January 2024 Grocery Challenge

StickyTheStickInsect

Could I join again please, thank you for the new thread @elsiepac

I took a massive hit to my health last year and didn’t manage to keep up with tracking our grocery spend. I’m still not well enough to work, so we need to save everywhere we can. 

We are two adults, three children and two cats. I’ll have to go with £600 per month again (£7,200) for the year, I both need and want it to be less than that but I need to estimate practically based on what we are currently spending. @charlies_tribe I absolutely understand where you are coming from, it is very similar here.

I already meal plan monthly, we shop at Lidl and Iceland with Morrisons deliveries when my DH is away working and I’m too poorly to the grocery shop on my own. 

We do tend to do a big non perishables shop in Lidl once every couple of months, so that all the heavy or bulky stuff like tins, juice, squash, drinks, cat food, cat litter, toilet rolls, cleaning supplies etc. is stored in the shed, so that when I’m feeling average I don’t use all my energy shopping for those bits and can manage a smaller perishable shop on my own.

The £600 a month includes all groceries, cleaning products, toiletries, cat food and cat litter, kids school packed lunches or school dinner spend and things for the car like de-icer and screenwash.

Happy New Year everyone 🎉🎉

sunshineli

Please can I join?

£240 for the month. 2 adults.

Its a little more than I would like, but this is because there are 5 Wednesdays in January and this is the day I do my shopping.

joedenise

weenancyinAmerica said:

During World War II Heinz published their recipes for ketchup and soup in magazines for everyone to use. Might be fairly easy to find and make your own.

The tomato soup recipe is very easy to make at home (and it tastes exactly the same apparently - I wouldn't know as don't like tomato soup!):

Whizz together 2 tins chopped tomatoes, 1 tin of baked beans, 1 tin of carrots and (the secret ingredient!) 2 large pickled onions.  Once whizzed up you can heat it in the microwave or in a pan on the hob.

CMD79

joedenise said:

weenancyinAmerica said:

During World War II Heinz published their recipes for ketchup and soup in magazines for everyone to use. Might be fairly easy to find and make your own.

The tomato soup recipe is very easy to make at home (and it tastes exactly the same apparently - I wouldn't know as don't like tomato soup!):

Whizz together 2 tins chopped tomatoes, 1 tin of baked beans, 1 tin of carrots and (the secret ingredient!) 2 large pickled onions.  Once whizzed up you can heat it in the microwave or in a pan on the hob.

  I would love for someone to try this! I love that one of the ingredients is a tin of beans!   

CMD79

We've decided to throw an impromptu NYE gathering, so spent £60 on an unplanned shop! However, because I was ahead quite a bit, it still would take me to an estimated £ 181.74 / £ 168.00 and I'm so well stocked, that I feel quite optimistic I can do 2 shops instead of three for the rest of January.

Actual spend is £91.74 / £168 

I found a lovely Delia's How to Cheat At Cooking recipe for Spicy Lemon Chicken which I'm going to try with my weird chicken burgers next week  So thanks to those who gave me some good suggestions on those! I actually have 4 packs of them 

purplefran

*****£200*****

Please could I join?  I have a budget of £200 per month or £2400 per year for two adults and a dog, this will also include all cleaning products etc.  Thank you

Soontobeoap

Yesterday I made coconut Biscuits and chocolate victoria soonge filled with strawberry jam. Everything came from stores and I used up the xrinking chocolate and dessicated coconut that have been hanging around for a long time. I did get rid of some golden syrup that had begun to crystallise. Does anyone know if that would have been ok to use? 

WickedLady4

@Soontobeoap the golden syrup would have been absolutely fine to use. It's only sugar in the long run and I would have had no qualms about using it.

Frugalistamama

@weenancyinAmerica now THAT is a crazy recipe!!

nellis10

To show how committed I am to this challenge, I have made a "Spaghetti Offalese" this morning in the slow cooker.
2 Pig Kidneys, Beef Heart Mince and some Beef Mince in the slow cooker with fajita seasoning, tomatoes, onions and passata! 
No idea if it will be edible, but they are now out of the bottom of the freezer!