June 2026 Grocery Challenge

Greying_Pilgrim

In the spirit of fairness, I'm reporting that a 'free' bakery item voucher has appeared on my leedl app. It is valid for 28 days. It's no incentive for me, but I might use it to get a sweet treat at some point, or not.

I don't know if I surpassed some 'mystery' spend threshold, or whether my complaint to Leedl about the app's wayward focus has finally reached someone who bothered to read my complaint (I received a stock 'people don't like change, stop comparing the old app to the new, the new version is improved' response, to my observation that discounts were on things I don't buy).

LotsOfTea - I know supermarkets don't actually give a fig about their customers, but the 'loyalty' cards/apps are diminishing in their appeal - they are giving little to the customer, but harvesting consumer data for themselves and others. I didn't have the L app for long enough before it changed to the new system, but the new system has offered virtually nothing for me since it's inception (1 month ago?).

**Back on topic, we are one week into June and I am over 1/3rd over my budget 🫤 This week's focus is on eating up stores - and to that end I have sorted out all the remaining Easter tatties. I have 6 'Saxon' (Sains) and approximately 10 'Melody' (Aldee), left. I have washed them, de-sprouted them and they are in the fridge to use up. I only have some onions left now from the Easter deals, as I used the last shallot the other day. I have soaked some pinto beans (Leedle offer a few weeks ago), overnight and will cook them up today. The £1 a 400g punnet strawberries I got from her0n f00ds were delicious. If we have no other strawberries this season, they will be a worthy taste memory.

Greying X

PipneyJane

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82025985#Comment_82025985

Wise words @LotsOfTea

I have two shops to declare from yesterday. Went back to L!dl to pick up a tub of their Oxy-bleach because I’d forgotten there was an offer. £2.39 spent (a 40p saving).

I also went to Sainsbugs spending £23.91 on peppers £1.27, mushrooms £1.96, 1kg loose carrots 72p, 1L skimmed milk for DH’s work 94p, Yeo Valley Greek Yoghurt with Honey 4x£1.92, Yeo Valley yoghurts 2x£1.75, Onion bagels 2x£1.35, and a pack of 40 colour catchers £3.75.

This brings our total spend to £79.97/£195.30 leaving £115.33 for the rest of the month.

I’m still trying to work out a complete meal plan for the week, but dinner tonight will be beef chilli, with enough leftovers for lunchboxes for two days. (We’re out tomorrow night.). Dinner on Wednesday will be Carrot & Cashew Nut Roast.

• Pip

wishus

I need to add in £17.69 from the weekend to cover lunch ingredients, bringing the total to £39.94/150 so far. Will need to go to the shops again today as I've done a meal plan.

Husband - lunches: chicken sandwich, egg, tomatoes, orange. Snacks: soups/peanut butter on toast

Me: fish/cheese/egg salad.

Breakfasts - avocado/egg on toast; porridge with apple.

Dinners:

Monday: Creamy chicken and broccoli pasta

Tuesday: Fish tacos and salad

Wednesday: Chicken fajitas and salad

Thursday: sausage and pea risotto

Friday: crispy courgettes with creamy pesto beans

Saturday (swapping dinner and lunch): chicken, chickpea and mango traybake

Sunday: the same

dollypeeps

£3.40 spent on bread rolls and loaf of bread in Asda

Bringing this weeks total to £82.11/ £90

Hopefully only eggs to pay for when I get my delivery tomorrow and I should be within budget for this week.

wishus

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82027121#Comment_82027121

Okay, top up shop to cover these ingredients done: £10.75. Brings the total to £57.04/150

Soontobeoap

Mel plan went a bit off piste last night. Forgot to take anything out of freezer so we had egg and chips instead. Nice change.

carboot_karaoke

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82028354#Comment_82028354

Oooh what a classic, l fancy that for dinner now

Greying_Pilgrim

Tiny bit of shopping done today. I went to 'ome bargins and got; garlic paste, oregano, vac-pac beetroot, 2 x mug-sh0t pasta pouches and a bag of kettle crisps. Grand total £3.25, spent. Siggie amended.

Whilst I don't think that the pasta things are that nutritionally dense, I wanted to try out 2 flavours when it "didn't matter" to see if we liked them enough as an emergency 'meal' when we go away overnight in a pr3m1er 1nn type hotel. We were away a week or so ago, and the town we were in had little or no takeaway action going on, the hotel evening meals were poor value (for vegetarians), and it was a Sunday, so the shops were shut (except a small supermarket in the garage near by). I had taken cup soup, but it was way too hot for soup - so I want to see if these 'just add water' pasta pouches can offer options for the future?

Greying X

dollypeeps

egg delivery done £1.90 to be added

Total so far £84.01/£90.00

Tonight’s meal …… mince beef and onion slices with mashed potatoes, broccoli and carrots ( from meal plan)

Tomorrow will be Cajun chicken pasta with salad and part baked baguettes

Thurdays korma curry with rice and garlic naan

That should be it for this week.

carboot_karaoke

Afternoon all,

I have finally had chance to total up the weekends spends.

I went to Tesco and brought YS, a few tinned items and snacks for the kids £34.77 spent.

Then to Lidl, calculator in hand to ensure l met the £40 threshold to save £5. I spent £35.70 😇 after the discount very pleased with that.

Also popped into home bargains for toothpaste £3.89. l then returned to my local Lidi for ice cream and frozen berries because they would have melted at the other branch l visited £3.60.

Finally, CK3 called me to say Tesco had large chickens reduced to £3.67 so l brought two. One went in the freezer the other l cooked while the oven was in use. The breast has been thinly sliced and frozen to use as sandwich filler the rest has been cut into portions and left in the fridge for everyone to eat as wanted. I dare say it will be gone by today 😂.

Grocery Budget £159.24 / £400

Bulk Fund £9.39 / £50

Grocery Challenge £ 168.63 / £450