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Hello Forumites! However well-intentioned, for the safety of other users we ask that you refrain from seeking or offering medical advice. This includes recommendations for medicines, procedures or over-the-counter remedies. Posts or threads found to be in breach of this rule will be removed.May 2026 Grocery Challenge
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I'm up with the elderly cat. So thought I'd post.
Officially over here now til 12 June
If I didn't post my budget @JingsMyBucket I'm trying again for £150 (£30 for bulk buys). I can't really raise it more than this. Even if sometimes I'm going over.
Last proper month now (or last but one) before I'm buying for one again now. Hopefully I can get it back down again when theres just me. As not just differing foods, but toiletries last longer too 🙃.
No birthdays this month either, so hopefully that helps also🤞🏼
GC 2026 ~ J £213.45/180 F £180.21/£120 M £158.53/£150 A £184.65/£150 May £89.40/120 (includes food, toiletries and cleaning from 13th to 12th of each month). £24.63/30 Bulk fund Two person vegan household, with occasional visitorsJoin me on the meal plan thread : https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6356309/could-we-start-a-meal-plan-thread-again-so-its-not-lost-in-the-gc/p1Forever learning the art of frugality5 -
Done a sobering tally of May food spends
1 May Sains £85.85 - includes £80.56 card / £5.29 coinstar shrapnel / £16 wine box (not yet touched!)
5 May Coop - £4.86
6 May Coop - £ 34.23
6 May Tesco - £17.36
10 May Coop - £37.86 - includes ex vir olive oil - omg £
£180.16 spent
£129.84 left
Challenge is in balance but i'm doing my £50 cash cold turkey attempt this week starting today
Annoyed i brought the £16 wine box on impulse and its not been opened so wasn't needed … urgh!!!!!!!!!!!
w/c 8 June 4 weekly/monthly cold turkey week £0/£60
June NSD 4/18
June Grocery challenge £0/£270
w/c 11 May cold turkey £49.18/£50 = £0.82 rem
May NSD 20/16
May Grocery challenge £379.04/£310 = £69.04 over
Debt-Free April 20264 -
If it is only one cup, a S*bucks stainless steel beaker with a screw-top (even if it is for cold drinks) will keep your coffee hot for around four hours - mine (one of the originals, like this style you can still get on eBay) is well over ten years old
Just to add @Greying_Pilgrim Malt and CLO is not a new thing. My Mum used to buy it from the clinic where we got our childhood injections - a big jar of it and my sister and I were given a spoonful each, every day in winter, as she was concerned we needed to be protected against any more childhood diseases (we had had mumps, measles, German measles, chicken pox and whooping cough in the first three years at school - all after being vaccinated). We are talking 60+ years ago
Save £12k in 2026 #2 I have banked £9004.48 so far, against a £10k target The 2026 Save £12k in 2026 thread is here
OS Grocery Challenge in 2026 I am sticking with a £3000 annual budget for 2026 - currently £1111.79 and most of my May purchasing made
I also Reverse Meal Plan on that thread and grow much of our own premium price fruit and veg, joining in on the grow your own in 2026 discussion thread
My keep within our budget diary is here6 -
Guests over for lunch yesterday so whilst I managed to get away with making things already in fridge or cupboards, decided on chocolate mousse for dessert so had to get chocolate. Non alcoholic drinks and a pizza for our lunch Saturday came to a total of £11.34 to add, Lidl and Asda were the culprits.
£106.45 spent so far this monthT.C
3 -
Spent £7.80 this morning - milk and carrots, that I went for, plus YS chicken thighs £2.31 and baby corn £0.49. The almond croissants from the in-store bakery were delicious, £1.50 and definitely Treats and Entertainment budget. I should get two meals from the chicken thighs. I am happy with that!
That brings my total to £36.80 so far this month. Shopping from home I have made L&P soup for 3 lunches; we will have it with toast for lunch today (maybe tomorrow, and Wednesday). I do have one or two bread rolls left in the freezer, but I plan to bake bread tomorrow
Save £12k in 2026 #2 I have banked £9004.48 so far, against a £10k target The 2026 Save £12k in 2026 thread is here
OS Grocery Challenge in 2026 I am sticking with a £3000 annual budget for 2026 - currently £1111.79 and most of my May purchasing made
I also Reverse Meal Plan on that thread and grow much of our own premium price fruit and veg, joining in on the grow your own in 2026 discussion thread
My keep within our budget diary is here5 -
Thanks Suffolk_lass - I knew CLO and malt extract were given in schools, because I remember my dad telling me about it - he wasn't a fan 😆 Although I suspect that his was from a nutrition perspective, rather than a 'keeps you regular' perspective as he was in primary during the war and it's aftermath, so there wasn't a lot of food around. But I didn't realise that them being combined was a thing. Everyday's a school day 😁
Greying X
Grocery Spend June 2026 £81.46/£225
GC May 2026 £225.53/£200
GC April 2026 £199.95/£200
Non-food spend June 2026 £36.28/£80
Bulk Fund 2026 Month 6/12 - £9.98/£87.56 (reducing balance - start £120 pa)
""Mother Nature don't draw straight lines
The broken moulds in a grand design
We look a mess but we're doing fine
We're card carrying lifelong members
Of the union of different kinds..."
"Union of the Different kinds" - R Christie & T Gilbert, Fisherman's Friends1 -
Had a card service call to do in Sains today … I was so annoyed with myself for the mindless purchase of the £16 wine box that I returned it for a refund
Spend total is now £164.16
£145.84 remaining
Feeling happier
w/c 8 June 4 weekly/monthly cold turkey week £0/£60
June NSD 4/18
June Grocery challenge £0/£270
w/c 11 May cold turkey £49.18/£50 = £0.82 rem
May NSD 20/16
May Grocery challenge £379.04/£310 = £69.04 over
Debt-Free April 20269 -
I spent £1.70 today on bananas and tomatoes from the garage on my way home from work. I could have done with a cucumber as well but there were none in the very small veg section. I'll hopefully have time to pop to a proper supermarket tomorrow to pick up a few other bits.
I'm up to £60.65/£300 so far.
5 -
Morning all,
I nipped to Lidl yesterday to claim my free veg, a family pack of peppers, also brought a large block of cheese, a loaf of bread and a tin of kidney beans. I also brought 2 lidl pastries 🤭 but I'll pay for those myself. Total spent £6.37.
Grocery Budget £109.14 / £400
Bulk Fund £17.58 / £50
Grocery Challenge £ 126.72 / £450
Current Balance £7,675
MFW 2026 #31 £15325 / £23,000 OP
MFIT - T7
Emergency Fund £4,410 / £5,000
0%CC May 2027- £5,000
0% Loan £600.00 - paid ✅️
Money made £210.60 / £365
Declutter 42 /52
Grocery Challenge 2025 £4885.78
Grocery Challenge 2026 Jan £328.20, Feb £297.01 Mar £352.91 April £422.85
The final countdown to June 2026 - Page 4 — MoneySavingExpert Forum4 -
Suggestions for cheapest vs. quality vs. value golden syrup?
tate & lyle is the go to but so expensive
w/c 8 June 4 weekly/monthly cold turkey week £0/£60
June NSD 4/18
June Grocery challenge £0/£270
w/c 11 May cold turkey £49.18/£50 = £0.82 rem
May NSD 20/16
May Grocery challenge £379.04/£310 = £69.04 over
Debt-Free April 20264
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