January 2026 Grocery Challenge

whitecatcreamsofaDOH

£471.90/£450

Still over - but not as over as last month - sneaking nearer to target. I was ill with a rough cold for the last week of Jan so heavily relying on convenience food and deliveries. On the mend now and hopefully Feb will hit the elusive target x

oceandreamer

£161.93/£200

Am pleased with the underspend but even more pleased that I have kept a record for the entire month so actually know what I have spent!

dollypeeps

declaring week 5 £102.80 bank £90 purse £10

Monthly total spend for 3 sometimes 4 adults £468.90/£500

Quite pleased with the overall total as we’ve a few disruptions ( hospital sickness bugs etc)

And I’ve transferred some over to the grocery surplus fund as well

K9sandFelines

£0.12 spent at H&B on nutritional yeast. I had £5.00 in points so was able to use £4.00. I will update later as I'm going to go and try and get some YS sliced bread this afternoon, and a butter block to make some flapjacks.

ancientmum

Well, despite best efforts to eat mainly from stores, I have managed to spend £123 in January. Although I have an annual budget I try to keep to £120 a month. Hey-ho, over to February and the prospect of lighter days ahead.😀

K9sandFelines

Ahhhh this month is squeezing me dry.

I've just been in Aldi for what seemed a few bits. I did need sourdough bread, and some fruits and well that and Home B@rgains totalled £28.59. I got a big sack of potatoes from Home Bargains which I'm happy about though.

I'll probably have to go back again on Monday as they had no soya yoghurt, and I forgot ketchup for DD2. I don't really use it. Also I've no peppers (forgot those too) !

The W@itrose shop came to £4.25 as I also got some coconut milk with the butter.

Then C@ - op came to £1.58 for some reduced bread

£200.71 😱. I think having DD1 and DGD here have definitely had a knock on effect. Hopefully this month I will claw it back as DD2 is away for 5 days. So, just myself to feed then !!

JingsMyBucket

@K9sandFelines wow, that’s a large amount for you! You’re normally around the £180 mark, no?

Soontobeoap

Hi I am back from cruise. Cupboards were all run down before we went away.

£250 for us please

K9sandFelines

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81876205#Comment_81876205

Hope you had a marvellous time 🙂

K9sandFelines

More like £120. Unless I have bulk buys.

I think it was definitely having two extra people here, because even though DD1 chipped in with food, things did get used up alot quicker. I think I should recoup it in February. I'm hoping a few things I've bought will carry over, and see me through to the end of the month.

I've just had to kill time going to collect a prescription. They shut for dinner and I didn't want to turn back home. So nipped and got stuff I keep forgetting, or that's OOS !

£12.74 to add spent in HomeB@rgains and Ald!

Mixed nuts and two oat milks. I didn't realise the brand in there has similar ingredients to Plenish, which is literally just oats, water,salt. So, I'm trying to see if the yoghurt works using that and the Sojade. And going forward I'm going to use this milk in future, as it's less added ingredients and only about 20p more than the cheapest soya milk now..

In Aldi!s I got six packs of instant noodles for DD2 and DGD - I don't really eat them. Also, avocado, kiwi, and tomato sauce.

Im 99.9% sure I don't need anything else now, so I will join you all on the February thread 😊