May 2008 Grocery Challenge

Pink. · 30 April 2008 at 3:39AM

Hello everyone,

I'm really sorry it's late, but welcome to the fifth Grocery Challenge of 2008. :hello:

If you're still working on your April budget, then keep on posting in the April 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!

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

Galtizz wrote:

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.

I hope you all have a good month.

Pink

angchris · 30 April 2008 at 4:38AM

oooo ooo a sparkly new challenge and im the first here _party_ put me down for £150 again please for 2 adults a teenager and a rottweiler... well my may grocery challenge started on the 22nd so im already over a week in, i have done a big monthly online shop of £110 and to be honest i don`t think i`ll need much more except maybe a bunch of bananas in a week or two, i tend to get to the last week and live off of tinned/frozen fruit and veg.
i made a nice toad in the hole for tea yesterday out of reduced cocktail sausages (10p) oh was well impressed

was delish, easy to make, filling and cheap!
both oh and i have given up smoking this week :dance: its gonna save us £11.20 a day :eek: we are both sticking to it so hopefully money wont nearlly be as tight from now on although i will still be religiously sticking to my food budget. we decided to give up after oh totted up in the bank what we spent last month on ciggies (£336) compared to what i spent on food (£110.25) and we both decided it was ridiculas to carry on

i hope everybody does really well this month, good luck to you all and may the force of mse be with you when you are shopping :cool: :rotfl:

MRSMCAWBER · 30 April 2008 at 5:46AM

Aliwali £200
Angchris £150 £126.47
Angelatgraceland £375 £286.51

AngelNikki £350 £346.55
Angelraesunshine £285 £304.19
AngelUK69 £250
Annelouise €220 €199.65
AnnaangelUK £120
annie123 £300
apardion £240
Arkonite_babe £300 £248.18
Baby Maker £275 £258.84
bails £135
BargainRzl £50 £64.68
Becky2 £120
Bemuzed £270
belfastgirl23 £130 £130.16
Bertiebots £220
Better late than never £95
BigMummaF £350 £343.87
Bigsmike £90
Bobbykins £225 £226.96
boredofbeingathome £200
Brummiebabe £400 £438.34
Candy girl £120
Carolt2 £210
Casperthefriendlyghost £40 £29.98
CathJ £387.50
Catinthehat1 £400
Catnap53 £250 £292.13
cheerfulness4 £140
chicken pie £150
Chillybear £300
Chocolate teddy £300 £327.26
Clair2305 £130 £149.11
Cleosmum £195
CRANKY40 £100
Cupid_S £140
curly cabbage £150
Daisy_Steiner £140
Dawnylou £200
Debbym £450 £303.77
Decla £200
DeniseFowler £300 £303.94
Desperate Housewife £250
Dink1 £250 £270.53
Disdisbiff £300
Doelani £400
Earth mother £285 £428.35
egon £200 + €200
EmptyPurse £60
Ess-six £200 £194.79
fallen angel shelley £220 £250
Faye1978 £160
Fedupnow £183.21
FelineFantastic £200
Feeling low £370
Fizzel81 £110 £95.04
Fi27 £315 £374.20
FindingMyFeet £400
frankerooney £180
funkyfunkymonkey £250
galacticgreen £200 £199.13
Galadriel £200 £153.32
Gena £180
Gettingsortedsarah £200
GFN123 £120 £161
Gilliana £80
Gillybean73 £320
Gingernutbizkit £150
Girl least likely to £180 £178.84
Guns banjos £175
Hellicopter €400
Hex2 £450
High Peak Lass £200
HollyH £150 £122.27
Ifonlyitwaseasier £150 £152.64
Insearchofme £70 £110
IrishWexford £150 £139.42
Isthatreduced £140 £139.04
izoomzoom £225
jackie_W £200
jackiegibbo £220 £210
Jackk £200 £203.78
Jacks xxx £250
Jak £85 £95.83
JaneRyan £250 £268.64
JayJay14 £200 £198
Jenid £120 £136.48
JennyBee £170 £167.62
Jessie18 £295
Jinky67 £225 £202.65
JulieJim £250
jumps £250 £361.72
Justamum £350 £453.19
Jvic28 £100
Kaz2904 £200
Keiss 21 £400 £444.41
Kitty £280
kittynortheast £350 £333.69
Kiwi88 £300 £491
Klane £180
lainz £75 £67.32
leonlala £360
lil_me £180 £164.77
lil monkey £200
lilmisskitkat £200
Lingo Jingo £160 £162.98
little belle £225
Lizzieanne £300
Luby-lou £250
Mad mittens £100 £92.46
mama67 £180 £181.22
Mandymoo1 £300 £191.65
Mark88man £595 £707
meanmarie €300 €200
mhe £200
mikeD £244 £201
Miserlymum £235
Miss Minnie £100
MissyP123 £250
Mollymop5 £101.94 £146.50
MoneysavingMonkey85 £100
Moniker £400 £393.92
Moo2moo £250 £165.12
mookybargirl £160
Mooloo £250 £201.83
Mophead £400
Mortgagefreeforme £270
MrandMrsT £250 £275
MrDT £60 £52.84
Mrs Bartolozzi £220 £221.72
Mrs. Irwin £250
MrsMoneyPenny £400
MrsMx5 £275
mrssnowy £200 £153.49
Mrsmcawber €120 €74.19
MSHAWX £100
MudBath £350
Mummyleads £400
Mumofjusttwo £200
mumoftwo £300
mumzyof2 £100 £66.59
NannyOgg £90
Natty68 £250 £196.85
natzini £120 £133.45
Nessa56 £200 £186.63
Newmoneysaver £150
newlywed £300
Nicki672 £450
nykmedia £100 £98.02
Pablo mummy £140 £141.99
patent girl £300 £420
Penny-Pincher!! £220
PennyPinchingMum £200
Phoolgrrrl £150
PinkCloudnine £280
Pink Princess £325
PipSqueak £100 £99.26
Poohbear59 £160
Poosmate £120
Positivelypurple £500
Procrastinator £250 £232.68
rachelmk £100 £111.88
razra £70 £47.90
RecoveringSpendaholic £450
RussetRed £375
Ruthiebe73 £150
Saffouri £250
Sashanut £250 £282.68
Sav3R £400 £434.7
Savingfortravel £200 £55.93 :T
Savvy mummy £300
Sazzledazzle £200
ScotSaver £250
Searching me £200
Sharon_1970 £400 £353.56
Shazmumof2 £400
Shelley1977 £250 £237.79
666Paw £175 £188.16
Skint_Catt £150
skintscotslass £100 £102.66
Smellyoldsock £300
Snugglepuss £180
Sosh £360 £301.35
SparklyGirl £200
Spendaholic £120
StrawberryLaces £280
SunnyDay £160 £190
SuperSpam £220 £201.22
Tibbie's mum £250
Taplady £300 £281.72
tattycath £200
the_cat £180 £156.20
TheBees £340 £360
TheGiggsLady £350
TheShuffs £250
Tq16 £150
Tyler babe £80 £79.95
Turbo5019 £250 £225.60
Victory £350
Wannatravelmore £200 £222
Wee Missy £200
Weezle74 £40 a month April-June £23.92 left
Wendy24g £300 £291.45
watchmaker £175
WitchMabel £175 £174.45
Wmf £180
Wornoutmumoftwo £240
Yoooh4 £220
Zend £200
281273 £220 £190

Weekly
Embb £40
Jules £40
Sorelle8 £50

juliejim · 30 April 2008 at 6:03AM

MrsM - can you put me in for £250 again this month please?

MRSMCAWBER · 30 April 2008 at 6:08AM

Morning all

The nice new thread we have all been desperate to start has arrived :j

Well I have allready spent a fair bit

...but have picked up extras for the month like butter/feta...and think i got quite a lot for my money

Huge mooli
cucumber
boiled beetroot
cos lettuce
ice berg
500g tomatoes
1 kilo carrots
3 peppers
500g grapes
4 kilo oranges
1 kilo bananas
2 lots of fresh yeast
10 freerange organic eggs
4 packs of butter
jar winter jam -strawberry, orange, cardamon and cinnamon
strawberry and rhubarb jam
jar mayonaise
2 tins tuna
4 blocks organic feta
oh and a packet of lettuce seeds
and 2 big packs of food bags
oh and an airfreshener with 3 refills

And that little lot cost me €22.27 .....
I was expecting the spends to go up as we get through loads of salad stuff ..

Yesterday i had a whole cauli and a whole broccoli so i par steamed that, 2 leeks, some carrots and a few frozen peas and turned it into a huge luxury cauliflower cheese for today and i made myself a small one for dinner last night and for hubby i cooked some pasta, folded it all in and so he got macaroni/veggie cheese with some crispy bacon bit on the top and loved it :T so that has made a bit more space in the fridge :j
I can't wait to be able to fetch veggies out of the garden... not only do they taste better -but it will save us a fortune

everything ssmes to be doing really well so far..fingers crossed

right i had better get off..hoping to get my brekkie and then get out in the garden..more tubs to plant

..
Have a great day everyone :T

juliejim · 30 April 2008 at 6:28AM

MrsM - erm - I don't think I can do £150 - unless DH moves out of course - that's an idea - I'll tell him - MrsM says I can only spend £150 on food and toiletries so I can't afford to feed you so you'll have to go - you eat too much!:rotfl:

MRSMCAWBER · 30 April 2008 at 6:39AM

OOOOPPPPS

Sorry JulieJim.... I was putting you all on rations

.... Tell OH i will let him eat this month

. Don't think my eyes or brain are working yet

savingfortravel · 30 April 2008 at 6:47AM

Great work Mrs Mc!!!
Thanks for putting me on the May list.

Good Luck everyone!!!

SFT

juliejim · 30 April 2008 at 6:49AM

Thanks MrsM:D

scotsaver · 30 April 2008 at 6:50AM

Hi all, great we can start on a shiny new budget:j :j

Kaz2904 - Happy 30th Birthday for yesterday:beer: Don't worry about the spends, you're only 30 once, relax and enjoy it.

angchris - Good Luck to you and your OH with quitting smoking:T Just think what you will be able to do with all that extra money:j :j

I'm soooooooo pleased, just noticed I've got my first star so feel like I'm official now!!! How sad am I?????

Have already spent a little of May's GC as my month starts on the 27th and I'm off to Asda today but will update with that later. Going to make a HM Lasagne later, will bulk out with oats and mushrooms etc and hope no-one notices as DD2 has a friend over before they go to Brownies, shall serve it with a nice big bowl of salad and some HM Coleslaw.
Good luck everyone.