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June 2008 Grocery Challenge

Hello everyone,

Welcome to the sixth Grocery Challenge of 2008. :hello:

If your new month starts early feel free to join this thread, or if you're still working on your March budget, then keep on posting in the May Grocery Challenge.

As always this challenge is to reduce your own grocery budget to levels that you will be pleased with, not forgetting that we always recommend that you stay inside your own comfort levels and take things gently one step at a time. Remember that this is not a competition....it's designed to take you and your grocery spending to a level you are happy with.

If you are new to the challenge I have quoted the advice from Galtizz below which will help you get started.

Please post into this thread for help and advice and support at any time. Good luck to everyone taking part! :)


Galtizz wrote:
I have said this before, but for all the newbies to the challenge;

For the first month I took a guess at the budget but I really had no idea how much I was spending.

I found the best thing is to have a guess the first month but SAVE ALL OF YOUR RECEIPTS (and yes, that does include the ones from the local shop when you run out of milk ), then at the end of the month add them all up and have a look if you were on budget, if not, it doesn't matter because your budget was a guess. For the next month you can use the total of your receipts and take a bit off to get a realistic budget, just shave off as much as you think you can, it could be £1 a week or £20 a week.

If you are currently spending £200 a month don't suddenly drop it to £100 - you'll never do it but if you cut £20 a month off for a few months you'll get there eventually without feeling you're missing out on anything.

You might think you've done everything you can in the first month but someone always comes up with a new idea and, if you try it you often find you save a bit more (unless you are SarahSaver who is an expert at this and could only save more if she turned her back garden into a paddy field and lived on rice ) In the first month I thought, I'm planning meals, I couldn't possibly save any more, but then I started double cooking and freezing, and making soup instead of buying it in tins.

I've been doing this since Feb but only saved ALL of my receipts last month, it has given me a much better idea of where it is all going. Budget for next month is £80 for 2 of us, I'll start on 30/4. I could probably save more, by eating different foods but I can afford to live on £80, I have saved a lot of money since Feb. and I don't waste food or money any more. So I'm happy with my budget.


Wishing everyone a good month. :)

Pink

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Comments

  • angchris
    angchris Posts: 1,179 Forumite
    hello everyone :hello: a brand new shiny challenge for june...wow where`s the year going?..soon be xmas :eek:
    well i`d love to be able to set a figure to stick to this month (normally £150 for 3 + dog) but its all kinda gone pete tong due to unforseen circumstances and on top of that new car tyres/mot/tax/insurance etc i have precisely £27.92 to pay all my direct debits including mortgage/c.tax/gas/leccy/phone etc etc and food/petrol on top of that:eek: hmmm me thinks things are gonna be a tad tight this month :think: i have got savings but im bu**ard if im gonna dig into that coz thats for my nuptuals (wedding)to mr angchris :love: so its really a damage limitation month for me :o i have got to spend this month trying not to forge into my overdraught, there is no question that i have to feed us all on what i already have knocking around in my cupboards and freezer...thank god that i have bulk bought in the past as this is what is going to feed us this month!
    i think im going to need a bit of help from you lovely guys n girlies in a week or two for suggestions or recipes to use up what i have in, i do have £9 in tesco vouchers which should at least buy me some milk each week.:j
    i hope all of you have a really great month, good luck to everyone doing the grocery challenge..you guys are really inspirational! hopefully grocery challenge for me resumes as normal next month :rolleyes:
    proper prior planning prevents p!$$ poor performance! :p
    Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realise we cannot eat money
    quote from an american indian.
  • Miss_Behaving
    Miss_Behaving Posts: 368
    Name Dropper Photogenic First Post First Anniversary
    Forumite
    Right, I'm definitely in this time! After a successful January, I've had one public and several private failures and I'm now motivated to have another public attempt. My budget is going to be £200 for the whole of June (and the last 4 days of May) - that's for two adults and one chld and one teenager. This month I have no excuse for failure as my cupboards and fridge are stuffed full to bursting.

    Good luck everyone!!
    It's better to beg forgiveness than ask permission.
  • MRSMCAWBER
    MRSMCAWBER Posts: 5,442 Forumite
    Angelatgraceland £280
    AngelNikki £320
    Angelraesunshine £235
    Angie_baby £65
    AnitaJ73 £250
    Annelouise €220
    Annie021063 £200
    Annie123 £350
    Arkonite_babe £300
    BabyMaker £260
    Bargainrzl £100
    BeckSeven £300
    Beemuzed £240
    belfastgirl23 £150
    Bertiebots £220
    Betterlatethannever £95
    BigMummaF £350
    Bleachbird £150
    Bobbykins £250
    Booklover £200
    boredofbeingathome £200
    Brassic £350
    Brummiebabe £360
    Bumblebeeandboy £200
    Carolt2 £160
    Casperthe friendly ghost £35
    Catnap53 £250
    catzine £150
    cdg1111 £445
    cheerfulness4 £140
    Cherrie1122 £350
    Chocolate teddy £280
    Claire2305 £130
    ConfusedNewbie £200
    Cookinmummy £400
    Crazyaboutsaving £180
    CurlyCabbage £150
    Dawnylou £200
    DebbyM £400
    Denise fowler £260
    DesperateHousewife £250
    Dink 1 £250 £249.49
    Doelani £400
    Earthmother £315
    egon £250
    Emptypurse 27th may - 15th june £30 16thjune-£100
    Ess-six £150 £143.10
    fallen angel shelley £160
    FedupNow £183.21
    Feline Fantastic £200 £233.23
    Fi27 £300 £305.20
    Findingmyfeet £400
    Fizzel81 £80
    Fluffysox £170
    Forasmuch £250
    Frankerooney £180
    Frazzmunch £250
    funkyfunkymonkey £200
    Fuchsia_a £50
    GalacticGreen £200
    Galadriel £200
    Gemmzie £370
    Getting sorted sarah £200
    GFN123 £120
    Girl least likely to £170
    Greent £550
    Guns n banjos £175
    Happytails £150
    HollyH £150
    Hollysan £300
    Honeyapple £300
    Huxley £220
    Ifonlyitwaseasier £115
    In Search Of Me £80
    irishwexford £150
    Isthatreduced £140 £140.65
    jackiegibbo £220
    Jackk £200
    JacksonsMum £120
    Jak £85
    JamieDodger £180
    Jane Ryan £200
    JayJay14 £200
    Jaycee1972 £120
    Jenid £150
    JennyBee £150
    JessBrown100 £120
    Jessie18 £300
    Jinky67 £260
    Judellie £350
    julie_Jukes £200
    Jumps £150 £187.73
    Justamum £350
    Kaz2904 £300 £247.45
    Kbl €800
    Keeping Positive £250 £298.58
    Keiss21 £400
    KITTY £280
    kittynortheast £350
    kiwi88 £350
    lady roughneck £170 £201.31
    lainz £70
    Lday77 £200
    Le Foot £300
    lil_me £260
    Lil Monkey £200
    Lingojingo £160
    Linzmac £200
    Littlebelle £200
    lizzieanne £375
    LoveLaura28 £200
    lozza001 £200
    Lucifa73 £200
    Lumpycustard £95
    Mad mittens £80
    Madrocks £250
    mama67 £180
    Mark88man £595
    MERFE £190
    Mhe £200
    Miechrox £100
    mikeD £236
    MillyScarlet £180
    MissBehaving £200
    Mollymop5 £200
    Moniker £325
    Mooloo £225
    moo2moo £250
    Mophead £400
    Mouche £100
    Mousytrap £400
    Mr+Mrs T £250
    MrDT £60
    Mrs.Irwin £250
    Mrs Money Penny £200
    MrsMoneyPenny £500
    mrssnowy £200
    Mrsmcawber €150 €116.68
    Mudbath £300
    Mumker £200
    Mumofcookers £250
    mummy gems £250 £380
    Mummyofjusttwo £160
    Mumo5 £250
    mumzyof2 £50
    Naomim £250
    Naomi20yellow £160
    Natty68 £250
    natzini £125
    Nessa56 £180
    Nessquic80 £200
    newlywed £300
    Newmoneysaver £150
    Nickynoo08 £120
    nykmedia £40
    Orchid96 £150
    Orkney Star £165
    Pablo mummy £104
    patent girl £350
    PennyPincher £250
    PennyPinchingMum £200
    PerryWinkle £300
    Phoolgrrrl £150
    PinkLady1985 £375
    PinkParrot £300
    Pink Princess £375 £329.04
    Pipsqueak £100
    PoohBear59 £200
    Poppyoscar £50
    Procrastinator £200
    Purple Princess £100
    Queenpig £250
    rachelmk £75 £72.82
    Ragz £200
    razra £70
    RedSquirrel80 £50
    Russetred £350
    RuthieB73 £200
    Saffouri £200
    SarahJ £250
    Sashanut £250
    Savingfortravel £250
    Savvy mummy £300
    SAV3R £400
    Scenic route £150
    ScooterWife £300
    ScotSaver £250
    Searching me £200 £235
    SEASHELL £300
    Shala-moo £250
    Sharon_1970 £350
    Shell2001 £300
    Shelley1977 £230
    Sickofhavingnomoney £200
    Skint_Catt £150
    skintscotslass £100
    Skipsmum £360
    Sosh £340 £283.56
    Spendaholic £150
    Squirmy £100
    SunnyDay £225 £224.04
    SunnyDonny £200 £209.45
    super spam £250
    Suzialwaysbroke £320
    SuziQ £180
    Taplady £290
    tattycath £200
    Teddypinkskin £140
    Tesco_shopper £240
    the_cat £180
    TheBees £350
    TinkerbellUK £150
    Tiptoes £200
    Tq16 £150
    Triggles £200
    Turbo5019 £200
    TylersBabe £60
    Urbanchameleon €150
    Victory £300
    VickyA £120
    Wannatravelmore £200
    Wanttobeasaver £200
    Wee Missy £220
    Weezl74 £10
    Welshlassie £260
    Witchmabel £175
    Wmf £180
    Woodpecker £350
    XtessX £280
    ZaraZara £300
    Zend £150
    281273 £220
    666paw £175

    Weekly

    Emmsie21 £40
    Hamish £50
    LulaHula£50
    Mandymoo 1 £55
    Mrs money Spinner £100
    Natty68 £50
    Sarellie8 £50
    Teedy23 £15
    Tigger1983 £40
    -6 -8 -3 -1.5 -2.5 -3 -1.5-3.5
  • JAMIEDODGER
    JAMIEDODGER Posts: 4,339
    First Post First Anniversary Combo Breaker
    Forumite
    count me in please for £180 for me and 4 kids
    November NSD's - 7
  • razra
    razra Posts: 336
    First Anniversary
    Forumite
    Morning everyone

    MrsM please can you put me down for £70 again?

    As usual thats just for me and covers all food/toiletries etc

    Ive discovered this month that I seem to spend much less if I weekly shop rather than do a big online shop once a month, possibly as I end up buying things I dont need so that I can get the total up to the min delivery amount for asdas so Im going to continue weekly shopping.

    Good luck everyone:D


    June Grocery Challenge 270.80/250July Grocery Challenge 0/300
  • cheerfulness4
    cheerfulness4 Posts: 2,874
    First Post First Anniversary Combo Breaker I've been Money Tipped!
    Forumite
    MrsMc could you put me down for £140 for June please.
  • MRSMCAWBER
    MRSMCAWBER Posts: 5,442 Forumite
    Morning all :D

    Nice new thread ...so now my 1st weeks money can go in my purse:T If it had gone in any earlier i would have been tempted to start spending earlier :eek:
    Hubby is off on duty so won't be back until the morning, but im not going to have a walk to the supermarket "to break up the day" ..ooohhh no.. so today is my 5th NSD in a row :A :rotfl:
    Its great as i have been using up the odds n sods from the fridge ready for tomorrow when hopefully the NAFFI will have lots of whoopsies for me :p .
    Today i will be fetching other bits n bobs out of the freezer to use up..can't be diddled to cook from scratch for just me...so its a win win situation.. home made food without the effort :D

    Instead of spending pennies today i am going to check the garden over and then park my bum on the sofa and x stitch :j
    right i will get off and check i haven't missed anyones budgets on the MAY thread
    have a great day everyone :D
    -6 -8 -3 -1.5 -2.5 -3 -1.5-3.5
  • weezl74
    weezl74 Posts: 8,701 Forumite
    Hi Mrs Macawber,:D

    I would like to join in still please. I have £10 to last me through June. I have bought and paid for almost all the food already, so It's not as bad as it looks. :o

    Weezl x

    :hello:Jonathan 'Fergie' Fergus William, born 05/03/09, 7lb 4.4oz:hello:
    :)Benjamin 'Kezzie' Kester Jacob, born 18/03/10, 7lb 5oz:)
    cash neutral gifts 2011, value of purchased gifts/actual paid/amount earnt to cover it £67/£3.60/£0
    january grocery challenge, feed 4 of us for £40
  • angchris
    angchris Posts: 1,179 Forumite
    i know this is really complicating things :o but is there any way we (someone with more brains than me ;):p ) could maybe do a graph or bar chart of some description so that our monthly totals can be seen at a glance maybe over the year?
    it is fabby what mrsmcawber does with her list and im sure we all really appreciate her hard work and time that she spends adjusting it but it would be lovely to see at a glance how everyone else is getting on over the year and how newbies slowly crack the grocery challenge by reducing their budget each month. (sorry for being a pain in the bum mrsmc :o )
    proper prior planning prevents p!$$ poor performance! :p
    Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realise we cannot eat money
    quote from an american indian.
  • JayJay14
    JayJay14 Posts: 1,918 Forumite
    Hi MrsM please could you put me down again for £200.
    Starting 1st

    Thanks.
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