£304.71 to last the month

choccyface2006

I let myself have £255 a month which has to included food & groceries (for 3 of us- usually £100 per month) mobile, and £30 travel for daughter 1 per month.

This month we have also had unusual expenses, £12.50 school trip and £11 for a school photo for daughter 2, I bought daughter 1 some new clothes £30 & £5 sponser money. I don't have any debt though, the rest pays the direct debits and goes into savings which I try my best not to touch I have managed this for years now and keep records on MS Money for every penny. Major purchases, Christmas, daughters birthdays and holidays come from savings.

I think you should be fine, how many of you are there?

Sarah x

shopaholictiedtheknot

There are 3 of us, me, DH and DD who is 14 - she lives with us but spends 3 days a week at her Dad's so that does save me some money! My main problem spending is nipping to the shop for bread/milk and impulse buying rubbish! I am going to just take as near to the exact amount I need this month so there is none spare for that.

choccyface2006

My DDs spend a night at their dads a week too which helps.

I have been really good recently with going to the shops and only coming out with what I need although I do have to check the reduced shelf for bargains!

Last week I defrosted my freezer and had a good look in the cupboards to use stuff up which I've had a while so I could avoid doing a proper food shop for another week, it worked and apart from a few bits to tide us over, we managed and actually had some nice meals. I also cooked a big shepards pie, sauasge cassorole and a chili and froze individual portions too made a sponge pudding with syrup and custard and had pancakes for brekfast, to use the eggs up, yum.

Maybe write a list of everything that you know you will have to buy then divide the rest into weekly amounts? What you overspend one week you can maybe make up the following week, or you could have a good week and carry some over.

Sarah x

got-it-spend-it

shopaholictiedtheknot- Get yourself over to the Old Style board on here as there are some great ideas on there on cutting your grocery bills. I have honestly saved myself a firtune since following some of the threads on there such as meal planning and not throwing food away. I'm always amazed some of the store cupboard meals that can be made with the stuff I already have in.

Good luck with it- I'm sure you'll enjoy the satisfaction of not touching your o/d.

GISI

shopaholictiedtheknot

I tidied out all the cupboards last week and found loads of forgotten usefuls at the back and have been trying to use them up, doing really well so far, have also made up double portions of things and have frozen them - Chilli, Shepherds Pie, Chicken casserole and lasagne. Also been trying to bulk things out with more veg and/or beans so the meat goes further (keep trying to sneak veggie dinners in but OH is a die-hard carnivore!

Also have tried cheaper cuts of meat than I usually buy, had a turkey thigh joint last week instead of a breast one (half the price) and cooked in the slow cooker, it was lovely!

Any suggestions for a bag of soup -mix -type grain/pulse thingy (iykwim) other than adding to soup??

Staciep88

You've got more than me a month, just make sure you only buy food essentials etc and you'll soon notice the different

Cleosmum

I usually manage £50 a week for 2 adults and 3 kids (includes toiletries, cleaning stuffs etc) though this month i am a bit over. Only buy the basics and cook everything from scratch. Do you have a shop you can walk to? I find that helps as you only buy what you really need as you have to carry it home. If you have a freezer then buy enough bread and milk to last and freeze it. £304.71 is loads, you will be fine!

louby_lou

i have about £67 to last me until 7th July and I've somehow got to get to London and go to the wireless festival on that a week tomorrow! I have managed to work from home for 3 days this week as I have absolutely no money for petrol and live 20 miles from my work the OH has been paying for the food fof the past few weeks (I only contributed £10 yesterday to a £40 shop ) though I had been enforcing a "WE WILL EMPTY THE CUPBOARDS AND FREEZER!" rule for about 2 weeks. We've had some interesting dinners of late but we've certainly used up all of the things we never thought we would! Including a quiche that had been in the freezer for as long as I can remember lol.

Im actually enjoying making the weird amalgamations of ingredients into a satisfying dinner, and we have cut down on meat consumption to save money. really feeling the cost of food these days!

shopaholictiedtheknot

I think I am going to try eating up everything over the next few weeks instead of going out to buy more, I have loads of food in, just don't always fancy it and end up spending money I didn't need to.

Tonight we are having sausages, beans (already have) and mash - sweet and ordinary potato (need to use up the sweet ones so just going to buy a couple of ordinary)

NUFCnutter

Shopaholic - You CAN do it! You will be great, I have done 2 weeks under £50 on groceries for me and my 3 kids (who eat as if it is their last meal all the time). YOU WILL MAKE IT!