Food shopping costs frighten me!

[Mrs Wibbily]

It's getting so expensive that I'm worried I'm not gonna be able to afford feeding us all soon. We have a £440 shopping budget per month to feed 7 of us! I shop around and buy cheap but it's still really expensive! Wondering how you all manage and how much you all spend! X

 

[Emily0505]

There's me, hubby and bubba and we spend between 60-80 per week!

I love and hate doing the food shop.

It always seems so expensive.

XX

 

[kaz1983]

Theres hubby, me and E roughly if its a small shop ie no washing powder etc mibbe 70quid and that is most meals to do 3-4 weeks but then we have to buy more perishable things each week so prob an extra 20quid a month on the likes of milk, loaf etc

on a bad shop it can be over 100quid but same applies for above its most of the food for a month xx

 

[Emmaw_9]

We have to manage on 70pw while I'm on maternity. There's me, OH, baby and his 2 kids that stay half the week.
I've found planning the meals for a week helps. I then go to the market and buy all the meat and fish for the month (eg, I get 16 chicken breasts for a tenner, in tesco I would get 6) the portion it out and freeze it.
I try and get fresh stuff every couple of days rather than once a week, I buy for the meals we planned then nothing goes out of date.
I admit this is good and easy now being off work, I imagine it getting more expensive when I'm back at work full time and don't have the luxury to shop around.

 

[Loula]

i can do it on 20-30 a week unless its nappy and milk week then its around 40.

 

[Zazu]

I don't know how everyone spends so little! I spend 100 per week for 3 of us, cant seem to get it any cheaper! X

 

[CARNAT22]

I don't know how everyone spends so little! I spend 100 per week for 3 of us, cant seem to get it any cheaper! X

We're the same

We don't have a freezer so I pick up meat / veg / salad most days. In-fact I end up in a supermarket almost everyday at the moment as we just shop as wel go along.

I really need to cut back though, maternity pay doesn't go far and from July I won't get anything

xxxxxxxx

 

[tambo1976]

A few months ago I started shopping at Aldi and I have literally halved my shopping bill and we eat so much healthier. We save a fortune on fresh fruit and veg.

We used to shop at Tesco but there prices have rose so much over the last year that I just can't justify shopping there anymore. For example, a loaf of warburtons at Aldi is £1, at Tesco £1.45. A bag of banana's at Aldi 68p, Tesco £1. I think I could list every item I buy and compare it to Tesco's prices and you will see it is at least 1/3 the price, more often than not the price is halved.

Another thing that has saved us a lot of money is just not buying brand names. For instance, I used to buy only john west tuna £4 for 4 tins and now I buy smart price tuna 69p a tin. I make tuna/mayo/sweetcorn for our baked potatoes regular and you just cannot taste the difference. I swapped kelloggs cereals for own brand cereals and admittedly it's trial and error but I have found out now what tastes good and what tastes bad and we have also saved a packet. Even changing from kenco coffee to tesco gold has saved us alot and I know someone who works at kenco and he told me that kenco also make the tesco gold coffee! its exactly the same stuff! most things can be swapped without telling the difference to shop only brands and you really cannot tell the difference. Infact I actually prefer alot of things that are shop only now, like I prefer tesco rice snaps to kelloggs rice krispies. You are paying more just for the brand name so much.

The only thing that I just cannot change is Heinz soup lol. I have tried countless other, cheaper brands but still struggle to find anything as good

 

[Gemsy]

Meal planning I think it the most important thing. OH and I have always spent a fortune as we've just bought what we fancy and when we fancy and it is such an expensive way of shopping! I am turning into a stepford wife now and planning like crazy, as we need to get a hold of our finances before baby comes along!

The only things I can't do own brand on are baked beans, ketchup and toilet paper!

 

[Mrs Wibbily]

i can do it on 20-30 a week unless its nappy and milk week then its around 40.

How do you do this?
x

 

[Mrs Wibbily]

I do meal planning each month, I shop mostly at Aldi or asda ( i actually think Aldi fruit and veg is nicer and lasts so much longer than from any other supermarket! I just cannot believe how much things have rocketed in the last couple of months! I don't buy any convenience (apart from oven chips which are rarely used) food and we eat fresh practically everyday. Maybe this is my problem! I have to remember that as they get bigger they eat much more! too which won't help! I think instead of buying treats I'm going to have to do a fair bit more home baking! x

 

[Loula]

Im not sure how i do it vut a trick ive found is i stead of buying the bananas for obe pound in supermarkets i go loose and its soo much cheaper. Maybe its coz its just me and baby so theres not much to buy x

 

[wifeywifey]

I do meal planning each month, I shop mostly at Aldi or asda ( i actually think Aldi fruit and veg is nicer and lasts so much longer than from any other supermarket! I just cannot believe how much things have rocketed in the last couple of months! I don't buy any convenience (apart from oven chips which are rarely used) food and we eat fresh practically everyday. Maybe this is my problem! I have to remember that as they get bigger they eat much more! too which won't help! I think instead of buying treats I'm going to have to do a fair bit more home baking! x

We buy all fresh and feed a family of 4 on £30 a week not including nappies plus £20 every two week on meat for that we get about 20 chicken breasts and a tray of meats different each time.
We use the local market for butchers and veg, the veg is so much cheaper bread and milk we buy from the local shop because it's cheaper than supermarkets.

 

[Robyner]

With it just being the 2 of us we seem to spend a fortune! I used to order from sainsburys and often came to 100 pound each week!! My intention when baby is here, is to visit my fruit and veg market, butchers and pound shops every other day as I won't be at work. We are having an aldi built nearby too so that will be a money saver I hope. I'd like to think I can have a set amount each week and just make it work.

 

[Rachel80]

I think when the lo is here & I'm not working full time I'll be able to take advantage of buying fresh food regularly from the butchers & farm shops. Looking forward to that. I must admit I spend a lot each week, £100 on average for the 2 of us but I remember when I was little my mum would spend £50 a week on a family of 4, it's amazing how much things have changed in a relatively shop period of time.

 

[Iwant3]

I spend between £100-£130 per week on grocery order - but that includes, wipes, cleaning stuff, etc......there is myself, DH, DD and DS and then another 4-5 children here weekdays who we give breakfast, lunch and dinner to.

 

[Sue Clare]

We are a family of 5 and spend £170 per week from sainsburys.
That includes formula, nappies and wipes too. X