May 2026 Grocery Challenge

Sallyp2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81985144#Comment_81985144

yes there are so many charities who need foster carers - you get food costs paid

Greying_Pilgrim

Nelliegrace - it is easy to miss items in the bottom of trolleys - and you were honest and returned to pay for them - you're giving MrAL customers a good name, you're no criminal-in-training 👍

But yours was an even better spot with the malt extract - why on earth is mixing it with CLO even a thing???? Bleurk!

Greying X

C_J

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81985002#Comment_81985002

So sorry to hear about the loss of your cat, @Elizabeth49, it’s so sad when a pet leaves us. Good suggestions about adopting from a pet charity though.

I haven’t posted on here for the longest time. I am still theoretically keeping a budgetary tally of everything but am in the extremely fortunate position of having several excellent Community Fridges nearby (well, fairly nearby as I live in the middle of nowhere!) with at least one every day of the week. The midweek one is so fantastic (and only asks for a £1 donation) that with some creative menu planning I barely need to top up from a supermarket at all. It’s a bit like an episode of Ready Steady Cook - I come home with two Aldi bags full of fruit, veg, salad, dairy and bakery items every Wednesday and think “now what am I going to cook with all of this?!”. Trying to think up new ways with repetitive ingredients certainly makes menu planning fun, and I have widened my repertoire of recipes considerably as a result (the ‘what are you cooking’ thread on here is very good at providing inspiration, thank you everyone). Over Lent I donated my unspent grocery budget to charity, something I am continuing to do.

goldfinches

Evening all, hope the weather's good where you are.

@JingsMyBucket - thankyou for the new thread.

Could you put me down for

Main Grocery Challenge £186, Baking Budget £24, Bulk Buy Fund £100

That covers all food for one moderately active vegetarian woman, baking for friends once a week and all household necessities and basic toiletries.

I made a trip to the big Mr T's by bike on May morning and bought ev olive oil, vegetable oil, mango chutney, date syrup, dark agave syrup and ys strawberries, £24.42, and the bulk buy fund paid for 4 x 950g Fage yoghurts, £18.00. Then the baking fund paid for 2x plant butter and light brown soft sugar, £7.45.

Next I went to M&S for milk and 2x radishes, £3.80, and then on to the Mr T's on the corner for ys rocket, ys tomatoes and ys bread which totaled £2.96.

That makes my new totals

Main GC Total £31.18/£186
Baking Fund Total £7.45/£24
Bulk Buy Fund Total £18.00/£100

That seems like an awful lot for so early in the month but I am going away for the weekend next Friday which gives me a bit of leeway.

ArgyllLady

Another £27.81 spent over the weekend - mostly restocking and fresh veg/eggs but did include an impulse bought banana muffin! Forgot potatoes so will need to go out again midweek but otherwise should see me through the next week or so and brings me to a total of £41.66 for the month so far.

carboot_karaoke

Afternoon all,

Apologies for entering the thread late. I will try to get chance to go back and read your posts.

I would like to stick with my normal budget of £400 plus £50 for toiletries, cleaning and bulk items.

I have already spent £70.28 and £7.45 on toilet roll, kitchen roll and shower gel.

Grocery Budget £70.28 / £400

Bulk Fund £7.45 / £50

Grocery Challenge £ 77.73 / £450

Sallyp2

posted this on nsd may but i'm sure some of you remember spendaholics?

Spending bank holiday snoozing in bed - not spending - watching spendaholics on you tube for free. Love this show!

Soontobeoap

First spend of the month for me. £21.76 in Aldi. On some basics and sausages and bacon. We forgot eggs ( made the mistake of not making a list!) should last is a few days I hope.

Just discovered DS may be bringing family over at the weekend to stay so careful planning will be needed. 🙂

TravelCrystal

Morning guys

I see Lidl’s have changed their format on freebie’s and are now on a points reward system. Takes ages to see what you can get, scrolling through.

Just about to start our last bag of free potatoes.

Have a good day everyone

T.C

Greying_Pilgrim

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81987068#Comment_81987068

I've only just got the MrL app - literally a week before they announced the changes. Whilst it would appear that I have been 'given' 100 points to get started, the amount of points you need to get "free" stuff is insane. If I've understood it correct, to get a "free" box of tofu, technically I need to have 195 points….. or (in theory) spend £95 more, in-store to collect a "free" box of tofu worth <£2………

I agree TravelCrystal - scrolling to see what is available/for what points is endless…… ☹️

Greying X