January 2017 Grocery Challenge. NEW BEGINNINGS!

oceanspirit

£12.00 vegbox. Way over budget this month however needed cleaning materials which haven't been bought for ages and also needed spices and other storecupboard items so other things which are out of date or getting close to date can be used.

Have joined the February challenge and need to come way under in order to catch up.

Fran, glad work meeting made a little progress.

CRANKY40

£75.30 added to my signature. I need to buy the stuff that wasn't delivered on my grocery order and a few other bits (I've just been through the cupboards to see what is needed) so when I update after that my January spending will be finished. The delivery is heavy stuff like cat litter, cat food etc. I prefer to go and fetch the small stuff myself.
Any money left over is being used towards supplies for a family dinner next Saturday. We're recreating Christmas dinner but without the presents by the sound of it and happily it's not at my house so it's all good and I'm happy to pay towards it

Islandmaid

Well I obviously have the breaking strength of a kit Kat!!!

Had the urge to bake, and no eggs - spent £11.68 in Lidl on P, SR and Bread flour, eggs, tonic, cream, coriander, carrots and a bottle of wine 'fell' into my basket

Still well under for the month, and I agree that only taking cash is the key

Declaring £133.00 for Jan - well chuffed

Off to update siggy - see you in Feb :wave:

sitesafe

Franalamadingdong wrote: »

Sitesafe, I'd be wary of penalising the following month by the current month's failings, just in case it leads to a sense of shame and increased overspend or a "!!!!!! it I've failed before I've started" feeling. Obviously you know you best, and should always do what is right for you. I factor in a buffer spend across my budget based on the previous month's under spend, and this buffer rolls month on month.

Thank you for the tip there Franalamadingdong.....yes, I don't want to deprive myself of the odd treat even though the emphasis is on nutritional and healthy...also I have to remember I haven't bought any non-food products out of the budget this month....

sitesafe

lynnejk wrote: »

Evening folks

Well done those coming in under or on budget and commiserations to those who didn't.

RANT ALERT !
I do wish peoples wouldn't use that horrible 'F' word on here - it's a learning curve for us all, especially when you're in the first few months. It's meant to be helpful, showing you where you can maybe make better planning, budgeting and shopping choices and set a realistic level for you.

It's not an exam or a competition - please try to look at it more constructively and don't decry yourselves. Just by taking the challenge on you're doing something positive and definitely not 'F' if you didn't get it quite right. Just add a few tweaks
SORRY - RANT OVER !

Oops I did that! But yes the challenge should be looked at as a positive experience - and to be honest I don't really think I failed as such, just overspent but in the main on things that I can use for the following month. So far the challenge and writing everything down has shown me how much I wasted for the month (as I recorded every time I threw anything away0, how much I spent on essential food shopping and how much on non-essential - so the goal is not to waste the same amount next month and so help to keep me in line with the rest of the budget. Meal planning I think. I am actually really enjoying this and looking forward to February's

Willowx

I'm declaring my fiscal January over as of the end of yesterday with £217.70 spent out of an annual budget of £1560, so that's ahead of the £130 a month it should average out to, but I have plenty of tinned and dry goods in now so hopefully won't be buying any of them for several months. It's been an interesting month, first the heating failed and then the fridge freezer, I'm just hoping that these things don't actually come in threes.

GreenFairy

I'm popping over to the February thread now too, as payday came yesterday

January was such a long month for the purse strings. Came in well under budget, as the cash had to get diverted to a surprise bill ( DH dental work).

Well done everyone!

Caterina

Nearly £23 spent on a whim at marks, a couple of bargain veg bags on YS but silly silly priced organic strawberries at £4, what was I thinking? I hate doing that, I thought I was over the impulse buys. I can only explain it because I had been in a very bad mood and was on autopilot. Never mind, now it's done. I don't like not buying local and seasonal, and hate buying all that plastic packaged stuff. Must learn from this, got to go into shops with a clear mind and plenty of focus.

Those strawberries better taste REALLY good, as DH said, they cost 40p each! If not, I will return them saying I am not satisfied with the quality.

Live and learn...

Mrs_Cheshire

I'm declaring January as £262.74/£300. Pretty good but that doesn't include takeaways or drinks/cake when out and about.
Going to include all food and drink bought during February to see if it helps curb the impulse c0sta or takeaway when I've forgotten to get stuff out of the freezer.

just_trying

Hope the stawbs are good caterina, it just happens.

Went a bit mad today, including dd lunches next week that's £110 gone. Ds not well at all, so loads of fruit for him. I must have lost it even bought him pre made jelly, bought the cubes to, prepared fruit to yikes, along with normal.Cough mixture, ear phones, note pads. Not thinking, went mad. Plus my plug in air freshener refill, needed for weeks, I like the smell...yikes £2.99 on its own. Done now, onwards and upwards.

Plus wire baskets and padlocks.