We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING
Hello Forumites! However well-intentioned, for the safety of other users we ask that you refrain from seeking or offering medical advice. This includes recommendations for medicines, procedures or over-the-counter remedies. Posts or threads found to be in breach of this rule will be removed.📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
January 2022 Grocery Challenge
Options
Comments
-
Tesco online spend of
£50.28/£200
A bit annoying really this early in the month but I have committed to losing weight so needed some healthier foods. Thank you @Suffolk_lass, i've really been suffering headaches of late which would only be appeased by eating some more sugar! Anyway as of today my healthier food has two purposes, one to lose weight and the other to feel better. The rest of the cupboards and freezers are full so other than a few bits and bobs we should have enough for a week or two...I hope.
*Stop giving up what you really want for what you want now*
*Face your fear, don't do what's easy, do what is right, fight for it because it will be worth it*
January grocery budget £215.07/£250
#18 The 365 day 1p challenge 2023 £108.50/£667.95
#48 Saving £1 a day for Christmas 2023 challenge £31/£365
Emergency fund £83.98/£10008 -
Have been shopping today but a lot of it is from the bulk fund. Will need to tot up how much has come from the Grocery budget as it's definitely from January's money but today was the only day DH is around to help with the heavy stuff!
8 -
Already spent for Jan as needed some cleaning stuff and stocked up on baby food/snacks. At least she won’t need them for too much longer - she’s already on normal breakfasts.
Cleaning stuff £13.45 and baby food/snacks £29.08
Massive food shop for most the month is being picked up tomorrow.
Total spent £42.53 / £5752025 decluttering: 3,766🌟🥉🌟💐🏅🏅🌟🥈🏅🌟🏅💐💎🌟🏅🏆🌟🏅
2025 use up challenge: 317🥉🥈🥇💎🏆
Big kitchen declutter challenge 95/150
2025 decluttering goals I Use up Challenge: 🥉365 🥈750 🥇1,000 💎2,000 🏆 3,000 👑 8,000 I 🥉12 🥈26 🥇52 💎 100 🏆 250 👑 5007 -
Hi All,
I am not up to date with all posts which i like to be but i need in this month too.
Usually i go for £250 (which is already up from the £230 i started with; along with a view of bringing it back down in Jan 22!) however im trying to start as i mean to go on and ive just done the really boring thing of working out what i need/eat every week and costing it up. I should save my receipts (or tesco should allow you to view the items purchased when having scanned your clubcard!) but i havent and Jan will already be a weird month due to Xmas leftovers so not a true reflection anyway.
Anyway, the number shocked meFor absolute essentials such as the things my daughter has for breakfast daily and bread, milk for her bed time bottles etc, that alone was £20 a week. Then if i plan 3 meals (possibly into 5) a week of things we usually have weekly, plus squash, garlic etc were already at £30 so thats £50 a week for the same 3 (maybe 5) meals and breakfasts. We're not scraping the barrel fortunately but i will be due to go on Maternity leave later next yesr so everp peny counts and the above just doesnt feel realistic for us. We like our food and other than Fajitas and a roast dinner the other pre planned meals arent favourites and we like variation. This also doesnt include any washing related items, dog food, household items or anything like sauces or seasonings so i think i do need to increase the budget.
With that in mind, ill be back to update with a fresh budget for January soon!
PS. Anyone else now seriously depressed having read that, im sorry!Follow here for the daily life of an ADHD mum with 2 children and a new mortgage to pay
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6570879/life-in-our-forever-family-home-and-the-mortgage-that-came-with-it#latest10 -
@MissRikkiC - it sounds as though saving your receipts for the month would be a good idea. Perhaps set up a spreadsheet listing all the things you buy regularly and see if there is anywhere you can cut back or buy in bulk to save money. It's so easy to just get carried away with the shopping. Do you meal plan? If not it might be a good idea as that can make things a bit cheaper.
Have a look at the recipes at the beginning of the thread and see if there are some new ideas you could incorporate to save a bit. It sounds as though you often eat the same things week in week out, perhaps try and mix things up a bit. I know if can be a bit difficult if you have a fussy child, although I don't know if that is the problem here of course.
8 -
Thanks @joedenise
I do meal plan and whilst I have kind of budgeted for the same things meal wise; it was to gauge a cost.The 2 things we do have are a roast dinner, usually catering for 2 friends as well however they always pick something up and then fajitas with all the sides.We don’t really have a fussy toddler but she is only 17 months so we do sometimes get her a couple of dinner pouches. It’s her Greek yoghurt addiction and the amount of fruit she eats that stings the purse, but they’re very healthy and what we class as safe foods for her (we know she will eat them regardless) so it’s fine. I might swap out the blueberries for tinned peaches though as a start!The meal plans aren’t always followed exactly (I blame my husband!) but I tend to waste very little and plan around what is in the fridge which helps.I’ve just done exactly that though with a spreadsheet and listed each item, I’ve also done bulk household items and sauces etc and think I’ve got a good guide for January. It’s still painful but it’s a mindset thing as I still don’t account for my daughter being a person that needs that much and can’t get my head around the cost of stuff these days. I will get there.I’ve also just moved money around, to account for Christmas etc and feel that what I have left for January now is a true reflection. I will use what I have from the fridge/freezer/cupboards first when meal planning!Follow here for the daily life of an ADHD mum with 2 children and a new mortgage to pay
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6570879/life-in-our-forever-family-home-and-the-mortgage-that-came-with-it#latest9 -
Hi @elsiepac
Please can you put me down for £300 for January please.
I’ve already spent against that but it’s realistic. No bulk fund as I have included all items in Grocery insteadFollow here for the daily life of an ADHD mum with 2 children and a new mortgage to pay
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6570879/life-in-our-forever-family-home-and-the-mortgage-that-came-with-it#latest8 -
Hello,
Could I join please. I am awful with the budget in the last few months. Aiming to have a budget of £310 for the month of JanuaryPAYDBX 2022 #8 £135.62 / £75008 -
Tomorrow will be my first spend of January’s budget £7.50 on the surplus food bags from what is called the ‘Bread and Butter project’. Fabulous selection of food which is surplus from a variety of supermarkets and online supermarkets. They are sometimes close to best before date but that doesn’t bother me it all gets used. The main thing you need to be is open to trying things you wouldn’t normally buy but l have to say we haven’t had anything too strange. I would say they are worth a look if they run similar schemes in your areas.Count down to retirement 20238
-
A little excitement to start the new year - my first ever veg box! I love the idea, the process, the ethically produced food - beyond just veg. - especially dairy (wannabee vegan but can’t give up dairy). I even love the packaging! I don’t think the veg are that much dearer than Waitrose ( NOT my usual supermarket!) but not off the scale. Aiming for less animal based food but more sustainable and ethical. How that’s going to fit with the GC I don’t know yet. But it’s got me (and my family!) out of our comfort zone eg celeriac mash instead of just potato, and cooking red cabbage in the slow cooker which is new to me.It’s good to have something that feels new as we head into the new year … whatever it may hold… happy new year to everyone for tomorrow 😊🍾🎉10
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 351.1K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.6K Spending & Discounts
- 244.1K Work, Benefits & Business
- 599K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177K Life & Family
- 257.4K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards