January 2025 Grocery Challenge

Soontobeoap

Wow @ saver-upper that's a tiny budget for 6 adults! We spend more that on 2 .I am careful but not too good at finding ys items and DH is not very adventurous with food although he is getting better. Our budget covers all cleaning materials, loo rolls etc too

As I am already over budget we are now shopping from stores. Chicken noodles last night, sausage casserole tonight.I can throw in a few veg from freezer that were left over.

Have been getting house together after family visits so hoping to do a fridge, freezer and cupboard inventory tomorrow as It was easy to lose track when I was serving up meals for 12 and then on days we ate out "paid for by other family members" my meal plan items were shoved into freezer.very disorganised as I didn't want to miss out on fun whilst all of the Grandchildren were together.Goodness knows what's in there but at least nothing went to waste.

I have just been onto my nectar card activity page and been able to bag a free 250 PTS to start 2025 with. It's only a little boost but every little helps! ( Wrong supermarket I know)🤣

ancientmum

Monday saw a spend of £6 at Aldi, then today I went to Sains and spent £22 on stocking up on among other items, teabags, flour, and butter, which was reduced on my nectar app, so I bought two blocks which are now in the freezer.  There were general nectar discounts on Maris Piper potatoes, and Filippo Berio Olive oils, down to £6 for 500ml in the latter case.  Masses of mini mince pies and mince pie filling for pennies, but hot cross buns on sale already.  Crazy how supermarkets have skewed seasonal food!

CRANKY40

I managed to fit in grocery shopping on Monday afternoon which was just as well because most of yesterday morning was spent getting my son to uni for an exam and back again. The roads out of here were gridlocked in one direction due to workmen coning off several lanes at a nearby roundabout. I got him there on time but it took nearly an hour as opposed to the usual 15 minutes and we went down a lot of back roads to reach the other main route. One person on farcebook last night said that it took her an hour and 50 minutes to go 6 miles. I waited to bring him home which wasn't the original plan and we were both tired by the time we made it back here.

Anyhow, back to grocery shopping. I spent £9.54 in Home B's, £18.24 in Lidl and £49.44 in Asda. I bought extra cat litter because if the weather turned even nastier that's one thing that I don't want to be stuck without. The weather has indeed turned nasty - the leftover snow has frozen. Our cat is 15 so shoving her out of the door if the cat litter runs out isn't really possible. Total grocery spend this week is £77.22/£320.
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elsiepac

Phew that was a big job! 
Budgets updated to here!

carboot_karaoke

Afternoon Everyone, 

l hope your keeping warm on this freezing Wednesday 🥶 

@Saver-upper l am in awe of how you manage on your food budget. Does it include cleaning and toiletries?  We have the same size family but I don't think I've ever been lower than £400  including cleaning and toiletries. 

I have another two spends £7.87 in Asda for squash, FR eggs,  food bags and YS bread. Also £5.66 in home bargains for new toothbrushes and Vit D.  

New totals  £192.02 / £500

I had a bit of a "hurrahboo" moment today. So far this month we've had zero food waste 😇. I made carrot and coriander soup on the weekend for the freezer, jkt potatoes yesterday and today the final bit of cheap veg will be turned into coleslaw to accompany HM lasagne.  

The "Boo" element was realising that there are still over 3 weeks left of the month 😳. I was convinced that we only had 2 to go.  l need petrol,  +£50  which would put me at 50% of budget already !! I'm going to revisit my food plan that's missing a whole weeks meals. 

 

JingsMyBucket

@carboot_karaoke yikes, that’s a shock you could do without!

Doom_and_Gloom

We've spent £120.88 so far this month. 

£7.97 at the local fruit and veg mart on 8 very large persimmons. They last well and a half is a good portion.

£28.31 in Waitr*se. This was over 4 shops. Double Gloucester was £2.10 a block so OH got 4 as it is one of his favourite cheeses. He will probably get more before the offer ends on the 21st.
The latest  shop today there my OH managed to pick me up a very large cauliflower for just 45p, very happy with that.
OH always tries to get the 'free' coffee but the one time he was unable as one machine was broken and the other was being cleaned 😒.

£25.22 in L!dl. Their smoked tofu must be some of the cheapest available at £1.75 for 400g. It comes in a double pack so 2 200g  blocks. I cut the pack so the other block is able to stay sealed meaning in not trying to eat a 400g in a few days.

£59.43 in Mr S. This was a rather large shop. 5kg of red lentils was £7 instead of £9 so bought a bag; it will last me months and help me make cheap meals so well worth the outlay.

£120.88/£248.
£127.12 left.

JingsMyBucket

And thank you @elsiepac for managing all our chops and changes on the thread! 💐

EcoIntent

Well we are over on the food spend as of today as OH went to Asda and spent more than I expected. We are now at £136.09 / £130 with two days left of the week. I’m not too bothered though as we did have the big flour order which is probably quite a few months worth and everything he bought was staples eggs, milk etc. I’m going to knock it off next weeks budget. 

I’m really pleased with the meal planning as unbelievably apart from peelings, the only food waste has been maybe half an avocado that was brown and a quarter of a tub of crème fraiche. Our food waste hasn’t been that low in months (note I did a big clear out just before new year of anything inedible and I date jarred items in the fridge when I open them) so it was a blank canvas. 

We still seem to have lots to go at, and all the ingredients for three planned meals 🙂. I only need to cook six nights next week as we are going for a meal and to the theatre sat night. The theatre tickets we bought for our daughter’s birthday last year. 

Mrs_Cheshire

Evening all, was tempted by the offers on just e@t today. They have 50% off certain groceries on Wednesday's. I only buy if its cheaper than the supermarkets. They had chicken breast reduced to £4 per kg, so I stocked up and bought 6 packs. Also got some fish cakes, sausages and burgers. Will put them all in the freezer, just need to make a dent in it first! 
Total is an eyewatering £292.55/£400. Going to have to be careful over the next few weeks to make sure we stay in budget.