January 2026 Grocery Challenge

PipneyJane

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81857784#Comment_81857784

My pleasure, @carboot_karaoke . Hopefully, your local L!dl will have some when you go shopping.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81859208#Comment_81859208

I’ve not seen the episode yet, @Nelliegrace, but I’ll look forward to that part of it. No better definition of empty calories than food that dissolves without filling anyone up.

@Suffolk_lass thanks for explaining about how to find stuff, following the update to the Forum. I was trying to post something from my phone, earlier today, and was wondering why I couldn’t find bold, etc. (Frankly, I don’t like the change. To my eyes, it looks like they’ve tried to make it look “cool” on a tablet, and failed at keeping it practical.)

Since tomorrow is payday, I’m declaring for January at £171/£180 leaving £9 to roll forward to February.

(Damn! They’ve taken away the ability to write in HTML, so I can’t get it to underline. ARGGGHHH!!!!)

We’re away until Sunday. My only plan for when I get home is to use up or freeze the three bananas that I forgot to bring with me. May buy some fresh veg on our way home but, even if I don’t, we’ll still have onions, garlic, sweet potatoes and potatoes in stock at home.

• Pip

dollypeeps

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81860178#Comment_81860178

thank you @Suffolk_lass ive just updated my 12k in 2026 thread and I managed to do it by holding my finger on the text (much like copy and paste) and then I could chose bold print

Pennypincin

£10.18 spent in Tesco last night.

Im hoping to get away with not spending anything on food until Monday when I will need some fresh fruit.

diminua

Almost £300. Just going to draw a line and move on.

K9sandFelines

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81859325#Comment_81859325

Thanks @JingsMyBucket . I hope so too 🤞🏻🙏🏻

remmie

My total for January is £356.07, more than what I wanted it to be this month, but quite a bit of bulk buying going on which should help us out over the next few months.

February is another month, and a shorter one so onwards and upwards. Good luck all.

£356/£3000 (yearly budget).

Matron_Midge

Declaring January at £382.78/£400

Really pleased with how I did eating from cupboards, freezers and using leftovers creatively

February will be a challenge on £400 as I will have two nights (at least) of family (4 adults) staying over for a funeral. They will require at least two dinners and breakfasts and possibly one pack up lunch for their long trip home. It is what it is and it will certainly save them a hotel cost so they are grateful.
Keep going everyone, squirrel away anything surplus and make the most of your stores to keep your costs low.

K9sandFelines

Just spent £9.05 at Waitrose but technically only cost me £6.55. Coffee on offer ( I used to swear by Aldi coffee now I've become a bit addicted to Sumatran Mandehling 🙃), aubergines to do the What not to eat recipe, wraps and Naturli 'butter'.

Kept forgetting to use the remainder of the Tuck gift card id bought for Waitrose last month.

If you don't know about Tuck, it's like Jam Doughnut but no minimum amount to use on the gift card. You can buy from £0.01 p upwards.

I uploaded another £5 and ended up paying £1.55. Obviously if I'd added it up better, I could have put £6.55 on there. Still I managed to get 20 odd p cashback for that.

I'm just sat with my free coffee scanning my receipt for the Clear app too, as my mind gets too distracted once I'm home.

I'm determined to be more organised this year!!

So £6.55 to add to spends 😳

jivjules1

524.46/600 get to start again tomorrow!

Changeyourlife25

end of Jan £570.69/£500

I know exactly where I’m going wrong, let’s hope for a better February!