February 2026 Grocery Challenge

goldfinches

@RedLipstick - I also watched the first two episodes of What Not To Eat yesterday evening and was very struck by the couple in episode one. I thought they made a wonderful team and were both obviously working very hard round the clock but had still found the strength to make a major change to their family life. The way they managed to get their children to accept and then enjoy the new foods was absolutely fantastic. My heart went out to her when she said about all the clearing up and then when she pointed out that they'd been able to stick to their budget I could have cheered. I'm definitely going to watch the other episodes in the series.

@otb666 - you were asking for any recommendations for good buys in Waitrose and I do have some. I usually go there to stock up on the Ottolenghi range, the Bold Beans range and the Belazu range and to buy Naturli vegan butter. I do find they have a wider selection of fruit, vegetables and fresh herbs and that all of those last longer in my fridge than when I buy the same things from any of the other supermarkets. If you have a loyalty card you can get 20% off either cheese, meat or fish depending on which day it is and they also do quite good offers across the shop so it's well worth looking online to work out what you want before you go. One thing I do find difficult is that the sizes of things like washing powders aren't the same as they are elsewhere so it's harder to compare on the spot, so definitely research that sort of thing online first.

Generally I wouldn't say that Waitrose are that good for dried beans and I usually buy my lentils etc. from local Indian, Pakistani, Turkish, Bangladeshi and Brazilian supermarkets but I have also been buying some beans from Heirloom Beans who are the British arm of Rancho Gordo.

I looked for a recipe to use the turnip I bought yesterday and found this Ottolenghi Spicy Turnip one for which I had all the other ingredients apart from the fresh coriander leaves so I made a half quantity of it this afternoon while it was raining. I decided to peel my turnip because the skin wasn't very attractive and then I cut it into 6 wedges before blanching it and then chopping it into the 1cm pieces which worked well. Here's the end result which is very tasty but a bit runny. I really like the spicy paste but I'm not so sure about the turnip but it may grow on me. I'm proudest of the fact that I resisted the temptation to pop to the shop for some fresh coriander so I'm claiming my first no-spend day. Hip Hip Hooray. 😇😁

Sallyp2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81864852#Comment_81864852

Use your Waitrose card as spends count towards treats either free items or £ off

don't forget your coffee cup for the free drink

jivjules1

hubby been to local shop despite delivery coming today so kicking off Feb with 17:01/350 will add on delivery tomorrow as final spend with returns and discounts not gone through yet

Nelliegrace

Annual Grocery Budget £1,825 for 2 pensionners.
February Grocery Budget £140

The weekly shop at Aldi.

£16.33 spent.

I was going to get a chicken to roast for a birthday treat but it seemed daft when I had a small beef joint in the freezer. I have pot roast beef and vegetables which will do several meals, and fish and cheese in the freezer. DH will make a fresh loaf in the morning. While the oven was on yesterday I made an orange and sultana bara brith with reduced price candied peel, and made some rock cakes. We have just 9 eggs left, the hens are having a short break from laying. I am thinking of getting 2 hybrid pullets when they become available.

diminua

£47.77 spent already, including on some store cupboard things (cornflour, stock cubes, tea bags) and some very nice but not cheap sea bass. Otherwise all the usual staples plus parmesan.

JingsMyBucket

Budgets updated to here.

I’ve got spends to declare but I’ll do that tomorrow morning when I have my head on straight.

AnotherNewDay

Hi I came in slightly under budget last month, so going to go for £350 again - £60 for the cats and £290 for 2 humans (groceries, toiletries, household).

carboot_karaoke

I am already a third into the months budget. But according to my food plan I should only need to buy fresh items like bread, milk, ham, cheese, fruit, veg and salad before we go away. Rough food plan to take us up to that point.

Roast pork dinner - we had Sunday it was a reduced Xmas joint

Pulled chicken and black beans with tiger bread rolls we enjoyed last night

Jacket Potatoes, cheese and chilli (leftovers from Saturday)

Muffin top stew and vegetables

Chicken and Chickpea curry and Naan

Sausages and mash

Pizza, or something equally quick before we go out Saturday

Meal out

Caribbean Stew

Soup and Baguettes

Lasagne (one to eat one for the freezer)

Brunch

Cottage Cobbler

Chinese Chicken Curry

Roast

Keema and rice

Tuscan Chicken

remmie

First spend of the month £39.85. The moral of the story is don't send the husband shopping, chocolate and ice cream definitely not on the list was purchased!

mandco

totally lost track in jan and not sure yet what my target for feb will be.

Spends totalling £149.08 so far - not counting the £1 Easter eggs I brought for Easter.