September 2007 Grocery Challenge

jjef

This is my first month of doing the challenge so I have been keeping a note of all receipts and any little spends. I have had one big tesco shop delivered which I hope will cover us for two weeks (managed to use a £10 & £15 off voucher codes so really pleased), I get a veg delivery once a week for £10.

I have guessed that I spend £400 (i hope we don't but as it has been a while since I have taken a note of all the little bits that get added in during the month then I would rather start higher and work my way down) included in this is all grocery, veg deliveries, petrol for me, toiletries, papers, and all food for the dog. I suppose I should add that we have 4 at home me, OH and two girls (9 and 5)

MrsBartolozzi

I think I am in this month.
I have cut down my shopping bills in the last few months thanks to the OS board, but I think that spending has been creeping up again

Anyway, I will be running down the store cupboards/freezer this week so September starts on Friday with Mother Hubbard cupboards. :rotfl: Well I like a challenge! I think that I will aim for £270 with the hope that I come in under lol. That is for food and toiletries, alcohol, cleaning stuff etc for me, OH, DS1 (15 yrs so eats more than an adult:rolleyes: ) and DS2 (11 next month - eats slightly less than an adult) - so that's 4 adults then OMG!!
I really need to find a good local butcher, but all those I have look in, their meat is really marbled and fatty, and works out more expensive per lb, so I always walk away and return to (not so) good old Mr T. If anyone can recommend a good butcher in the Perth/Dundee area I would appreciate that.
Anyway it is my first month of this so here goes... wish me luck.

MrsB.

Money~Bunny_3

I'm joining in as I need to get back in the habit! :rolleyes:

My terrible problem daily snackage - I now make my own lunch (saving £8-£12 a week) but easily spend £2-£3 a day on little packets of nuts, crisps, diet coke, etc. So this month I'm raising my weekly grocery budget by £4 (to £20!) and buying a big bag of fruit* and a six-pack of snackajacks each week as my snacks.

And I should add that it's just me at home, and I don't eat meat (a little fish occasionally). I'm sure I can lower my bill, but I don't buy many BOGOFs - if it's just me the extra often goes off before I can eat it. But I will keep my eyes open for such savings...

* although some **** has already nicked one of my tangerines from the fridge at work... GRRRR.

saveaholic68

Hi
I'm new here, but thought I might try to give the challenge a go. My septemeber started yesterday, although I'm yet to actually buy anything - but I like my week to run Mon-Sun!.
As I live alone, it's just me, so I'm aiming for £20 a week.

In-my-shell

Hi all,
I have just updated my August challenge which I went over due to meals out so I'm here again to try for a family of four and two cats £180 my month runs from 28th August to 28th September so fingers crossed for a better month thanks again this challenge certainly does makes me think more about planning so I waste less so all good take care Shell

Moniker

rsdiscos wrote: »

I am considering a bread maker but my tiny kitchen has less than a metre of work surface and it would end up being stored on the floor!!:rolleyes:

I have had a bread maker for about a year now and like you did not want one that would take up lots of worktop space. I have a Breville Compact model which I bought heavily discounted at Robert Dyas for £29.99! It works really well though the bread is an unconventional shape as the machine is 'tall' and thin. (The bread is rounded at the short end rather than along the side if you see what I mean).

Although the bread it makes is really delicious it doesn't keep as well as shop bought bread partly because of the lack of preservatives and partly because we can't resist it! The smell is heavenly and you can set it on a delay to cook overnight ready for the morning. However, if you can be strong willed and freeze what you don't need for immediate use you will find it useful. I am not convinced that it saves all that much money but I like the fact that I am eating bread that it unadulterated with chemicals.

I am glad that my challenge for September starts on Thursday as the last week of August has been a complete disaster for me. Number one daughter came home sick on Friday last and is probably going to be here until the weekend, so my carefully planned menus for two have had to be thrown out and completely revised. She has a chest infection and I and my OH have got colds - and you know the old adage: "starve a fever, feed a cold" well we have been eating comfrot stuff as well as having to buy more fruit juice etc. Basically I have just had to write this last week off.

Oh well, back to work next Monday and hopefully back into a more normal routine!

redsquirrel80

Took advantage of being off work today to do another 'weekly' shop even though it hasn't been a week since the last one! Cost £8.80 but used £6.50 in Clubcard vouchers so only cost me £2.30 for fruit & veg, bacon, mince, salami, sardines, bread and cheese. Reckon I should have enough in now till weekend of 8th/ 9th, except maybe fruit.

willow_girl

It's ages since I've been on this site and really need to get back into it as I'm spending far too much! So going to join in the GC for Sept. For me it starts on 31st as we're both paid by then. Only myself and DH, plus two dogs. I'm aiming for £30 pw. At the moment this doesn't include dog food.

Plan is also to start a spending diary and use any free foods I can get (Mum has apple and pear trees!), and will be blackberry picking again next month.

Here we go!

Boatie_Bird

I'm in this month. I haven't been sticking to a proper grocery budget for the last couple of months and it shows!

My DS is starting school next week so I'll have the added challenge of producing a packed lunch for him every day. Small portions of easy to eat stuff is going to work best - he's one of these boys to whom eating is an inconvenience!

I've allowed myself £130 to last until Sept. payday.

Good luck everyone!

BB

lunar

Hi, i would like to join the grocery challenge this month. It will be my first full month shopping on a budget, im going to allow £150 for the two of us. This will include food, cleaning, and toiletries.

September starts on thursday for me