 43.93 to last me the next 13 days. should think i will manage that without too much problems.

trying-very-trying

redmel1621 wrote: »

By adding in any money found etc... you are not really going to get an accurate figure of how much your grocery shopping is actually costing, I personally chuck any 'spare' money I find in coats etc. or odds that i have left over fro shops into a pot then when it is reasonably full deposit it into Crdit Union account for next years camping budget.....

I definately keep a set figure for this callenge and don't ad extras to it, but really you have to find what works for you personally...
Mel x

Thanks redmel:beer:, it's not really what I wanted to hear, but, yeah, that's kinda what I thought, but I am using this as a total spent budget, so if I have to spend extra on petrol, it means I have less left for food. Oh! am I just looking for excuses now. I really do need to make this work.

I did think that a real mse-er, especially a dfw-er wouldn't see anything as "free to spend" money.

I will try harder next month, but I think it'll be a bit tighter anyway. Don't think there'll be any "free" money.:(