January 2025 Grocery Challenge

Cartmay

Hello all. I’m new here - I’m early 50’s and was not able to buy my own home until 3 years ago.
 My main financial goals are to overpay my mortgage so it’s paid off when I’m 65 rather than 73) and go part time at work this year (can’t believe it’s already 2025!!😬).
Please put me down for £60 per week for all groceries for me (and a half person as my adult son lives with me and I often end up cooking for him because I feel sorry for him - otherwise he’d exist on cheese and crackers and pizzas 🙄).
Thank you ☺️ 

Cartmay

Actually - just worked out I’ve got £231 to last me for 4 weeks starting this Saturday- so that’s £57 per week. I always go over budget with food so I’m hoping this thread will inspire me and keep me accountable 😊

peony40

Afternoon,

I had my first shop for the month, the spend was £59.47, this leaves me with £164.35 until the 27th Jan.  I am aiming to do a big shop every fortnight, and just top up with bread from the milkman.  I need to be strict with myself and ensure I use up the fresh food first, as I have had far too much wastage during 2024.

Sausageroll14

Got my brain shunted into planning mode and getting some meals pre done as I currently have 3 boxes of eggs from Olio and they don't have the longest shelf life.... It's just amazing what you can freeze though! 

Also in other news I remembered a voucher from jam doughnut (cashback site) and good old nectar points so it should make for a free shop. Don't get many of those! 😂

mumtoomany

Hello all, happy new year to everyone. Having lost the plot last year, I'm trying again. There are two of us, dadtoomany and I, plus grandchildren sometimes, and lots of visitors in the better weather, mostly children and more grandchildren. I grow vegetables and some fruit. We have homereared lamb, mutton and pork in the freezer. 

The budget for the year, if you can list it please @elsiepac, will be £25 per week for food. In addition I'm allowing £200 for the year for cleaning materials, toilet rolls, etc.

Total will therefore be, 

£1500 for the year. 

Thanks, I'll try to keep up this year. Good luck all, hugs, mumtoomany,xx

winterbear95

I would like to join in please 
failed miserably last time I attempted but really am going to try 
400 for the month of January please 
next shop is next Tuesday 
there’s me, my husband and two adult children 
this is for food and toiletries and cleaning bits 
dog food is out of a different budget 
onwards and upwards 

time2change_2

I would like to join in this month please. There's only me but I think I spend too much. I am aiming for £40 week to cover groceries and have recently started putting £10 a week into a bulk buy fund to cover things not bought weekly  like toilet rolls/dishwasher tablets/washing powder etc. 

I've got stuff in the fridge and the freezer so am hoping the first few weeks of January will be less than that.

carboot_karaoke

Afternoon everyone,

I'm having a lazy day before returning to work tomorrow. Polishing off the last remaining chocolates and mince pies 

I also sorted out my store cupboards this morning, disappointed to find about 5 really out of date tins. I'm most annoyed because l knew they were there but kept forgetting to donate to the local foodbank. Must try harder for 2025.

I popped out yesterday to get cheese & crackers for last night and spent £5.74.

New totals £69.26 /£500 

Adjusted my food plan to use up leftovers and minimise waste. With a full freezer January has the potential to be a low spend month, however, l am running low on other essentials like washing powder, fabric softener, dishwasher tablets, foil, black bags etc.

Mamaofmanybudgets

£7.49 / £400 

Potatoes and milk
£5.59 for a bag of potatoes from the local shop. 😬
Almost had a fit when DS bought the receipt home with him. 

I really am going to need to get on with meal planning, I spend a huge amount in just the local corner shops (think busy inner city high street) just popping back and forth for little bits i need and while it's convenient, the price really isn't. 

I've got a lidl nearby but a 15 minute walk in this stormy weather wasn't happening. I didn't think about the tinned potatoes I've got stashed away. 

Time to get a game plan. 

LadyWithAPlan

Wow Jan 1st and we on page 8 of this GC already!  Happy new year all and tx @elsiepac for running the thread and all else for your inspiration

******** £200 monthly budget plus £20 bulk ********

this is just me but I live in central London. It excludes toiletries, cleaning and alcohol.
I aim to get back down to the £150pm but food prices have increased  and i have to be GF and largely DF..

Grocery -  £11.35/£200 + £20 bulk
popped into local sains today and got some meat bargains - a large on the bone outdoor bred cooked ham joint - £1.60  per kg vs £16 per kg!!  .... so it was just £3.30 vs £33... I have frozen a lot of slices into 5  portions  and also  made a soup stock plus a bean and ham/veggie soup  - huge bone.. so have got an extra stock for freezing.
Also got some meatballs reduced  and guac /salsa 
Plus some peanuts - better for me than crisps..
Lots of other YS but most had wheat in so no good for me as I have to be GF

I have loads in my freezer so hoping to come in well below budget this month

I overspent on food for xmas entertaining this year   - more than I expected  and also bought food  for family as i visited  so I need to start a xmas food pot  of £25 per month as well as Xmas gift pot - had lots of irregular pay so my savings got drained. I use YNAB so definitely need a xmas pot for food as well. 

I am planning to finally buy my flat this year so I am cutting down on all non essential spending and focusing on getting a new contract as well