October 2008 Grocery Challenge

**VanVivCam** · 09-30-2008, 06:50 PM

I am setting my budget at $400. That is $80 each Friday. I will also be keeping track of my spending on drinks, meats, veggies/fruit...and so forth.

Anyone with me?

**kettlecorn** · 09-30-2008, 07:36 PM

I am going for $350. We will see how it goes!

**Wendy99** · 09-30-2008, 07:49 PM

I'm going for $400 !! (fingers crossed I can do it!!)

**frugalchick** · 09-30-2008, 08:14 PM

I will join in......will post a total that I want to shoot towards for October. I need to restock the freezer and the pantry....so it will be a fairly high number.

**walker24** · 09-30-2008, 08:23 PM

I'm in for $400 again. Sales circulars looked pretty dismal this week. I may pop into the farmers market tomorrow.

**madhen** · 09-30-2008, 09:04 PM

Okay, having dismally failed in September, I am in again for October. Setting it at $500.

**Sassyclass** · 09-30-2008, 10:31 PM

I'm in this month too for the same $300.

Cat

**Emjo** · 09-30-2008, 10:41 PM

I'm in for $250...this is food only, but includes stockpiling.

**dschipman** · 09-30-2008, 10:48 PM

I want to try this as well. I'm in for $200. (seems low, but no kiddies to feed)

Dawn

**Starlight9803** · 09-30-2008, 10:50 PM

I'm in this month again also. Same $400 budget as usual, which includes everything (food, pet supplies, medicines, cleansers/paper, HBA, etc) for a family of 4 with 5 big dogs and 3 cats. I'm going to see how far under budget I can manage though.

**3tomboys** · 09-30-2008, 11:06 PM

I'm in again. I will go for $600.00 for October. This includes HBA and the pets food.

**suzysaver** · 09-30-2008, 11:27 PM

I'm in again too. Was under by $30 for september and I even stocked up on all my bulk items and managed to can spaghetti sauce, apple pear pie filling (7 quarts) and 5 pints of pears. I'm shooting for $325 for October.

**hollyhill** · 10-01-2008, 01:32 AM

Wow Suzysaver, I am humbled!

I went over by nearly $100. In my defence, I am Canadian. I have two super athletic teans, an athletic husband, a preteen (and I am trying to lose weight, NOT FAIR!). I also include all household supplies in the grocery budget ( anything I would buy at the supermarket or produce stand).
I did manage to start a stockpile because I think this is the key to getting the food budget down, for the future. I am stockpiling BOGOs and nearly free items and super deals.
So I will set it at $50 more, so at $500. It will have to include Thanksgiving.

Parsimonious · 10-01-2008, 03:39 AM

I would like to join, too. We have a food-budget of 200€. This includes:
- vegetarian food for 2 adults (excluding luxury items such as soda, chocolate, and meals bought at the workplace if somebody was too tired to pack something)
- stockpiling items
- cat food
- medical expenses (excluding dentist)
- H&B
- cleaning supplies
- small household items (e.g. a new broomstick, but not new furniture)

We have major difficulties sticking to it. I guess it would help me to monitor it more closely, instead of summing up only at the end of the month

I am a bit limited in what I can still do. We mostly buy at Aldi-style supermarkets, eat loads of pasta, potatoes, etc., buy no-name ONLY, etc.

**cheles2kids** · 10-01-2008, 07:44 AM

I'm in for $450.00 this month.
I think this is my third attempt at the grocery challenge and normally I budget $600.00, but I've *really* been watching every penny I spend at the grocery store the past few weeks and I think this amount can be doable for me.

This will include everything:
Food
Adding to the stockpile
Pet food
HBA

For a family of four: 2 adults & 2 active teenagers who eat more than we do.
*How* do they put it away like that?

(Since we've cut waaay back on our eating out expensese, we go about every two to three weeks or so, my amount will not include this)

I just realized that October is a looong month, but I'm convinced I can do this.

Good luck everyone!!!