January 2026 Grocery Challenge

remmie

Apologies for being mia.

Because I'm doing a yearly challenge I forget to post, but can tell you my budget is currently running at £250.71. More than what I wanted this month, but I have had a couple of bulk buys. Toilet paper (enough to last the next 4 months , and dry dog food, (should last a couple of months).

Still 9 days left in this month, so hopefully not much more to buy other than fresh.

LotsOfTea

Since I was near the supermarket today I popped in to get tomatoes, cucumber, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds the first two of which we'll run out of in a couple of days so it made sense to get while I was close by. 

I spent £6.42 which brings me to £192.82/£300 spent so far.

cuddlymarm

Hi
£2.40 spent on yellow stickered bread brings me up to £94.86/£150

jivjules1

Hey all £5.77 spent today on a big bar of chocolate a packet of bacon bites and 3 packs of YS vegan chicken style pieces, had a few vegan bargains this month which will last well into Feb. Never ending month I don’t need any food but we will need milk and some packed lunc top ups for DS3
totals 369.38/600 aiming for 400 so should be on track still 

otb666

£600 came in budget so happy. I am trying to convert hubby to 85% coca chocolate as he has about 4 packs of chocolate bars a week at the moment which i need to work with him on reducing. I go from 23rd to 23rd see you all on febs thread 

Suffolk_lass

I am celebrating throwing away the cardboard carton that contained dishwasher salt that I purchased with my friend when I went to C**tco on her subscription in February 2019. I still have most of a bag and a whole bag left that will last us a similar time to @PipneyJane's washing detergent, or even longer! That's why I keep a store-cupboard budget heading!

Nelliegrace

@otb666 We started buying high % dark chocolate, without added Soya Lecithin. It doesn’t take much, just a small square or two eaten slowly, to feel satisfied. We have our two ounce, 50g, ration each as a Sunday treat, and mine lasts all week in my sweetie jar. We have quite a stock in the cupboard, bought mainly on offer. It sits there, not even tempting, yet we couldn’t get enough of the addictive Mars, Snickers, Double Deckers, etc. which we used to buy. We have stopped buying any other sweets and don’t miss them. One look at the ingredients and it is easy to put them back on the shelf. 
I bought some 72% cocoa drinking chocolate to have with hot milk for a treat. 

Changeyourlife25

£434.75/£500 

PipneyJane

carboot_karaoke said:

…

Also l wanted to ask if anyone knows when Lidl have sun cream in stock? We're going away in Feb.

Not sure if anyone else has answered you already, but our local L!dl has some sun cream by one of the cash  tills, @carboot_karaoke.  

JingsMyBucket said:

Morning folks! The February 2026 thread is now live: 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6651639/february-2026-grocery-challenge/p1?

I'm waiting for someone to pin it for me but you can start adding yourselves to it as you want. 

Thanks for the new thread @JingsMyBucket.  I’ll pop over there in a moment and sign up.  It was mentioned on the daily or weekly digest email.

I have no spends to declare at present.  Just trying to figure out what to do with the 250g of pork mince that I took out to defrost this morning.  Hmm…. Will it become a curry, a chilli, or a pasta dish…..  I think lasagne is winning.

- Pip

dollypeeps

£72.73/ £90.00 …….so far for week 4 …… £59.86 at Lidl and £12.87