November 2016 Grocery Challenge

Caterina

Thank you pamsdish, will go and register myself 2 emails and DH one email.

Pinkypig I know what you mean, I have less than half the budget and 19 days to go to end of month.

Realising that technically I could easily do it, lots of food in fridge, freezer, cupboard and allotment. The challenge is resisting the impulse to buy more every day!

I am sort of new to this challenge, done it a couple of times before, halfhearted, but this time is for real, with DH retired and me on a very low income and 7 years away from my state pension. This is where I find out whether all the learning OS ways for sport (well, sort of) is going to bear fruits now that I truly need to squeeze the penny.

Edited to say elsiepac it is the Alpr0 one, never seen it before. The offer is in MrT.

meg72

Slowly57 wrote: »

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:

Love the idea of a future pot then realised I already have it, its in the cupboards, freezers, under the bed , in the wardrobe and wherever else I have stashed stuff away, lol.

A big problem for me is poor memory and I find I buy stuff not needed because I`ve forgotten I have it .

So the plan is to get it all together and have what Ive always wanted, a walk in pantry.

Ive bought two shelf units ebay bargain ,and put them in the spare room and will empty the kitchen cupboards. I will then have my own little shop.

[Deleted User]

I had a spend a couple of days ago amounting to £8.46, have updated sig. Made a batch of broccoli soup, enough for 6 portions, have frozen 3. Have a ton more veg, which I will also make into soup. Need to also make some dairy free coleslaw today. Not looking to buy anything until Tuesday, but might have to get some of the Alpro ice cream, that seems too good an offer to miss. Have a lovely w/e everyone.

thriftwizard

£75 spent at this morning's market takes me to just about half the budget spent, in a little less than half the month. I need to visit the wholesalers for cat food and a couple of other bits, but otherwise should be able to coast on what we have plus fresh stuff, now. Or is that famous last words...?!

t14cy_t

caterina, go to covent garden soup web site, click on the link, enter your details and they will send out your coupon to your email address for you to print off. tesco have the soup half price atm, so even better value!! xx

kkffoo

Bought inflated price soup today at the corner shop. Heinz tomato at 99p, which is 24% dearer than a single can of the same brand at a$da...or 313% dearer than a$da's smartprice tomato which I buy most weeks.
I wasn't able to do that maths mentally, while waiting for my hair cut today, but I was able to work out the cascade of small consequences that led to the tragedy :rotfl:
I'd like to avoid buying a pyramid of back-up soup in my next a$da shop, which has often been my over reaction in the past.
It needs to be ok that I will make mistakes as we shift our shopping habits, and work out a sensible level of cupboard stocking which works for us, with a bit of give, but not leading to an overwhelming mass of mis-matched provisions which I can't hope to organise.

Corner shop £0.99
£122.03/£350

Franalamadingdong

Ah Suffolk lass I knew it was a cool idea but not who said it.

I spent £2 today on naughty crisps and chocolate. It's been a crazy week and the chocolate will be for later with a film.

Grocery spend for this month is now £45.97/£200.

My discretionary spending isn't so good with the endless school begging letters and the party invites etc. I have £11.31 left from the month's £64 allowance... If I end on budget this month, with refunds and gifts and selling old stuff, I will be £1020 up on the month!!! It's not going to be that much again as I am actually on a very low income. But I am rather pleased. :j

pamsdish

Lidl shop of £21 chicken for dog and veggies, £12-50 in morrisons, Ariel 3 for £10 and 2 lurpak 2 for £2-50

Baileys_Babe

Baileys_Babe wrote: »

End of week one and we have spent £87.41, more than I would have liked to but we have planned meals for the next week for which we have everything including milk and we make bread when we need it. So the only thing I can invisage us needing before next Friday is fruit depending how much everyone eats between now and then.
Spends to date:
Grocery budget £87.41/280 remaining £192.59
Wholesaler budget £71.61

End of week 2, this week we have spent less than £25 :j We needed milk, fruit and risotto rice (discovered mid way through making dinner and didn't have anything suitable to substitute) and picked a few YS bargains. We have started meal planning for the next 7 days but need to finish that tomorrow. Tomorrow I want to go through the freezer and see what we have in there, we often put leftovers in from HM meals so that may cover a few meals this month.
Spends to date:
Grocery budget £111.78/280 remaining £168.22
Wholesaler budget £71.61

Franalamadingdong

Another £2.50 spend for us. Got called into work just as I was about to make tea, 2 hours later and it's passed the boy's bedtime I needed something quick in him so ended up buying chips from the shop. !!!!ed off. !!!!ed off at work. Had to do another 2 hours at home. I won't be paid for any of this work and it's because someone else didn't do what they should. £2.50 isn't the end of the world, but that's not what I'm angry at. Good job I bought that chocolate!