October 2023 Grocery Challenge

LadyWithAPlan

I am back Please put me down for £200 grocery and £50 bulk food buying for October

This does not include restaurants and coffee bars - I only do t/aways when I have a voucher for it

 I have got back to budgeting in Sept so been tracking it for first time in 6 months - also trying to defrost my freezer for the last month - there is a LOT of food in it - so last few items to go - think it will be empty by Oct 1st so will have to fill it up. I have made exciting things such as 'Defrost freezer soup' made in the pressure cooker  where loads of my HM chicken stock went in along with veg and even defrosted cooked Chicken and potatoes - 
In Sept I went away for work and couple weekends away at friends  so food budget all over place but so far I have spent £160 and got £40 in cash left as not counted my abroad spend as had a per diem.. so its low
My entertainment budget got smashed this month especially by a £113 pp  birthday meal for a friend who organised it ... which is very near what my budget os for the month ... hmmm but have to live and celebrate as well

soapy50

Can I join again please? I used to take part a while ago but then life got in the way! Can you put me down for £70 a week please.

Soontobeoap

Started early this month. I am messing with my brain and trying to use a bit of psychology!

We did 2 shops today. One in Aldi that I have added to September and one in Tesco that I am adding here. My hope is that I will work harder to keep costs down if I start this month now rather than thinking that I have extra for treats at end of month! 🤷‍♀️ I understand what I am trying to do anyway! 😂. 
 
I did a bit of shopping for neighbour too. When the till showed £102.53 I nearly passed out at the till. Tesco club card bought it down to £83.82 which saved me £18.71 but was still high! I had done my research on line before going and bought 6 jordans cereals and 2 pizza express pizzas at half price as well as half spoon sugar and frozen sausages reduced.

Neighbours shop cost £18.14 and I bought a yorkshire pud tin that is not counted in challenge. Bringing total down to £60.18. There was no meat  but £8.25 of that was for loo rolls and £10.80 on bulk buy favourite cereal. We bought 2x deodorant £2.00 each, brillo pads £1.20 and 2x bleach £2.78. It really didnt look much for the money.


Whilst I think of it has anyone had any extra points vouchers from Tescos recently. I havnt had any for 6 months. I have checked that my settings are right on the app and have been shopping with them once or twice a month! 🤷‍♀️

JingsMyBucket

@Soontobeoap there was some kind of weird rollover situation with my Tesco account as well between July and August where they didn't count my points but that seems to be all solved now. That said, I haven't had a coupon since late June and I don't know why. Hopefully they start sending me them again. So bizarre. 

GreenFairy

€600 again for me, please @elsiepac

Gonna be absolutely ruthless on it this month. I've a decent amount in the freezer and presses, so need to clear out as much as possible there.

Eldest kiddo, who literally just turned 6 this week, is currently eating me out of house and home. Massive brekkie, full lunchbox, another lunch when he comes home, afternoon snack, dinner and usually supper too. There's not a pick on him either.  I'll need shares in Tesco once he hits puberty!

goldfinches

@GreenFairy - I remember both my brothers going through that stage very vividly and think the next thing they did was grew massively in a very short time so don't buy him any new clothes now unless he really can't do without them. My mother used to bemoan unifom that was almost unworn because it had been grown out of so fast.

@Soontobeoap - I'm not surprised you were so shocked by the total at the till, that's pretty horrendous. I think I see where you're going with the avoiding treats tactic so am looking forward to hearing whether you find it helpful.

diminua

Hi Elsiepac

Could you put me down for £200 for the calendar month again please.

thank you,

Verulamium_Vixen

Hello everyone and thanks for tracking us @elsiepac

I'm likely to go slightly over budget in September in order to earn my Christmas bonus at T3sco. There's nothing I need apart from a few goodies to donate to the harvest festival food bank collection at church so that should cover the £11 I need to spend.
Despite going over I'm going to aim for £680 in October. 
It's my birthday at the end of the month and somebody else can pay for my special birthday meal.
Back at some point to give an interim update but before that I'll post my final September spend on the other board on Saturday 
VV 

Suffolk_lass

We remain on holiday this week so hoping to have recouped some of the year to date overspend by Sunday, as this week and last are out of the holiday budget. I plan to rely on our freezer for meat this coming month and run down stores a bit while it is still warm enough not to turn the electric aga on for winter. Of course the odd Christmas opportunity may present itself and stores could look in that direction, but not bothered if it doesn't

Soontobeoap

DH has just been for a top up shop from Aldi for family coming at weekend. He didnt get receipt or register qhat the codt was. 🤯! My best guess is £20.00! As I use these figures to see if I am getting any better at this year on years this is not helpful!

Someone suggested adding a little porridge oats to mince to make it go further. I have just done this and it tastes delicious. No difference apart from the fact that with a few added veg it will make an extra meal for two!

Have just checked and my email was definitely registered when I joined Tesco app. No email for me. 😕