Grocery Shopping budget thread

pauleyc

Please feel free to move or add to another thread folks but I was just wondering what you thought was an ok amount to spend on weekly shopping for a family of 5?
Me, DH, DS1 (15), DS2 (4) and DS3(3)
I Spend approx 60 on supermarket, 15 in butchers and approx 10 in HomeBar a week and 6 a week for milk delivery ( i know you can get it cheaper but its not something i would cut out). I bake a lot and have started making our own pies/pastry which helps stretch out meat without any complaints so I think i am doing quite well.
Just wondered if this is the "norm"?

BitterAndTwisted

Seems fairly reasonable to me. However what is reasonable to me, may be a king's ransom to another. The only thing that matters is whether you are happy spending that amount a week for what you're getting.

ScrimpingandSaving

Wow that's really cheap! I'm struggling to get my shopping that low and there's only 4 of us (kids aged 12 and 9).

I do half my shop in Aldi now and what I don't get in Aldi I get from Asda (like meat). I've found that Asda have a good cut price section for meat so I plan my meals around what meat I've managed to pick up from this section. First thing in the morning is the best time to go for the bargains.

I'd be interested to know how you manage to spend so little. Do you make packed lunches? What meals do you usually eat? I reckon I could get some tips from you never mind the other way round!

Long_tall_sally

I also think that amount is very good! There are 4 of us full-time (kids aged 13 & 11) plus OH's sons aged 21 & 19 who both come a couple of nights for dinner so similar to you. As you can see from my signature, I can't get it anywhere near that amount!

Tenyearstogo

I'm spending about £60 a week on four of us, myself, hubby and boys 14 and 7. That is for all meals as we all take packed lunches or eat at home. The only exception is a take away on a Friday night. It's also all toiletries and cleaning products.

I only shop at sainsburys due to laziness/convenience. I buy TTD or organic meat, we have HM puddings most days, all our 5 a day, plenty of calcium etc.

I post on the meal planners thread so you can find what I eat there. I think your spend is ok if you can afford it, but if you are struggling it would easy to get down.

I find we eat less food if Dish up onto serving plates rather than onto dinner plates. People only take what they want and any leftovers are 'clean' so can be frozen into individual portions for another time.

I was spending over £100 a week and wanted to reduce this as I felt I'd rather spend the money on other things. I've been better at meal planning, we have less waste and make more use of leftovers.

mummyroysof3

We spend about £100 a week so I think what you spend is an ok amount if you Are happy with it

pollyskettle

We spend around £480/month for a family of 5 (2 adults, 2 teenage girls and a male bottomless pit of nearly 11), which is everything we need inc toiletries/cleaning stuff, plus all that for one rabbit, one dog, two cats and five fish!

I generally do a home delivery order for about £300-350 at the very beginning of the month and a butchers order for around £120-£150 every other month as free delivery is over £80 and we aren't quite there each month. I buy most of the pet food on Amazon as they have decent prices for food with a decent amount of protein in it for the cats and dog and the rabbit eats Wagg Rabbit, and there's free delivery. I do a spices of india order every 3 months or so for lentils, rice and spices (making use of free delivery over £35). We do top up shops during the month for veg/fruit/other perishables and mid month we need to top up the milk in the freezer.

cutestkids

I think you are doing fine with that amount and I have to say it is refreshing that so far all the replies seem to think the same.

To often threads asking for help with grocery budgets attract a lot of people saying it is too much you can do it for half of that when in reality that would be very difficult and the poor OP ends up thinking that they have got it terribly wrong.

We are a family of 4 and I cook most things fresh, buy my meat at the butcher and most of our fresh fruit and veg from the local fruit van that comes round, I use lidl for a large stock up every 4-6 weeks for things like tins of tomatoes, kidney beans, pasta, rice, cereals, etc.

I send on average about £375 per month on everything so You probably do better than me.

soupdragon10

As has been said you are doing well for your family. I generally spend between £75 and £85 per week for 3 adult (but this includes cleaning and feeding 2 dogs and 6 cats).

I am amazed that friends spend twice that when there are just 2 adults to cater for.

Threebabes

We spend about £100 a week incl. soap powder & tolieteries. Thats for 5 of us, 2 adults, and 3 kids 17, 13 and 9. Ds has his lunch out every day and DD has her lunch out 2 days.

I find I buy 3 whole chickens for £10, then we have a roast, curry, soup, sandwiches, stir fry, salad etc. Rarely eat red meat. The other nights they have egg or beans on toast, for a quick tea if we are in a hurry. Other nights pizza & chips, crunchy chicken & chips/wedges/waffles. I am doing weight watchers so I am buying more fruit & veg, I sometimes spend maybe £10 during the week depending on bread & milk. DH takes a big packed lunch every day with plenty of fruit.