£50 a week to feed family of 6, does anyone do it cheaper??

Hell_Dans_Un_Handcart

It's not easy eto eat cheapy and eat lots of fresh fruit and veg and cut out all additives etc. You need the time to cook it all for starters. I have been attempting to do all this since weaning my daughter (who is very sensitive to e-numbers) and while the fruit and veg thing isn't so hard, it's the cooking of all of it that I'm struggling with. I love to cook but it appears my toddler daughter doesn't, sob.

Also, it's difficult to change your children's diets or even to keep them away from unhealthy foods all the time - they have minds of their own and can refuse. I've given up making bread after two months of trying to get my daughter to eat it. She was originally weaned on the Burgen stuff, and although it's not so bad, it's blinking expensive! It's now all she'll eat...

Anyway, I think you're doing pretty well, MUMOF4

Chell

I used to spend £50 per week for DH, myself, DS (5yrs) and DD (3.5yrs) but since food prices have increased I think that £60 is more reasonable. I could cut it down but at the moment I don't need to (although I might have to soon!).

We are all veggie. The only meaty type product I buyis veggie sausages otherwise we eat pulses and vegetables. I'd rather not confuse the children with things that resemble meat.

My shopping is very different to yours. Like you I could post my last Tesco online shop but it doesn't represent what we eat in a week as many of the other things we eat are already in the cupboard.

This is the first week that both children have been at home, I forgot how much they eat when they are here all day!

Sometimes packet food is cheaper than homemade but isn't as tasty. I have phases where I make cakes/biscuits and times when I can't be bothered at all. It is so hot at the minute that it puts me off having the oven on for hours.

I never make bread although I should try to. I buy bread at £1.25 per loaf as I'd rather have the healthier varieties and cut back elsewhere.

Edit: re fruit/veg consumption, raisins are a cheap way of increasing this.

medsdemon

I never make bread although I should try to. I buy bread at £1.25 per loaf as I'd rather have the healthier varieties and cut back elsewhere.


I always manage to buy nice wholemeal bread, muffins, wholemeal pittas etc whoopsied at Somerfields and freeze it.Never have to buy full priced ( mostly under 50p )

my difficulty is keeping to a budget with one of us having coeliac disease. All the bread, pasta etc is loads more expensive..even making our own cakes, bread etc is at least twice as expensive as buying the most expensive ready made wheat products.

meanmarie

MUM of 4...I think that you are doing very well with feeding your family for £50, my only advice is to try some vegetable growing, even something as simple as lettuce, spinach and onions...very easy and take a bit off the housekeeping bill...brilliant idea to have your children grow the veg and buy them from them!

Good luck...you're doing a top job

Marie

~Chameleon~

Does this make the list easier to read?

1 Tesco 6 Value White Pitta Bread Each £0.24 £0.24
1 Tesco Value Malt Loaf Each £0.20 £0.20
1 Tesco 10 Value Sultana Scone Each £0.34 £0.34
1 Tesco Value Sliced White Bread 800g Each £0.37 £0.37
1 Tesco Celery Each Each £0.68 £0.68
1 Tesco Spinach 500g Bigger Pack Better Value Each £1.90 £1.90
1 Tesco Courgettes Loose Class 1 Each £- £0.34
1 Chestnut Mushrooms 250g Each £0.78 £0.78
1 Tesco Garlic Each Each £0.34 £0.34
1 Tesco Value Onions 2kg Each £0.78 £0.78
1 Tesco Carrots 1 Kg Pack Class 1 Each £0.78 £0.78
1 Tesco Value Salad Potatoes 1kg Each £0.79 £0.79
3 Tesco Value Baking Potatoes 1kg Each £0.56 £1.68
1 Tesco Value Soft Spread 1kg Each £0.52 £0.52
1 Tesco Value White Full Flavour Cheese Each £- £3.28
1 Tesco Value Fromage Frais 6 Pack 360g Each £0.46 £0.46
1 Tesco Value Eggs Minimum Weight Box Of 15 Each £1.50 £1.50
1 Tesco Value Chocolate Mousse4 Pack 250g Each £0.28 £0.28
1 Tesco Value Strawberry Dessert 4x115g Each £0.46 £0.46
2 Tesco Value Low Fat Yogurt 4x125g Each £0.29 £0.58
1 Ryvita Original 250g Each £0.61 £0.61
1 Tesco Value Ready Salted Crisps 12 Pack Each £0.51 £0.51
1 Tesco Value Cheese & Onion Crisps 6 Pack Each £0.35 £0.35
1 Tesco Value Frosted Flakes 500g Each £0.68 £0.68
1 Tesco Value Oats 1kg Each £0.59 £0.59
1 Tesco Value Muesli 1kg Each £0.52 £0.52
1 Tesco Value Fruit & Fibre 500g Each £0.65 £0.65
1 Tesco Value Apricot & Milk Chocolatecereal Bars 125g Each £0.79 £0.79
1 Tesco Ground Cinnamon 40g Each £0.68 £0.68
1 Tesco Mild Chilli Powder 50g Each £0.88 £0.88
1 Crazy Jack Organic Green Lentils 500g Each £1.49 £1.49
2 Tesco Value Dried Mixed Fruit 500g Each £0.41 £0.82
1 Tesco Value Sponge Mix 227g Each £0.23 £0.23
2 Tesco Value Tomato Soup 400g Each £0.18 £0.36
3 Tesco Value Chopped Tomatoes 400g Each £0.21 £0.63
2 Tesco Value Spaghetti In Tomato Sauce 410g Each £0.15 £0.30
2 Tesco Value Tuna Chunks In Brine 185g Each £0.35 £0.70
1 Tesco Red Split Lentils 500g Each £0.84 £0.84
2 Tesco Value Instant Custard Powder 70g Each £0.08 £0.16
8 Tesco Calcium Enriched Soya Drink 1ltr Each £0.63 £5.04
1 Tesco Value Clear Honey 340g Each £0.61 £0.61
1 Tesco Value Strawberry Jam 454g Each £0.39 £0.39
1 Tesco Value Orange Marmalade454g Each £0.28 £0.28
1 Tesco Value Strawberry Jelly128g Each £0.08 £0.08
3 Tesco Value Golden Vegetable Savouryrice 120g Each £0.22 £0.66
4 Tesco Value Chicken Flavour Instant Noodles 65g Each £0.08 £0.32
4 Tesco Value Bacon Flavour Instant Noddles 65g Each £0.11 £0.44
1 Tesco Mediterranean Cous Cous 110g Each £0.55 £0.55
1 Tesco Coriander And Lemon Cous Cous 110g Each £0.58 £0.58
1 Tesco Basmati Rice 500g Each £0.90 £0.90
1 Tesco Value Spaghetti 500g Each £0.23 £0.23
1 Tesco Wholefood Soya Mince 375g Each £0.99 £0.99
1 Tesco Value Fishcakes 420g Each £0.78 £0.78
1 Tesco Nas Apple/Bcrnt Squash 1.5ltr Each £1.49 £1.49
1 Tesco No Added Sugar Apple Squash 1.5ltr Each £1.49 £1.49
2 Tesco Value Sugar Free Cola 2 Ltr Bottle Each £0.20 £0.40
2 Tesco Value Sugar Free Lemonade 2l Bottle Each £0.20 £0.40
1 Tesco Value Biological Concentrated Liquid Wash 1 Ltr Each £0.66 £0.66
1 Tesco Value Sponge Pan Cleaners 5pk Each £0.14 £0.14
1 Tesco Value Toilet Tissue 12 Roll 2400 Sht Each £1.12 £1.12

MUMOF4_2

Thats better, thanks! for anyone that is reading my groceries list, remember that i have a freezer full of homemade bread, curtesy of weezls no knead bread recipes, frozen fruits, a fridge full to the brim with free vegetables, given to me by my mum on return from our holiday, a full larder cupboard, full of tins of fruit, flour, caster sugar, porridge oats.The crisps on the list are a months supply, and i do have 4 children, so i think thats quite reasonable!
Been great reading your responses!thankyou. I am going to make a free website to keep my focused and on track!
My hm fruity cookies didnt last long this afternoon, 1 tins of peaches in syrup, mixed with porridge oats and flapjack, then spoonfuls dropped onto oven tray and baked in the oven.
I have made a great birthday cake for my daughter and 4 loaves of bread, and bombay potatoes and onion bhajis, so another busy day in the kitchen! Oh and i forgot the lentil bolognese to go on spaghetti for tomorrows tea!lots of green lentils, mushrooms, onions, carrots, vegetable stock, green pepper. Bet you can't guess that it has been a rainy day today!
The kids did have 8p packet custard for their dessert today though, so im letting the serious OS down, sorry. Its cheap and it does the job!as long as we stick with the tesco one, asda one is soooo sweet!

sproggi

Well done on making the weekly email

:T :T :T :T

LoveLifeAgain

MUMOF4 You are an inspiration, I know couples who could not manage on that, so very well done. You have also given me some excellent ideas, thank you.

sammy_kaye18

MUMOF4 - Well Done Chicky :T Its not easy getting a decent shop with so little money these days is it so i commend you on doing it so well.:T

I would say
a) thanks chameleon - i was havign difficulty reading it before it was listed.

b) mumof4 - you have cereal bars on your list - could you not make for example - twinks hobnobs and add some dried fruti - that way kids could have these as a snack and still have a portion of fruit as well which ok i know its only 79p but still its 79p you can spend elsewhere

c)also you said you had a cat and dog - do you buy their food seperately?? or in bulk?

d) i would also say maybe attempt to grow your own veg too - i have a bit of a disaster this year but have a small tomato plant and some spring onions that look more like chives but i have been focusing on getting my little one ready for school - and i lost a good crop becuase of bad weather otehrwise id be inundated with veg by now! The older kiddies can help and im sure even the littlies would enjoy helping in the garden if you have one. (even if you dont a hanging basket and a few small tubs would get you along fine i think). Even if you grew a few tomatoe plants it would cut out needing to spend on chopped toms and provide you with a few tomato based sauces id expect.

e) dont forget to check out the dicount boards on MSE - they have vouchers for tescos that are added regularly - i did a £55 shop last time and then delivery was £4.95 but when i checked out i got a £10 off voucher for it being over £50 and then with the offers i brought it only came to £49 so my delivery was technically free and i saved a fiver. not bad -every little helps!

Well done on getting into the weekly email too hun
:T

rag31

Well done MUMOF4 from another MUMOF4

Our weekly cost is probably about £75 including quick visits to shop for milk/bread/paper etc etc. But about £60 in supermarket/grocers.

I also cook everything from scratch and do a mealplan every week as it's the only way to stick to a budget. When I say cook from scratch I don't mean bake all my own bread, either (hello, I have 4 children I am up to my eyeballs in work all the time!) but every meal is cooked from scratch.

I buy tinned lentils and pulses as it's less hassle than boiling them from dried and, like I said, i'm up to my eyeballs in stuff to clean/wash/scrub etc etc.

I do buy a lot of fresh fruit and veg - probably about £12-£15 worth a week. We have moved to a new house with lots of apple and plum trees, and lots of blackberry and currant bushes, and a fair amount of rhubarb. We will be starting our own veg patch so hopefully will cut down a bit on the amount spent on F & V.

Well done,
Beck

p.s. Baked beans are one of the five a day, so FF, chips and beans include a portion of veg! :j It's my cheat meal I do every week. I've found it's cheaper to get 2 portion of chips from the chippy to share than get frozen and cook amazingly, maybe something to consider?