May 2008 Grocery Challenge

taplady

morning all - just a quick update before I read the thread. Did some Tesco online shopping - very impressed at how easy it is plus used a code and got £7 off:j My total for the month so far is £252.43 out of £300 so its looking good to get in under target if I can keep DH away from the shops:rolleyes: he has a £5 money off voucher for morrisons thats burning a hole in his pocket:D might use it to stock up on things for next month as apart form fruit and veg we dont need anything really. My new month starts on June 1st as I go from the 1st of each month to the 1st of the next month.
Hope everyone is doing well.

greent

Hello all!!

Have been reading this thread for the past couple of days with interest. Yesterday I decided to add up all the debit card entries through our account from T & A - came to £570+ so far for the month! That was after excluding stuff in there like a new iron & a couple of tshirts too!!! It doesn't include money he spends on lunches (although he does get some of that back) nor anything bought at petrol stations, garden centres etc :-(

Anyway, Dh has decided that we really need to cut back. (really?!?! - lol!) - esp as there's still a week and a half left of the month, including half term.
On a positive note, both our freezers are full & the cupboards are full, so we should have a reasonable start.

My problem is I won't compromise on some things - I buy free range or organic meat & eggs - on both moral & taste grounds. I have also tried substituting some cheaper things before, but the children & husband do notice - without seeing any packaging they will ask me if it's different.
Also, both myself and my daughter cannot use certain soaps/ shower gels etc and (tbh) I don't like products with SLS/ SLES and such like in, anyway. I make my own soap (as a not very profitable business!) which has ''natural'' ingredients. I also use soap scraps to make my own laundry gel, which is boosted by washing soda (nice and cheap!) As I use cleaning products from under the sink up I am trying to only buy eco replacements, or just use vinegar/ bicarb etc.

We do have a small amount of herbs & veggies growing - and I mean small. But it will help!

How, sticking to my principles regarding 'ethical' meats and organic (where poss) fruit and veg and 'natural' cleaning prods and toiletries - can I reduce our outgoings? I should also add that DH and DD are big meat eaters, too.

We actually waste little food - I estimate less than £10 a month - which I am also going to work on - posting a list on fridge of anything thrown and the value.

It's too late for me to join May - although pay day was a couple of days ago I will find it easier to do month beginning to month end for this.

I am looking forward to the challenge and have set a first month's target of £550 - yes, I know it's a vast amount, but it will still be an improvement on now! I know that next month I will have a suma order at the begining though - but that will include some items for stocking up.

I'm also quite excited at the prospect! When totting up my receipts next month do I exclude clothes etc bought at smkts, and just keep to food/ household products? My hardest part is going to be getting DH to keep a tally of his spending!

greent
2 adults, 3 children and 2 guinea pigs

Desperate_Housewife_2-2

Just a quick update....

I've bust my budget (again) but I'm going to try again for next month at £250 so I'll post in the June thread when it starts.

The thing is, I've noticed that things are creeping up so fast (petrol is a good example) that I might as well bulk buy foods which will keep. I notice rice has gone up and Asda are now restricting it to a maximum of 6 bags per customer. Anyway, I've cleared out my pantry and made space for storage and got stocked up on things like rice, beans, flour, milk powder, dried goods etc so hopefully I have a baseline which I can top up using a rotation system so it doesn't go out of date.

I've also planted some veg in the garden so I'm really hoping that it grows, that should cut costs a bit.

Keep up the good work everyone

Flylady_Flower

Hi All,

Wow, I decided to stay off here yesterday as I had so much to do and I knew I would get carried away - god this tread moves fast!

Victory - thanks for the update on the lightbulbs - I got spotlight ones so might have been a bit dearer, but I will def check these out.
Nothing wrong with decanting stuff - I do it too, mainly because DH,DS & DD all turn their noses up when they don't see 'Heinz' or 'Andrex', but when they don't see the container, they say nothing, so what they don't know won't hurt them! (PS: I used to put my liquid soap back into the carex bottle, but then the lable started looking naff, ect so I brought a ceramic pump one out of the £1 shop - looks pretty and still no-one knows!)

Sosh - Congrats to OH on new Job! :T

Fi27 - It's great to be excited - It's my first month too and I LOOOVE it. been wasting money for so long, it's great to be able to save now - even DH is coming round to it - If he stops spending we'll save loads!:D
(PS: Just coz lettering is small, doesn't mean we didn't see the fresh cream slices being eaten :rotfl: )

tq16 - Don't beat yourself up about it - :grouphug: new month and new start will be here before you know it!

Angelatgraceland - good idea for the seperate budgets - mine are all currently on grocery, but I will split them for next month I think

Wow, I hope I got round to everyone I wanted to - 3 pages of catch-up and I only missed a day! Think I need to keep up-to-date, it's easier.

NSD for me today and tomorrow - spent £1.98 on potatoes in Mr T's and £2.70 on a chicken salad sandwich at work yesterday (I was feeling sorry for myself )

Off to update siggy...

Denise x

Flylady_Flower

denisefowler wrote: »

Hi All,

Wow, I decided to stay off here yesterday as I had so much to do and I knew I would get carried away - god this tread moves fast!

Sorry, thread! I know it moves fast, but don't think it needs tread!

saffouri

Good morning all! Beautiful day here. :j

Popped in to update sig, which went up by a lot after the veg box (or rather boxes - I think I mentioned we've got family coming this weekend!) came yesterday. We still have a few things to pick up before the weekend, but as I'm planning on doing some baking today and tomorrow (from the lovely recipes on here) that should really help keep the shopping down to only a few last-minute things like the chicken. We should still come in under budget for the month, which I'm chuffed about as it's been our first GC.

Probably won't be posting a lot over the next few days as I'm getting ready to go to the US - and sorry don't feel able to catch up on the posts from the last few days either - feeling a bit overwhelmed with everything :eek: DH and I haven't talked yet about how we want to do the June GC when I'm away - but I'm sure we'll do something as this month's experience has been really good, thanks to this site and you lot!

saf

Justamum

I haven't updated my sig yet, but I'm embarassed to say that I'm over - even though I actually upped my target this month. I know what it is. The "snacks" section of the budget is still too high so it really needs addressing. My month ends on Saturday so I shall do my darndest not to spend anything until then (or if I do I might cheat and stick it into next month's spends:D)

shaz_mum_of__2

greent wrote: »

My problem is I won't compromise on some things - I buy free range or organic meat & eggs - on both moral & taste grounds. I have also tried substituting some cheaper things before, but the children & husband do notice - without seeing any packaging they will ask me if it's different.
Also, both myself and my daughter cannot use certain soaps/ shower gels etc and (tbh) I don't like products with SLS/ SLES and such like in, anyway. I make my own soap (as a not very profitable business!) which has ''natural'' ingredients. I also use soap scraps to make my own laundry gel, which is boosted by washing soda (nice and cheap!) As I use cleaning products from under the sink up I am trying to only buy eco replacements, or just use vinegar/ bicarb etc.

We do have a small amount of herbs & veggies growing - and I mean small. But it will help!

How, sticking to my principles regarding 'ethical' meats and organic (where poss) fruit and veg and 'natural' cleaning prods and toiletries - can I reduce our outgoings? I should also add that DH and DD are big meat eaters, too.

I too buy ethical meat and eggs i have found the only way to make savings in this area is to buy big ie half a lamb/pig direct from the producer Asda do a big box eggs for £2

We only eat meat 3 times a week and the meat is usually stretched to more than one meal

Ie i buy a whole gammon joint and we have it as a roast then use some another night say in a pie and the rest for sandwiches for packed lunches i pay £12 for about 1.5kg at a local farm shop for the joint(cooked) its £2.49 per 100g at tesco for organic cooked ham per 100g

Vegetarian meals are sometimes more interesting than meat ones and sometimes no one notices theres no meat(pizza/pasta)

I refuse to compromise in this area and still save money


Shaz

FelineFantastic

Morning all- I was a little down this morning but reading this thread has perked me up and given me some well needed inspiration!

Am off to the pound shop at lunchios now for soap dispensers

Welcome Greent- another newbie just like me-- everyone here has been so fantastically welcoming to me and I am already planning on making the chocie cake and learning new things to do with Satsumas (and I didn't know you can freeze milk-- milk is one thing I always have to go to MrT's for part way through the week which has led to impulse buying in the past :mad: ) so when I shop today I will buy double and freeze it!

I normally shop in Aldi's but may try Asda's for a few extra bits.

Have a great day everyone- especially anyone still celebrating the footie!:D

FelineFantastic

Just a quick question- can anyone give me any tips on the best place to buy containers for freezing things in- we have some but they are doubling as lunch boxes so can't all be used- and I have no spare old margarine tubs at the mo.

Also does milk freeze better in cartons or bottles- or does it make no difference?

Thanks

Ax