July 2016 Grocery Challenge

milasavesmoney

NavyFolly wrote: »

So you recon you can last the rest of the month on just 30 odd quid? I am v impressed, I am struggling with my budget and I was starting to feel like giving up!

I notice lots of people talking about NDSs and I was wondering about trying this. I always keep thinking - oh well what's the point of not buying something I need, today when it just means that I'll buy it tomorrow anyway. However, having thought that today and popping out to 'just' buy bin liners and milk I am now down £33. So I suppose it stops the unintentional impulse spending?

I think NSDs help a lot. I always used to find more than what I went in for, but since I started this challenge 4 months ago, I have become so aware of what I buy, what I already have, what I waste, the need to make lists and menu plan etc. I can now go in the store and come out with only the things I went in there to buy. That's a miracle!

t14cy_t

nsd yesterday yipee! purse shut until wednesday. x

pamsdish

I did a complete inventory yesterday on my fridge freezer and upright freezer, I must use some of this stuff up, so I am aiming to not go near any shops for at least a week, 2 if possible, I went to Asda Thursday for my milk,don`t take milk in drinks, and buy Cravendale for that reason, eggs fresh veg etc, I have enough frozen veg to feed a small army so when fresh gone into the frozen.

Suffolk_lass

NavyFolly wrote: »

Thanks. Have been using YNAB for the last year, so know where my money goes, just can't seem to stop budgeting more money than I have - far, far too much goes on groceries, on my income (11k) I should be shopping at Aldi rather than Waitrose! There's only myself and one child (with me half the time), so £250 per month should be plenty, yes? Hence me signing up here.

So far this month, of my £250 budget for groceries I have spent £108.08. Not great but could be worse!

You might want to record every item you buy for a month and then look at anything you are throwing away. Also, I found I was buying some things because I always buy them.

The biggest thing that brought mine down from over £600 to £230 (3 adults and 2 spoiled cats) was meal planning. We are now two and 1 cat but I manage my annual budget by dividing into 13 portions (the 13th is my stores buys - when my "cannot sacrifice" brands are on special offer). I have not paid full price for my brand of coffee, shower gel, face cream, laundry gloop or salad dressing (examples from the last month) for over two years. I buy six at a time from my 13th month.

Lots of wisdom in looking at your stores and building your meal-plan around that. For example I wanted to use up some time-expired dried yeast so I made my own bread. I now bake my own bread 90% of the time - about 40p a large 4lb loaf tin (supermarket large loaf equivalent) using ingredients I trust and no improvers, preservatives, sugar or other additives... but that is another story, me and ready-made food and what it contains!

As I say, it is not just what you spend, it is what you spend it on.

Keep going, keep learning and reading, and it will get better. I only recommended reading the first few posts because this thread used to be lots more about tips and support rather than logging what people have spent. From a recipe link you can read up and down in that month, if you have some time.

SL

AlwaysHungry2016

Paid £500 towards my credit card debt!!

Week one, budget £35:
Made my first trip to Lidle and spent £14.42 on groceries (fruit, vegetable, coffee, smoked salmon...). After comparing all the prices to my usual supermarket (Sainsbury’s) I have saved over £8 on this trip alone :T Very pleased about that. Later in the week made a big batch of beef and broccoli stir fry, was able to have it for lunch for 3 days and OH absolutely loved, he was like ‘I am feeling like we are eating out’. Awesome, this means I can keep him in a house without having to eat out on ever whimsical occasion.
With a cheeky lunch deal and take out coffee first week I spent - £32.17

Week two, budget £35:
This week was a bit more tricky. Overall I spent £34.94 on groceries, couple of household items and toiletries BUT yesterday I had a BBQ at my house for which I prepared couple of side dishes, got few beers and some chicken to put on a grill - it was huge success, everyone had a great time but I managed to spend £60.87 :eek: on this occasion. I think now that I am closely following my spending it is a lesson for me to simplify my shopping list for occasions like this. I mean, after few drinks, no really cares if greek salad has some swoosh organic feta cheese or an equivalent from Lidle. I think I went a bit overboard and for next time definitely asking everyone to bring an item from my list (loaf of nice ciabatta bread or jar of black olives). Saying that, I have a lot of food left form the party and have no plans to go grocery shopping next week - will raid my freezer and cupboards to prepare meals.

Further to this, In past 2 weeks I spent £82.93 for eating out and transport in London, which I think is quite good! Even here I can see where I could improve and look for better deals when going out, luckily my friends are also always on a budget so it is never a problem to have as cheap social life as possible. I also cycle, so getting my budget under control gave me an impetus to be even more committed to cycling everyday and everywhere which in return cuts my spending by a lot. Saying that I spent £20 on a bike part this week.

Total spent - £230.91

Will be back closer to pay-day with spending updates! :rotfl:


Thank you everyone :happyhear

lynnejk

Afternoon all


Spent £1.46 on cream and milk today - used more than usual due to DH being at home this week


Shopping t/m at Al*i for usual weeklies of fruit, veggies and pack-ups.


NSDs in July now 7/15. I do think that trying to stay out of the sms really does help with the budgeting. I always use a meal plan, batch-cooking and a shopping list as well


Hope you all having a great weekend
Lx

Florence_J

NSD today, but do need sponges, shower gel and mango chutney. So tomorrow will be a spend day. Will do an inventory of the fridge, freezer and store cupboards.

[Deleted User]

Thanks for the responses! I am going to do a meal plan for the week tomorrow as recommended. Planned on doing a NSD today but for various reasons I decided to let my DD choose tea tonight, so I ended up in M&S. Justified it by the fact that it was cheaper than the meal out I would usually have taken her for in these circumstances.

Tomorrow I will only buy milk!

t14cy_t

nsd yesterday. getting withdrawn symtoms, so am sourcing vouchers/coupons for my next jaunt out at the supermarket! xx

Smiley87

Keeping my purse shut until next weekend hopefully - got everything that we need so it's just a matter of planning. Will update my total once I've found the receipts from yesterday.