January 2008 Grocery Challenge

tranquil_2

Bobbykins wrote: »

Hi Tranquil....I don't know if this will work for you or not BUT....
when I first started on the challenge, a few months ago, I found it really difficult to resist the "bargains" and ended up struggling to meet my budget.

One of the other users (is might have been Rosieben, god bless her) suggested the idea of having a separate "shopping" purse and keeping just enough in it for the grocery budget (either the weekly or monthly amount, whichever suits) plus maybe just a couple of pounds for any really "too good to miss" offers.

That really helped me to keep my spending under control. It might be worth a try for you?

HTH

I hadn't thought of that. I do tend to put things on my credit card (we get 1% back of all spent on it) but I know when I shop in cash I am more restraint. This is one I can do straight away (my girls aren't really keen on the long life milk I give them to stop going to the shops!). Thank you, I will try this.

MRSMCAWBER wrote: »

Tranquil..
I don't know if it helps but when i meal plan - i generally list 7 meals for the week and then just pick 1 of them at a time-rather than thinking its "such n such" on monday -as you can bet i won't fancy it then or something will happen to mess it up... might be a half way solution between the two ways for you......
Im sure it will become a little easier... as you say just aim for 1 day at a time...and in no time you will a whizz:D

That sounds very obvious when you say it, but had never occured to me. Will try and sit down tomorrow and finish the week off meal planning. It makes more sense for our family (well, me) to do this general meal plan rather than daily one.

Thank you for your encouragement. It is appreciated.

dawnylou

tattycath wrote: »

Hi Dawnylou. Did you use the printable internet vouchers for your packs of coke by any chance? I printed some off today and wasn't sure whether asda will take them or not. So if it was the downloadable ones I'll be taking a trip to asda tomorrow!!!

Yes I did! I just printed them - but cut off the bit that said internet only coupon as found the title misleading and I would have cried if the SA tried to make a fuss in front of people!!!

mothershipton

hi, just popped in to join up to this one, didnt do great in december but we are still eating and drinking all the extra food.

My budget for this month is £350 so far only spent £60. Im shopping at the local farm shop for veggies which is cheaper than tesco,

Frugaldom

I just couldn't resist it after seeing the soap nuts on Martin's TV programme tonight then finding out that £4 worth could last me a full year :eek: I HAD to have them - think of the savings! I've updated my signature to reflect the new expense and am looking forward to playing at doing the laundry this weekend! Frugal and environmentally friendly!

Danni

I'd like to join in with this, starting with a wild guessitmate of £50 for January, as there's only myself.

I've so far spent £15, so think I'm doing okay

Sunnyday

Hi Everyone,
i`ve just managed to catch up on the thread and the advice everyone is giving is really inspirational, i`m getting new ideas from everyone else all the time, i hope i`ll have a few of my own and can start returning the favours.

I think that everyone is doing really well, i`ve had some bad moments but feel inspired by everyone else to put it behind me and carry on and i find i`m thinking more postively about other things too.
I`ve had a couple of nsd`s and feel good about that too, if i find i want to go to the shops i`m looking in the fridge and cupboards to make something instead, now that i`m back at work i`m close to some shops each day but as i walk past i look the other way lol.
It`s working so far
SD
ps Nykmedia i`d be interested to know where you are getting the soapnuts from!

aytch

nykmedia wrote: »

£30.57 / £120 for the month so far and keeping a note of everything in my www.spendingdiary.com which is going to be my best friend for 2008. Today's only purchase has been milk - £2.96 for 2 cartons from Co-op :eek: and I fed the 4p change to 'Phil the Pig'.

Love this thread, it's great! Never knew so many people did this until I found the MSE forums :T

PS: Things I have learned since joining MSE:

You can refreeze cooked meat dishes if the meat was originally frozen when fresh
You can freeze milk
You can freeze eggs

I'm thinking that by 2009 I'm going to need a walk-in freezer and one huge delivery first week of the year to see if I can fit in a year's supply of groceries :rotfl:

I wanted to say thank you for the link to the spending diary - that will make my OH sit up and take notice when I tell him how much money we don't have!

jackiegibbo

aytch wrote: »

I wanted to say thank you for the link to the spending diary - that will make my OH sit up and take notice when I tell him how much money we don't have!

Hi yes i agree with you the spending diary is an excellent idea,i started using it on the 1st of jan and i have found it quite an eye opener:eek: :eek: and it has resolved me to be much better with my spending from now on.
Have a good day:j

Jacks_xxx

lil_me wrote: »

We tried the Goulash, yak, don't think I will be doing that again, but at least I tried something new. No spending here today

Oh what a shame!

What shal we try next then hon?

Love Jacks xxx

Janeryan

nykmedia wrote: »

I just couldn't resist it after seeing the soap nuts on Martin's TV programme tonight then finding out that £4 worth could last me a full year :eek: I HAD to have them - think of the savings! I've updated my signature to reflect the new expense and am looking forward to playing at doing the laundry this weekend! Frugal and environmentally friendly!

Yes I'd be interested in how you get on with those as I have heard mixed reviews. Also I have bookmarked the spending diary link and will have aplay later but am off to the dentist now for a big filling which I am not looking forward too!