January 2026 Grocery Challenge

jivjules1

Weekly shop arrived today by online delivery 64.32. 
total 286.09/600
hoping to still be on track for more like £400 definitely will be under budget at least, I think 

carboot_karaoke

Evening all,

l needed salad and bread so popped to Asda this afternoon. I also brought some fruit, squash, ham and crackers. Total spent £10.18

Grocery Budget £134.67 / £279 

Bulk Fund £30.54  / £50

Grocery Challenge £ 165.21 / £329

I have a more extensive list to get on Friday. 

Nelliegrace

January Grocery Budget £155 for 2 pensioners, £1,825 for the year.

11/ 1/ 26 DH bought cream and UPF mince pies, “Because they were only 9p a box.”

£1.57 spent.

12/ 1/ 26 Shopped at Aldi on the way home from town.
Salad potatoes were on offer at 88p. We have a few 5p vegetables left, I shall take these out of the plastic, let them dry overnight and store them in the garage. 
The candied orange peel was 9p, I shall be making orange and sultana bara brith.

£17.99 spent



I managed to get the last of the sale price cheeses portioned and into the freezer.
We had a small pork joint out for Sunday, I shall finish that in sandwiches with soup tomorrow.
Fish from the freezer on Friday. 
We had an egg from the hens this morning.

January total. £75.39 

Suffolk_lass

I've updated my spreadsheet to reflect tomorrow's milk bill and with that we are at £90.65. I have a shopping list that includes cat litter, which is another budget, but I will have to shop for that, even if the food can wait. £150 looking very unlikely now but we shall see. Maybe 2 bags of different frozen peas is unnecessary (even if they are own brand)...

dollypeeps

Declaring this week
£110.94 / £90 bank / £10 cash in purse.

A few things put me off kilter.
The threat of snow Thursday into Friday made me worry and rush to buy bread and milk a little earlier and then when I came to shop on the actual Friday ( where we didn’t have snow) I didn’t need any at that time. This obv run out earlier this week ….blimey all about timing.
I did actually buy quite a bit of meat in that total, which wasn’t required for this weeks meal plan but stocked up what I’d used. So I suppose a bit of bulk buying which will help in the future.. I’m just trying to build up my bulk fund.
I think if I’d kept solely to my list and meal plan I would’ve come in on budget so there’s a lesson learned there.
This weeks meal plan went slightly awry as well as dh came down with the winter sickness bug.
Right off to do this weeks shopping list, meal plan and budgets.
Good luck to GCers this week….may the YS shine brightly, may you find plenty of yummy UFOs in your freezers and may your purses stay shut!!

LotsOfTea

I had a delivery today which came to £94.65. We have family visiting for a few days so it was mostly things to feed them while they're here but also essentials like tea. We don't function well in this household without a decent cuppa or three.

Now at £183.81/£300 for the month.

K9sandFelines

Suffolk_lass said:

joedenise said:

Thanks for explaining @K9sandFelines, does sound a difficult time for your DD1.

Yes, and this place is just great if you need to have a little vent of your frustrations - we all do, from time to time and it's a valuable resource in that respect, just for being there and someone reading. Stay strong! x

I'm not normally one for doing it, but it's just sent me right out of wack. Thanks so much everyone.
And whilst I'm here I need to add at some point, a 12 packs of toilet roll ( can't remember how much I worked them out at), plasters and bath salts.
Tomorrow there maybe a few more things as I'm going with DD1 to her hospital appointment. So will have a bus ticket to frequent places I don't normally go 
Hopefully she's returning home t the weekend ,🤞🏻

joedenise

Hope the hospital appointment goes well for you DD1 and that she'll be able to return home at the weekend and you can get back to normality.

jivjules1

A pack of bacon and some YS - chicken filets and a whole chicken total 7.90.
both older kids back at uni so should be much easier from here on! 

Got a too good to go bag at 4.99 and some YS trout, butter and some snacks for a movie night 11.70

310.68/600

carboot_karaoke

Evening all, 

I have another spend to declare and I'm afraid I got a bit carried away. Overall total was £81.62. I needed some toilet roll, cleaning products and toiletries £19.65 from the bulk fund. 

Of the remaining £61.97 high price items were 1kg flora x 2 = £7, chicken drumsticks and mincemeat another £7  and snacks I'm embarrassed to say came in at £10.21 🙈 although some is for our holiday next month. I have squirreled some crisps and choc away for next week. 

Grocery Budget £196.64 / £279 

Bulk Fund £50.19  / £50

Grocery Challenge £ 246.83 / £329

Just £82.17 remaining it's going to be very tight