November 2016 Grocery Challenge

Mrs_Cheshire

Hi all, spent quite a bit over the last week, as we celebrated our youngest son's 1st birthday yesterday. I included all the food spends for it, including the cake.
I need to do a freezer inventory and plan my meals for Nov, as we've got loads of bits in there. Need to stick a sharpie in the kitchen, as I put left over roast meat in a bag but don't know what's in there later.
Spends to date £134.48/£320

blubella

Save_Dosh wrote: »

Florence J - Have you thought of dividing your money between the weeks - works for me (mostly). If you meal plan for the first week, you might only need to spend an xtra £10, to make up the meals, then the balance can be carried over. I do go over myself, really not an expert, but does work for me when I can stick to it.

Oh...great tip...think i will also take this one on board! Thank you :T

pamsdish

Save_Dosh wrote: »

Florence J - Have you thought of dividing your money between the weeks - works for me (mostly). If you meal plan for the first week, you might only need to spend an xtra £10, to make up the meals, then the balance can be carried over. I do go over myself, really not an expert, but does work for me when I can stick to it.

I was considering a similar sort of ploy, was going to withdraw whole months allowance £125 for me, then just take what`s needed approx on shopping trips, WITH A LIST.
Realised this morning Novembers other spends spent already, dog in kennels for a week, thank you local firework fans, and trip to see family next week for grandsons 1st birthday.:happyhear

Fivebyfive

Please can you put me down for £350 for the month? This is for 3 of us full time and an extra 3 at weekends.

I'm only including food in this amount and no toiletries, cleaning stuff or Pet food.

elsiepac

Well, I fell into my classic trap of grabbing bits here and there over the weekend... what a waste of money! So annoyed at myself. 3 "little" shops which have to come from grocery budget.
1st one was basically lovely veggies for a treat stir fry on Friday night. Didn't need it at all, was pure indulgence!
2nd one included bake at home baguettes, frozen sweet potato fries (no idea why I bought these when I could EASILY make at home if I wanted them!), frozen apple strudel because I was tired and hungry and it was even labelled vegan (thank you Co-Op!)... and of course Swedish Glace vanilla vegan ice cream to go with it (haven't eaten either of these so another impulse wasted money!), plus some Ritter Marzipan bars (I'm meant to be losing weight so of course have now eaten them all to get rid of the temptation... mine is a warped logic!).
The 3rd shop was legitimate - Fresh bread, tomatoes etc.
4th was also legit - actual grocery veggie shopping in Aldi.

Date.......Shop.....Amount.....Remaining
26 Oct.....Ocad0.....£47.04.....£62.96 (Bulk cleaning products, tins etc)
27 Oct.....Tesc0.....£00.78.....£62.18 (Reduced organic carrots)
28 Oct.....Tesc0.....£08.15.....£54.03 (Veggies for treat stir fry etc - NOT NEEDED!)
29 Oct.....Co-Op.....£13.16.....£40.87 (Chips, strudel, treat food etc - NOT NEEDED!)
30 Oct.....Tesc0.....£04.94.....£35.93 (Bread, Tomatoes etc)
30 Oct.....A1di......£09.63.....£26.30 (Proper grocery shop, basically all veggies)

So, now I have a VERY limited budget remaining. Once again though, I am totally stocked up. I would like to get some limes and an orange for a couple of soups I want to make, but I may wait until next week and do them then so as to save on spending even more money!

I'm determined to make this work!

CloughiesBrewerArmy

So i've spent £36.09 since last Tuesday and I won't spend anymore today, so if divide my £200 by 31 days (time between pay days)and multiply by the first 7 days, this £45.16 so I am £9.07 under target so far, which pleases me as some of my buys were offers that will keep. I am now in Shredded Wheat until the next pay day!

ab_saver

Having been hideously ill for a couple of days and having worn down my stocks I went to do my 'big shop' of the month today... and went a bit wild.

£4.75 of ys'd goodies at Mr T, and £49 at Mr W (I couldn't find half what I was looking for and lost the will then went a bit mad - I now have a freezer full of reduced things).

So total spent: £53.75/75 :eek:

thriftwizard

£37.28 gone at Liddly's today, on shampoo, soap, toothpaste & new brushes, washing liquid, tuna, herbal tea, coffee and chickpeas to keep our tame pescatarian in protein! Disappointed not to find tinned tomatoes & olive oil, especially as the toms should have been on special offer, but they can wait until later in the month as we're not down to rock bottom yet.

Suffolk_lass

Thank you to the Asbo Customer Services man who honoured my 56p Price Match Guarantee when all their card and voucher handling had failed. I went in just to buy butter and that was all I bought but obviously the card glitch meant he was having a really tough time with others when I pitched up with my soon-to-expire voucher.

Don't forget they still do the Price Match Guarantee - they just don't advertise it any more but giggle will find it.

Good luck in November all
SL

[Deleted User]

Starting November today, will be doing a mini shop later. Decided to up the budget to £100. I am so used to spending less, this will seem like a luxury budget, want to get some xmas bits. That will be for 2 adults (myself n 23yr old daughter) who eats like a horse, but is so skinny. Good luck everyone.