Grocery Shopping budget thread

minstrel57

Hiya, I need to spend least on possible on food for the next 4 weeks.

Two aduts to feed. How much is a reasonable amout, would you think ?

Thankyou

Jx

rosieben

Lots of variables here - depends on how big appetites are, vegetarian or not, what you already have in the pantry and freezer?

If you're in a temporary fix financially, I wonder if you should be looking at this from the other angle - how much do you have coming in and what else is to pay from it, then what's left (or a portion of it) is what you have left for food.

I spend less than £15 on food per week but I keep a good store cupboard and in fact could go several weeks without shopping for anything except milk and fruit/veg;

sorry, not much help really

MrsBartolozzi

Weezl, a regular poster here has a site with a menu that will feed 4 for £100 for 4 weeks (or it might be 31 days) so for 2 would be £50. You obviously don't have to use every recipe maybe chop and change with what's already in your cupboards but the website is certainly worth a look:
http://www.cheap-family-recipes.org.uk/planners.html?opt=pc

Pink.

Hi minstrel,

As everyones needs are different it's difficult for anyone to put an exact figure on what you should be spending, but if you have a look at Martin's Budget Planner, that should help you to find out if/where you are overspending and give you ideas on how you could cut back. There is also his article on Supermarket Shopping which has lots of hints and tips on saving money on groceries.

Meal planning is a good way to save money. To get some ideas and help with this, have a look in

The Complete Menu Plans Collection

Also there are lots of ideas for cheap 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


Each month on Old Style there is a Grocery challenge...this is the current one: September 2010 Grocery Challenge where you can see what everyone elses grocery spends are and you'll get lots of encouragement and support from others there trying to cut back on grocery shopping.

This thread will give you an idea of what others spend: Grocery Shopping budget thread I'll add your thread to it later to keep the replies together.

Good luck with cutting back.

Pink

Linda32

Well, all of the above should really help alot, it has helped me.

I used to spend just over £300.00 a month, (two adults) and with meal planning and working with what I've already got, its now down to about £200.00

Cook from scratch, its the way to go.

seasalt_2

Interesting thread and I would like to get my budget down further - some of you are amazing!

Two adults and two 15yr olds (that's 4 adults then!) and one working dog. Budget is £300pcm (approx 70pw) although think I will be slightly over this month. It includes food, dogfood, toiletries (DD buys her own!) and cleaning but not diesel which is at least £20pw extra. 141.5/l:eek:.

Live on an island so only have a Co-op. Grow nearly all our own vegetables and soft fruit though (haven't factored in cost of seeds etc) so only buy lemons and the occasional bag of apples at the moment, bit more in winter.

csarina

There are two of us and my shopping comes to £140 a month which is £35 a week.

Justamum

seasalt wrote: »

diesel which is at least £20pw extra. 141.5/l:eek:.

I thought we were hard done by at £1.27.9p/litre!

seasalt_2

Highlands and Islands!

Allegra

As a possible interesting comparison, there is a thread on the cost of food shopping here. A bit of an eye-opener to see what some people who do not frequent Old Style spend as a matter of course !