June 2026 Grocery Challenge

RedRose61

We have a fortnightly food share in our village. It’s to prevent food waste and is perfectly acceptable food that is surplus at local supermarkets. It’s free or you can leave a donation. I usually leave a couple of pounds because it’s such a help.
I managed to get some broccoli, 2 punnets of strawberries, potatoes, onions, a bunch of flowers, a lettuce and some peppers.
We were even invited to stay for tea and coffee today which was very welcome.
I could have had bread or raspberries too but I’m trying not to eat bread at the moment and raspberries don’t agree with me.

£116.62 left.

Hope everyone is coping in the heat.
xxx

carboot_karaoke

Evening all,

l could have avoided the shops a bit longer but Lidl sent me a spend £30 save £5 voucher that had to be used by today, so first thing l went to get some things l know we would use / needed. These included 2 x 50spf sun cream 250ml and an after sun all of which already had 20%off l got the lot for £7.61. The price l paid for one bottle of Nivea sun cream earlier in the year. I'll include these in the bulk fund.

l also picked up some FR eggs, cling film, a large block of cheese, salad and, a punnet of grapes and strawberries that cost £2 each. After the discount l spent £25.12 😇.

I do still need chicken, washing tablets and a few other bits l will get towards the end of the week .

Grocery Budget £347.23 / £400

Bulk Fund £37.11 / £50

Grocery Challenge £ 384.34 / £450

K9sandFelines

£5.13 spent at Ald|. - food caddy liners, courgettes and bananas

Greying_Pilgrim

Thanks C_J - I'm wondering whether the NP shelf edge label had been left on in error. I just checked the Sains website, and it doesn't give those courgettes as on NP offer. Thing is, where the price/NP label was, there was nothing else to confuse it with. Maybe they were on NP last week?

I suppose it's one plus for smart shopping - the zapper would have told me instantly what price they were, and I could have put them back. The reviews for these courgettes is not favourable ☹️ but hopefully that is for imported courgettes, these are British, and hopefully less 'airmiles' and fresher? But Sains aren't the first to have one price on the aisle, and another at the till. Short of taking a picture of every SEL, I'm not sure how you prove what you've seen. The thing is, there were no other packets/loose/organic courgettes that had the £1.45/£1.15 price split ☹️

Thanks for your comment though - I might give it a go - I'm irritated enough by it and have my receipt.

Greying X

C_J

I was uncomfortably warm yesterday afternoon so I took a trip to the large Sainsbobs to get a few bits and pieces, and to bask in their icy aircon! The store was full of people pushing empty trolleys, pretending to shop 🤣

I spent £14.52 on some milk, cat food sachets, squash, Camembert, Ryvita and orange juice. I had wanted some ice lollies but their freezers were empty - then I remembered I have one of those Zoku instant lolly makers sitting in the freezer so that’s why I bought the orange juice instead ….. I made a couple last night and they were lovely.

June grocery spends so far are now £43.39/£150

JingsMyBucket

Evening folks, from our slightly warm basement apartment. I've created the July thread and will try to get someone to pin it for us over the next couple days.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6673931/july-2026-grocery-challenge

wishus

Got to add another £12.03, for salad stuff (and a naughty box of pistachio chocolate ice creams) which brings me to £120.61 out of £150, leaving £18.87 in the budget.

Done quite well. If we weren't watching our weights we'd easily have gone overboard on treats in this weather, and I think that's basically the key as I've actually been doing quite well on that front too.

Got to find some room in the crowded freezer to save more bread, or we'll have bought that in waste. Not the weather for carbs. Going to change up my toast for a nectarine smoothie this morning.

Greying_Pilgrim

£1.65 spent on apples in 'ome bargins. One full price bag and one YS'd for 65p. I could see one bad apple in the YS'd bag, but the rest looked ok.

Will add to my siggie figgie, and i'm pretty sure I've bust the budget, but at least it was buying fruit.

n*ctar offers aren't much cop today. Leedl at least gave me 15% off a couple of things I buy, but I'm underwhelmed by them too, tbh 🙄😂

Greying X

Nelliegrace

June Grocery Budget for food for 2 pensioners at £5 a day, £150.

Not enjoying the heat! DH stopped at Asda for milk.

I asked him to get cooked beetroots for salads but he bought chilli and white vinegar infused ones which neither of us can eat so I gave them to our neighbour. He bought some bread rolls with Emulsifiers (Mono- and Diacetyl Tartaric Acid Esters of Mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids, Sodium Stearoyl-2-Lactylate, Mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids), and Palm Fat, which I won’t eat.

I must add £9 he spent on a pack of 10 cans of Thatchers English cider some time this month. The last pack was bought in 2024 and there are 2 left! He said they were on offer.

£13.96 spent.

He took me to Aldi today. I took a flask of cold water with me. It was 35°C when we got back. It was not the weather to stand and natter.

Milk £1.65, yoghurt £1.49, cream £1.29, evap 52p, salmon pieces 250g £2.85, 6 British, free range, mixed size eggs 99p (not in photo), mixed seeds 99p, almonds £1.69, SR flour 70p, carrots 69p, beetroot 59p, white cabbage 89p, radishes 56p, vine tomatoes £1.49, red pepper 70p, 30% off asparagus 98p, grapes £1.37, blueberries £1.19, bananas 88p, and super 6 offer easy peelers 69p.

£22.20 spent.

Total spent £131.89

MrsFrugalLiving

Hello All 😊

Hot and bothered over here in London. Last shops for the month.  Couldn’t quite manage to stay in budget which is annoying as I was not far off.  Messed up a bit as bought two types of potatoes when I had quite a few at home - even though I checked before going and made a list 😵‍💫. So rather than stressing I think budget too low and will up for July to give more wiggle room.  I am going to keep toiletries, kitchen cleaning products etc in as I can’t be bothered to take out. Overall happy with spend this month. 

Spend this week £47.35

Total spend  £188.01/£175

Over budget £13.01

Lidl - sourdough (free coupon), apples, grapes, potatoes big, salad potatoes, cucumber, oranges, radish, carrots, lime, melon, pitta, bagels, Greek yogurt, milk, oat milk, blueberries, crisp bread, crackers, kiwi, tomatoes, avocado, bananas, 15 eggs (will last two weeks 

Waitrose - facial toner (simple on offer), shredded wheat, mayonnaise, fish sauce, plenty max kitchen rolls.