Mistress B - thanks.

Jen in Oz - hi and thanks for your comment. Sounds like you’re going through some tough times at the moment. It’s hard for me to give you an accurate answer on that one as I haven’t been tracking my spending over the past 12 months. In 2007 I tracked very carefully and we spent just under $100 per week on average on groceries. However, prices have increased since then so I don’t expect I’d keep it that low now. I have never included nappies or pet food in my grocery budget though - we’ve always bought those kinds of things separately. The best piece of advice I was ever given was to very gradually try and cut back your spending until you get to the point where it hurts - then increase it slightly and you find a comfortable equilibrium. I just picked one area of my budget each week and looked for ways to reduce in that area, rather than trying to blanket cut back everywhere at once. Have you read my “reducing the grocery budget” series? There are links in the sidebar which might give you a few ideas on what I did. Hope that helps a little. If you have any more questions, I’m happy to try and give you an answer.

I have a BHAG too but am not even hopeful about achieving while my dh continues to be unemployed. My only hope is living within our means in a very straight and narrow way.

My current grocery budget is $450/fn for 2 adults, 10yob, 7yob, 4yob, a baby in nappies and 2 small dogs. I feel like I am so close to being able to live on less but each fortnight starts with high hopes only to have them dashed by about day 10 and I am feeling hopeless all over again.

I know your March figure was a lot lower than what I spend in a month, but overall when you take into account the big bulk buys of meat etc over a year what would you say your budget is like? I can make mine look that low once every couple of months by doing pantry and freezer clean outs but the others are huge blowouts.

Thanks for your time,
Jen in Lorn, NSW

That’s a great result.

Please clarify for me.. does your grocery section include toilet paper, tissues, washing powder etc….

Sorry am a bit tired after nights with a croupy coughing boy and am home today to let him catch up too…. must go and have some breaky as it is 9 am afteralll!!!!