August 2016 Grocery Challenge

FurryBeastOz

Great going Florence.

I am putting off a shop for as long as possible. If I can manage it I will also come in under budget for the first time honestly. The previous 2 months I've done it I have been away for a week at least and DH has been left with the freezer and fridge. Still got £95. Even if I don't spend anything I'll still be over for the year to date, but I will be seriously chuffed.

tumptyteapot

I'm feeling quite positive that I can get the budget down next month. I've cut back but it's not been painful.

Are there any guidelines for how much people spend on average for food including eating out?

I can find averages for couples etc. but I can't tell if that is the amount they are spending for all the food they eat. I work from home so my lunch break is cooking, my son takes a packed lunch to school and we have breakfast and an evening meal together. We eat out once a month, usually on a voucher or something but we do get a takeaway curry (it's only a tenner) every couple of weeks and I like to have a coffee and cake in town sometimes.

I found these:
"Last year, the average household spent £83.60 on food and drink each week, with the figure rising to £96 when alcohol and tobacco were included, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS)."

( http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article-3131400/Could-feed-family-just-40-week-challenge-two-households-halve-cost-supermarket-shop-results-surprise-you.html#ixzz4IR0pcVI1)

and https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/blog/how-much-does-your-family-spend says £61 a week for food for people in the south west but then another £68 for recreation.

I'd like to have a target to work towards so it would be helpful to know what people spend on average. I'm classing my teenage son as an adult in food terms!

Florence_J

tumptyteapot wrote: »

I'm feeling quite positive that I can get the budget down next month. I've cut back but it's not been painful.

Are there any guidelines for how much people spend on average for food including eating out?

I can find averages for couples etc. but I can't tell if that is the amount they are spending for all the food they eat. I work from home so my lunch break is cooking, my son takes a packed lunch to school and we have breakfast and an evening meal together. We eat out once a month, usually on a voucher or something but we do get a takeaway curry (it's only a tenner) every couple of weeks and I like to have a coffee and cake in town sometimes.

I found these:
"Last year, the average household spent £83.60 on food and drink each week, with the figure rising to £96 when alcohol and tobacco were included, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS)."

( http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article-3131400/Could-feed-family-just-40-week-challenge-two-households-halve-cost-supermarket-shop-results-surprise-you.html#ixzz4IR0pcVI1)

and https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/blog/how-much-does-your-family-spend says £61 a week for food for people in the south west but then another £68 for recreation.

I'd like to have a target to work towards so it would be helpful to know what people spend on average. I'm classing my teenage son as an adult in food terms!

I am interested in this too. I have been trying to find out what the average food and alcohol spend per week is for a couple just to see how well/bad i'm doing in comparison.

Florence_J

I've made it! Unless something drastic happens I got through the month within budget with 1 penny to spare!

For people worried about their food budgets, it is possible. I was spending up to £40 over budget each month, the first month I joined this thread (the July one), I ended up being just £5 over budget. Now, in my second month I have made it with cash to spare, on a budget that was decreased by £17.

See you all on the September thread. x

lynnejk

tumptyteapot wrote: »

...........

so it would be helpful to know what people spend on average. I'm classing my teenage son as an adult in food terms!

Florence_J wrote: »

I am interested in this too. I have been trying to find out what the average food and alcohol spend per week is for a couple just to see how well/bad i'm doing in comparison.

Florence_J wrote: »

I've made it! Unless something drastic happens I got through the month within budget with 1 penny to spare!

I don't know how 'average' I am but we have a budget of £200 a month for food/laundry/cleaning/general toiletries for me and my DH. We have breakfast, lunch and evening meal out of that 7/7. We don't have take-aways but I make 'fake-aways'
I also start the year with £100 in a 'bulk buy' fund which is what it says and I use it throughout the year, adding any monies left over each month back into it. This is usually still there to use for any extra C spends and then usually some left over.


We also have a wine budget of £60 a month and a personal budget of £1000 each a year to cover clothes/hair cuts/ shoes/personal gifts etc. We have a holiday budget of £4000 a year, which covers a holiday in March somewhere new and a holiday in Ibiza in September to visit my son who lives there.


Coffees, beers etc come out of personal budgets but we do allow ourselves a meal out on birthdays and anniversaries from general funds.


I try to pay everything yearly, as it's usually cheaper, but put the monies away monthly IYSWIM to try to prevent nasty shocks. This is things like car tax, contingency fund for MOT, all insurances etc.


Sorry if a bit long - don't know if any of that helps but if you want to ask anything please do.


BTW - well done Florence for eeking it out :T :T


Another NSD here today :j


Hope you all have a super weekend
Lx

t14cy_t

nsd yesterday, yipee!! well within budget and hoping to have no spends until 1st sept. xx

[Deleted User]

Florence_J wrote: »

Still holding strong at 1p left of the budget. Just have to make sure tomorrow is a NSD food wise! We have 2 slices of bread left and no butter, so will have to improvise with OH's lunch but I am determined to finish the month in budget!

I am loving that fighting spirit. Well, I am doomed this month. I am £30 over budget. It was definately a mistake to include alcohol. I think I need to include a separate fund for that, otherwise it means I scrimp on food trying to stay in budget. Having said that, I do like drinking, but I'm not a big drinker. Haven't spent since Tuesday, going to try and not spend 'till I start September budget, I have more than enough in. 'Damage Limitation' in progress. WELL DONE to all peeps on budget - there seems to be a load this month.

Soworried

One week until pay day and we still have over £50 left so we will be fine.
I need to send OH to get veg today but it shouldn't come to much.

mrs_Badger

£10 spend in semi-chem today on some toilet roll, medicines, hair dye, soap etc. £8 spend on food.

Running total
Pet food £55
House / toiletries £35.30
Food £248.70

£339 / £300

This was a trial to see how much we would spend. I am not trying to cut back as I think I shopped very sensibley this month, I cook from scratch but also buy some GF things for DH, as well as nice things like fresh fish.

I think a monthly £350 is a good target for me, and I will stick the change from this into savings.

thriftwizard

Miserable failure here; £50 at the market yesterday and I'd estimate another £15 tomorrow. I'm trading elsewhere (lunch, teas & snacks will be packed-up in my van) so shan't be here to supervise, but £15 is what I'll give to the Offspring in charge of fruit & veg top-ups!

Hmm - must get my thinking cap on for next month, as I've missed my target altogether this month & am aiming for a little less for September. However we're not likely to have any family members "just dropping in" for a day or three near the beach!