January 2008 Grocery Challenge

tru

Hi all, count me in please

I'm aiming for £220 per month (I spent £264.77 per month last year). I actually want to do £200 per month but if I go just the tiniest over, I'll be mad with myself :rolleyes: So I'll see how I get on in january and lower the amount for feb - hopefully

Tartan_Mum

I've tried to stay on the Grocery Challenge wagon during 2007 but always seem to fall off (spectacularly!) in the last week.

If I can get on top of the groceries, it will make a huge difference.

Budget for January (to be worked down gradually over the year) is £350 which is a) a reduction on what we currently spend :eek: and b) ridiculous for 2 adults and a 14 month old

Back on the wagon for 2008!

TM x

Jacks_xxx

Tartan_Mum wrote: »

I've tried to stay on the Grocery Challenge wagon during 2007 but always seem to fall off (spectacularly!) in the last week.

If I can get on top of the groceries, it will make a huge difference.

Budget for January (to be worked down gradually over the year) is £350 which is a) a reduction on what we currently spend :eek: and b) ridiculous for 2 adults and a 14 month old

Back on the wagon for 2008!

TM x

Hey sweetie, :hello:

I can't bear that last week of waiting to get paid either so I do it the "wrong way round" as a rule. I generally buy only what I need to last the next few days in the first week, buy a bit more in week 2 and have the big
"Oh My God we've got empty cupboards! :eek: "

splurge in week 3 which generally carries me through the last week with no deprived feelings.

I know it's a bit odd but I find I'm all gung ho and motivated at the start of the month so I try and use that keen-ness to keep the budget lean - leaving myself room to relax a tad when the motivation wears off!

Love Jacks xxx

scotrae

(Taking a deep breath and tightening the metaphorical belt...) I think I could be spending a lot of time looking through this site over the coming months!

Is filling the freezer with half price meat on Dec 27th cheating? I've told hubby that he'd banned from buying Farm Shop meats or big-bag luxury crisps for the foreseeable future and have threatened growing young sons with putting locks on the kitchen cupboards. Reckon we have enough in cupboards and freezer to live off very little but as it's going to take a major culture change I'm going to set it at £25 pw (on groceries, household proucts etc)to begin with and see how we get on.

Jacks_xxx

scotrae wrote: »

(Taking a deep breath and tightening the metaphorical belt...) I think I could be spending a lot of time looking through this site over the coming months!

Is filling the freezer with half price meat on Dec 27th cheating? I've told hubby that he'd banned from buying Farm Shop meats or big-bag luxury crisps for the foreseeable future and have threatened growing young sons with putting locks on the kitchen cupboards. Reckon we have enough in cupboards and freezer to live off very little but as it's going to take a major culture change I'm going to set it at £25 pw (on groceries, household proucts etc)to begin with and see how we get on.

:wave: That's what I did honey. I read loads of stuff, got inspired and tried things out.

Sometimes I thought "Well that was pretty painless!" and absorbed it into our usual routine and some things I haven't quite got to grips with yet. ( I am hampered by my "limited to say the least" cooking skills!)

Try out some cheaper brands of things you use every month (tinned tomatoes, bread, margarine, baked beans, fish fingers etc) If you've never properly looked before you might be surprised at the variety in price points for what is essentailly a very similar product.

Just to give you an example: My local Tesco does tins of tomatoes at prices between 19p and 89p. (And Lidl does a tin for 12p!:dance: :dance: :dance: )

Doing this kind of check more or less halved my shopping bill the first month I tried this GC lark - just by saving a few pennies on everything.

Good luck honey!

Love Jacks xxx

sweetpea03

Sorry to confuse things lil _me but please could you change my total to £200 for the january challenge please as I have just done my soa & need to reduce my grocery budget thanks

willow_girl

Going to start again with January. Did manage to keep to limit for December until Xmas came and then spent over the norm (didn't budget properly :rolleyes: ).
Might tot everything up when I feel brave and post it.

So here goes for this month. I'm sticking to £160 plus £40 for the two dogs. Their money gets rolled over and put towards bedding and flea stuff when needed.

So here goes (with a determined look on my face).
Good luck everyone

fallen_angel_shelley

my grocery challeng is getting of to a good start, DS hasn't been home since i did my shop on saturday, so not had to use much being on my own. the only thing i have that i will have to cook in the next couple of days is some mince, a pepper and mushrooms. the mince is chilli con carne, which will last us 2-3 nights and the pepper & mushrooms are for homemade pizza. going to my ex's later for new year and will be eating his food, so next weekends shop should be quuite cheap.

LilMissEmmylou

ok placed my tesco order today for jan 2nd as house will be empty of food when i get home after the holidays. Guide price of £93 but should work out less after offers etc but eeeek thats almost 1/2 my monthly budget gone lol so it will need to last us! (but to be fair it does have good staples in there with the rice, pasta, sauces etc)

Teterow

Will join you on this challenge.
£110 for 2 adults, living in different towns during the week and together on weekends.
I am trying to get this done until payday, Jan 26th.