We will be doing a no spend month except for basic bills that have to be paid during the month of January including our property taxes.
Our budgeted amount for each month during all of 2026 will be $ 600. per month. The $600. I have set aside for January will be rolled into a stock up later in the year.
Every morsel that we eat or drink will be from our stockpiles. Nothing will get us to purchase a thing. If this month goes well, we will probably do the same for the month of February. Then perhaps for March with the exception that we like to get corned beefs on sale that month. You know how much this girl loves her reuben sandwiches.
There will be a lot of cooking around here to use things up. I will post each day what we cook and what that used up.
I had another small haul yesterday including one spiral sliced ham. I would like to get another one but I want to see if the price goes down this week. If it doesn’t, then we will not purchase another. We have plenty of turkeys to roast over the next couple of months.
I was going to blog about that haul but we are exhausted and trying to catch up on our sleep. I had to call an ambulance early Sunday morning for Hubby. My son came from another city that is over an hour away to get me to the hospital. I can’t drive at night. He gave us quite a scare but is home and doing well now.
So I apologize for not doing this haul post. If I am well rested by tomorrow, I will show you the haul. I most likely will do one more small one next week and one just before New Year’s eve.
What are you guys paying for your hams? I am very curious.
8 replies on “January 2026 Grocery Budget”
Hi Precious, so sorry to hear about your hubby, but glad he is home now. We are tired too. I wrote you an update about our latest trip.
The cheapest price on hams here is .78/lb. I will get one, but we are having chicken and noodles for our Christmas dinner. I plan to keep to my $120/week grocery budget for next year as long as I can. I think it is a good idea to do the no spend in January. I will try to do that too, as much as I can. We have freezer things to use up too.
Hi Chris,
I read your update. Thanks for sharing. I would live a $.78 per lb. ham but alas the lowest price anywhere here is $ 1.49 a lb. So I will be sticking with one ham unless they mark the down right after Christmas. Yum on the chicken and noodles. I am glad you are going to join with me on the no spend January.
I am glad hubby is doing ok now, but what a scare that must have been.
I have no idea what we will do in regards to no spends, or little spends or just “hey, lets spend”. We hit Costco last weekend in a quest that took us to Boulder to adopt a kitty (didn’t work out). That was 500.00 but we definitely don’t need coffee or steaks for a while.
Hi Patti,
Thank you. Coffee and steaks are a favorite around here for stock ups.
Goodness. Prayers for you and hubby.
Hi Wendy,
Thanks so much. The prayers are much appreciated.
I’m sorry to hear about your husband and hope he is on the mend. That must have been a frightening experience.
The cheapest spiral ham price is $1.49 a pound at Aldi. Albertsons is about the same, her is southern California. I will probably get one as it makes wonderful sandwiches and is still a reasonable price, although a lot higher than last year.
I am still thinking on my monthly budget for 2026 and am leaning towards $600 a month on food. I’m waiting until January to reset the budget in all areas as insurance costs (and everything else)are going up.
January will also bring a low spend/no spend month for us as well as I’m having surgery and will need to pay my annual deductible up front.
Hi smhuh,
It was! Thank you for your good wishes. He is doing better.
Thanks for answering my question. I am going to watch my stores the two days or so after Christmas to see if they markdown the leftovers. If so, I will get another.
I hear you on the budget since all of the increases. We are being slow on it this year also.
I am so sorry about your surgery. I wish you the best and will pray for you.