June 2025 Grocery Challenge

PipneyJane

PipneyJane said:

Good morning All

I have a small spend to declare from Thursday.  £2.55 spent in L!dl on 3 large sweet peppers (£1.79), a YS bag of lettuce (32p) and a YS bag of stir fry veg (44p).

This brings our total spend to £157.55/£165 leaving £7.45 for the rest of the month.

It’s going to be very tight.  I’ll need to do some serious meal planning to a) ensure we can live off what we already have in stock, b) that it’s summer tolerable, and c) that, if I do need to purchase something, it won’t push us over budget.  Also, that we don’t waste anything.  Hmmm….

To get through the next week, we’ll need eggs.  That’s £2.79, spent.  A hand of bananas, approximately 80p. And one carton of lactose-free milk (99p).  There’s a Sainsbugs Smartshop offer on small tubs of Greek yoghurt (which I use in potato salad), 62p.   That’s £5.20 “spent” before any of the fresh veg we have needs replenishing.  Hopefully the mushrooms will survive, but I may have to make up a few tubs of base to freeze.

- Pip

I think I’ll admit defeat.  You may remember, earlier in the month, we scored 4 tubs of Gressingham duck livers for £2 each in Sainsbugs.  Well, yesterday, DH persuaded me that the Meat Fund should have paid for them and that I shouldn’t apply my arbitrary shopping rule that any meat purchased at the supermarket comes out of the GC purse and not out of the Meat Fund.

£8 put back into the GC Purse and a 5p piece removed to go into the money box.

This reduces our June GC spend to £149.60/£165 leaving £15.40 for the rest of the month.

To anyone who is worried that DH and I will be in distressed circumstances if we break our budget, please don’t worry.  We’re both in well paid jobs, with plenty of savings and spare income each month.  We started our system of GC Purse, Meat Fund, Bulk Fund, etc, when we moved in together 25 years ago, because It meant that one person would inadvertently shoulder the burden of “The Housekeeping”.  While things were a bit tight when I was sick last year and DH was unemployed, I do the GC each month primarily for the challenge and because it keeps me accountable.

- Pip

TravelCrystal

Sorry @Soontobeoap re the cakes. I went to the dentist a few weeks ago and mentioned the lovely bakery just up the road. We always treat ourselves to cakes as a treat 😊 luckily we only visit the town around 5 times a year

T.C

Pennypincin

I've been buying lots of treats out of my money and not shopping properly.
I've £23.77 left and have wasted some of the food budget on fresh bits that I've had to put in the composter as it went off due to the treats and not eating healthy.
I'm going to try and stop being wasteful,do proper shopping and start again with the healthy eating tomorrow.
Somehow I need to.

JingsMyBucket

@Pennypincin try not to beat yourself up x. We all go through times or slumps where we eat unhealthily. Usually for me, it is definitely around my period or hormonal swings. Try to get back on the horse again and soon you’ll be off to the races. Sending hugs if you need them. 🙂 

Pennypincin

Thank you.

JingsMyBucket

Pennypincin said:

Thank you.

You're very welcome! Keep posting here and we'll help keep your spirits up. 

JingsMyBucket

Hi y’all, I survived camping overnight! I might be willing to try it again… Before setting off on Saturday, I went grocery shopping. 

£17.76 at M & S for 1L of olive oil, 2 boxes of puff pastry, bananas, and a YS whole chicken. 

£40.19 at Lidl for tomatoes, 15 eggs, 4 avocados (49p each), strawberries, red bell peppers, 2 goat cheese logs, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, meatballs, kabanossi, Babybel cheeses, a wedge of parmesan cheese, butter, jars of pesto and black olive pate, 5 boxes of Nairn’s biscuits, face wipes, and a few large bottles of water. 

£324.59 / £325 spent. 41p remaining.  

Some of the items were for us to take camping and others were regular groceries or a long use buy like the olive oil. I’m wondering if I should break out the camping spends into a separate line item? What do you think? I could claw back £14.09 but maybe I should just suck it up. 

We have some bulk staples and long use items to buy this week including dishwasher tablets, Yorkshire Tea, Lea & Perrin’s, HP sauce, along with regular fruit and yoghurt, etc. I’ll see if I can keep that spending to within roughly £30 – £40. 

carboot_karaoke

Evening everyone,  

I have another two spends to declare just when it was going so well. 

I brought salad, cucumber, coleslaw, bread, squash x3, 2kg of chicken thighs, cream cheese, and a large block of cheese. Also, I had to buy some treats and drinks for a school trip. Total spent was £20.19. 

New totals £371.71 / £446 .  £74.29 Remaining 

carboot_karaoke

In other news l wanted to ask for your opinions.

We are planning to invite a group of friends round for lunch. They're will be approximately 25 people of varying ages. I'm really struggling with what to make ideal budget is about £2-2.50 a head.  I will ask for pudding and drink donations from the guests.

I like things l can cook  / prepare in advance 

Ideas so far

Lasagne/ Garlic bread / Chilli and Rice/ Guacamole / Sour Cream / Salsa / Grated cheese 
Salad 

Jerk chicken  / Caribbean Stew (like mutton curry but with chicken) / Rice / Homemade coleslaw/ Fried dumplings/ Salad 

Taco's with various fillings like / Chilli beef / Pulled chicken etc

I think a BBQ is a bit to much pressure on the day and price wise can easily get out of hand. 

A cold buffet (although this is my least favourite option) not a massive fan of sandwiches but easy enough with cakes,  sausage rolls, etc


I look forward to your inspiration 😁

JingsMyBucket

@carboot_karaoke when is the party likely to happen? Will it be raining or what’s the likely temperature? Are you planning to do eating inside or outside? Do you have seats for everyone or will it be a standing affair? Answering those questions will help us think of ideas.  

Overall though, I’d stick with roughly one type of food or flavour profile. So if you make lasagna, skip the chili and rice and a vegetable lasagne, baked eggplant boats, or a baked pasta dish. Add some Italian salads and sides like roasted red peppers, etc.