May 2025 Grocery Challenge

JingsMyBucket

goldfinches said:

 I've managed to bust my budget in one disastrous visit to the big Sains on the ring road, I could kick myself. I stupidly avoided a small delivery fee by sending a parcel to click and collect at Argos in the Sains branch and, of course, while I was there I was tempted and fell spectacularly.

My name is goldfinches and food shopping in new to me shops is my downfall, I'd be wearing sackcloth and ashes if I didn't have to go and buy them first!   

😂 at having to buy your sack cloth and ashes @goldfinches. I will join you on the shame stoop. I also agree that you're being too hard on yourself. Definitely move the non-food purchases to a household line item in your budget. That will probably shave about £25 – £30 off your total.  

BTW, this past week I made this gluten free banana bread recipe and it is excellent. https://www.thekitchn.com/gluten-free-banana-bread-264941. I only made a couple changes to the recipe. Instead of honey or maple syrup, I used Demerara sugar and used a bit less than called for. I also added a 150g punnet of blueberries and a tablespoon of chia seeds. Mr. Jings couldn't stop devouring it and I admit to having several slabs of the bread slathered with butter. I highly recommend anyone to try it out. 

otb666

520/600 1 shop left for me as go from 23rd til 23rd. I have still not used up all my grains which I am trying to clear before buying more.

Soontobeoap

Just a few top ups at Aldi today. Juice,sweet and sour sauce, cucumber, loaf, bin bags and eggs. £10.54 spent. DH has decided to join me on my diet so no sweet treats for at least this week.🤣

Doom_and_Gloom

Doom_and_Gloom said:

£248.01/£310.

£61.99 left.

£25.99 spent since last post.
£0.90 at the local Asian mart.
£11.28 at L!dl.
£13.81 in Waitr*se.

£274.00/£310.
£36.00 left.

Nelliegrace

May budget for two, £155.

I bought extra tinned prunes at 99p, we have a one or two in our breakfast porridge or muesli so a tin lasts for the week. 
£18.65 spent.

DH bought 2x basic muesli £2 at Morries, when he went for fresh jam doughnuts for the bowls club coffee morning.
£7 spent. 

The hot weather has meant fewer eggs from the hens, only 10 in the last week. 

Total £100.32 spent.

PipneyJane

karenccs67 said:

Sorry I’ve been AWOL, a lot going on with my husband.

£242/£250 🤦🏻‍♀️ 

the only upside is that we are going away on Friday for a few days, there is plenty in the fridge & freezer so I won’t need to do a shop. 

Hope your husband is OK now, @karenccs67

I have a Sainsbugs shop to declare from this morning:  £21 spent.  It would have been less but they only had one copy of the Sunday Times, which didn’t have any inserts, so we had to buy a packet of recycled toilet paper (Nectar price £2.52) and some dental floss to make up the shortfall needed to use a Spend-£20-get-5x-Nectar-Points voucher.  

(We only buy the Sunday Times for the TV guide and the business pages, and we’re subscribers so get a discounted voucher to use each week.  Needless to say, the paper comes out of a different budget category.  Sainsbugs give Nectar points on the paper regardless of how you pay, whereas MrT won’t give Clubcard points if you pay with a voucher, regardless of who issued it.)

The above brings our total spend to £119.22/£160 leaving £40.78 for the rest of the month.

- Pip

moginstein

PipneyJane said:

...It would have been less but they only had one copy of the Sunday Times, which didn’t have any inserts, so we had to buy a packet of recycled toilet paper (Nectar price £2.52) and some dental floss to make up the shortfall...
- Pip

Clearly I wasn't concentrating when I first read this. I had visions of using the inserts as loo roll, but was puzzled as to whether it could work as dental floss, if you ran bits between your teeth.

Fortunately I read on, and now understand, so I'm not ripping uo bits of paper for either option!

WickedLady4

(We only buy the Sunday Times for the TV guide and the business pages, and we’re subscribers so get a discounted voucher to use each week.  Needless to say, the paper comes out of a different budget category.  Sainsbugs give Nectar points on the paper regardless of how you pay, whereas MrT won’t give Clubcard points if you pay with a voucher, regardless of who issued it.)

Well, I read it as you needed the Sunday Times for loo paper!!!

K9sandFelines

Hi guys
Today I spent £7.72 in S@insbury's, which included lots of packets of vegan cheese sauce. I don't even really make many recipes using it; but it was on clearance.
Does anybody have any nice recipes using cheese sauce? I'm not keen on lasagne or macaroni cheese.
I do have cauliflower.
Any other ideas please ?

Then £2.38 in B and M on stroopwaffels. I was hoping they'd have started reducing their stock as they're closing in June.However, it seems that's not started happening yet.

C_J

@K9sandFelines I like leeks wrapped in ham and baked in a cheese sauce, and cauliflower cheese with added pasta to make go further. I also use cheese sauce as the base for a creamy fish pie with mashed potato topping. You could  also use it as a sauce with spaghetti, maybe with added crispy bacon crumbled into it. 

(Just realised that if you are buying vegan cheese sauce it may be that you are vegan, in which case just ignore me, sorry!)