Shopping Budget for 2 people

Robbda

Hey

Wonder if you can help, i'm trying to cut back but one thing i always seem to find is by the time i get to the supermarket check out i've spent more than i planned so this week i'm sticking to my list! but i wondered how much is your budget for 2 people? (one who's work is very physically demanding and eats like he has hollow legs..) I seem to be spending £80 which is far too much (i think)

Bargainfinder_3

Hiya, is that £80 per week? It does sound a lot to me. Hubby and I allow £200 a month for 'Housekeeping'. This includes a monthly shop, plus outings etc. Sometimes the shop comes to more (the weeks we stock up on massivo bags of rice and pasta, and washing powder from costco!!) sometimes less, but I guess I would say I manage on £40 a week, and others manage that for a family of 4!!!!
If you look on the Old Style board, there are great threads for getting your food bill down.
Bfxx

PS, I also work out roughly how much the shop will cost, and withdraw the cash... that way I have to stick to my list, or it gets very embarrasing at the checkout when you have to put things back

Horace

My tip is to look in your cupboards, fridge and freezer to see what you have and what's missing. Make a list and take it with you - only buy what's on the list, if you can't get an item forget about it and add it to the next week's list.

Don't buy meat or veg in the supermarket - use a local butcher for meat and the market for veg and fruit.

Buy stuff like loo rolls, cleaning stuff and washing powder once a month.

Shop in places like Lidl.

Robbda

Thanks Bargin Finder, a friend has suggested going online to the supermarket i use and price up what i want first, then when i have that total decide what i can substitute ect and do it that way, might try that today...

but drawing the money out sounds good

OliveOyl_2

Physically demanding jobs need huge amounts of carbs to provide the necessary energy. So choose dishes that are carb slanted and cheap, such as cheese and potato pie. These make me sleepy, but provide fuel for my beansprout-energetic children
And soup - when they were eating me out of house and home, a small bowl of homemade soup as a starter (tired veg, stock & a liquidiser ) would help fill them cheaply.
And the way August is going this year, soup is not unacceptable

immoral_angeluk

To give you an idea in our house we have 2 adults, a 3 yr old, an 18 month old in nappies, and a cat. And we spent roughly £50 a week.

Cornishpixie_2

I started a new 5 week menu. Got it on web book "How to feed your family a healthy balanced diet on very little money" If you enter that in your search engine, you can read it free online. Anyhoo I spent a few hour taking down the menu, shopping list and receipes. There are 6 of us (4 kids 3-10). Done first shop online last week and it came to £52 (excluding milk). Which I wa impressed with as that included lunch, breakfast and the usual T rolls, coffee etc. Also I prepare picnics if going out for the day and try to plan day where we go out into town, back for lunch, then off to the beach. Because I am having to do it, I recon I am getting quite good at it;)

Robbda

Thanks guys, i've taken some of these idea's priced up on-line and i aim to spend no more than £15 this week that will be a £20 drop this month - will let you know how i get on!

peb

Hiya

I see that there are lots of good ideas posted but thought I would also suggest you have a look on teh Oldstyle thread as there are lots of folk who seem to manage on very little.

good luck!

Bargainfinder_3

Well done Robda, I think determination and motivation is 50% of the battle! If you are determined then you will find you dont just chuck things in the trolley, and that in itself helps a lot!!

Also, Matin suggests dropping a brand at a time, if you buy branded, by supermarkets own, if you buy own, buy smartprice/value! Sometimes it's gross (I do not like smartprice stuffing!!!!), but 9 times out of 10, you will not notice a difference:)

All the best! x