October 2026 Grocery Challenge

Finstickle

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82162657#Comment_82162657

Ooh, thank you!! I was definitely influenced into the ones I bought so glad to have some other recommendations

Finstickle

Coming on to record a few bits.

I did a little top up shop in Tesco - £13.29. I had a £5 giftcard from Postcode Lottery and paid the balance with me pre-counted Discount Giftcard.

Also bought DD some Friday night sweets today on the pre-counted Discount giftcard.

No change to my current total:

£159.08/£350

mandco

@Greying_Pilgrim I won a baking kit a few years ago which contained vanillabean paste and now i Dont use anything else personally I think its worth the investment - it seems to have a richer/stronger flavour so generally you need to use less and the thicker consistency means it doesn’t loosen the mix too much if larger amounts are needed to get the depth of flavour you want unlike the liquid essence.

@navelorange1 you do sound very overwhelmed at the moment so cut yourself of some slack we all have times when life is overwhelming and things go off the rails it’s not a failure just a learning curve.Everyone’s shopping habits are different some can stick to an even weekly budget others start off with a really big shop which takes up a big chunk of the budget but then just need small top up as needed. Its early days and it takes a bit of time but eventually you’ll find what works best for you the main thing is to not give up when things don’t go to plan. If your happy to eat slight variations if the same thing everyday on a rolling weekly basis and it makes like easier as you have less to think about then go for it no different to those who have a set weekly menu with more variety but do the same meals every week it’s what works for you.

Forgot to tally up & post last weeks spends so will work those out and update once I’ve done this weekends shops.

K9sandFelines

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82163844#Comment_82163844

You're welcome 😊

K9sandFelines

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82163364#Comment_82163364

Would it help to batch cook something that could overlap into different meals. Say prepare mince of choice, and then split it into different components, to maybe make a Bolognese, a chilli, a keema curry and shepherd's pie. That way you are only cooking one protein, but adding different stuff to it. So you would only need to chop some onions, peppers, mushrooms, possibly carrots. Add seasoning, beans, extra veggies, prepare rice/pasta/ potatoes.

The next week you could choose something different like tofu and do a stir fry, a cheese sauce and pasta, ramen .... You get the drift.

I don't know if this is still too overwhelming

Or you could prepare the raw ingredients in some containers. And add the day to them; so when it comes to cooking; you only have to grab that container for the day and get straight to cooking, rather than prepping aswell.

I totally understand how you feel. I went to college in 2017 and was also working and still parenting, and running a household. I also did work experience for the course at a cat rescue at the same time. I'd done that previously before the course also. I was on auto pilot half the time too. I hope you can figure something out.

Greying_Pilgrim

@mandco - thanks for your post - you've confirmed what I very much had hoped. Thank you - as £10 is a chunk o'change to drop on a hunch…. 😬

Greying X

karenccs67

Morning everyone, I hope you’re all having a lovely weekend. I’m going pumpkin picking with my 2 year old grandson tomorrow ☺️

WEEK 2 : £78

£280 - £153 = £127

Changeyourlife25

£305.73/£450

Adding a Sainsbury’s shop via uber and multiple corner shop trips.

Ah, slowly creeping up and only the 10th of the month.

My farm shop order should be here today with meat for the month, that’ll slow us down 🥰

Greying_Pilgrim

£2.30 to add to my total. My DH went to get his prescription from Tosco, and I asked him to look to see if they had any of their plant-based burgers in stock. I don't routinely go there to shop, but we do like several of their products, and with what we already have in the freezer, I now have enough for 2 'burger' meals - what ever form they take.

Greying X

Suffolk_lass

Just milk for us this week. £8.