November 2020 Grocery Challenge

thriftwizard

Hanging my head in shame... another £65 spent at the market this morning, which means I'm £130.65 over budget. Even though I'd set it £50 below my "normal" monthly figure, I'm horrified because I'd still have been £80.65 over. Between the nut debacle and some panicky stocking-up pre-Christmas and Brexit, this has got out of control. I WILL do better next month; I've put my target back up to £450, as actual Christmas supplies do come out of a different account that I pay into all year, so although we will have DS3 back mid-month and into the New Year, plus DS1, partner & dog for most of the 5 festive days we're allowed, it shouldn't affect the main grocery budget at all. 

Think I know what one of my New Year's resolutions will be...

Suffolk_lass

We went early to the local market and visited the bakery, greengrocer and fishmonger. All more expensive than normal but such good quality (except one of the oranges, but I eat it anyway). It was lovely having such large fresh vegetables, even if they were pricey. I spent £10 for pickling onions (two jars worth), clementines (8 for £1.50), oranges (10 for £4), cauliflower and calabrese, £8 with the baker (DH recently did a one-day course with him before lockdown 2) and £12.50 at the fishmonger's (2 beautiful trout and some smoked haddock).

We also nipped up to Morries and grabbed one of their Nordman Christmas trees (£18 for a 5-6 foot tree is half the price of anywhere else locally) - it is in a bucket of water now (for the next three weeks!), outside the back of our house

pamsdish

Decided yesterday to finish November off, which led to me calculating my spends this year, new washer July, new exhaust and brake calipers for the car August, 2 new tyres October, I have to have run flats so £170, dogs dental work, which I put on my credit card, payment due early New Year £667, thinking I will pay that off next month as I do not want to start 2021 in debt, I can see areas I can cut back, i.e. Amazon prime, it makes it so easy to think it`s only xyz, free delivery, so will be cancelling that, I am an online member of a low carb slimming group, membership is going up £3 a month from New Year, they run a public group at no charge, to be honest the same people post the same in both groups, not a big loss, and as with the prime, if I want I can sign back up for one month and leave again.
Just spent £20.50 on wholefoods online, needed some vital wheat gluten, and anticipating postal delays and taking advantage of 10% discount.
Brings me to pence of my monthly budget so even stephen.

mumtoomany

Well it seems I've got muddled up this month. The Tesco receipt that i found and added, had been added previously. It was form the day the car broke down in Tesco car park, OH asked me to get a screwdriver and a socket, so he could fix it. By the time I came out with them he had found that a belt had gone too. Couldn't be fixed there, so I returned them immediately. I had added the new total to here, but then found the receipt and, as the total was more, thought I hadn't added it. So I'm not over budget yet! Total now for November is £183.14/£200. Don't think I need anything before Tuesday, so I'm declaring at that. Very pleased, mumtoomany.

PipneyJane

Declaring at £139.60/£140.

DH got paid yesterday, so I don’t see the point of holding on until I get paid on Monday before declaring.    See you all on the December thread.

- Pip

ancientmum

I've added in the final spends for November and total for the year so far comes to £1600.71.  I did buy some ingredients for fig chutney and mincemeat, using an unexpected late fig harvest on the allotment.  However I'm taking the cost of that, together with brandy etc for the Christmas cake out of the Christmas fund.

Suffolk_lass

End of November and my annual budget is over what I would like it to be by £27.06 so my £400 for December is down - probably all OK as fewer people will be here being fed this Christmas

[Deleted User]

I'm declaring at £199.03 for November- we definitely won't be doing any further shopping tomorrow! Food is sorted for the next week but I'm on my last couple of dishwasher tablets so will be starting December's challenge with them on Wednesday!! 🙈😂

Hettyhound

Hi everyone.  I did a final November shop on Friday at aldee and it was £34 and a few pennies.  My November budget came in at £201 out of a budget of 220 so very pleased.  Will leave as 220 for December but aim to sneak in under again.

goldfinches

Hi all, sorry to be so late, I've been very busy on a course last week.
I'm declaring at £119.06 spent this month so I've just managed to squeak in despite having to do a couple of emergency shops last week so I'm very happy.  Using up existing stores and fridge clearout soup have been hugely helpful so this regime will be continuing.
I'll see you all over in December, goldfinches.