how much on food shopping?

jetcat

Hi, i am currently in the process of sorting all my debts out, and trying to make a realistic budget. Due to health reasons previously posted (so i wont bore everyone again!) i do struggle with most day to day tasks, including shopping and cooking. But, as i have now got the help to do this, i really want to make a difference to the way my 2 girls and I live/eat.

I am a single parent, with an 11 yr old and a 1 1/2 year old. What would be a realistic weekly amount for food? I am basically starting from scratch, so no store cupboard items to rely on.

Am working my way through the Grocery challenge thread, but thought i would post as well, i hope that's ok!

mumoffour77

jetcat......I am a mum of 4 DS1 is 13, DS2 is 10, DS3 is 8 and DD is 6
I aim for around £100 per week!! I do go over esp when i use out of the stock cupboard as is has to be replaced!!!

My stock cupboard consists of Pasta, Rice, Tinned tomatoes, herbs and spices (for flavouring) SR flour and Plain flour, beans, lentils(for bulking out casserols and stews) Diluting juice, powdered milk, noodles, oil, freezer consists of Meat....usually whoopsies, and veg!!

I meal plan in advance, and i usually have a few extra mouths to feed during the week as my folks come over or one of my many sisters or the kids usually bring their friends around!!! When this happens i bake cookies with them and muffins to keep them entertained!!!

Hope this helps:)
Good luck!!!

taplady

Hi jetcat!

the Grocery challenge is a good place to start so I'm glad you've found it!:T I set a monthly budget of £285 for 2 adults and a teenager who eats like an adult. I find this is a generous budget for us and am trying to reduce it.This is for food , cleaning products and toiletries.
If you are on a tight budget a good idea is to take your food budget out of the bank in cash each week and then when its gone thats it till next time. I have done this in the past and it does make you think about what you are spending!

good luck!

SuziQ

I am a mum of 3 aged 18,12 and 6-The eldest 2 eat as much as I do. We also have 2 cats. I spend under £180 per month at the moment-that includes cleaning products,washing stuff (although I ues wash balls for the lightly soiled stuff-I get 50-70 washes out of those for £5).
Reminds me to go and update my siggy!

Dulciesaver

Hi, I am a mum of three, 18. 15 and 14. I have vowed that I will no longer spend what I am on shopping at the supermarket. I would really appreciate tips on how to cut down on my shopping bill and also, where to shop more economically. I say to myself every week that I will not just pop into Tesco and get bread and milk - as I end up spending another £30! Any tips greatly appreciated. I am too ashamed :eek: to actually tell you all my total food bill for the month ......

Magentasue

If you're dealing with debt, I'd go for £50 a week just because it's a round figure! A couple of years ago, that was my budget for six of us and, while I think I'd struggle to do that now, I would think it would be fine for a small family. After a couple of weeks, you may feel able to reduce it, but you need to allow enough to eat well.

Start with making a list of everything you need for a week - I think through the day so start with cereals, milk, coffee and then on to lunch and so on. Think of main meals including a couple of cheap and easy (jacket potato and salad, egg and chips etc.) and put what you need on the list. Make sure you cook perishables at the beginning of the week.

If you post your shopping list, experts will come along with suggestions on how you can make savings.

Can you cook? What do you all like to eat?

Pink.

Hi Jetcat,

It's hard to give advice about a realistic budget as all our needs/wants/family circumstances are different but I'm glad you have found the grocery challenge as that is a good place to begin. It's a great thread where you'll get lots of advice and support.

I would also recommend reading Martin's article on Supermarket Shopping which has lots of tips on saving money on groceries.

Menu planning is a good idea...where you plan what you are going to eat for the next few days then shop only for those things. If you look in The Complete Menu Plans Collection there are lots of threads with good advice.

Finally, there are lots of great ideas for cheap moneysaving meals on these threads:

Cheapest recipes???

Meal for two for 50p. Suggestions?

The Cheapest Healthy Meal Ever!

Feed 6 for £1.62

Cheapest meal

Your Cheapest Evening Meal.

cheap, easy family meals

Good luck!

Pink

jetcat

thanks everyone. Cooking is definitely going to be a struggle, so am looking to batch cook in advance (with carer), freeze and use as necessary. At the moment, it seems like DD1 has one thing, DD2 has another, and i make do with whatever i can find! Like i said previously, i am wanting to improve family life, so am trying to start with meal times. I am overweight, and DD1 is going to end up that way if she continues with the take outs!

I think realistically, planning for a week at the moment is going to be a struggle, let alone a month, so maybe will just focus on a couple of days at a time. Will look through the threads as suggested, many thanks.

I was also thinking around the £50 per week mark, but am not setting guide amount this week - will keep receipts and see where money is going (more importantly, will note what food is bought and used/not used.)

Magentasue

jetcat wrote: »

I think realistically, planning for a week at the moment is going to be a struggle, let alone a month, so maybe will just focus on a couple of days at a time. Will look through the threads as suggested, many thanks.

Maybe think about £20 for three days? If you can shop every two or three days, you can be more flexible, anyway. It might be helpful to think of meals that can last two days. There's no law that says you have to have something different every day. So if you have a big pan of chilli, you could have it with rice one day and mash the next. That way you only have to do the padding and veg.

jetcat

well, just to throw a spanner in the works, my pa(carer) has phoned in sick - so i wont manage any shopping today. Totally fed up (at myself, not pa) as i had spend hours creating a meal planner and shopping list. Wont get to do it till Friday now. Not a good start to the no take-away rule!!

note - pa is (direct payments) personal assistant, not pa as is dad!!

SatansPlaym8

jetcat wrote: »

well, just to throw a spanner in the works, my pa(carer) has phoned in sick - so i wont manage any shopping today. Totally fed up (at myself, not pa) as i had spend hours creating a meal planner and shopping list. Wont get to do it till Friday now. Not a good start to the no take-away rule!!

note - pa is (direct payments) personal assistant, not pa as is dad!!

Im sad to hear you are disheartened sometimes even the best made plans have delays. Gives you chance to talk to your kids ask them about their favourite meals and what they would like to eat. Getting the kids involved may make them less fussy and help them understand you have a budget. You can browse Asda's online and see the items and prices without logging in you may not shop there but i will give the kids an idea. Also you could shop online if you like im sure lots of folk on here could advise you concerning this - if it is an option. smile makes you feel good and remember you are not the only one who sometimes suffers set backs we all do regardless of our situations. chin up