October 2016 Grocery Challenge

carolinerunner wrote: »

XSpender, I am right with you, I don't know how it gets to be so much. I too am trying to get back my FF mojo. A thought: can you pre-prepare dinner so you're not trying to do it when you get in after work? eg slow cooker set up in the morning? or batch cooking and freezing? I am trying to use those strategies myself.... good luck for October!

lynnejk wrote: »

Maybe you both need to keep all your receipts for October - just on a bulldog in the kitchen drawer perhaps - and then book yourself a couple of hours with a pen and paper and look through carefully at what you spend and where.


You might then be able to see any problem areas. It's difficult to offer any hints or tips without knowing what and where you buy. You could then come back and ask again with more info


Good luck with the challenge
Lx

Thanks both.

I used the slow cooker last week for the first time in months!

I meal planned last week and have done a plan for the next 2 weeks and I have found this has helped me cut down on last week's spending and the first week of October's spending so far.

I had a massive wage increase about 18 months ago and some of the increase is definitely down to lifestyle creep and not watching the budget as there has been more money available than before. I have been adding up what we spend each month as usual, have not been happy with it but not done anything about it. We moved house and have much bigger expenses and that overspend now impacts on how much is available for other things.

Keeping the receipts is a good idea, I will go through them and see what was 'extras', what was booze and what got wasted every week and tot up at the end of the month.

Today I spent £24.49 in Mr T after a long meeting when I was very hungry and looking at the receipt £5.49 of that was on rubbish that wasn't on my list :mad:

My total is now £73.49/£500. Still OK as budgeting £100/week.

£230 for me please this month (£30 is the sack of dogfood)

£10 spend so far for me on a few odds and ends, mainly cleaning.

First shop of the month £28.92 including some cleaning things, shampoo, conditioner and deodorant so I was quite pleased with that.
I've meal planned for the week so that should be it apart from some fruit mid week.
PP x

Hello all

I've had a few NSDs this week, but I have blown it slightly tonight by ordering a pizza! How annoying! This doesn't actually come out of my GC budget, but it is a complete waste, and I definitely want to stop it.

Oh well, at least there are enough leftovers to feed me tomorrow night too!

My greed-driven pizza decision apart, I've only spent £2.85 on some milk and chewing gum this week. I'll do a big shop on Sunday, focussing mainly on soap powder and tinned stuff and storecupboard goodies. I want stuff to make soup, since the weather is definitely changing now! I'm going to try to clear my freezer this month, so I won't need to buy a lot over the next few weeks.