November 2007 Grocery Challenge

rosieben

Welcome to GC Hilary! :hello:

As the girls have said, we each work out a strategy that suits us best. if you do lots of entertaining (eating out, nights out) you might like to keep a separate budget.

My grocery budget is for all food, laundry, cleaning and toiletries as only have myself to cater for. I've a separate budget for christmas extras.

Good idea to start keeping track now and also do some planning for Christmas

There's a weekly meal plan thread, which might be useful for inspiration
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=599410

and another for december/christmas
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=601153

there are lots of other threads about reducing waste etc so a good trawl through the OS forum will turn up lots of good info and ideas.

meanmarie

Shopping to-day, think that I may have got most of what we will need up to 30th November, spent 68.70e, so I now have 52.97 left...will really only need some milk, fruit and veg if that, so happy enough. Did notice that Lidl's flour has gone from 75c to 89c...big jump in 10 days!

B***dy euro sign won't work!

Marie

Moniker

I meant to say when I posted yesterday that one of the things I enjoy doing and which saves money is making my own marmelade. I buy the tins of prepared seville oranges which saves a lot of time and I can make 6 or 7 jars in about half an hour. It tastes much better than any shop bought brand and it costs around 60p per jar. You do need a big pan though, and I bought one years ago from Lakeland which cost about £20 but I have had excellent value from it as I use it to make jam too. (You might be able to pick one up at a car boot). You also have the satisfaction of recycling your jam jars which is very eco-friendly.

Talking of which I have to disagree Mike D - the dishwasher uses less water than washing up in the sink and it gets things much cleaner. There's only two of us here at the moment and I manage to fill it up in a day. I run it overnight using my white meter (economy 7) electricity so it's a winner as far as I'm concerned.

Off to do University Challenge with my OH - must keep the old brain cells moving!

tattycath

Good evening everyone.
Temptation was too strong today and I had to buy some cream buns...
But they were (all) reduced!!!:j I also got some onions, carrots, swede and parsnip for 60p (also reduced). So I spent £2.99
OH decided to buy a DVD for the kids (£8.94) Don't know where that should be allocated to-we don't really have an entertainment budget.
On a positive note, I have checked my new (mortgage etc savings) account and have got £215 in there since I opened it in late october-and I have a further £50 in the pig to go in!!!:j :j :j
So I am now making excuses for my cream cake splurge!!!!! :rotfl: :rotfl:
Must go and update my sig now!!!
Continued good luck with the challenge to all!!

TheBees

belfastgirl23 wrote: »

I'm a big fan of lidl dishwasher tabs - £1.99 for 30 and they actually work better than most of the others since i normally just do a 30 deg wash. .

Hi Belfastgirl - Hope you enjoy the eggy potatoes! As for dishwasher tabs, Mr T's basics range are quite cheap and work as well as any others we have tried. Useful if you don't have a Lidls nearby.

Race went well despite weather and being reduced to 8.75Km due to flooding! :eek: TheBees.

tattycath

TheBees wrote: »

As for dishwasher tabs, Mr T's basics range are quite cheap and work as well as any others we have tried. Useful if you don't have a Lidls nearby.

Race went well despite weather and being reduced to 8.75Km due to flooding! :eek: TheBees.

Hi TheBees. Pleased your race went well, sorry about the weather. Last night the DDs were looking out of the window-hopeful that there would be enough snow to get them a day off school. Alas... It had all gone by this morning and they had to go!!! :j :j Thanks for the tip re. Mr Ts dishwasher tablets, I shall try them out. We tend to use the more expensive ones at the mo as we once tried some cheaper ones (tho I can't remember where from) and on a quick wash they did not dissolve properly and left a gooey mess behind!! Yuk!!!

Jacks_xxx

belfastgirl23 wrote: »

Oh and kbl I am so impressed that when you're down you clean the house :T:T:T

personally I eat chocolate and watch repeats of Sarah Beeny which is a lot less constructive!

Me too honey, me too!

My house dreams that I would clean it when I get in a stress but um... Nooooooooo!

xxx

Jacks_xxx

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

:wave: Hiya Hilary, :wave:

It's different strokes for different folks honey.

I include all food shopping plus cleaning stuff, laundry stuff, loo roll, kitchen roll, pet food, and basic toiletries like handwash, shower gel, shampoo and toothpaste etc plus medicine cabinet stuff like plasters, antiseptic cream, lemsips, cough medicines, throat lozenges, anti-histamines, painkillers and multivitamins.

(Can you tell who just updated the medicine cabinet? )

I don't include booze - that comes out of my personal pocket money unless it's Christmas when like a fantastic kind of christmas miracle all of a sudden it's part of my food budget and I can buy lots and lots of it. :dance:

You do whatever you reckon will suit you honey.

Welcome to the gang!

Love Jacks xxx

Jacks_xxx

izoomzoom wrote: »

Hiya all

Well, I have updated my signature, and I can see I am gonna blow my budget :mad: . Admittedly it is my first month, and having just had a baby.

Exactly! You've just had a baby honeybun!

So don't beat yourself up about going a bit over budget.

Just do your best to keep it as low as you can, and you'll get it back under control in a few weeks.

How's baby Sam doing?

Love Jacks xxx

High_Peak_Lass

Hi all
Not been on for a while. Been poorly sick and when I’ve tried to get on the site’s been down, damn those gremlins!
Anyway, did lots and lots of batch cooking before I was ill so we are still munching our way through the contents of the freezer.
I think we’re up to £174 on the budget now. I say think, as the OH has had to do the shopping since i’ve been ill and a couple of the receipts have gone walkies. I have looked at Mr Ts website to get the prices so I think we’re right. That also includes £20.55 on prescriptions too.
Off to my folks for the weekend so will save money by being spoilt rotten, being fed till we split and coming back with a boot-full of goodies if the past is anything to go by!!!
Bit late but my one tip (as a newbie) would be to try not to do too much at once! Concentrate on one element at a time and take it from there.
Bobbykins - how did your meal go???