November 2016 Grocery Challenge

Slowly57

meg72 wrote: »

I like this idea of keeping a running total of whats been banked and will pinch it if you don't mind. Am thinking I will clear a drawer in the freezer and label it January, then stash any YS bargains in there.

Meg - I was genuinely puzzled as to why I couldn't manage my GC - but I've worked out that I've pretty much spent a third of my budget on stuff I'll use in future months - and when I get to future months date I'll be buying stuff for the future again! I'm considering having a 'future pot' that I can fund out of my savings for these spends - just to get it going. Then I can truly judge what a realistic monthly spend is - and hopefully put my eventual underspend towards it.

And now I need a sit down because - maths :rotfl:

Caterina

I have the same problem, stocking up sends the monthly budget up the creek! I know that some people use second purse and third purse systems but no matter how much I try, I just can't get my head round it.

I suppose the best way for me would be have lavish months and skint ones, alternate. After a few months I should be able to figure out an average spend per year.

Slowly57

Caterina, I'm glad it isn't just me lol. Having weaned myself off cupboard hoarding, I need to do the same in other ways. I think there will always be 'forwards spending' but I think to have a little fund for it - so as not to sabotage my monthly budget - would help. Thanks x

alja

Having to add 75p to the budget (updated sig) for today as I had to rush out the door without grabbing brekkie. So had to buy a bowl at work. I've been home for a little while and already cooked a small dinner as I haven't eaten a lot today. I cooked the last half of a courgette I had and two bits of black pudding that I had left over from the weekend.

Hoping that I'm more organised tomorrow for food! Still quite pleased with my spend so far as I'm stocked up now and it should last a bit

Franalamadingdong

NSD for me today. To be fair because it is a pain to get to the shops (although manageable now I can drive) I don't tend to shop and spend frequently, it's just I was spending a lot when I did.

I am having a bit of a thick moment though re future spends. If I buy a for now and b for next month, then when next month rolls round I eat b but also buy C for future wouldn't it all just balance out anyway and so I could just tot the monthly spends as normal? I'm probably missing something.

Slowly57

That's what I was thinking Franalamadingdong, but when I added up my forward spend it accounted to around a third of my GC budget - and yes - I'll recoup it in the next month or so, but then I'll be shopping ahead then too!

So in effect it will be AGES until I totally catch up. Rather like paying for your gas + electric - summer months lack-of-use should make up for winter lot-of-use. So I'm thinking that if I allow for a small forward spending pot - it won't stress my monthly budget in the same way. And over 12months it should resolve itself (I hope lol)

Accountancy :eek:

Franalamadingdong

Haha, this is why I'm not an accountant! I did like someone's suggestion of dividing your yearly budget by 13 instead of 12 to work out your monthly budget, and 13 was for Christmas or extra spends or what have you... I can't quite recall.

ScotinLondon

£7.50 spent at mirrors..for veggies, crumpets for dh and other meaty oven meals mainly for him...still have loads of veg left and lots of veggie dishes in the freezer for him.

I would like him to cook the meaty freezer food for himself but as he is not in the mood at the moment, am not going to push him. It's swings & roundabouts with him & with the illness that he has...
Hope all have a good rest of the eve.

Will update sig later.

SIL

thriftwizard

Two NSDs in a row! But will need to buy some fresh stuff at our county town market tomorrow, and some cat food in the next few days; otherwise I feel as if I'm doing quite well this month & may actually hit my target as well as stashing stuff towards Christmas.

But I'm as stiff as a board after loading, moving, unloading & stacking a "stillage" of logs today - this, together with what we already had, should see us right through the winter, cutting down our heating bill as when the stove's lit, the heating goes off, and I can boil a kettle, roast chestnuts or simmer a casserole on the top too. There are already some logs drying out for next winter, and I'll be "scrumping" more as I find them, hoping to avoid buying any next year.

hanb

Another £10.34 for me in sainsbobs today! Popped in for some spices I didn't know we'd run out (the downside of sharing the cooking with OH!) but got a couple of YS whilst there. 1KG chicken breast, sausages and veg. Not needed today but will save in the long run!

Also spent another £24.37 on 6 bottles of wine to make use of reductions plus 25% off 6 bottles (full price was £39 so a decentish saving). I've also bought a case (12 bottles) of £11 a bottle bubbles for £50! Not including these spends in this budget just yet as I've bought them mainly for gifts so need to sit and work out what won't be gifted to include in this budget! Bit of a cheat but thought it was the fairest way

So, after that long ramble I'm at £80.48/£140 but only really need to buy bread, milk and veg the next 2 weeks... I hope!