January 2016 Grocery Challenge

lushlifesaver

FoxFace wrote: »

Very much so I think it's partly the "panic" that keeps you within budget though :rotfl:

Last year when I was on the GC, it was through absolute necessity... some weeks I had £20-£25 to feed the four of us for a week... so there was certainly no option to just pop the debit card in and spend over the budget... there was nothing to spend

I'd suggest that you maybe try it one week and see how you get on... it might not be for you Maybe keep a separate purse just for grocery spends? Good luck

Thank you FoxFace - I am changing our budget to £100 per month from my next pay day (25th) as I know we currently waste a lot more than we used to so I think cutting back money wise would be good for that!


I think I am going to draw cash out and only buy what we absolutely need - this may mean going to aldi/Iceland/lidl rather than my usual Tesco but I must admit I enjoy going to Teso because of everything else in there! 9 times in 10 I could place money on me coming out with a book/craft item/clothing for wonder bairn or 5 as well as the shopping and some small treat for fianc!!


I used to spend so much less when I didn't drive (only Iceland and Lidl within walking distance) and before we moved when I took the time to really think about what I could get out of everything. Must get back in to those habits so I think I will change to a weekly shop in Iceland/fresh shop in Aldi from pay day.


In fact I'm also removing baby wipes (£5 for 12 packs) and nappies (approx £12 per month) from the budget as wonder bairn used to have her own budget for those and snacks! I get her nappies and wipes from Asda/Aldi/Sainsburys depending on offers


ETA:
my purse has three zipper sections so I think I'll use my little cash envelopes each month and draw out a monthly grocery budget and fuel budget (envelope each). I'll add receipts to the envelope when I spend from it and note the total of each transaction on the outside for a running total then I can review at the end of the month

lynnejk

Pepperoni wrote: »

How do you all keep on top of your spends?

Unfortunately my 'one weekly shop' has gone a bit pete tong this week and I'm struggling to keep on top of the total spend as don't want to include my husbands indulgences this month! Is it just keeping receipts? Spreadsheet? Any tips, let me know! Thanks.

I make sure I keep the receipts for everything. Get into the habit of putting them in one place - one pocket of coat or jeans, pocket in handbag or separate section of purse.

I then keep them all on a large paper-clip in the drawer and put GC spends on here every day.

I have envelopes for the different budgets and at the end of the month I write down all the receipts on a large sheet of paper, under the different headings, add them up and write on the envelope of the appropriate budget.

FoxFace wrote: »

Another thing I find is that if I try to have as many NSD's as possible..... I take a shopping list and rarely deviate from it.





And as for DH and his indulgences, he has his own money.... he buys himself and I don't count it

That's just the same here. They both seem to help keep things in control eh

mrs-moneypenny wrote: »

Got some farmfoodsvouchers pushed through the door tonight highest value one is £12 off a£100 shop. Valid till end Feb I'm very tempted to use this as a challenge to run down the freezer and do a big shop then....

Snap - my thoughts exactly. As I already buy toilet rolls and other bits there, and DH buys some of his 'treats' there as well we are going to save up and do a 'shop' in February using the MOCs :T
Had another NSD here today :j
Hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday
Lx

mummyjane

Had shopping delivered tonight, so £65 added to my total so far. I now should have enough meals to last for the next two weeks or so. Also have a £10 voucher towards the next shop as the driver muddled up the delivery (not a massive problem). Dh treated me to a new bread maker, it's second hand but never been used So excited to have one again, it's a panasonic one that has a seed/nut tray but they only wanted £10 as it was an unwanted wedding gift that has been sat in their kitchen! I'm hoping it will help minimise the need to do top up shops. I just need to find out where the cheapest places to buy bread flour and yeast are :T

Hope everyone has had a good day x

kalojac

My spends to date are quite high but on a positive note, my fridge, freezer and tin cupboards are bulging. I've spent the last 2 days batch cooking and am feeling positive about the month ahead.

2/1/16 - £5.49 (L!dls)
2/1/16 - £1.50 (co0p)
3/1/16 - £22.74 (t@sco)
6/1/16 - £122.59 (t@sco).

savingpennies

mummyjane wrote: »

Had shopping delivered tonight, so £65 added to my total so far. I now should have enough meals to last for the next two weeks or so. Also have a £10 voucher towards the next shop as the driver muddled up the delivery (not a massive problem). Dh treated me to a new bread maker, it's second hand but never been used So excited to have one again, it's a panasonic one that has a seed/nut tray but they only wanted £10 as it was an unwanted wedding gift that has been sat in their kitchen! I'm hoping it will help minimise the need to do top up shops. I just need to find out where the cheapest places to buy bread flour and yeast are :T

Hope everyone has had a good day x

Try Lidl in their baking section for flour and yeast.
Well no spending today for me. For tonight's tea I have some left over savoury mince which I will layer with sliced potatoes, carrots and onions. I'll add gravy and then put in oven.
I seem to have a small mountain of cheddar cheese. Any ideas other than cheese sauce and anything to do with eggs?

Islandmaid

savingpennies wrote: »

Try Lidl in their baking section for flour and yeast.
Well no spending today for me. For tonight's tea I have some left over savoury mince which I will layer with sliced potatoes, carrots and onions. I'll add gravy and then put in oven.
I seem to have a small mountain of cheddar cheese. Any ideas other than cheese sauce and anything to do with eggs?

I buy cheddar on offer then grate it and freeze it in user friendly portions

It,ll be another NSD for me :T. Haggis, beeps and tattles for dinner

Kitchenbunny

Mrs_Cheshire wrote: »

How did you make the minestrone? I've got a huge bag of pasta rings that need using.

Hi there, it was 1/3rd of a carton of passata mixed with 1/3 of a can of baked beans in a saucepan. I added about a pint of stock, some mixed herbs, and some pre-fried onions. Then some chopped gammon and some broken up pasta (the rings will work really well here). When everything was simmered and thickened, the pasta had cooked - I used big pasta shapes so about 10-15 mins - it was ready.

KB xx

cowboymum

Had veg box delivery last night and have paid for the month (£63.60) plus delivery saver for tesco (£6) If I get I chance later, I will plan out the meals for the next few days in a bit more detail to make sure all the veg gets eaten (normally there's at least one thing left over which often heads out to the chickens).

Have updated totals in signature. Have a good day all!

Crowdpleaser

Hi all.

First shop of month done by Dh on Sunday in aldeee! 61.55 and he bought lots of extra stuff. Grrr. Oh well it was mainly doubling up on stuff so just means I can add it to my stock cupboard. Def feeling v positive about budget this month even in its reduced state. X

FurryBeastOz

£40.34 to date. Much of it YS. But also far too much 'indulgence' £7.79:eek: Also, £6.47 dog food. More expensive than usual as I had to carry it home so went to Co-op. Dragging DH out for a few errands today so will do a bulk buy that he can bring home by car.

Meal planning revised - unexpected meal out last night after the cinema. Delicious, and not out of budget. Also, leftovers brought home to eat tonight:D So, last nights dinner for lunch. Leftover curry for dinner.

Unforunately I'd already taken out tonights tuna. THankfully it's vacuum packed so will last to tomorrow, but its not ideal as DH is on a long day tomorrow (leaves 0700, back 2230) so it will be a heavier meal than usual for him at that time.

WILL NOT WASTE ANYTHING:D