How much do you spend on food?

How much do you spend on food for one person each week? The reason I'm curious is that there's a thread on the Debt Free Wannabee forum 'Confused, concerned and not sure what to do', which I've made a contribution to, which contains posts from people who say they spend £12.50 or £8.00 weekly on food for one person. One poster claims to spend £43 every 6 weeks on food for themselves and two children!
Can anyone on this board match that? I certainly couldn't and wouldn't want to and I wondered what other people thought was a sensible amount of money to spend on food each week for one person.
I think if the nursing homes that my elderly parents are in told me they spend as little as £12.50 a week on their food I'd be having a very serious word with the coulcil's nursing and residential homes inspector.
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Comments

  • black-saturn
    black-saturn Posts: 13,937
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    One poster claims to spend £43 every 6 weeks on food for themselves and two children!
    Can anyone on this board match that? I certainly couldn't and wouldn't want to
    I'm afraid I only get £120 a week and thats to cover all my expenses. So I'm afraid its not a case of wanting to but a case of having to. And for that we eat 3 meals a day and also a pudding. If you budgeted properly you could do it too.
    2008 Comping Challenge
    Won so far - £3010 Needed - £230
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  • I'm sorry, I couldn't feed myself on £6.16 a week but I'd be interested to know exactly how you manage it.
  • Karnam
    Karnam Posts: 1,177 Forumite
    i managed 10pounds a week when i was really REALLY hard up as a student. but it was horrible and i ended up going home every fortnight for proper food.
    :A Boots Tart :A
  • elona
    elona Posts: 11,806
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    It works out cheaper per head to feed more people than one if you know what I mean.

    Doing a meal planner and using up stuff in cupboards and freezer etc helps as does buying from local markets etc.
    "This site is addictive!"
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  • Karnam
    Karnam Posts: 1,177 Forumite
    here's a little break down of a typical shopping list.

    own brand soup mixed with pasta to make it more filling eaten 4 times in the week. ice berg lettuce used to make 3 salads, with half a cucumber, fried onions and chicken thighs. chinese branded pot noodle type things eaten 6 times a week, at around 20p a go. one bag of oranges to last the whole week for breakfast - one pound. one big pot of yoghurt (own brand) to eat with orange for breaskfast - one pound. one jar of own brand pasta sauce to last all week 30p. big bottle of squash (lasts around 2 weeks) own brand 80p. GIANT bag of pasta around 60p a week.

    i prob didnt get all my vits or anything but i only had to live like this for 3 months before i moved back home for the summer. i went home every fortnight for a proper meal and when i found out i was pregnant i ate a lot better than this. i also would have the token free meal courtesy of the Christian Society (not cause im christian but cause my friend was treasurer and i would go along to keep up the numbers)

    its horrible and disgusting and i hated it. but it is possible.
    :A Boots Tart :A
  • bonnie_2
    bonnie_2 Posts: 1,463 Forumite
    for example toad in the hole 49p value sausages, plus pots veg and gravy.
    value mince about 90p
    4 gammon steaks £2
    roast chicken £4 does at least 3 meals.
    value everything if you cook from scratch you dont need nearly as much meat as you think a portion is only 3oz and bulk it out with veg, pulses etc.
    also i use coupons and only shop from a list. i plan meals for seven days and only buy what i need. most people just whizz round asda flinging junk food, crisps, chocolate and all sorts into their trolley i have seen them do it.
    by the time they have chucked in clothes, mags ,presents, booze and anything else it could easily come to £100.
    i dont think i could spend £100 if i tried, i refuse to but anything in a packet even make my own bread,cakes and jam.
    also make my own cards, presents and toiletries.
    it just needs forward planning.
  • black-saturn
    black-saturn Posts: 13,937
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    Well said, I do all that and thanks I picked up some tips there :xmassign:
    2008 Comping Challenge
    Won so far - £3010 Needed - £230
    Debt free since Oct 2004
  • Karnam
    Karnam Posts: 1,177 Forumite
    yea my break down sounds really unhealthy compared to bonnie's break down!!!

    i live with my OH's family and a weekly shopping bill here is around 200 :eek: pounds!! and they eat really well, tescos finest etc.
    :A Boots Tart :A
  • calleyw
    calleyw Posts: 9,822
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    Here are the typical types of meals eaten in my house:

    Breakfast: Branflakes/porridge/Toast (wholegrain bread only)OJ or Apple Juice

    Lunch: Sandwich/Toasted sandwiches/Something on toast/Soups both homade and tinned/Bacon, egg and beans. If soup not already had then a cup a soup and a piece of fresh fruit. And a packet of crisp (husband only and not everyday)

    Evening Meal: Spag Bog with a small Salad/Steamed veg with leftover meat or veggie sausages or pork chops and gravy/once a week Salmon and salad/Home cooked gammon with mash and peas. Dessert fresh or tinned fruit with custard or rice pudding once or twice a week.

    Supper for husband (needs to gain weight)Same as breakfast.

    Weekend meals tend to be a bit more lax and sandwiches and things on toast tend to be eaten. And the odd treat of a box of jaffa cakes.

    Sunday Lunch is either a chicken pieces or a Joint which means left overs for the week and one extra meals worth. Dessert is rice pudding or baked apples with custard. Make cakes/scones/flapjack for husband to take to work.

    To drink we have milk/Juice/Various types of herbal tea/coffee/Squash/Hot chocolate.

    I buy fresh fruit and Veg (apples/cabbage/Lettuce/Cucumbers/Strawberries in the summer) from a greengrocers once a week rest of veg is frozen. 25Kg bag of potatoes not sure of price as my father would not let me pay the last time :mad: But last for a long time.

    I assume that is ok for meals for a two adults one male and one female. I would say no starvation. And lots of wholegrains and fruit and veg. More than most people



    well drumroll please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!






    £80-£100 a month. Buying food the least mucked about is best. Tends to be a lot cheaper then buying ready meals. Granted we don't eat a lot of meat and that may well change. Once we get a bigger freezer. But don't expect it to add much to the cost per month.

    I do buy a few value labels but very few. Use BOGOF's and few vouchers to get a bit of money off my shopping. But I think we eat well and it does not have to cost a lot of money.


    Yours


    Calley
    Hope for everything and expect nothing!!!

    Good enough is almost always good enough -Prof Barry Schwartz

    If it scares you, it might be a good thing to try -Seth Godin
  • Dora

    there's a previous discussion on budgeting HERE which might give you some helpful hints. There are also links in the mega index under the shopping section.

    HTH
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