January 2017 Grocery Challenge. NEW BEGINNINGS!

meg72

Islandmaid wrote: »

NSD again here - I have just done my meal plan for next week and can't believe how little I NEED to buy this week. :j

Sounds daft but I am getting a real buzz from spending so little - it will be a bit different next month as I won't have the Christmas stash to use up, but it is only 4 weeks in Feb, so you never know

Lol not daft at all and some of us have been quite surprised to feel it, I was expecting my usual jittery anxious feeling if I couldn't go shopping but the buzz has taken over and am now pretty confident I can get through January without spending a penny.

January is a great month for a challenge as most of us will have a stash left over from Christmas.

I love the idea of Buzzzzzzzzing my way through the next couple of cold icy months.

debbym

Just back from Mr T. Special offer on almond milk (pound a litre rather than 1.80), treated myslef to 2 litres for the week rather than 1.

mrs-moneypenny

Afternoon all
Shopping done £40 spent do will update my sig.
The new freezer is coming next Sunday so I have a week of very interesting meals to plan so I can use up as much as possible of the stuff that has been lurking in the depths that I don't want to carry over to the new slightly smaller one.

Massa1982

Finally caught up again. Interesting to see that the majority are on track or underspends, I too think this is largely down to still using up stock bought Christmas stash. we still have 3 tubs of Pringles, chocolates, Stollen & Christmas cake to name a few things.


Doing really well so far, mainly down to YS bargains. It seems everyone else's diets in my area has left a surplus stock of comfort foods in the reduced section. I have picked up various meats, fish, pasties and ready meals at silly low prices and my freezer is Tetris specialist packed to the very top.

So far spent £76.33 half way through the month, stocked cupboards and freezer and £125 left of budget. Anything left is going straight to emergency fund.

Cappella

Shopped today after 6 NSDs. spent just £14.00 and still have more cash in my housekeeping purse to take me through to the 26th which is when my challenge ends. (My challenges run from the 26th to the 26th usually).
Still a week to go though so am not counting my chickens yet.
I've been wondering what I've changed this month and can only think it's partly that I've taken the full £250 allowed out for the month in cash, and told myself very firmly " that's all the money you have, you need to make it last until the 26th". Using cash, and seeing it vanish has really made me focus on needs, not wants.
An unexpected extra bonus has been the amount of craft work and reading I've done, instead of shopping; and a very real appreciation of how easy and tempting the supermarkets make it for us is to overbuy goods without even meaning too.
Fingers crossed I make it to the end of the challenge this time

Tink_04

Moving house in 2 weeks so using up as much as I can! Still got £60 left but I think it will only be fresh stuff needed until we move then will add it to next month to fill up my cupboards again, although I am not going to buy half the stuff again as it hardly gets used!

sitesafe

CHECKING IN

Had sausage and cabbage risotto today and have two more sausage meals on consecutive days to use up my supply

Spends since last time £9.89 (bread, bananas, wine and choc bar)...£7.25 of this indulgences of wine and choc...

Total spends balance last time 83.21 (12.89 unnecessary)
New total; spends balance 93.10 (20.14 unnecessary)
Indulgences - 1.35 cakes; 16.14 wine; 3.64 choc
Wasted/spoiled - £3 fish; 50p stir fry; 50p milk

£93.10/£130.00 so £36.90 for the next 17 days!!

Good luck everybody!

Caterina

Total NSD today, meaning not only no grocery spend, just no spend at all! Was tempted by a book on A-ma-zon but decided to resist. Sig updated.

just_trying

Chirpychick, sure he will love baking and taking it in to show his friends, what he's made. They'll try more things when they see others eating it, as I've found out.

Spent just under £80, we'll just under £77 but the other £3 will be spent on milk &bread if needed. If not into my little saving pot which I've started this year. This includes all food, toiletries etc and my youngest lunch/snack money (she spends as she wishes). As she takes stuff from home to.

Trying to spend £70 but failed, flu just now thanks to oldest dd, but can spend £80. Secret savings pot !!.

lynnejk

Evening folks

Spends on bits and pieces from Home bags and a couple of £ shops of £7.36

Had another NSD yesterday

Need an Al*i shop t/m but list is not overly large this week :j

Hope you all staying warm and dry and enjoying the weekend
Lx