December 2025 Grocery Challenge

mandco

Totally lost track of the spends though I know I’m over my reduced budget but within my usual monthly budget as had the extra Xmas savings so can’t complain especially considering the alcohol bill was over £150 due to hosting & I did also pick up some extra 1/2 price joints which are in freezer for roasts next year.

actually been very restrained avoiding the shops and falling for the get it because it’s reduced but I really don’t need it - so far since Xmas I’ve only spent on a loaf of bread & a pk of 1/2 price fondant fancies for the boys as they love them but I refuse to spend £2.50 on them. That’s me done for December - I will need lactose free milk before new years to last us till the weekend when I do my 1st proper post Xmas shop but that will come out of jan budget.

Matron_Midge

Declaring for December and year end!
In December, including all festive food, I spent £418.90/£400 - slightly over budget but given the price of festive food, I think I got away lightly especially as we had 10 eating over 4 days
My 2025 total spend is £4255.57/£5000 - yes! Came in under budget 🥂💕
Average monthly spend = £354.63/£400
Average weekly spend = £81.83

Im thrilled with how this year has worked out and will be keeping the household budget the same to mitigate from any further price rises.
I have a budget surplus of £744.43 which has just about paid for flights to the canaries in March so a “free” holiday.
I’ve done my last shop of the year and things are looking well stocked on the food front. January will see us needing dishwash tabs, washing liquid and loo rolls.
Finally, a big thanks for running the thread and to those who post. It really does keep me accountable.
I’ll see you all over on the shiny new January thread.

Finstickle

Yay it's the end of December and the chance to start a new year full of excitement and enthusiasm!

I'd a few bits to get after my last post but finished the month:

£306.05/£400 (excluding Christmas)
£467.01/£400 (including Christmas)

It turns out my Christmas budget covered all of the presents perfectly (£3 over budget) but didn't cover the festive food and drink so going to count as an overspend here and remember the lesson for next year.

carboot_karaoke

Evening all, 

So it turns out l had one more shop to do for this year . 

I forgot peppers on Saturday a fundamental ingredient in todays curry. I also needed self raising flour, yorkshire puddings and bread  I brought all of the above plus YS fruit cake  @26p l couldn't resist, YS cadbury cake bar @44p 2 x gym kitchen meals @ 1.42 each  YS chicken and bacon bakes @84p for two, some onions, bananas and a bottle of squash.  Total spent £11.04 

New Totals 

Grocery Budget £463.82 / £450 

Bulk Fund £42.47  / £50

Grocery Challenge £ 506.29 / £500  

£6.29 over but considering how much l have in stock I'm happy with that.  

Nelliegrace

December budget at £5 a day for 2 pensioners, £155, plus £10 each State Pension Christmas Bonus, £175.

I looked for real food bargains in the sales when I went for the groceries.
At Asda I bought milk x2, courgettes, oranges, custard powder, and their 100g Ugandan dark chocolate, without soya lecithin, at £2.28 x 2.
I got yellow stickered onions at 54p a kilo, and salmon fillets to freeze at £2.25.

DH added a stollen, full of UPF stuff, reduced to £2 to the trolley. In his gut be it!

£17.20 spent.

Not in the grocery budget, I stocked up on cod liver oil capsules 3 for 2 for us and our old dog.
I bought a hot water bottle in a pretty embroidered cover, reduced to £3. I replace hot water bottles regularly.



We stopped at Aldi where I bought evap, lard, and budget oranges.
I found another pack of salmon fillets and 1kg of chicken drumsticks 30% off.

In the sales I bought a glass bottle of Kalamata Extra Virgin olive oil 500ml at £4.49.
Christmas dried fruit and nuts 350g x3 at £1.49
In the baking section 6 x currants 500g at 99p, the last packet of  Christmas mixed dried fruit at 49p, 2 x candied peel at 49p
(I have enough reduced price dried fruit for cakes for at least 6 months. I shall be baking Eccles cakes with currants.)

£22.42 spent

Total £176.49

£1.49 over budget.

Organizing_Home

Great thread to read back at the end of December — it’s been really useful seeing how others managed their grocery budgets and what worked (or didn’t). Definitely taking a few ideas forward into January! 🛒✨

carboot_karaoke

Matron_Midge said:

Im thrilled with how this year has worked out and will be keeping the household budget the same to mitigate from any further price rises.
I have a budget surplus of £744.43 which has just about paid for flights to the canaries in March so a “free” holiday.

Love this 😀,  it just shows the benefits of budgeting and focus and will make the holiday even better. 

Matron_Midge

carboot_karaoke said:

Matron_Midge said:

Im thrilled with how this year has worked out and will be keeping the household budget the same to mitigate from any further price rises.
I have a budget surplus of £744.43 which has just about paid for flights to the canaries in March so a “free” holiday.

Love this 😀,  it just shows the benefits of budgeting and focus and will make the holiday even better. 

It really does! I put the money (if there is any surplus - even if it is pennies) into an account that I opened when I started the GC several years ago and I always try to “do” something with it so that I/we have something to show for all the scrimping. 
Last year I bought a beautiful leather handbag from Osprey. Granted it was from the outlet and I have never had such a pricey item for myself but 12 months on it is pristine and has been used every single day.

whitecatcreamsofaDOH

Just popped out for lunch and done my final shop of the year. Finishing at:

£499.96/£450

If only I hadn’t ambitiously tried to reduce the budget down in December, would have been fine 🤣

Had quite a few post Christmas bargains - most frugal included gingerbread custard creams 21p, and free Christmas veggies on the 28th. 

whitecatcreamsofaDOH

Thanks Jings, for running the thread, and thanks everyone for posting and keeping me motivated! 

See you all on the January thread 🥰