October 2016 Grocery Challenge

Slowly57

Went through cupboards and freezers. Put all cupboard stuff in 1 cupboard. Appalled by hoarding tendencies. Ended up with half a doz WELL out of date tins as well as a tiny amount of 'don't fancy that's' - all whizzed/clean slate/don't do it again hand slaps.

A gap-filing shop in Sainsbees - who knew you could come out of there without spending £30 ..... Total spend £16.45

Herbyme

XSpender wrote: »

I know some of the basics like use up what I have got and meal plan but I am struggling to see why we spend so much, we don't have expensive tastes, I don't buy a new lippy every week or waste huge amounts of food (we do waste a bit I admit but not much). I seem to have lost my frugal food mo-jo. We do have allergies but don't buy a lot of free from cakes etc. just bread, oats and pasta and I work long hours so don't have a lot of time to prepare food on a night.

Any hints and tips gratefully received.

XSpender, I am right with you, I don't know how it gets to be so much. I too am trying to get back my FF mojo. A thought: can you pre-prepare dinner so you're not trying to do it when you get in after work? eg slow cooker set up in the morning? or batch cooking and freezing? I am trying to use those strategies myself.... good luck for October!

lynnejk

XSpender wrote: »

........
I know some of the basics like use up what I have got and meal plan but I am struggling to see why we spend so much, we don't have expensive tastes, I don't buy a new lippy every week or waste huge amounts of food (we do waste a bit I admit but not much). I seem to have lost my frugal food mo-jo. We do have allergies but don't buy a lot of free from cakes etc. just bread, oats and pasta and I work long hours so don't have a lot of time to prepare food on a night.
Any hints and tips gratefully received.

carolinerunner wrote: »

XSpender, I am right with you, I don't know how it gets to be so much.

Maybe you both need to keep all your receipts for October - just on a bulldog in the kitchen drawer perhaps - and then book yourself a couple of hours with a pen and paper and look through carefully at what you spend and where.


You might then be able to see any problem areas. It's difficult to offer any hints or tips without knowing what and where you buy. You could then come back and ask again with more info


Good luck with the challenge
Lx

ani*fan

Can I join in please? I'm aiming for £150 for 2 adults and an aged tomcat.

Thanks!

Suffolk_lass

Slowly57 wrote: »

Went through cupboards and freezers. Put all cupboard stuff in 1 cupboard. Appalled by hoarding tendencies. Ended up with half a doz WELL out of date tins as well as a tiny amount of 'don't fancy that's' - all whizzed/clean slate/don't do it again hand slaps.

A gap-filing shop in Sainsbees - who knew you could come out of there without spending £30 ..... Total spend £16.45

You are not alone on the store cupboard lurkers! I put my "don't fancy that" tins on the kitchen window sill and then had to notice them every time I reached for the radio until I used maybe 3 out of 8 and eventually binned the others - 4 years out of date I could not give them away. Condensed milk was the one that got me! HTF did I come to buy that? :eek:
SL

dumpling

Hello everyone :wave:

It's payday and I have some shopping being delivered later on. I have been thinking about changing my budget as on the one hand I am low carbing which for me involves eating a bit more meat and other protein sources but on the other hand I am not eating sugary 'treats', crisps, pastry, bread, rice potatoes etc etc which knocks quite a lot off my weekly spend. Obviously I still have to buy all of that for my family but it is becoming very apparent who was the bread monster in our house as there are still 2 loaves left from last week when normally I send my girls to the shop to top up with bread and milk.

Anyhoo, I think I will drop £50 off our monthly spend and see how it goes. Can I please have my budget updated to £450 for October, thank you x

Herbyme

lynnejk wrote: »

Maybe you both need to keep all your receipts for October - just on a bulldog in the kitchen drawer perhaps - and then book yourself a couple of hours with a pen and paper and look through carefully at what you spend and where.


You might then be able to see any problem areas. It's difficult to offer any hints or tips without knowing what and where you buy. You could then come back and ask again with more info


Good luck with the challenge
Lx

Thanks for this Lynnejk, I agree and I've started using an app to record the amount I spend, but also you're suggesting I go through the items in detail, is that right? I wish till receipts listed items in plain English! but yes, it sounds like a good plan. I've already spotted one thing, DSs pour pints of milk on cereal, eat the cereal then leave the milk, grr! And I've cut down the amount of milk we get from the milkman so we still have some emergency supplies coming when it runs out at midnight but the monthly milk cheque will be less. We really like our milkman but we can't afford to see him as a charity we must support... (as DH does...)

And I'm starting Go Sober for October tomorrow so that should help cut costs! It's in aid of Macmillan as a gesture of support towards friends who have cancer. Happily I find my employer will match fund but not via the official website so I need to find how to make theirs work, that's the next job.

tattycath

budget £250 for grocery, cleaning and pet food spends

Slowly57

Suffolk_lass wrote: »

You are not alone on the store cupboard lurkers! I put my "don't fancy that" tins on the kitchen window sill and then had to notice them every time I reached for the radio until I used maybe 3 out of 8 and eventually binned the others - 4 years out of date I could not give them away. Condensed milk was the one that got me! HTF did I come to buy that? :eek:
SL

I took a photo before I whizzed and made it the background to my mobile (I put my shopping list on the memo app so I see it everytime I shop lol)

thriftwizard

£65 at the market this morning; more to come after the weekend, as I update the pet & livestock supplies.