September 2024 Grocery Challenge

LotsOfTea

Hi, after a chaotic summer I'm keen to get back to being sensible and using up some stores, especially from the freezers as there's loads of stuff in there that has been there way too long and the chest freezer needs defrosting very badly! 

Please put me down for £250 for the month for 2 adults & 1 child. 

Soontobeoap

I have started shopping for September today due to a rare tesco coupon for £16.00 off of £110.00 shop. I spent yesterday evening scrolling through their special offers and writing a list of things we needed that might boost thr shop but werent grocerys. We bought a half price frying pan, DH some slippers and me a product for medical reasons as well as our grocerys. I am really pleased with the result. The total came to an eye watering £147.86 However club card prices and the vpucher bought the whole shop down to £110.81. Only £77.81 of that is in the grocery budget. We now have 2 shelves of the freezer filled with meat. A good basos to start September. We are away for the first week so will need bread and milknext weekend when we get back

We are having a nearly free pud tonight as someone at crib gave us a big back of plums which I have stewed up to have with custard. In our freezer clear out I discovered some pain au chocolats so they will be a treat tomorrow. Yesterday we found some bacon slices lurking in freezer uneaten and had bacon sarnis for lunch. I love this freezer clear outs as there are always a few surprises. 

peony40

Morning everyone,

Just had my first shop for September from Mr T.  Total came to £89.87, this is £31.27 on fridge bits, £15.87 on cupboard bits like biscuits, flour, £10.04 on freezer bits, £7 on housekeeping such as batteries and soap and finally £25.69 on pantry bits and pieces.

I have menu planned for the next fortnight which is very rare for me, I just need to stick with it now!  I am going to try hard to stick to budget this month, I have been spending far too much the last few months but we are facing an income drop next January so I need to prepare for it now.

Good Luck all.

thriftwizard

Right - a nasty shock on the tax front has meant there's less in the kitty than I'd anticipated, so I'll have to request a slight adjustment down to 

£500

please, @elsiepac, for 3-5 adults for 5 weeks. Apparently OH's tax code has been adjusted to reflect his normal earnings, plus pension, plus OA pension, although he's actually on an unpaid leave break for 4 months & thus should have stayed under the limit for that adjustment this year. This is all very complicated! But it's not the right moment to challenge it; he's not well enough for wrangles & his work are trying to switch him from unpaid leave to sick leave anyway. I'm not anticipating DS3 returning, if he has to, until the very end of the month as his rent is paid up until then.

Anyway, £60 spent already, at the market & round the town yesterday. A few more bits needed later on, will adjust as necessary.

Soontobeoap

I am really going to try to find more ways to save on grocerys this month. Inflation and shrinkflation are making it harder and harder. We had beefburgers tonight. We now skip the bun and DH has his in bread and Mine is in a wrap. Saves the leftover ones taking up room in the freezer until DH decides they are too stale to eat anyway! I have started buying pork mince rather than mixed beef and pork for lasagnas and shepherds pie. I am seriously considering whether to use another tesco coupon for £11.00 off a £110.00 shop on clubcard meat offers too so I am going to clear the freezer of frozen bread, fruit and bubble and squeek etc over the next 2 weeks to see if I can make enough room. Could be trick as we are away for 4 days next week. Much more time to work on it now the school hols are over. 

carboot_karaoke

Evening all

I'm debating putting down my allocated amount of £650 or the maximum id like to spend which is no more than £600.

I'm wondering if l make £600 my official target whether I'll try harder to keep within it 

This is for food, toiletries and cleaning products, for four adults, two children and fuel for two vehicles. 

I think I'll go for it @elsiepac can you put me down for £600 please and thank you again for managing the challenge 

otb666

I was annoyed this week as Aldi double decker pack only had 3 instead of 4 in it and choclate biscults had open end with couple of biscults removed.  I dont know why people do this as stealing from fellow shoppers is not on as we are all broke at the moment.  Please take care when shopping I will certainly have to be more vigilant.

FoxFace

Hi everyone,  it has been a long while since I poked my head in here,  but we are in the process of buying a house and the budget is a big priority right now.  A big weakness for us is not sticking to menu plans, and spending a lot on snacks and take-aways.

We have a pretty healthy grocery budget but need to stick to it really.  I'm an old hand at grocery budgeting but sometimes I just slip and get lazy, so I'm back to put some old tricks back into action.

We have  separate account for groceries, but this is our first time attempting a monthly budget, rather than a weekly one.  It's either going to be a massive success or a huge failure, I think.

Can you please put us down for £500 for the month, for 3 adults and one teen. Thanks

SausageDogSandwich

Thanks for the new thread @elsiepac

can I please have £350 for the month, thank you x

Blackcats

Thank you for the September challenge @elsiepac.  The 9th challenge of 2024 -where on earth has this year gone?
I just reviewed Sept on a day by day basis as we have a 7 day holiday, a 3 day mini break and a birthday meal out which means we aren't home for a chunk of the month, so I've reduced the grocery budget which should keep me focussed on meal planning and sticking to a shopping list.

£250 for September please