March 2008 Grocery Challenge

Sunnyday

izoomzoom wrote: »

Going down to the hole in the wall is just too much trouble for me, and I am scared the money will go walkies if I leave it at home or in my bag.

I have two debit cards, one is obviously where my salary goes to, and all my DDs and I have been using it for groceries (and everything else), but the MSE weekly newsletter gave me the idea to use different bank accounts, so from next month I am going to use my second debit card just for groceries (gonna put my budget in there and when it is gone its gone). For DH who spends a fortune on fuel and smokes (and can never 'account' for it), I am going to put his budget onto a cash card we have (probably weekly) and then he can just draw the cash he needs when at the petrol station.

What a fantastic idea, i could just tranfer his petrol and "spending money" to his account and can still draw the shopping money out in cash and keep it then if he has to do the shop i can give it to him before he goes.
Thanks so much for that as things are really tight just now and i`m afraid it`s DH who keeps sending us overbudget every month.
He`s so used to having a safety net and can`t seem to get his head around the fact that it`s gone. Bless - i`m sure he`ll get the hang of it eventually but this should help tons.
SD

Sunnyday

Hi there mardatha,
it`s up to you really want you want to include.
Some people have different budgets for different things eg a cleaning budget and a grocery budget, one for eating out and pet food too.
It`s what ever works for you really.
Try one month one way and another month a different way until you can find something that works for you.

I`m lazy in that i use the GC for everything, food for us and all the animals and the cleaning stuff too- although after reading different ways of cleaning on here and lots of recipes i don`t spend half as much as i used too.
Last year i was spending almost every week what i now spend monthly:eek:
I find it much easier to keep track of things now as so many people here can help with ideas.
The best thing i ever did was keeping a list of my freezer contents and meal planning around what we have in, since i got the slowcooker and breadmaker i`ve saved an awful lot of money and always overcook and freeze things so there`s always something in.
Good luck.
SD

missminnie_2

This is going to be my first month after watching the last one. I'm going to try for £80 for the month.

Sunnyday

missminnie wrote: »

This is going to be my first month after watching the last one. I'm going to try for £80 for the month.

Good luck missminnie,

missminnie_2

Thanks Sunnyday. I'm not very good at budgeting so will try my best!

searching_me

dont worry missminnie we all have to start somewhere x

Sunnyday

missminnie wrote: »

Thanks Sunnyday. I'm not very good at budgeting so will try my best!

If it helps i had lots of lists on the fridge door with fridge magnets at first, these days i have a calendar on there to remind me what i have to do and my meal planner for two weeks, the meal planner changes if i find i have something that needs using up and the calendar is a monthly page that i print off and stick up, i find them a huge help.
The freezer list is missing from the freezer door at the moment cos i don`t know where i`ve put it lol, hope i find it soon as there are a few things i need to cross off it lol:D If i`ve made too much of something the extra goes into the freezer for another day and i write it on the freezer list and print a new one once a month, i cross things off as i use them so i don`t need to keep opening the door and rummaging around.
HTH
SD

missminnie_2

That's a really good idea. Since it's just me i'm not too good at portion control, so often I cook far too much! I live with veggies/fussy eaters so I can't feed it to them. More often than not I forget to freeze it and end up eating the same thing a few days running. I think I will have to start meal planning.

mandy_moo_1

Hi, i've been reading thru these threads for a while and would really like to join your challenge. i know i'm too late to start this month, so i'm gonna just read thru all your ideas before i start in april!

i'm a single mum living with DD who's 17 and DS who's 14.We have 3 dogs, 2 little yorkies ( Ruby & Dylan) who hardly eat anything, and a border collie cross (Missy). i'm currently on benefits due to ill health, and up until now i've managed okay with money as long as i'm really careful. I'm also in a rented house and i'm hoping my landlady doesn't put the rent up, as i currently have to pay £75 a month out of my benefit towards it

However, DD turns 18 in July, and is going away to Uni in Sept, so i'm going to lose my Child Benefit (£15 pw) plus the £50 a week i get for her, and i need to REALLY tighten my belt!! :eek:

at the moment i've been allowing myself £70 a week for groceries,toiletries,cleaning stuff & dog food. i really need to get it down to at least £50 a week to survive. :rolleyes:

at least i won't be shopping for DD when she goes away, but i want to try and reduce my food bills NOW, so i can make a start before she goes on seeing what i can do

well thats me!! i'm gonna start allowing myself £50 p/wk and see how i get on

gonna have a good read thru all your posts now for some inspiration!!

getting-sorted-sarah

Sunnyday wrote: »

I know what you mean about the icky lol but i`d be interested too.
it`s one of those things that you don`t think about much but once you know a bit more about it you can make a decision.
I really resent the cost of the disposable ones, it goes through me every time i have to pay out.
SD

If you use tampons - try this:
http://www.mooncup.co.uk/