August 2025 Grocery Challenge

carboot_karaoke

t14cy_t said:

had a result yesterday  3 packs cooked tandoori chicken, chicken breasts, loaf speciality bread, 3 bags baking spuds, an orange, portabello mushrooms, 2 packs carots, a salad bowl, curry dips, soft rolls all for free!! phew.

Wow that's quite a haul 😁

mandco

Since my last post Tesco £35.88 Asda £40.04 sains £41.80 m&s £7 & boots £21.06 (this gave me £10 worth of points back as did 2 different shops) £145.78
i know I’ve spent a bit more as paid cash for a few small shops but can’t find the receipts so gonna say £20 total £165.78 
I wanted to start paying cash more as I think it’ll help rein in the spends a bit more as obviously I can only spend what cash I have on me but i keep losing track/not getting receipts ( a lot of places don’t automatically give them anymore ) - at least with card payments I can check my account. 

£503.11/£800 

C_J

That's a smashing looking loaf of bread @Nelliegrace!

When I was working, I only ever had the time to go shopping once a week so it was very well controlled but now I have taken early retirement and my time is my own, I find it too easy to just pop out to the shops all the time.  Going to the community fridge has thankfully really cut down on that, but looking at everyone's diaries on here I can see how the spends are adding up for you all. It's just too easy - oh, I only need some milk, and then you come home having spent £12 on things you didn't necessarily need  . I guess that's how the supermarkets catch us.

Continued positive thoughts for those who are trying to rein it in!

Soontobeoap

DH stopped off on way home from bowls for cucumber and fruit for GSs  along with a loaf. Somehow more sweets slipped into his basket. They may end up going to GDs next week?🤦 Anyway £12.00 spent

Changeyourlife25

£172.83 / £600

Another fiver-ish last night on some noodles

carboot_karaoke

Morning all,

I made an unplanned visit to the shops yesterday due to some last minute entertaining. I brought 2kg Chicken thighs, Greek flat breads x 12, Sweet Chilli Houmous, Green & Black Olives, Greek yoghurt, fresh mint, lemon, and cucumber for tzatziki. £19.06 for that lot plus £1.39 for some ice creams for the kids.

New totals  

Grocery Budget £181.85 / £380
Entertaining £76.51 / £70
Total £ 258.36 /£450

JingsMyBucket

A few spends to declare. Last night I asked Mr. Jings to stop by M & S for a pizza instead of ordering Domino’s or something else. The news from America (Washington D. C.) really hit me hard and I’m worried about family and friends back home in the US. 😞 I completely lost my cooking mojo and focus. Mr. Jings spent £9.60 on pizza and some fancy custard. We had custard with some blueberry lemon yoghurt cake I baked on Sunday evening. I’m looking at it all as spending less than £10 to eat my feelings rather than £30 on Just Eat or Deliveroo. 😕

This morning I did a bit of shopping as well. 

£3.05 at M & S for garlic, clementines, and a YS bag of chilies. 

£29.95 at Lidl for bananas, 2 avocados, 2 bags of baby tomatoes, strawberries, parsley, bag of arugula, ham trimmings, smoked mackerel fillets, 1kg chicken leg quarters, 1 kg chicken drumsticks, 750g ground beef, Babybels, blackberry Greek yoghurt pots, and a bottle of elderflower Belvoir drink. 

Yesterday while digging around in the freezer I noticed we were completely out of chicken so I wanted to restock. I’m going to Glasgow next week for a few days and the Babybels will be a train/hotel snack for me. I also grabbed the blackberry yoghurt pots with both hands because you almost never see that flavour around here. 

£264.20 / £400 spent. £135.80 remaining.  

Vague Cooking Plan for the Week

• Keema curry, mung bean + cabbage curry, and brown basmati rice. 
• Shrimp and tomato pasta with an arugula salad 
• Ham, kale, and red onion quiche 
• Chicken drumsticks and roasted sweet potato wedges 

Not heading back to the stores until Saturday when I’ll pick up some items during Lidl’s East Asian week and for entertaining a friend on Saturday afternoon. Stay cool out there, everyone. 

Pennypincin

Sorry to hear jingsmybucket, sending hugs and hope things improve swiftly.

Finstickle

I've done the Asda order early this week as DD and I are off to a festival for the long weekend.  A very snack heavy order and alcohol, feels like a lot of money for not very much food but it will be cheaper overall.

£69 using reloadable voucher

I'm also feeling very far through my budget for this point in the month, however we are away for the last 10 days of the month as well so still think I'll make it.

Total £301.53/£400

JingsMyBucket

Thank you @Pennypincin, that’s genuinely appreciated x