December 2021 Grocery Challenge

Suffolk_lass

I also spent over £140 at the SM yesterday. However, this included 4 big Christmas chocolate items (Toblerone and Galaxy for each of my boys; DH and DS) plus wine - three bottles of good red wine and six bottles of decent fizz. I seem to have missed out on the 25% off 6 though, so graciously accepted the £2 per bottle off instead of £4. Both of these come out of the treats and entertainment budget (which includes eating and drinking out or things like ice cream, if (who am I kidding - when) I buy any).

Actual grocery shopping was just over £48 and only the Turkey, bacon, chipolatas and cheese left to collect on Thursday.

For 2022 I need to modify my annual spend spreadsheet to include a separate accounting space for subscriptions and I might break out another sheet to track stores purchases and even fresh GC so I can see what is happening with prices more easily

diminua

There’s been quite a lot of eating out this last week as I was at my brother’s in Cheshire at the weekend. One latte and choc twist, pie and chips, pain au chocolat. I also gave him £10 for food, which I’m counting in this budget (he said I didn’t have to but he had cider and bailey’s and mince pies and quality street and made me veggie shepherds pie with lashings of gravy).

My actual plans for Christmas day are having to be rethought for Covid-related reasons, and the infection rate here in S London also seems very high at present, so I’ve got in staples like tuna and milk and veg in case I have to isolate at short notice or ride it out alone like last year.

In the meantime I’ve been treating myself to smoked salmon and a bottle of Martini my landlady gave me for Christmas and despite everything do still feel quite Christmassy.

Perhaps not surprisingly I’m now down to £43.22 left for the month.  

Finstickle

2 shops to declare:

£123.04 at Lidl, including £31.28 on Christmas
£129.71 at Asda, including £75.55 on Christmas

I've a couple of bits to get today, milk, bread and Christmas veg, but also have a £10 Lidl voucher I'm planning to use, I will stock up on something if I have money left on it
I've been paid early but going to run my month to the end to keep consistent.  We're at family from boxing day so hopefully won't need much when we return.

elsiepac

January GC now up!

Herbyme

elsiepac said:

January GC now up!

Can I FFWD please?! Not looking forward to most of the next 8 days…

Suffolk_lass

Hopefully I have just one more milk bill before the end of December to go, my tally is at 91.66% of my annual budget (of £3000) or £2,749.93 after my 0600   😳 visit to the butcher to pick up the meat and cheese. I have several smaller events to contribute to and Christmas Day here, plus some meat for DS - it was 99p short of £135 😳😳😳

Mrs_Cheshire

Just spent £33.01 on a small top up shop as I'm now isolating due to a positive lateral flow (thank goodness for friends who can pick up shopping and drop it on the doorstep). Got a home delivery planned for the 28th and that's the last shop of the year. at the moment we've spent £391.78/£562 so will end on around £440. 

Will update with final amount and total for the year at the end of the month. 

Suffolk_lass

Mrs_Cheshire said:

Just spent £33.01 on a small top up shop as I'm now isolating due to a positive lateral flow (thank goodness for friends who can pick up shopping and drop it on the doorstep). Got a home delivery planned for the 28th and that's the last shop of the year. at the moment we've spent £391.78/£562 so will end on around £440. 

Will update with final amount and total for the year at the end of the month. 

I hope it isn't serious for you. Take care

ancientmum

I've totally bust the budget this month, but it is mainly storecupboard groceries, toiletries and basic cleaning items that should see me into the new year.  I still have milk and bread to get before the end of the month, so will total up then.
I hope everyone is able to enjoy  their Christmas, get well soon those who are feeling poorly.  I know that Christmas has unhappy memories for a lot of people, so sending virtual hugs to anyone who needs them.
Xx 🎄

PipneyJane

Hope you feel better soon @Mrs_Cheshire.

I think the last time I posted about shopping was 4th December.  Not certain that I haven’t totally lost the plot since then.  There was a £50.88 spend in MrT’s on the 10th, £7.40 spent in W8rose on the 9th plus 59p in L!dl on the same day, £4.70 in Sainsbugs on the 12 plus another 74p yesterday (loose broccoli), and a further £16.68 spent in L!dl yesterday, which included a new quiche pan (£3.49).... And none of those include DH’s shop in MrT’s last Wednesday, where he spent £36.05 but that included £25 on a bottle of Bushmills whiskey (which should be paid for from a different budget) and, anyway, he hasn’t taken his money back.... But it still doesn’t add up to what’s gone from the GC purse.

OK.  The L!dl app tells me that I missed a spend on the 18th (£15.88), which included two frozen lobsters - I’d forgotten about them - see what I mean about lost the plot?

After deducting DH’s £11.05, there’s £22 left in the GC Purse, so that makes my spend so far for December to £138.90/£160.90.  

I collected the goose yesterday from the butcher’s. (£100 spent from the Christmas Fund.) They took me at my word when I ordered “a large goose”.  Just managed to squeeze it into the fridge but it was close.  



Yes, the door does shut.  Hopefully, it’ll fit into the oven without too much surgery. (It’ll go in diagonally.) Next year, I may resort to taking measurements and telling the butcher that the goose can’t be longer than xxx.  

That’s me done for a few days.  We’re off to my SIL’s in an hour or so for Christmas. 

Wishing you all a lovely, stress-free Christmas.

- Pip



PS:  I’ll roast the goose on the 27th, when I get back.