18.9.15

Spending Report Week 2


This week I've kept up with menu planning, recording every spend in my spending diary but have gone over budget with my grocery spending. But only slightly... here's the lowdown.

Grocery shopping: £96.80 (budget £92 per week/£400 per month for four of us which includes food, household items and toiletries). I think I need to be more thorough in my stock taking as I didn't check every item and bought several items I didn't need. However, I'm still happy as it's under £100 and again I've only used cash for groceries.

Spending diary: I had three no spend days this week compared to only one in week 1 which is something to celebrate. I'm enjoying using my spending diary - I've even copied a few quotes to motivate me into the first page.

Clothes shopping: I haven't given in to any temptation yet but I'm very aware of clothing catalogues coming through the door. They go straight in the recycling unopened. I need to get my address off some mailing lists and look up how to stop this unwanted advertising coming into my house.

Treats: We were treated to tea out at my parents-in-law on Friday. Other favourite treats were the beautiful sedum plant I bought Mum this week (it would have been their 53rd wedding anniversary) and the 30p doughnut which I bought my youngest for completing the first week of his paper round. 

Motivation: It's only week 2 so I'm feeling positive and excited about this challenge. Posting weekly updates hopefully will keep me going for the next 50!

Temptations: It was book club on Monday and therefore a new book to read (The Leopard by Giuseppe Tomasi Di Lampedusa). Do I buy the cheaper Kindle version, the second hand option or a new copy? Arghh.

Menu: The curry was aubergine daal (from Save With Jamie) and chicken korma. I couldn't find any curry leaves for the temper (flavoured oil) so after research I substituted coriander stalks, chilli and ginger - just as yum. Our roast was slow pork with roasted pears. The tagliatelle (correct spelling here not on chalk board - oops) was broccoli and pesto tagliatelle (from Jamie's Ministry of Food). We'll definitely have this again, the potato shavings made it deliciously creamy. And I do like to feed my family broccoli as you will note from my photos.

So, how's your 'less spending' going? Any no spend days or enjoyable treats?


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15 comments

  1. Well done with your budget, we are on a similar budget but we shop online twice weekly. I find a large chunk of our costs is on snack things like biscuits and yoghurts for our boys, we can manage without and are trying to cut these out as much as possible now. I just got a new bread machine so I can make enough bread quickly - I usually set it to cook overnight. It's cheaper than shop bread but better than that it smells wonderful and tastes nice and is much more filling. Betty

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    1. Bread machines gotta love em! I'm on my 4th machine ( we wear them out!) and I make bread every day. My children hardly know what sliced bread is... Love your frugaling story Claire, I'm not on a strict diet but you are helping me to be more mindful.

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    2. Thank you. I've used a bread machine on holiday and loved it. I suppose it has to become part of your daily routine. I don't think I'll be buying one this year!

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  2. The Lampedusa is a classic. Your local library will have it and it's short so the loan period shouldn't be a problem. Love libraries!

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    1. Great idea. I hadn't thought of the library - shows I'm used to thinking I have to buy everything when sometimes it's possible to borrow.

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  3. It's all gone a bit haywire for me at the moment! I thought I'd use our glut of tomatoes and found a recipe on another blog. I made it tonight instead of watching the rugby. I nipped out to get the ingredients and 6 jars. I'm positive it would've been cheaper to buy ready made chutney. Worked out as approximately £4 a jar taking everything into account! Hope it tastes nice. This month has not been very frugal so far .

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    1. At least you have a stockpile now. Hope it's delicious!

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  4. Libraries are a great way to read for free but so few adults do these days which is why local authorities feel justified in closing them when it comes to cutbacks. So please use your local library and spread the word! I like the idea of a spending diary as I often feel we are far too wasteful in this household. This would need a whole family approach though, a non-starter here, with both husband and daughter spenders rather than savers.

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    1. I need to get back in the library habit and I'm definitely going to reserve my book club book!

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  5. Well done, Claire, and your meals look delicious! I am impressed that you can chuck out the catalogues unopened!

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    1. Thanks. Not opening catalogues is a new habit/discipline that's getting easier but I must do something to stop them arriving in the first place.

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  6. I don't have a spending diary but I do have a spreadsheet. If it's not on the spreadsheet it ain't happening!

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  7. Don't forget to rent out the Gattopardo film as well (Burt Lancaster, Alain Delon and Claudia Cardinale, directed by Lucchino Visconti - just gorgeous)

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