August 2021 Grocery Challenge

goldfinches

nannygladys said:

PipneyJane - I like the idea of carrying funds forwards, I think I will start that idea to my personal pots instead of adding it to other pots ie emergency fund, that has a regular amount going into it.

No money spent, roll on next Wednesday when I get paid.
Nannyg

@nannygladys - in a similar situation a few years ago I had a quick trawl round various places in my home and came up with several items that I had been meaning to return for refunds, exchanges etc. but had not actually got around to doing so.
One rather tedious morning's yomp around the shops with a steadily lightening bag and a fistful of receipts netted me enough for a celebratory coffee as well as sufficient cash to get me comfortably to the next time I was paid. 

It's a pity you don't live near me as I'm stocked up with various chocs for baking and so on that I'd be happy to share, perhaps we should invent a sign that homes with spare chocolate could hang in the window so that others in need of a boost could tap on the door.

ancientmum

August has been an unusually busy month for birthdays and visiting family, it's lovely  to be able to do this again.  Consequently I've only just got round to totting up spends, which comes to £69.33. On track for keeping to the budget so far.

goldfinches

I forgot the reason I clicked on the thread, sorry.

I went shopping in M*rks today and spent £8.95 on 2 butternut squashes, cucumber, 3 y/s vegan choc bars, 3 packs radishes, iceberg lettuce, green olives, corn on the cob, tomatoes and milk which brings my current total to £92.05/£124 and my average daily spend to £4.00. Hooray, progress in the right direction. 

Suffolk_lass

goldfinches said:

nannygladys said:

PipneyJane - I like the idea of carrying funds forwards, I think I will start that idea to my personal pots instead of adding it to other pots ie emergency fund, that has a regular amount going into it.

No money spent, roll on next Wednesday when I get paid.
Nannyg

It's a pity you don't live near me as I'm stocked up with various chocs for baking and so on that I'd be happy to share, perhaps we should invent a sign that homes with spare chocolate could hang in the window so that others in need of a boost could tap on the door.

Is there such a thing??? 

Suffolk_lass

Another £12 spent on fresh fruit this week but I need to watch the treats and sweet things. I am reluctant to say "I am going to lose x amount of weight" but I really need to make myself a bit more accountable for what I put in my mouth (as the actress said...). I might need to make September a minimal spend month, living from stores and only buying the dairy stuff we need. Maybe if DH does the shopping (with a list and a do not deviate instruction  )

Suffolk_lass

elsiepac said:

Just a quick welcome to @Ellie79 and @LadyWithAPlan!  September challenge will be up by the end of today

I'm doing a big inventory today - I've already found lots of frozen veg I didn't realise I had bought! I literally only have a couple of quid to last till next Thursday, so 6 days, but I'm feeling ok about it!!

If it is, I think you may have omitted to pin it.
LadyWithAPlan said:

Sorry newbie question.

When you all say you only have X for the week or til next Thursday, I understand that sometimes is the case in actuality, no more money incoming and no room on bank acct balances etc.

However I get the feeling many of you MSE's have budgeted and saved so tight that when you say I only have 'X left'  you mean that X is all that left in the grocery budget and you are refusing to spend any more or move anything over. How strict are you being with yourselves? 

eg @elsiepac as above - 

'I'm doing a big inventory today - I've already found lots of frozen veg I didn't realise I had bought! I literally only have a couple of quid to last till next Thursday, so 6 days, but I'm feeling ok about it!!

I do have a food budget but if I spend too much over  one month I just think ah well...  and take it out of next months income. I am guessing this is not the MSE Grocery Challenge way?  ....

I think there are all sorts on here. There are a couple of people who manage on a state pension, and others paying down debts accumulated for any number of reasons, who are trying to make all the pips squeak. There are also a group of us who used this thread to economise and keep ourselves accountable, even where our circumstances would permit us to be slack and lax (love that expression) but can't abandon the lessons learned completely. If you are saving, I think a spreadsheet or app to maintain your pots might do (I like a nice spreadsheet) but for others, physical pots are the way to go. Materialising the pressures by using cash (and the famous 2nd purse system) is one way

Ellie79

I'm not entirely convinced I am ready for full on pots mostly because OH and I have separate money and pay for different things with our money. He is also not as keen to get on board with making every penny have a job. I'm hoping in me doing so it encourages him. 

Fascinated to hear how it works for others!

Wraithlady

PipneyJane said:

@Goldfinches, are those apples crab apples (sour) or sweet?   If the former, then may I recommend the Cottage Smallholder's Hot Crab Apple Chilli Cheese? 

Nabbed - we have an ornamental crabapple tree, so I will have a go. 

May have to sieve out the stalks, pips and the occasional leaf, though

thriftwizard

I'm one who could currently be slack & lax, though I feel quite strongly that I'd be cheating my future self if I didn't keep the spending in check. Years ago I really had to budget hard with 5 kids at home and a biggish mortgage to pay off on one paycheck & whatever I could earn around the kids; once I got past the furiously resentful stage, this became a worthwhile & interesting challenge. Now it's a habit, but OH's retirement probably can't be put off indefinitely (though he's clearly trying to) and we still have 3 offspring living under our roof, who can't currently afford to live elsewhere, despite two of them having good qualifications & work records. So we can't "downsize" yetawhile  (Dorset word!) or save much towards the day when we only have a pension to live on. 

In other news, I spent £35 on fresh fruit & veg, cheese & fish at the market yesterday, which I've added to my total. £74-odd left to "survive" until 31st... Allotment veg are onstream now so we should be able to do that without sweating unduly. Today's an NSD and tomorrow probably will be too, though I have spent a little from the "Entertainments" fund on beer & cider, as supplies had dwindled away to nothing.

threepenny_bit

failed miserably with my $200 budget and and now nearly double that, I had to get groceries and meat and made the mistake of going to Costco. Prices are cheaper but I had to buy larger quantities of course .... on the bright side I have more available in freezer for next month now.