September 2007 Grocery Challenge

Bobbykins

Hi Rachael

I'm not, by any means an expert - I've failed for the last 2 months! - but I just wondered whether you were maybe setting your budget a bit low for your lifestyle?

I can't properly remember what you were trying to cut down from but I have a feeling you thought you were spending about £250 per month and were trying to cut that down, is that right?

BUT you are now finding that you are actually spending about £130.00 a week. So to cut that down to below £60 a week (£250 a month) in one go is quite some challenge!

The important thing seems to be to find out exactly what you are currently spending (keeping all your receipts, maybe keeping a spending diary etc) and then cut that down in small steps.

Don't try and do too much at one go or else you are setting yourself up to fail and that can be very disheartening.

Good luck with your meal planning - I've just about finished my plan for next month and have really struggled, so you have my sympathy!

HTH

redmel1621

Hi all

Well I have we and truly screwed it up this week, I have only about 70p left... for the week. I have no idea what has happened!!!!!!

Anyway I have managed to fail on my first month of the grocery challenge. I have upped it for next month as I realised I probably dd try to undercut myself a bit too much first time round, so have upped it by about 40-50 for the month of oct, however i hope to come in well below that.

My main problem is always thinking oh I wil gwt that for next week as it will save me money then, my freezer is quite full so I am aiming to use it up a bit.

Mel x

sambamamba

mikeD wrote: »

Now then 2004Alona, don't get up tight about going over budget. We all do it at some time or other, even me :rolleyes:. So sit back, relax and just do your best.

Lecture over .

AAAwwwwwwww thank you. :grouphug:

lil_me

Rachael, try doing as suggested, find out exactly what you spend, keep a list of EVERYTHING even if it's 50p for milk all receipts etc, then try cutting off 10% at a time. Also look and see where and what you can make savings on.

Meal plan - write a simple list of what 'main things' you have to make meals with, even if its just picking 6/7 main things from what you have, for example

Whole chicken
Mince
Veg Lasagne
Burgers
Cod Fillet
Prawns

Then write next to them what you can make with them or serve with them, try to put things you have maybe potatoes, frozen veg, pasta etc.

Mine would go something like this

Sunday - Chicken dinner with yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes and frozen mixed veg
Monday - Spaghetti and Meatballs (made with mince) with HM tomato sauce
Tuesday - Left overs of chicken made into curry with rice
Wednesday - Fish pie, cod and prawns with mash topping served with veg
Thursday - Easy tea of burgers in buns with potato wedges & salad
Friday - Fish cakes made with left over cod and mash
Saturday - Vag Lasange and garlic bread

Meal plan is done, just need to go through each meal and work out what you need to buy to go with them. Hope that makes sense. I know lots of spuds on there but just as an example.

Oh and I am at just under £150 I hope now I have most things (inc months supply of food for the dogs) to last me until Sunday which is when my month ends, I have left out £10 just incase for any more essentials, put the rest in the tin so I don't touch it. I hope not to spend it as that will mean I have spent less than half my target by using up this month

Moniker

Well, the month ends for me tomorrow and I am pleased that I have come in under budget by £8.89. I have added this to my PMS total and will be banking £25.80 this month. I am really surprised how it adds up.

I have a very large delivery from Sainsbury's due tomorrow to start off the new challenge which includes a month's worth of household and dry goods (at least I hope they last the month!) However, with both my DD's home for the weekend and a big birthday lunch to do for my MIL and with it being a five week month I am going to be realistic and up the total for October to £320, much as I would like to cut it again. But Mike and Rosie are right - it's no good being unrealistic and it's best to go in small steps. And if I do spend less my savings pot benefits - so as they say I'm quids in!

Well done everyone and thanks for all your encouragement.

wilf55

i have attempted in the past but failed miserably can i join today have been reading the posts and you are all doing so well even if you fail this time round you are getting the hang of it


not much in my freezers or cupboard so am going to have a good look in today and then meal plan

7 of us though although 1 doesnt eat here much...boyfriend!!!

where can i look for cheap meals ie recipies have been trying and pretty much suceeding in cutting out the processed crap from the diet for quite a while

i know you guys will have loads

thanks in advance

debsx

mikeD

lil_me wrote: »

Mine would go something like this

Sunday - Chicken dinner with yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes and frozen mixed veg
Monday - Spaghetti and Meatballs (made with mince) with HM tomato sauce
Tuesday - Left overs of chicken made into curry with rice
Wednesday - Fish pie, cod and prawns with mash topping served with veg
Thursday - Easy tea of burgers in buns with potato wedges & salad
Friday - Fish cakes made with left over cod and mash
Saturday - Vag Lasange and garlic bread

lil, if this is just a sample, then we're all coming round to your house next week :rotfl:. Yummy!

rosieben

wilf55 wrote: »

i have attempted in the past but failed miserably can i join today have been reading the posts and you are all doing so well even if you fail this time round you are getting the hang of it

not much in my freezers or cupboard so am going to have a good look in today and then meal plan

7 of us though although 1 doesnt eat here much...boyfriend!!!

where can i look for cheap meals ie recipies have been trying and pretty much suceeding in cutting out the processed crap from the diet for quite a while

i know you guys will have loads
thanks in advance
debsx

Here you go Debs -

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=46654

and if if you need anything else just post a request and you will get loads of help - OS is great!!!!

I think the best part of the grocery challenge is that it makes us aware of what we're spending; you sometimes may not make the budget, but dont lose sight of the progress you have made! :T

wilf55

thanks havent see anything bad as yet on any of the boards thank you so much

debsxx

Bobbykins

Hi All

I have done the majority of my meal planning for October and reckon I should be able to manage on £200 - £220 for the month. Because of the way my month runs, it's a bit of a funny one for me, so I'm counting it as 4 and a half weeks (!). I'm going to try and keep to the £200 but won't beat myself up if I end up spending the extra £20.

I'm not going to give in and sidle quietly off to the October board. I'm going LOUDLY and PROUDLY! - if I was clever enough to be able to put a fanfare on here, I'd do it.

(cue loud and stirring music)......(like, maybe, the Dambusters theme).........(oh, and assume a Churchillian voice) ...........Let's move onwards and upwards to a fresh start in October - I may not have hit target for the last 2 months but am putting that behind me and looking forwards to the fresh challenge.....bring it on................

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:anyone care to join me????