January 2016 Grocery Challenge

Savvy_sewing

I need to come back. My grocery shopping has become a trip to mr T after work with DGD choosing ready meals over a fridge freezer and bulging store cupboards.
So £25 a week is my aim for January.

savingpennies

Right, I've tried to do this several times but not with much success. Early retirement however, means I have to get a grip and learn to spend less and of course I now have more time.

There are 4 adults and one dog in our household so I am going to go for a target of £400 to start with and see how it goes and then try to reduce it down each month. Wish me luck!

FoxFace

Hi everyone! Long time no see *wonders if anyone even remembers me*

So I am back for 2016, I haven't really lost my frugal ways whilst I have been away, but DH and I are both fortunate enough to be in good employment now and that is when I tend to get a bit lax with spending!

We have a firm grocery budget of £70 per week! and this will start on 1st January 2016.

This is quite a bit for us and is for a family of four as our previous budget was closer to £40-£50 per week... "Us" is DH and I and our two boys aged 8 and 11. Also one excitable Yorkshire Terrier called Frodo

We recently took on vegetarianism and although we had a lot of meat free meals previously, cutting out meat altogether has proven ridiculously brilliant for keeping the food costs down!

Anyway, I have waffled on enough... I have a decluttering thread to checkout... much motivation for the New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! All the best for 2016! :beer:

melweeks73

Hi,
I'm new to the site, the forum and the whole idea of grocery budgeting! As a single mum of 2 with one looking at starting Uni in September 2016, I really want to put some cash aside to help her in her first few months. I'm not sure yet what is a reasonable budget for 1 adult, 2 teenagers, 1 dog and 2 cats in Central London, so I'll start this month at £240
Thanks!!

mumtoomany

Hi, please could you add me for an annual total of £3440. This is for 5 adults and one baby. £1440 will be contributed by DD1 and DSiL1. It covers all food and groceries, except food DD1 and DSiL1 eat while working away. Thanks, mumtoomany.

PS sorry can't get the colours to work so total in black!

catgrill

Hi, I am new to MSE but have been trying to be frugal for sometime now and getting nowhere. 2016 will be our year of sorting it all out and reducing the outgoings! So to start us off from the 15th Jan to the 15th feb ( husband gets paid mid month) we are going to aim for £75 a week so £300 a month which includes, toiletries, cat food/litter, and food for 2 adults, 3 children(all under age 10) and 2 cats. Hoping to reduce down a little each month till we are on an even keel and plan on growing a lot more to help with that.

MrsRogers

Hi I'd like to join we are buying a new house so need to save as much as possible for all fees etc.

Our budget will be £240

VfM4meplse

Put me down for £80 please. If I come in at £50 I'll be v happy

Coxy11

Hi all,

Budgets updated to here

Welcome to our newbies and returners:
jellybeantinker1, ancientmum, poohspals, gill5blue, dreamywings1, dingdongsaving, newgirly, MandM90, savingpennies, melweeks73, catgrill and MrsRogers

jayII wrote: »

Thanks for updating and for all the work you do keeping the thread going. :T :T :T

You are welcome jayII

jellybeantinker1 wrote: »

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas. I have tried and failed to do the GC over the last few years, but over the last few months I have started meal planning again and it is amazing how much it helps, both in not buying items we won't use, but also just for daily organisation when it comes to tea time and after school clubs!.

So true jellybeantinker1 - I usually plan weekly, sometimes 10 days if I'm feeling particularly inspired! Definitely helps to know whats for tea when you have to be somewhere with the children and have no time to think.

HornetSaver wrote: »

Complete newbie, won't be setting a budget this month as I'm already making some big changes this year including living alone.

Hi and welcome HornetSaver

We are still existing on leftovers - last of the turkey going tonight and I did a gammon yesterday. Will have those with cheese, mashed potatoes etc. Hoping to do an Aldi shop either tomorrow or Wednesday for normal food - how I miss normal food!!

Coxy

mandaguin

Another £6.50 for me please, taking me to 68.97 (I think, whatever it says in my sig!) starting to think about meal planning for start of term next week, this week is mostly using up the freezer.