July 2022 Grocery Challenge

thriftwizard

Ah well, declaring for July at £557.39, £7.39 over. Could have been worse! We needed a little ham (had mysteriously vanished, don't look at DS3) some spinach & kale (left out on the counter overnight after making a stir-fry, only fit to feed to the chickens in the morning) and a cream cake for me after some sad news this morning. Don't usually fall for treats but I'll cut myself that little bit of slack today without even a twinge of guilt!

EssexHebridean

Hi All - been MIA here as life has been rather hectic! It won't get much better for a couple of weeks either as the beer festival we are involved in the organisation of is nearly upon us!

The first main shop of our month turned into a bit of a bigger one than really planned albeit not too much off list got bought but there did end up being a fair bit of storecupboard stuff added too. I'm not worried as it'll all come out in the wash this month and next with relatively few shopping trips. £62.65 spent anyway - and MrEH has spent a couple of £ on bottles of squash since in Aldi too. We were under £35 for the month ahead of that I believe so I'm pretty happy with that.  £7.70 of the spend was a big chicken which has already done three meals and will be doing two more yet. I could have got more from it if I'd had time to do anything with the carcass as well, but I didn't - it just got the meat stripped and then the bones are been binned this time. 

PipneyJane

thriftwizard said:

Ah well, declaring for July at £557.39, £7.39 over. Could have been worse! We needed a little ham (had mysteriously vanished, don't look at DS3) some spinach & kale (left out on the counter overnight after making a stir-fry, only fit to feed to the chickens in the morning) and a cream cake for me after some sad news this morning. Don't usually fall for treats but I'll cut myself that little bit of slack today without even a twinge of guilt!

Sometimes a cream cake is what you need, @thriftwizard.  Big hugs.

- Pip

joedenise

Have now checked how we're doing this month and it seems we have gone well over on our bulk fund but have plenty left in the grocery budget so I have moved £50 from the Grocery Budget to the bulk fund so that neither is overdrawn!

So the Grocery Challenge now stands at £38.41 left from £200.  The bulk fund also has a small balance of just over £20.

There is now probably only one more small shop this month so should still come in within budget.

katkin

This month is flying by, where does all the time go. I've already had thoughts about autumn and blankets! 

There's been bits and bobs of spend over the last week or so of £28.44. I'm over budget by £3.04.

• July GC budget £250.00
• Total spend £253.04

There has been one too many impulse trips, away-days and meals out this month so that budget is well and truly busted, but it means I have extra supplies in store for next month. We've also eaten lighter options at home and more snacky bits.

The heat and sunshine have all helped and the garden is starting to produce toms, leaves, beans, strawbs etc. My 2 feathered girls are also back on full production after an early summer moult. They were like burst cushions bless them 

Best of luck getting to the end of the month everyone - will see you all in the August GC. 

SausageDogSandwich

Hi everyone, don’t think I have done to badly, although as always could of been better. Haven’t spent any money yesterday and today. Did go shopping on Monday though, as usual can’t really remember what I bought  started with £1.44 in Asd@, I know I got noodles for £1 but don’t know what else. £4.03 in lidll on 30 pack of crisps and milk. £5.47 in herons.. this was definitely all on wants not needs because I’ve no clue what we got.   
All of this equates to £122.42/£136 spent. I have run out of fruit and only have half a cucumber and frozen veg left & don’t think the milk will last until Sunday either. But we shall see   

Soontobeoap

@goldfinches I would be really interested to hear about jusrol’s reply. Gluten free pastry is so hard to perfect. I am still working on it. No more spends for me today and we are packing up a picnic with food that we already have in fridge and store cupboards, and jumping on Ferry tomorrow to return Grandsons to their Mum and Dad and then drive on up to sons house to babysit 3 granddaughters. Food will be supplied there and so I am declaring a £50.00 overspend. Still can’t decide whether I am estimating too low or spending too much. Bit of both I think!

will try harder in August although we have guests at the beginning for 2 weeks and at the end for one! I do have lots of bits and bobs and leftovers in the fridge from this week so hopefully the middle week and a few days will be really cheap! After August I intend really pulling in the reigns and being very frugal in  September .

London_1

Down to my last two tomatoes ,but decided I can wait until next Monday before getting any as they are not that important enough to warrent me going near a shop and getting tempted (they are quite large ones) so I've decided I shan't need any tomorrow as I have pork lion steak and steamed veg for dinner, and cheese om toast with a poached egg on top for tomorrows lunch I'm out to dinner on Sunday so the two I've got will more than do me for Friday and Saturday with salad bits

JackieO xx

LittleGem

Morning all, doing some batch cooking this morning whilst LO is at nursery. DH brought home a tray of chicken breasts from work (this is a huge perk of his job which massively helps out with our food budget) so bagged those up into portions for the freezer and used 4 to make a big batch of chicken curry. Also noticed two sad looking leeks in the fridge so making a risotto with those and some leftover roast chicken, a bit of bacon I found in the freezer and some peas. Hoping to have enough for dinner tonight plus a bit extra for the freezer 🤞🏼Also hoping LO actually eats it!

need to pop out to do our last top up shop of the month, a bit more fruit, yogurt and a few herbs and spices I’ve run out of. 

Although we’ve gone over budget this first month the challenge has really helped me “switch on” when it comes to meal plans and using things up and batch cooking so hope that continues next month too.

Elisheba

Declaring £99.56/£100 for the month. Woo hoo! There are some places I could cut back a little, but I'll keep the budget the same going forward. UHT milk has really helped. I've used 11 litres this month, which is just under 20 pints. Normally if use about 8 pints a week, so 32 pints a month. So it has worked out cheaper, and then I'm not going to the shops as often either