July Grocery Challenge

PhilCCFC

Room for one more ?

We've been really trying to sort our finances out lately and it's starting to come together nicely so I think it's time to set a monthly budget for food shopping and try to keep our finances on the straight and narrow.

OK, I've looked through our statements and have been amazed how much we spend in supermarkets. The budget is going to be £50 per week which means £200 this month for 2 adults, 1 child and an infant. This includes the little ones milk and nappies. If this works out then I'll start chipping away at the £50 per week.

Do people usually include their ale intake on this challenge ?

THIRZAH

I'm hoping to stick to £50 per week for the three of us. This does not include wine etc but we probably have enough in to last the month anyway.

I have managed on £30 per week when there's just DH and me at home but DD is home from college and is starving ! Fortunately she's got a months work so won't be coming to the supermarket with me.

She's taking a packed lunch to work every day. It's quite a challenge to think what to give her as she doesn't like ham etc (she's not a vegetarian - just picky) or fresh tomatoes. I've made pasta salad on a couple of days and last week cooked a chicken as she will eat chicken sandwiches so long as it's fresh chicken not the stuff from the deli. It's going to be a long month.

Loadsabob

PhilCCFC wrote:

Do people usually include their ale intake on this challenge ?

Hello - I include wine and beer etc if it's to drink at home, or have at home with meals. But if I'm out for an evening and have a pint or glass of wine or whatever, I class that as entertainment. Same with eating out...it's so rare that I do so, it's not really manipulating the grocery budget!! All comes out of my £50 per week to live on after bills, either way!! But I'm trying to make £20 per week for gorceries (just me).

Good luck with July!

Sarahsaver

I'm still trundling along with my £20 a week, and its working fine. ( 1 adult, 3 kids) I am going to get a few storecupboard treats when we go to Spain in the school holidays;) Its great now we have hens as we get two eggs a day, regular as clockwork:)

MATH

Sarahsaver wrote:

I'm still trundling along with my £20 a week, and its working fine. ( 1 adult, 3 kids) I am going to get a few storecupboard treats when we go to Spain in the school holidays;) Its great now we have hens as we get two eggs a day, regular as clockwork:)

Well done SSaver. It's funny how you soon become used to a certain budget. Like you I'm trundling along on £40 -5 per week for 2 adults, 3 kidz, 2 cats and I'd forgot I was actually on a challenge cos it has become 'normal' . I will be stepping down from Ol'Style for July and Aug to live a life of debauched consumerism for 2 months but back in Sept

bluemoon_3

Today, I worked out how much I spent in May : £199
For June I set a budget of £100, but overspent by £24. I'm still quite pleased because that's a big saving over the previous month. (I'm doing this by calendar month because it's easier to work it out on Microsoft Money).

For the July challenge, bearing in mind it's my birthday and we'll be making a "special" meal for that, and I've had a stock-up order from Goodness Direct, I'm setting a budget of £120. That's to cover groceries, top-ups, delivery charges, bus fares, cleaning products, etc for 2 adults.

It's only the 5th and I've already spent about £85 (!), but that will stock-up my cupboards for a while (I hope ).

Jet

Can I join you?

I'm going to set a budget of £200 for July. This is for 2 adults, 1 child full time and 2 children 3 days per fortnight. This will be for all food and cleaning and laundry products.

I spent £230 last month, but was very, very good, so I don't think there's a lot I can shave off, so I'm going to aim for a realistic £200.

Janeryan

Well I'm on week 2 for the July challenge and so far have spent £91.84 so am currently on target for my £200.00 for the month.

Kepp your fingers crossed for me as we definately need to keep a tight rein on the budget as hubby doesn't get paid while off sick.

BoltonMinx

Week 2 and Im still on track-ish :j

Love the Tesco online shopping, saving me a ton compared to when I pop in the shops! So far have spent another £61.43 but since everyone except me has decided to go low-carb, we ran out of eggs and for some odd reason onions. So two emergency shops for me this week, the first being that lovely thread on tesco mispricing bagging me £17 worth of goodies for £1.99 :cool:

So... I overspent last week but took it out of this week's budget, which I think is right ? Total spend so far £134.62 of £140, and I will save on my Friday pub lunch as Im on a half-day. Might end this week ahead :rotfl:

omega_2

Ummmm, put off posting on this Challenge because I know I'm off track at the mo - spent 65% of the budget already, and I'd hoped to have been well under!

Will probably redeem some boots adv. card points tomorrow to help things out a little, plus I've rounded up some more coupons. Also, took a quick gander at fixtureferrets to suss out bogofs in Somerfield, where I'll have the opportunity of popping in tomorrow. So, all-in-all, it's not that bad!