June 2026 Grocery Challenge

Sallyp2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82032009#Comment_82032009

could you have brought less ice-cream and stayed in budget?

you brought 5 types ice-cream, would buying just 3 have kept you on budget but fulfilled the need?

just asking to provoke reflection

PipneyJane

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82032212#Comment_82032212

Good point @Sallyp2 regarding buying the items needed according to what you could afford. Am I the only person here who thinks Martin’s advice about trading down brand levels is wrong? I think that the way to do it is to drop from branded to the cheapest unbranded and then, if that is unsatisfactory, trade up a level at a time. That way, with a recent memory of the branded product, you can assess how different the cheapest product really is (if at all).

• Pip

Nelliegrace

@remmie, I am working on the same issue. I think it goes back to the late 50s seeing my frugal Mum counting the pennies in her purse, and having to buy basic food on “the book” from the village grocer. The big freeze of 1962-63 cut off food and milk supplies and there were long power cuts. I dread the cold months even now. Our bees were the same, never satisfied, wanting every cell, every frame, packed with honey and pollen, against the cold months.

Grocery Budget for 2pensioners for June £150.

I bought Brazil nuts 200g at Home Bargains.

£2.59 spent.

DH bought a courgette 75p and y.s. strawberries 97p from Asda.

£1.72 spent.

Shopped at Aldi this afternoon. Milk 2 x 4 pints at £1.65, long life milk 69p, cream £1.29, extra virgin olive oil (recommended in The Times,) 750ml £7.99, British, free range, mixed size eggs 99p, strong white bread flour £1.09, super 6 offer; vine tomatoes 99p and mushrooms 69p, 7 small bananas 88p, wonky grapes £1.37, wonky blueberries £1.19, nectarines 1kg £2.39, celery 79p, cucumber 99p, radishes 56p, carrots 44p, lettuce 77p.

£26.37 spent.

Total spent £68.15

Suffolk_lass

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82032217#Comment_82032217

I reflected on that when I read it - I used to run my kitchen like a restaurant with more choices than needed and lots of part filled boxes on the go. Only keeping the open things in the kitchen small FF until it is emptied and we are ready to open another works better, and realising I don't always need to pay the SM to store their food in my freezer, also helps. Their poor supply chain (often OOS) seems to make me panic a bit on the other side. I try to buy one good dairy vanilla and some (OB Valencia) orange ice lollies - both are a real treat. Then it is only things like Haagan Dash on offer that find their way in.

TravelCrystal

So I read through posts on here yesterday and decided a trip to Lidl was a good idea and cancelled the Ocado order which was due when we return from holiday.

This forum definitely keeps me in check.

Trying to keep the going out spend to a minimum and have set a budget of £10 each anything over will have to be paid out of our own pocket.

So what I have spent in Lidl today will last this month and beyond and includes some food for our holiday. Milk for the freezer and will be taking a frozen one on holiday. Various nice cheese and also a couple of our usual cheddar which was cheaper if you bought 2 x 400 than 1 x 800. So I only bought 2 as we have some already. Biscuits to go with it, crisps already in the house. Pate, and something I haven’t bought for ages, part baked rolls for which I can see many uses. A bottle of Chardonnay on offer, Sherry for cooking, don’t need at the moment but may do before month end. Tomatoes, bananas for me (roll and banana before choir concert, Saturday and Sunday) yogurt still only £1.49😮, onions, frozen veg, marg on offer £1.05, chicken with chorizo and microwave rice for quick lunch tomorrow.

£42.95 spent

Also bought 4 Ys panini in M and S a couple of days ago £1.09

Total spend so far £195.87

I will also be taking a spag Bol mixture from the freezer to go over jacket potatoes for one meal

We also tend to have what I would describe as a ‘deli’ meal and can take quite a few things we have in the stores already.

Dread to think June’s final total, never mind, holidays are to be enjoyed.

Hope everyone has a good weekend

T.C

remmie

@Sallyp2

@Nelliegrace

I know my problems stem from my DM who couldn't budget so I didn't learn anything from her. Also, when the children were small we only had one income and a mortgage to pay (high interest rates then), so we went from one payday to the next. That's why I panic when there's gaps.

I currently think there's 30+ meals in the freezer, so won't be buying anything else this month. July's another month, so let's see how I get on.

Salmon from the freezer tonight, with new potatoes and veg.

dollypeeps

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82032217#Comment_82032217

@Sallyp2 yes I could’ve. In fact I could’ve not bought any at all as we had other ice creams in the freezer.

A good point made by @Suffolk_lass. I think I do the same. Have various options etc and like others, perhaps a ‘stock up’ mentality.

I reflected on this earlier as I finished my shop in Tesco. I went over budget - I’ll put figures up later when I’ve sorted them out. I bought birthday gifts and other sundry items, so the bill needs to be broken down.

One thing I bought in Tesco was the greggs steak bake and sausage rolls. Why?? As they’re not on my menu plan this coming week BUT we always have them in the freezer. Again highlighting @Suffolk_lass point.

I think the good thing about GC is altering the way I think and then shop. I mostly stay in budget and have the funds to cover if I don’t, but I think it’s important to keep a thrifty mindset other than a spendthrift one, as we never know when we need to cut costs drastically.

Soontobeoap

Meal plan went completely hay wire last week bit we did still eat from freezer and store mostly. I have just done a freezer stick take. Plenty of meat in there to keep us going as well as a shelf of gF sausages, meatballs and fish for when GSs come at the end of August. I think they are here for 2 weeks so food bill will definitely go up then and July will be busy with GDs . School holiday months are always more expensive but it is so lovely to spend time with family. We have been so lucky this year and spent lots of time with them.

MrsFrugalLiving

Hello All 😊

Second shops for month June at Lidl and Home Bargins.  Out for dinner Sat so didn’t need too much. Got a few bits for the pantry.

I wanted feta but sold out as it’s on offer so may have to pop back later in the week which is always dangerous for me as I can’t help popping an extra thing or two into the basket 😬

Spend this week £50.97

New Balance £74.78/£175

Lidl - cheddar cheese, milk, sweetcorn, bread rolls, avocado, pine nuts, courgette, oat milk x2, grapes, nuts, yogurt, chicken, parsnips, radishes, oranges, chewing gum, Parmesan, blueberries, asparagus, lemon, red peppers x2, vine tomatoes, flaked almonds, cucumber, broccoli , shortbread, apples.

Home Bargins - shredded wheat, muesli, rowe honey, grahams block butter (1.49 which I thought was a bargain so picked one up to try)

LotsOfTea

I had a supermarket delivery on Tuesday which I haven't declared yet as I was waiting for a refund for a couple of items that either didn't get delivered or were very squashed. Now that's done the total was £54.32 but more will be spent today as I've trusted DH to shop for food for some impromptu entertaining we're doing tonight. I've given him a list but who knows what will happen if he smells doughnuts in the bakery section!

We're at £153.87/£300 so far with his shop still to come to we're going to have to rein it in for the second half of the month.