May Grocery Challenge
Posted onSo, May's challenge is getting back to the basics - grocery shopping!
This month's challenge is to set a monthly grocery budget for yourself, and stick to it! If you would like to join me in my challenge, please leave a comment and indicate how much your budget is for.
I think this is a great challenge because not only will it make us think about the price of food that we're buying, but it's also going to make us more aware of what we're eating. I know that before I gave myself a $150 monthly grocery budget, I was buying such random things. Now when I go shopping, I know exactly what I'm going to buy.
I also found that by paying close attention to what I was buying, I end up eating a lot healthier. And that's really important to me. For example, now that I'm examining the price of the food that I'm buying, I'm also looking at the ingredients. The general rule of thumb for me is, if I don't know what the ingredients are that are listed on the package (or if the name is so long that I can't even pronounce it), then I don't buy it. There are some exceptions, but I'm always trying to find alternatives to those particular items.
Like always, at the end of every week I'll write a post, and you'll be able to let us all know how you're doing - how much money you've spent so far, and your thoughts on how this challenge has affected the way you shop for food.
- Hyperchondriac - $50
- Tight Fisted Miser - $50
- Meli - $75
- change is a good thing - $80
- D.C. 2 - $80
- sfordinarygirl - $80
- Amphritrite - $85
- Dave - $90
- HouseHopeful - $100
- livingpaychecktopaycheck - $100
- Tara - $100
- ambellamy - $120 (for 2)
- TV Girl - $120
- Ugly Debty - $120
- Arual - $125
- Catherine - $125 (for 2)
- Frugaleconome - $125
- krystalatwork - $125
- Nine Circles - $125
- Tough Broad - $125
- Strange Bird - $140
- stackingpennies - $145
- asgreen - $150
- BeachGirl - $150
- Fabulously Broke - $150
- meg - $150 (for 2)
- QL girl - $150
- SouperEgo - $150
- The Divine Miss J - $150
- Frugal Trenches - $160
- AJ - $200 (NZ)
- Dolly Iris - $200
- Doris - $200 (for 2)
- Grad School Girl - $200
- sickofbeingpoor - $200 (for 2 or 3)
- Archaeologychic - $210
- Pleasant Girl - $225 (for 2)
- Frugal Fatty - $240 (for 3)
- vrs - $240 (for 3)
- BolderFeet in the Journey - $250 (for 4)
- Katie - $250 (for 2)
- L - $250 (for 2)
- Nicole - $250 (for 2)
- oblivioustomelody - $250 (for 2)
- pennypincher - $250 (includes dining out)
- Rachelle - $250
- Vinelady - $250 (for 2)
- Lisa - $300 (for 2)
- Looby - $300 (for 2)
- Tracy - $300 (for 3)
- Tasha - $311 (for 3)
- hills in NC - $320 (for 4)
- honugurl16 - $350 (for 4)
- Kate - $350 (for 2)
- LP - $370
- BigAssSuperstar - $380 (for 2)
- Ginger - $400 (for 4)
- no more spending - $400 (for 4)
- Rhonda - $400 (for 5)
- triciapb - $440 (for 4)
- AP - $500
- Shevy - $500 (for 3)
- lazappeuse - $700 (for 4)
- Twiggers - $700 (for 2)
Labels: monthly challenge
67 Comments:
I've tried budgeting separately for non-grocery items, but it's too awkward. So now I spread these items throughout the month, and buy when there is a really good sale in bulk if I can. Buying in bulk can make you nuts too, if you don't limit yourself to focusing on one or two products at a time...hence the $60 per week limit.
I've been spending $140 for the past few months, but for April I set it at $120 and I'm right on track to achieve that, so I'm pretty sure I can do it for May too. :)
It may not seem like much of a drop, but my $1 has the buying power of $4 with the way I shop, so really, I'm cutting back by about $20 on an already tight budget :)
Thanks :)
$300 for 2 people including non food items like soap and paper towel.
I'll keep my official goal where it is, but I'm going to try to actually spend even less than that.
It's a start, and I can work down from that!
But, I will put in that I'm a seasoned coupon veteran and I work grocery and drugstore deals to my advantage. I'm a stockpiler on top of it.
Please, please, don't be intimidated by lower amounts! This one's you against you ;) We're just here for support ...and heck, if you can get some inspiration out of it, all the better!
It seems tight but I've been good at not buying unnecessary stuff such as crackers, cookies and chips.
i find eggs and lunch meat can sometimes be expensive, especially if i eat two eggs for breakfast.
I've never broken out my grocery expenses from my other stuff, so this should be educational at the very least!
I usually set this limit but don't really track it very well, so this will be good for me.
I'll go with $90
I'm not intimidated by the lower amounts. On the contrary, I'm inspired, and it's definitely working in my favor!
Seeing what you're doing in Seattle makes me challenge myself to do a little better than I've been doing, and that's a good thing. Yes, these challenges are for supporting each other, but the word "challenge" itself means we're striving to do better.
I'm buying for one person too. I live in Orange County, but I used to live in Seattle and as far as I can tell the cost of groceries is very similar. I get good use out of coupons as well, but I think with a little more diligence I could do even better.
Bottom line: I'm loving these challenges. Keep them coming! :)
I am going to have a lunch grocery challenge. I really should take my lunch to work but I make it and forget to bring it. I am challenging myself to stick to $6 per work day on lunches/coffee/anything I buy while at work!
Jerry
www.leads4insurance.com
Thanks Krystal
So far, I am averaging $108 a week but keep hoping to go lower.
So my budget is $435 in May for a family of 4.
Woo I am almost at the top of the list. lol.
I'll set my goal at $100 for one person
Grocery Budget Goal for May
(Family of 4)
$100 per week = $400 for the month
Wish me luck!
I'll target $95/week at the grocery store for my household of two.
We're often above that amount, sometimes below, but we've been very good lately about getting big hunks of meat when they're on sale.
Good luck to everyone!
$200 in a five weekend month should be interesting...
Your blog is inspiring!
I'll do a post with pictures to try to encourage me!!