October 2021 Grocery Challenge

goldfinches

Well done to all above and a fair wind for November; this making it look effortless lark is jolly hard work so don't forget to give yourself a few words of praise and encouragement for keeping on going.

I'm declaring at £118.50/£124 and an average daily spend of £3.82 which I'm very pleased with so I'll see you all in November to fight the good fight once again.

Suffolk_lass

Well said @goldfinches - we all do our best, whether it is trying to get a view of what we spend and where our weaknesses are, reducing what we spend, or maintaining a frugal approach to housekeeping

flossyblog

hi everyone
Oct groceries total spent €314.49, making it €64.49 over budget.  my total groceries for the year so far total is  €2,954 /€3,000, I can definitely say that I will go over budget this year. will be interesting to see by how much.

I found a receipt (€17.75) for last month which I added to total in signature taking my september total (€406.75) 

LadyWithAPlan

Suffolk_lass said:

I've just caught up after being away then ill for most of the month. Interested in the coffee debate. I was a proper coffee advocate and like others, very keen on illy and certain Lavazza blends but I also buy Douwe Egberts instant (the dark, intense one) after someone suggested I try it a bit stronger with cold water on it first before adding near boiling water. It's a good option and we intersperse it with using our 4 cup bialetti moka pot (bought in an Italian supermarket for about €12). The instant I have on a subscription.

@LadyWithAPlan Regarding how I use my bulk fund, I run an annual budget with £400 initially in the bulk fund and £200 for ten months (one stores month) and more for December. Any fresh food, toiletries and routine things like milkman and eggs delivery come out of the £200. Anything that I store at home I pay from the stores budget. I just add it on a running spreadsheet entry) and when there is money left in fresh, I move it to the stores fund which also pays for subscription things and cleaning stuff. Our overall has been £3000 for the last four years.

This is super useful thanks. I like this initial large bulk amount as this makes much more sense plus it motivates you to buy in bulk early. I will have a think on what amounts I should use as just me but will try a version of this in November
What do you add on the running spreadsheet - what you spend on the bulk? or as you use up your stores do you count down?


The Monmouth Coffee company also has great coffee which in the stores they will grind to your spec and I am certain they deliver.

Suffolk_lass

LadyWithAPlan said:

Suffolk_lass said:

I've just caught up after being away then ill for most of the month. Interested in the coffee debate. I was a proper coffee advocate and like others, very keen on illy and certain Lavazza blends but I also buy Douwe Egberts instant (the dark, intense one) after someone suggested I try it a bit stronger with cold water on it first before adding near boiling water. It's a good option and we intersperse it with using our 4 cup bialetti moka pot (bought in an Italian supermarket for about €12). The instant I have on a subscription.

@LadyWithAPlan Regarding how I use my bulk fund, I run an annual budget with £400 initially in the bulk fund and £200 for ten months (one stores month) and more for December. Any fresh food, toiletries and routine things like milkman and eggs delivery come out of the £200. Anything that I store at home I pay from the stores budget. I just add it on a running spreadsheet entry) and when there is money left in fresh, I move it to the stores fund which also pays for subscription things and cleaning stuff. Our overall has been £3000 for the last four years.

This is super useful thanks. I like this initial large bulk amount as this makes much more sense plus it motivates you to buy in bulk early. I will have a think on what amounts I should use as just me but will try a version of this in November
What do you add on the running spreadsheet - what you spend on the bulk? or as you use up your stores do you count down?


The Monmouth Coffee company also has great coffee which in the stores they will grind to your spec and I am certain they deliver.

@LadyWithAPlan I just run it as a running stores heading, (double click +nn.pp) for the year. I found I was hopeless at reimbursing myself from my other purse. It means I can stick with the brands that are important to me by buying when they are on offer. It has been about five years now with this system and I rarely get caught out. I do also now have subscriptions for about four or five things (from Amazing, with 5-10% discounts). They always alert you when it is coming up so it is easy enough to delete, defer or modify. If I do run out, I buy one, and make a mental note to buy a bit more of that thing if it was used up before the offer. 

Other things to consider - next level, as I call it
I've also become quite accepting of compromise cheaper choices (it took a while with my smug attitude, when I started) things like cheap bleach (eg) for 19p a litre, as opposed to thick bleach (I just pop about half a litre into the cistern and it stops limescale build up and smells better next time it is flushed). I also buy wonky fruit and veg which means my veg costs are literally pennies. At this time of year, I make lots of long slow cooked soups and stews so premium veg is a waste of money. I currently have carrots (19-29p a kilo), several strings of homegrown onions and bags of frozen prepared squashes as the base for most things with garlic, beans, pulses and red lentils added to pad out meat. I regularly chop the middle of the celery head and freeze them, or add half a sweet potato to thicken, if they are reduced (YS) this is excellent.

Pixiehouse55

Sorry I'm late. Internet not good on the Marina. We actually just came in under £300 in October which amazed us.
Thursday we are moving from the Marina and slowly (very slowly) heading for Bristol. Not sure if we will get there for Christmas. 
Will pop to November GC now