Shocked at how much I spend on food!

It sounds like you have a lot to juggle in day to day life and when that's the case it's probably easy for spending to sneak up on you.

Do you still have the receipts for the past four weeks? If so you might be able to spot the more expensive items or the ones you didn't really need. You might find dropping a brand level at Asda will save money (unless you're buying mostly basics already).

It may be that your meal plan is too fiddly or not very flexible so it can't cope with any surprises life throws up - mine used to be like that and quite often fell by the wayside. I bought a slow cooker and that has made things easier for me. There might be other options that help you, like batch cooking on a free afternoon and freezing for example. I'm not a batch cooker as I have a tiny freezer but there are lots of people here who are who will have tips and suggestions.

If the food you're throwing away is uncooked, it might be worth investing in some freezer bags as all sorts of things can be chucked into the freezer and then you can look again at them the week after and it might save you buying the same item again.

Good luck!

I find the best way is to keep a spending diary, keep all receipts, and record every single spend. This really does help you focus.

Re the wastage.......perhaps you need to check your fridge more regularly. I try and do this twice a week.

I found I was throwing a lot of bread away, so now I either buy smaller quantities or freeze some on the day of purchase.

Actually I dont think £453 for a family of 4 is too outrageous given how busy you are so dont torture yourself. You are not an outright failure - just somone who is pressed for time with a lot of commitments and who took their eye off the ball.

With a bit of careful monitoring you should soon get back on track.

Are you buying a lot of snack type food that isn't maybe necessary? I can't say what she was spending but I remember going shopping with my mum when I was younger and the amount in the trolley was just crazy. I just used to chuck almost anything in and she didn't blink - I promise I wasn't a massive spoilt brat . She didn't ever meal plan which I don't think helped the situation..

I too meal plan but also work and sometimes things don't get suck to exactly. Do you have the space to batch cook and freeze some meals which can just be reheated when you're in a rush? On evenings that I know I'm busy I try to plan for things like that which take less time & effort to cook..

It's a pain to do the inventory to start it off, but I have a spreadsheet with details of exactly what's in my food cupboard and freezer, and when I use something I deduct it from the total, and when I shop, I add in what I've bought. So for instance, I can look at my sheet and know for sure exactly how many veggie sausages are in the freezer. I know for a fact I have one open jar of honey and one spare in the cupboard. And so on. Stops me buying things I *think* I might be running low on, and then finding I have a small mine of them indoors!

I also meal plan, but with a view to swapping days around if necessary (in my case, it's my own health that can scupper plans for a more complicated/time consuming meal).

How about looking at it like this?

Last month was last month. This month will be different.....

I have a freezer, menu plan and ideas spreadsheet. It can take quite a while to get it complete but worth it in the end. But I am not working at the moment so had time to do it. And it is different for everyone

My recommendation for you would be:

1. Look at your weekly commitments and map it out - showing where time is short, etc etc. This will help show you where and when you use (or don't use) food you have bought because outside events effect what happens at home

2. Look in your freezer, cupboards and fridge to see what needs using up. Make a list of items you really need.

3. Come up with a rough meal plan using up what you can. Perhaps a list of six meals to have over the week. See what you can prepare in advance or two meals in one perhaps - prep veg for a couple of meals for example.

4. Use labour saving gadgets if you have them. I love my slow cooker and hand blender.

5. Get the family involved. Get their ideas for meals. I find we tend to have the same meals over and over then forget other meals we also like.

6. If you have all the receipts from last month, take time to look at them realistically - that is, without that little voice in your head blaming you for being wasteful/stupid or whatever.

7. Look to see if there is a pattern in your shopping. Do you overshop when you are tired/hungry/rushed/thinking about other things? Do you buy foods that you think will be "good or better" for you but don't have time to get round to cooking it?

8. Do you simply forget what you had planned as you haven't written it down? You have so many things going on in your life that it isn't surprising.

9. Try it for a week, then rinse and repeat. Amend the plan till it works for you and your family. It might mean that everyone has to do a little more or lower their expectations.

10. Start small and celebrate it when you get it working better. It has taken me a frightening number of years to get a system which almost works! But I am still on the Eating Out of Freezer and Cupboard thread this month because control has escaped me!


I hope these ideas help. Make small changes so they become second nature and easier to achieve. All of us have been where you are now and survived.

So here is to the next week
Pauline