December 2007 Grocery Challenge

tattycath

Hi everyone. Thanks Mike, and thanks re spresdsheets over weekend, really, though, there is no rush, your DW needs you more than we need spreadsheets, so when ever you get round to it will be fine, we just appreciate you doing this for us-whenever it may be.
I hope this makes sense-it did when I typed it but seems garbled when I read it back!!!

rosieben

tattycath wrote: »

... and thanks re spresdsheets over weekend, really, though, there is no rush, your DW needs you more than we need spreadsheets, so when ever you get round to it will be fine, we just appreciate you doing this for us-whenever it may be

Mike - What she said

flossyblog

hi everyone,:rudolf:

hope you are all doing well, It's hectic here, lots of christmas parties etc.
spent €161.96 so far. it's not over yet :xmastree:

Bobbykins

Hi Everyone - had a really busy month so far so not posted much. Am still slogging away at trying to meet my challenge for the month.

mike - REALLY sorry to here about Mrs Mike's arm. I'm sure you are looking after her very well.....I remember what a "good egg"you are!

Regarding the spreadsheet......I use Excel to keep track of my grocery spending and whilst I'm sure Mike is far more of a guru than me, if anyone desperately needs any help while Mrs Mike is keeping Mike busy, please feel free to ask me.....If I can offer a little help I will be glad to.

I've tried to explain it as I do it below, but I've changed some of the numbers and some of the categories because they are, of course, a bit personal.

AND SORRY IN ADVANCE THAT IT's SUCH A LONG POST

What I do is I have a worksheet on my spreadsheet for each month of the year/ I go through my receipt every time I shop and list it on the relevant month on my spreadsheet.

I list:
the week it is in the month (week 1, week 2 etc)
the item
the price

I do this literally in a long list on the spreadsheet just as it appears on the receipt. I have then set up a little "drop down" menu with the categories that I like to put everything in and just select which category applies. If it's any help to anyone, my categories are a bit like this-

Baking
Biscuits
Bread
Cereal
Cheese
Cleaning
Drinks
Fish
Fruit
Lunches
Meat
Milk
Other
Salad
Staple
Toiletries
Treat
Veg



I have a running total of everything I've spent at the bottom of the sheet, so I know where I'm up to during the month.

Then, at the end of the month, I "sort" everything by category, so all my spending on, for example, "salad" is together, all "veg" is together and so on. I then do a sub total on the spreadsheet and that gives me my spend for each category. I'm not sure it will copy OK onto here but below is an example of the spending "split" for me for one of my months, just to show you what it looks like

price category
1.16 biscuits Total
18.37 bread Total
8.93 cheese Total
5.34 cleaning Total
5.12 drinks Total
28.98fruit Total
28.29lunches Total
30.90 meat Total
4.09 other Total
6.78 salad Total
52.22 staple Total
5.60 toiletries Total
17.38 treats Total
17.51 veg Total
228.67Grand Total

I then transfer that information onto a master sheet, so that I can compare each month, side by side, and that look something like this:-

EDIT _ AArrrrgh , no sorry,that won't copy properly into here.....'fraid you'll just have to take my word for it that it looks OK!.

I hope that may help some of you.......in return for all the help I've recieved off others!!:D

cheers

rosieben

Bobbykins, thats very helpful thank you My main query was about categorising.

I've decided to practic with the last 2 or 3 months figures, still got all receipts so I can do detailed sheet and break down into categories, much as you have done. I hadnt thought of linking to a sheet which tallied each category through the year, that would make interesting reading - bet biscuits comes out top of mine :rotfl:

btw I did a refresh on the page and your post now looks as it should! Thanks again!

TheDoolallyDilly

Mike - I hope your wife is not in too much pain.

Well, Mr T delivered today, and it came in at £84.80, and apart from the turkey and veg, which I am getting at the weekend, it will take us through to the end of next week. I am chuffed :j

It was a bit lower than expected due to getting a 12-pack of cat food substituted with one eeny weeny little can of cat food costing 20 p The cat will think he's been rationed, so I will have to go and buy some cat food! Also some chocolate was out of stock, and apparently there was no other chocolate they could substitute :rolleyes: I was looking forward to that

Jacks_xxx

mikeD wrote: »

Well young Jacks

That's more like it!

Well I think you're a marvel honey. I know of plenty of men who would expect things to carry on just as before no matter what their wives were diagnosed with - let alone put as much thought into it as you do, so :T :A :beer: :kisses3: :beer: :A :T from me Mike.

Love Jacks xxx

lil_me

Mike, I hope your wife is ok, give her a big hug from all of us (gently of course, no more injuries) I am sure you're all doing a fab job looking after her.

Well Asda delivery arrived today, 12 noon instead of between 6-8pm, which was easier for me I tried to get one then but no slots, minus one item (I don't think the store that delivers actually stocks it but was worth a try when I seen it) I need to still get some things from Tesco (found £50 stamps sheet I forgot about ) few from Lidl's and the farm shop meat order. Still hopeful at coming in under budget.

egon

MikeD take it easy, it is more important to look after DW then a spreadsheet - even though the help will be very much appriciated when it arrives :beer:

I know, I will be over budget this month. I thought, I had done well so far.... but forgotten about the infant milk for DS2.
Also hubby wants a few more extra things for christmas. But I am trying to keep it as low as possible! :eek:

well thats it for now

Egon

MRSMCAWBER

Evening everyone

Well we have been back in the Uk since Monday...we only moved out to Germany 6 months ago... but since then "what on earth has happend to the prices here?":eek: -i have been stunned ... will be glad to get back to Germany

On the plus side... i have picked up some Nescafe.. 200g jars - 2 for £6... we pay more than that per jar back home -so i got 10 :rotfl: along with a free mug with every one -not that i need 10 more mugs..but they were free so it would have been rude not to have them oh and they all have the "beans" on -so thats a total of 32 beans i have now..just need to decide what to choose from the freebies:j

An pg tips were on BOGOF.. so i got 4 lots...each one with a free beenie hat with "monkey" on

still have several other items to pick up..so will up date my signature when i have done...

Hope everyone is about sorted for christmas..and hope you all have a lovely one