July 2026 Grocery Challenge

whitecatcreamsofaDOH

Nearly at the end of my first week and I’ve spent £40.13/£420. At this point I’m normally around the £100 point.

This isn’t down to my careful budgeting - the main difference is that my adult child is away with friends so the grocery spend has gone right down (alongside the electric and water bills 😬).

The main bulk purchase needed this month is wet cat food, and have started looking for bulk offers.

Sallyp2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82059871#Comment_82059871

interestingly cancelled the milk a few weeks ago, no future orders in … milk&more emailed me today 20% off everything for 12 weeks

PipneyJane

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82060320#Comment_82060320

@mandco how annoying to be overcharged! Do you have a L!dl near you? Lactose-free semi-skimmed milk is 99p/L at L!dl. Historically, they stocked skimmed, semi-skimmed and full-fat lactose-free milk but this year, I’ve only seen semi-skimmed.

HTH

• Pip

Suffolk_lass

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82060771#Comment_82060771

I skipped deliveries through for the next few weeks (the calendar blanks out mid August). I have just had the refunds for this week (£7.75 removed from GC and added to savings account as part of my regular Tilly-tidying, most mornings).

Temptation today - I have to go to the M&S the other side of the next town. I just know I shall buy fruit and flowers (flowers will be treats budget) as part of my clothing click and collect. I. MUST. Be. SENSIBLE!

TravelCrystal

Whilst I was at choir last night, S in law popped in and has kindly given us 2 huge sausage rolls. I detest them with a passion, all that pastry 🤢DH however loves them. Hoping he will eat one today and one tomorrow for lunch.

So I have just been on my first walk and have returned with YS bagels, .90 from the Range, so will add that to the current month spend.

We had pork tenderloin for lunch on Sunday using some of my crème fraiche. Using the rest later in a carbonara and poaching my last piece of salmon from the fish haul earlier this year to have cold tomorrow with salad. Will soon be looking like a lettuce leaf the amount of 🥗 we are having.

Hope you are all coping with the heat 🪭
T.C

JingsMyBucket

Morning folks. I went shopping at M & S on Friday for Mr. Jings birthday that was over the weekend and then a bigger round yesterday. 

£27.71 at M & S on Friday for 3 for £10 pasta ready meals, slow cooked ham hocks (birthday meal, £7.75), a couple bunches of bananas (2.26), 350g cheddar (2.80), 3 baked beans (1.20), skyr (2.50), a can of sardines (1.20), and a free red velvet cake (used it for Mr. Jings’ birthday). 

Yesterday was Savers, Morrisons and Lidl. Going early in the morning helped me get some bargains. 

£11.16 at Savers for cough drops, rinse aid, air freshener, and waxing strips. 

£31.89 at Morrisons for vine cherry tomatoes (72p), ham trimmings (1.69), cooked chicken breast pieces (1.74), 2 beef rump steaks (6.10), 500g cooking bacon (1.00), block butter (1.99), 2 boxes of Mr. Freeze pops (2.50), 1kg peanut butter (7.00), Nature Valley cereal bars (4.75), and 2 boxes of Deliciously Ella oat bars (4.40).

£23.00 at Lidl for avocados (1.38), 400g strawberries (1.79), 500g baby plum tomatoes (89p), seeded sourdough loaf (1.99), 2 YS 1kg packs of chicken drumsticks (1.07 each), 3 beef frying steaks (3.99), 2 packs of frozen pork gyoza (5.98), 15 free range mixed eggs (2.85), and granola (1.99). 

The chicken drumsticks and the frying steaks immediately went into the freezer. 

Total £106.00 / £350 spent. £244.00 remaining. 

Well, that’s a nicely even and tidy total so far! We’ve definitely got enough food to last us through the week. I went shopping yesterday because I really don’t have time to do any other day. I’ve taken on a new client project and will be heads down for the next few days. Here’s the cooking plan as well in no particular order: 

• Pork chops with veg and rice 
• Egg salad (for Mr. Jings’ snacks and lunches)
• Lentil soup with grilled cheese sandwiches 
• Rump steaks with salad and baked potatoes 
• Grain and veg bowl with halloumi or cooked chicken breast pieces  

I’ll likely head to M & S on Thursday or Friday morning to get mayo to make the egg salad and refill bananas and baked beans for Mr. Jings. Stay cool everyone!

carboot_karaoke

Afternoon all,

I have a couple of spends to declare from the weekend. I spent £70 on treat food and alcohol for our weekend away but that comes out of a different budget.

The other spends came to £26.49 for milk,bread, eggs veg, fruit and a few bits to complete this weeks food plan. Also spent another £21.85 from the bulk fund for 10kg basmati rice, toilet roll and some toiletries

Grocery Budget £46.24 / £400

Bulk Fund £21.85 / £50

Grocery Challenge £ 68.09 / £450

A steady start to the month although no one, including myself 🙈wants to eat the "hot meals" i'd planned so l will have to try and adapt some ingredients.

remmie

The first shops of the month are coming in at £144.52. For that I've got enough grain free dog food for the month, and OH got 12 thick pork shoulder steaks 50% off. I'll still need more meat next week so we have some variety, but looking good atm.

cowboymum

Been away for the weekend (used £20 from cash budget for food) and did a click and collect on return from sainsburys for £45.54. Today spent £3.75 on mango chutney and poppadoms.

Total £163.62 / £500

Soontobeoap

£8.50 spent in Sainsburys on coffee and ham