Grocery Shopping budget thread

HappyMJ

krustylouise wrote: »

Hi,

Just after a little idea of how much I should be aiming for as far as Grocery budget is concerned. There just DD (5years) and myself, oh and our cat

I work full time and take lunches to work, DD has packed lunches at school. DD goes to breakfast club week days, so don't need to buy much in for breakfast (weekends only) as I too eat when I arrive at work.

So what do you wonderful people suggest I be spending?

TIA x

£50-£75 a week include the cost of food eaten out (breakfast club and breakfast at work) in this and aim for each meal to be less than £1 per person plus food and litter for the cat (separate that out)...plus cleaning products and personal items...you can get them cheap but you might prefer more expensive not so basic items. Personally I can't stand cheap razors...and have to spend a bit more on a better disposable razor. Soap I also dislike the 11p soap and buy one that costs a bit more.

krustylouise

Thank you so much for your quick replies! Breakfast club costs £20 pw. I don't buy many make up/cleansing products good old soap and water and baby lotion does me/us. I tend to stock up on cat food, washing powder/fabric conditioner, shampoo, conditioner toilet roll and toothpaste etc. Quite lucky in the fact that we are very easy going when it comes to food we eat as DD isn't picky at all and demands pasta every night (though I limit this to maximum 2 nights a week)

Tenyearstogo

£20 pw for breakfast club? Wow, I only pay £11.25.

I aim for £60 a week for four of us. I wouldn't expect this to halve for you as we can have more bulk buys but £35 would probably be very easy for you to achieve for food.

I have no idea what cats cost to feed though!

krustylouise

Yes, £20, unfortunately. We live in quite a rural place and there is only 1 breakfast club for all the schools, luckily it is in DD's school grounds so she is close to school too. As this is non negotiable and I have no other option (and DD is happy here) £20 breakfast club it had to be

ragz_2

I suppose that really depends on how much you can afford! Whether you are fussy about meat etc... I spend a LOT more than many on here, but then I choose to buy free range, fairtrade, some organic etc (though if I was really skint, I would not be able too, and I have been there!). You could spend anything from £10- 50 it would just depend on what is reasonable for YOU.

krustylouise

We eat meat but don't demand it within our meals, as I say neither DD or myself are picky so eat any range of foods. I only eat free range eggs though and have tried eating value good such as frozen sausages (which I will never eat again) and value pasta, bread, chopped toms etc, which we will. I like to have alot of fruit and veg in the house and always buy those fruit juice cartons for DD's pack lunch and she has 1 a day. Those are the only stipulations really. I tried value cat food (well I didn't but our mog did!) and it didnt go down well but I do buy supermarkets own band and he's quite happy with that. He has complete biscuits for breakfast (DD feeds him that as she thinks she's doing her bit bless her!) and then he has a sachet of meat before bed, which I give him. He seems very happy with that. Now I'm rambling....

Willowpop

krustylouise wrote: »

He has complete biscuits for breakfast (DD feeds him that as she thinks she's doing her bit bless her!) and then he has a sachet of meat before bed, which I give him. He seems very happy with that. Now I'm rambling....

I find cans of cat food much cheaper than sachets. Any open tins will last just fine till the next day.

krustylouise

Yes I agree tins are cheaper as I used to buy them, but the little blighter can open cupboards, no matter what method I use to prevent it, and he will then eat the entire tin! He is crafty and greedy! Besides sachets are easier to use, on the way up to bed I rip 1 open plop it in his bowl put sachet in the bin wash my hands and bed

Willowpop

krustylouise wrote: »

Yes I agree tins are cheaper as I used to buy them, but the little blighter can open cupboards, no matter what method I use to prevent it, and he will then eat the entire tin! He is crafty and greedy! Besides sachets are easier to use, on the way up to bed I rip 1 open plop it in his bowl put sachet in the bin wash my hands and bed

I decant the rest of the tin into a specially reserved tupperware tub and put it in the fridge. Or if I can't be bothered to do that I stand the tin in the microwave overnight. But you are right, sachets are easier..they make me wish I could afford them whenever I see them!!

hereigoagain22

I spend about £65 a week on 1 adult and a 2.5year old and a baby. But this includes nappies for 2 and formula so in reality I'd say £40 a week? My two get snack and lunch at nursery 5 days a week.

We do eat well if I meal plan, batch cook and don't buy branded snacks. I think if we were really desperate and HAD to we could manage to eat a healthy enough diet on £25 per week.