February 2026 Grocery Challenge

itsthelittlethings

I spent £275 this month.

ancientmum

I'm sitting in bed with my second coffee and second breakfast (slightly stale hm scones zapped for a few seconds in the microwave) feeling very lucky not to have to be out anywhere today. I'll pop to the market later for fruit and veg, but don't like the look of the clouds of doom gathering over the rooftops.

According to my bank account I have spent £92 over the last two weeks, which includes £31 at the butcher, saving about £6 on buying the packs individually. Two weeks left until payday and I'm well stocked, apart from bread and essential cake, which I will make this evening when the oven is on.

Soontobeoap

Another £16.00 spent in Aldi yesterday on cereal and snacks for Grandsons and DH who still cant taste his food. DS coming next weekend with family so I am going to be way over. Everything has been so unpredictable this month. Love catching up with family but hoping budget next month will just cover the 2 of us. Good news is that I still have a fully stocked freezer so once we are both eating properly and I can plan meals again rather than try to tempt DH, things should settle down a bit. Oldest Grandson has been offered work experience in the summer on the Island so we could have him to stay for those weeks. Hope so. We don't get a lot of time to chat with him when they are all here as the younger ones are more demanding.

Nelliegrace

“Were you planning on stopping keeping hens or is their demise unexpected? I have wondered about the economics, especially as a dozen eggs can easily cost £3.”

Not sure yet @PipneyJane. The Eglus are still in good condition. We used to sell enough surplus eggs to pay most of the feed costs. We would buy two hybrid pullets in early autumn to have some eggs in winter, and to replace the oldest hens. We had reduced the numbers, and the remaining two just looked so miserable in the persistent cold and wet, even under the clear tarpaulin cover. We need a lot of work doing in the garden, overgrown trees pruned or removed, the old greenhouse removing, new fences, etc. to make it easier to keep tidy. We are without pets, bees, and poultry now. Our 14 year old Daisy Dog had a stroke last week.

PipneyJane

I’m sorry to hear about Daisy Dog @Nelliegrace. Dogs are family.

Big hug,

Pip

weenancyinAmerica

So sorry to hear about Daisy Dog, @Nelliegrace. Losing a pet is so difficult. Sending you many ((((hugs))). Sorry to hear about the hens too. They were part of the family too.

Pennypincin

Sorry to hear @Nelliegrace

Pennypincin

£16.69 spent of the budget, mainly on fruit, nuts, a couple of packs of instant noodles, 2 packs of casserole powder sachets and some reduced pizzas.

£143.31 left of the February/march budget.

goldfinches

Sorry to hear about Daisy @Nelliegrace as well as the hens, hope you have lots of happy memories to sustain you.

Glad to hear you and OH are somewhat recovered @Soontobeoap. I know it's a bit late for Pancake Day but I thought you might be interested in this dosa recipe from BBC Good Food because they're made from lentils, chickpea flour and rice plus once you've made the batter it keeps in the fridge for up to 5 days.

I've managed not to rush out and buy any extra ingredients this weekend which I'm quite pleased about because I've been substituting to avoid the temptation of the supermarket and deliberately fossicking in the fridge, freezer and larder to find things to use up this coming week. I'll be back with a rough meal plan tomorrow, see you all then.

Soontobeoap

Thanks for the recipe @goldfinches. Looks interesting and would make life a lot easier with " the gluten free twins" although things have become a bit easier since they can eat a little wheat.