November 2007 Grocery Challenge

MERFE

Ok I'll admit it this month has gone totally wrong, I started a new job beginning of the month so oh has had to cook a couple of night a week and he hasn't been sticking the the meal plan, then I sent him shopping big mistake (he had a list don't know what went wrong). I've also been very tired getting used to the new routine with work but am planning to get back on budget next month and just write this one off now. I'm getting used to the nights I work and oh has to cook and will be able to meal plan round this in future so he can do left overs or things I know he can cook. Disappointing but nevermind.

oh and where do i put the 22 pounds I spent this month on alcohol, on our grocery budget or our christmas budget, I think christmas although it should last till next summer, we are not big drinkers and my mum got it from france for us so there is a bit there.

rosieben

I think some people have a separate budget entirely for 'entertaining'; I dont drink these days but if I did, I would put the cost on the entertaining budget or christmas budget.

my tesco delivery is coming tomorrow, will update spends then. still not sure what to do about the morrisons christmas stamp spend, £70, quite a bit of which was stocking up. I might just consider it as December spends as it includes my christmas costs apart from fresh stuff.

MERFE

yep def on christmas budget then especially since I'm over, can i take off all the bits I've bought for homebaking christmas gifts too, I'm still gonna be over by the time i get more milk by the end of the month, I'm on damage limitation control now, on the plus side I'm getting paid on friday yey so maybe we could afford to increase the budget, will look into them again once I have a better idea of what I'm gonna be getting each month.

mikeD

belfastgirl23 wrote: »

Aha MikeD this is an urban myth. Apparently so long as you use your dishwasher efficiently, which I have no doubt all of us MS do, ie only put on when it's full and use lower temp washes, it actually uses less energy than handwashing. I read this a few years ago, they did cross cultural tests watching how people from different countries washed up.

If any research says otherwise then I would question their methodology especially since I want to believe this.

I inherited the dishwasher when we moved house 2yrs ago and thought I'd only use it if we had visitors etc. Hah. Even when dh is away I still use it On the MS side I do find it encourages me to cook OS cos I'm not dreading the washing up.

And thanks for the entertainment budget clarification. When I think of it we do pay for wine seperately and I do tend to take it out of the pot for entertainment so I guess it's the same really. We eat out too much (DH says it's the only time he can get my full attention to talk to him!) so our budget is higher than yours. In fact so high it's a bit :eek:.

On the spends, just went to tesco and spent another £4 on mozzarella to see me through another pizza night on Wednesday (b****y football)...

I can't be convinced on the usefulness and efficiency of dishwashers for two simple reasons:

1. We don't have enough room for one

and

2. We don't have enough washing up to fill it in one day

I can understand a large family (like ours used to be) could derive some efficiencies and labour saving but for the three of us doing the main washing up from the evening meal is pretty quick, and anyway I enjoy doing it :j

Thanks not2pin for the copying advice, I can't understand why I didn't think of that.

Haven't spent anything last week so no change to the siggy.

WelshWoofer

"£100 budget for all food, toiletries, cleaning stuff and dog stuff - £48.59 left"

Just back from Asda and managed to stick to the list except 1 box of breakfast bars - spent £11.67 (very good for me!)

So the running total is now....
£100 budget for all food, toiletries, cleaning stuff and dog stuff - £36.92 left (to last until Nov 27th):j

rosieben

mikeD wrote: »

... doing the main washing up from the evening meal is pretty quick, and anyway I enjoy doing it :j

your wife could make a fortune hiring you out!! an eco friendly dishwasher ....

freyasmum

I'd pay!!!!! Me first!!! I hate washing dishes!!!!

I have a tesco order coming tomorrow with only a few bits for myself these include tomato puree (17p) and I think something else which I can't quite remember.

Lx

hilary1

Can I join next month please?

And can you point me in the right direction of whats included in the budget as I know its food and cleaning stuff but is it 'all' shopping like cosmetics and shampoo etc and things like plates or glasses etc.

Theres only 2 of us and I know I dont need to spend so much but just cant seem to get it under control properly, thats why every cupboard is full.

And I'm sure I saw a thread for meal planning but cant find it now

x

belfastgirl23

hilary1 wrote: »

Can I join next month please?

And can you point me in the right direction of whats included in the budget as I know its food and cleaning stuff but is it 'all' shopping like cosmetics and shampoo etc and things like plates or glasses etc.

Theres only 2 of us and I know I dont need to spend so much but just cant seem to get it under control properly, thats why every cupboard is full.

And I'm sure I saw a thread for meal planning but cant find it now

x

think we all do it a bit differently Hilary. We just had a discussion above on whether wine was included

Personally I include all 'house' stuff, so all food bought for general consumption, cleaning stuff, soap, loo roll, toothpaste etc. But most personal care stuff we pay for separately since we use different brands etc. But I think other people do it differently. You just need to adjust your budget to make sure there's enough in there to cover it all. If you're starting next month it might be worth starting to keep a record now of all the stuff you normally buy just to see what you feel does and doesn't belong.

Not sure about the mealplanning thread, maybe it disappeared during the great purge?

And welcome :santa2: sorry can only find Xmas waver

freyasmum

very good advice from belfast girl... start tracking now and then you'll have an idea of what your spending.

I include all essential household spending; food, laundry products (ho ho, haven't bought these since I moved into my flat (13months ago!) and I still have another 'few' :rolleyes: big boxes left ), toilet rolls, toothpaste (again, stocked up when tesco were practically giving these away) and cleaning products.

I don't include cosmetics as to me they aren't an essential (just don't tell my old lecturers!)

Lx