January's No Food Shopping Challenge 2025

abundant1972

Good morning all!

Well I'm actually quite enjoying this challenge!!! Feeling very frugal right now lol. Yesterday had overnight oats with some protein powder and blueberries, a sandwich for lunch and some Xmas snacks, and for the life of me I can't remember what I had for dinner lol. Anyhow - no money spent on food so far! 

Used up last of my bread this morning, and some left over rice pudding and peaches (what a combo!). Have poached fish with rice for lunch and will cook up a batch of chilli this evening which will do me 6 meals. 

Dizzycap I like the idea of freezing the card - it would stop me impulse spending on places like Amazon haha. 

EitherWalnut I like Huel because it is relatively healthy, and the one I buy has 40g protein and only 400 Calories. I was a frequent gym go-er and always looking for healthy ways to boost protein - so it worked for me. As meal shakes go - for me as a single person - I sometimes can't be bothered cooking for one, and they taste nice. A bit grainy maybe. Nice with fruit in. If you decide to try make sure you get a discount code for your first order! (but not in January as you have to use your own food haha 😜).

No Food Shopping Days = 03 / 31

AnotherNewDay

Sounds like a great challenge I'd like to join please 

EitherWalnut

Hi @AnotherNewDay! Of course - I'll add you to the list. Have you any specific goals you'd like to aim for?

@abundant1972 - rice and tinned peaches actually sounds great. I must check and see what tinned fruit I have. Am a bit sad at the discovery that not all creamed rice tastes the same so some of the stuff I have in the house will be easier eaten than others.  I might check out Huel.at some point once I've run down the supplies a bit. Feels like it might be a better backup food to have in the cupboard than my current go-to of instant noodles!

Good day for me yesterday - we do a sort of brunch thing on Fridays in work so I had a sausage bap to set me up for the day. Then raided the freezer and had butter chicken with pilau rice, vegetable samosas and naan bread for dinner! So that's another three things gone.

This morning I have had two croissants from before the New Year (they last ages, just stick them in the oven for a few minutes and they go back to almost as good as new) and a coffee. Haven't decided yet what I'm going to do when I run out of milk - but I have lots of herbal tea that I really should use...

Still zero spend here! We've got this!

abundant1972

Good Afternoon!

Guess what I'm having for lunch? Instant noodles haha. Yesterday/today used up the Special K. Pitta/Hummus went yesterday and enjoying the noodles and tuna lol. Still have loads in. Not got around to making chilli yet so that will be for dinner and I will portion off the rest. Having a day at home and maybe a walk out later (with the wallet staying home!).

No Food Shopping Days = 05 / 31

EitherWalnut

You're doing really well! Was very impressed with your super organised stock take too.  Have just realised that although I had the best intentions for doing a meal plan for this week, the weekend has kind of run away from me.

Had pulled a portion of lasagne and a cheesy garlic flatbread out of the freezer for tonight's dinner, so that was great. My friend gave me some homemade marmalade today so that on toast is breakfast for the foreseeable. Will have to come up with something that doesn't involve bread for lunches this week now!

AnotherNewDay

EitherWalnut said:

Hi @AnotherNewDay! Of course - I'll add you to the list. Have you any specific goals you'd like to aim for?

@abundant1972 - rice and tinned peaches actually sounds great. I must check and see what tinned fruit I have. Am a bit sad at the discovery that not all creamed rice tastes the same so some of the stuff I have in the house will be easier eaten than others.  I might check out Huel.at some point once I've run down the supplies a bit. Feels like it might be a better backup food to have in the cupboard than my current go-to of instant noodles!

Good day for me yesterday - we do a sort of brunch thing on Fridays in work so I had a sausage bap to set me up for the day. Then raided the freezer and had butter chicken with pilau rice, vegetable samosas and naan bread for dinner! So that's another three things gone.

This morning I have had two croissants from before the New Year (they last ages, just stick them in the oven for a few minutes and they go back to almost as good as new) and a coffee. Haven't decided yet what I'm going to do when I run out of milk - but I have lots of herbal tea that I really should use...

Still zero spend here! We've got this!

@EitherWalnut - Big focus on eating out of stores, fridge and freezer as currently well stocked! Will aim to do a stocktake of these and then meal plan for the rest of January and possibly beyond based on what is already available. 

Thriftymissus

Hello, I’d love to join please. 

Not spent on groceries so far this month.
Got my one and only ready meal (don’t usually eat these) out of the freezer for tea. It’s a Sainsburys yellow sticker curry
I feel like getting to mid January is a good target for me, then a second target for mid January to the end. 

Combined with me also counting ‘none spend days’ I hope this double whammy will mean a very low spending January and will welcome the challenge to see how frugal I can be. ❤️
thanks for running this thread.💐

lilian1977

Hi all

I'm starting this challenge properly today as have been away for the weekend and only got back last night, so today will be day 1!

Still in bed as its SO COLD, so haven't looked to see what we have in, but DS/DH have had toast, fruit and hot drinks for breakfast, I've just had coffee so far but will be having porridge for breakfast once I venture downstairs.

Hoping to not need the shops today, we still have bread from before we went away and a fully stocked fridge, freezer and cupboards.

Have great days everyone.

EitherWalnut

Welcome @Thriftymissus!  I'll add you to the list.  I don't usually eat ready meals either, but I am a sucker for a yellow label so end up with all sorts that I wouldn't usually have in my freezer - which is why I end up doing this challenge every January, to try and clear it out!

@lilian1977 - it is absolutely FREEZING. I dread to think what my next gas bill will be, but right now I just want to hug the radiator!

The marmalade on toast has been going down well the last couple of days.  Monday's lunch was half a tin of smoked sausages and lentils that I'd procured from a French supermarket last summer, the other half went into the fridge so that's tomorrow's lunch!  Monday dinner was just cheese and crackers and some other nibbly bits. Today I've had a sandwich and then some chicken, followed by some leftover Christmas chocolates.  Now just trying to decide if it's wine or tea this evening!

Almost had a blip today - went for a hoke in TK Maxx and there was an entire aisle of reduced to clear panettone!  However, I caught myself on and promptly left the shop empty handed.

Hope everyone is staying safe and warm!

Thriftymissus

Thank you @EitherWalnut 😄
I’ve continued to avoid any shopping today and should be fine tomorrow, it’s not getting tricky…yet x