November 2007 Grocery Challenge

point3

I'm curious. Not read one of these threads before...what happens next month over Xmas? Do you all blow the budget?

Can you do Xmas luxury on the cheap?

Bobbykins

Hi point3

good question about Christmas, I think everyone will do it slightly differently.

For the food, I have been buying just one or two things towards christmas each time I shop for the last couple of months....a box of chocs here, a bag of nibbles there :drool: :drool: ...and now have quite a good store of "treats" laid by.

I have also been saving a small amount each month to build up a reserve for all the extra fresh stuff I will need to buy, so that is, in effect, a separate budget.

As for christmas presents, just have a look on the Christmas threads! :snow_laug :xmassign: I've been buying stuff since the January sales and been getting lots of Boots bargains as well, so now I have virtually all my present shopping done! :T :T :T

Hope this answers your question.

Cheers

Jacks_xxx

point3 wrote: »

I'm curious. Not read one of these threads before...what happens next month over Xmas? Do you all blow the budget?

Can you do Xmas luxury on the cheap?

Hiya hon :wave:

I'm not reducing my budget for December but I'm not increasing it either...

BUT

I've set a budget for November of £350 which is £50 less than last month.

If I don't spend the whole £350 then whatever's left will be added to December's £350 to pay for Christmas extras.

In January I'll continue reducing my budget.

I've also stashed away a few treats already such as tins of sweets BOGOF in The CoOp recently, and Tesco had the cat's favourite Tuna on special offer so I've bought enough to last until Christmas.

I was spending over £600 a month on shopping for the four of us and a cat - so I'm pretty happy with the way things are going!

Love Jacks xxx

millionaire_in_training

I have done much the same Jacks with my budget. Have cut it down to £200 this month instead of £250 so I can have £300 next month. I am having Christmas lunch at mine for 5 adults and 2 kids. Everyone is mucking in with the food so it shouldn't be too bad. I have a few bottles of wine and still have a litre of duty free vodka from the hols. I'm struggling on the £200 though. Freezer is more or less empty :eek: . Want to keep going on cupboard food until Monday so I am shopping later this week and see if I can keep the budget going that way.x

belfastgirl23

To be honest we don't really eat that differently over christmas. I've been saving M&S vouchers from my stoozing (now up to nearly £60) for the extra christmas treats. But my goal is to not go over £200 next month (was nearer £500 last year :eek:). Thanks to tips from this site I've got most of the presents bought already, maybe about £100 more to spend between the two of us. I have a vague memory of having a panicked 'what presents can I get in Tesco' shop the last few years But I'm keen not to buy too much extra fattening food cos then my trousers definitely won't do up - at the minute they are stretched so far you can see the zip Gonna try to use christmas to get some more lovely exercise ...

although it's really easy to say these things in November :beer:

Anyhow cheers for all the kind words too, I'm finally starting to feel like I might make a real old-styler (up till now been feeling a bit like I'm on faking it!)

irishwexford

We have just come back from holiday. I have £60 left to spend until end of month but enough food in freezer and cupboards to feed an army so hoping to just spend on milk, fruit and veggies. Christmas will not break the bank as I have my jam jar savings also saving into a Tesco account all year for pressies so have enough dosh there. My grandchildren all want money these days so not many presents to go out and buy which is easy although I do miss bringing home all the toys and playing with them before wrapping them up. Oh well. We have decided to buy a large free range chicken this year and I will cook a ham for tea and boxing day with salad and all the trimmings. After that Christmas is over for me and I hit the sales. Have already bought tins of choccie biscuits, shortbread and tins of Roses which were all half price so I should manage not to go over budget this year.

rosieben

point3 wrote: »

I'm curious. Not read one of these threads before...what happens next month over Xmas? Do you all blow the budget?

Can you do Xmas luxury on the cheap?

Everyone has their own way of working a budget, some people have a separate budget for christmas, for eating out etc;

This thread isnt really about doing things 'on the cheap' - like most Old Style threads, its more about getting value for money and there are lots of ways to do that.

Just one example - bogof offers are all around now, get together with a friend or relative and buy 2 tins of roses for the price of one, share the cost and you get your chocs half price!

tattycath

Hi everyone. Not sure how christmas budget will work as I'm relastively new to this, however, I have got £93 worth of morrisons vouchers and a £5 voucher. I am trying to come in under budget this month so I will use the residue in December if I need to. Still got all presents to buy though and what with one thing and another haven't really worked in how I'm going to do that. But I'm sure I will one way or another. Trying desperately to save for extra mortgage payments too!!
Went shopping for wash powder, loo rolls and dishwasher tablets the day before yesterday so I'd better update my sig!! good luck to all!!

Jacks_xxx

millionaire_in_training wrote: »

I have done much the same Jacks with my budget. Have cut it down to £200 this month instead of £250 so I can have £300 next month. I am having Christmas lunch at mine for 5 adults and 2 kids. Everyone is mucking in with the food so it shouldn't be too bad. I have a few bottles of wine and still have a litre of duty free vodka from the hols. I'm struggling on the £200 though. Freezer is more or less empty :eek: . Want to keep going on cupboard food until Monday so I am shopping later this week and see if I can keep the budget going that way.x

:wave: The only booze I have in the house is a bottle of mead so we'll have to get some of that!

Hopefully some of Hubby's grateful clients will give him some in the run up to Christmas.

I used to get given loads of booze in my old job, so I've never really had to buy my own before!

Booze and board games are a vital part of our family Christmas.

As is Turkey.

I don't know what to do if we can't get a turkey cos of Bird flu... :eek:

Love Jacks xxx

pippamannequin

Hi again, well i started a week ago, and i went slightly over, due to me buying myself a bottle of wine :rolleyes: ..but had reason to celebrate as i got myself a new job:beer:
I dont think Im going to be far off the £30 every week, it's not really been that much of a struggle and i thought it would be :T so im pleased. As for christmas ive been getting a £1 saving stamp almost every week and have £39 so far, so that will definately pay for the extra food we will want .. or should i say the kids and their friends will want! Oh and of course a couple of bottles of wine for erm ME!! Its been great doing this and really keeping check on everything i spent so thankyou all!! Good luck for anyone new joining in xxx