Groceries! Where am i going wrong???

Toni_Broke

Hi all

Just like to say i love this site and all the great advice given BUT i am having trouble reducing my grocery bill by any more.

I spend £100 per week and possibly another £25 at weekends!

I always feel ashamed when i see peoples shock at SOA's that read £500 per month for groceries.

I meal plan, i have gone down a brand, i dont buy buscuits, crisps, sweets etc so just where am i going wrong?

I do include toiletries and cleaning products etc, is this correct or should i be doing a seperate budget for these?

Sorry if this is in the wrong place but it is all part of my quest to be DF.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Tonixx

OberonSH

Hi Toni,

Do you meal plan, or just shop 'on the hoof'?

We sit down, work out if there's anything in the fridge/freezer/cupboards to be used up, then add in meals we fancy and make a list of the stuff we need, not forgetting lunches, breakfasts and a few snacks. Then we go and buy these, and only these. our spend can almost double if we don't do this, plus we end up with stuff that doesn't 'make a meal' if you know what I mean.

bank_of_slate

How many people are in your house Toni?
...Linda xx

pebblespop

i shop online. this cuts out all the impulse purchases and you can take things off before you checkout if the bill is too high!

i also meal plan and use up food from freezer/cupboards etc.

the delivery charge is worth is compared to the money i save by not going in the supermarket.

lilian1977

When you say you meal plan and have gone down a brand, does that include buying ready meals or making things from scratch? Also, with staples like flour etc, are you using the basics/value ranges - there's little difference with things like this.

Toni_Broke

Hi

Yes i meal plan so much so that i end up like old mrs hubbard by the end of the week!

There are 5 of us, 2 adults 3 kids age 14, 10 and 6.

bank_of_slate

What kind of meals do you plan?

I use my slow cooker a lot to make big batches of chilli, curry, stews, casseroles etc. Because of the slow cooker I can buy large joints like brisket and it's gorgeous!
I 'fill them out' by adding inexpensive things like baked beans, pulses etc.

What's on your average weekly shopping list?
...Linda xx

OberonSH

Then maybe that's not so bad. Teens are hungry animals, after all. If you don't see any way of getting it down, then maybe that's as low as it can go. What sort of things are on your shopping list?

Toni_Broke

Hi guys, thanks for your replies,

I make everything from scratch, no ready meals or takeaways. (sound like bl**dy anthea turner-perfect!lol).

I shop online so although it costs £4 i find it much easier to keep on budget and def less embarrassing if you need to loose a couple of items at the checkout!

tyllwyd

You know what, I have a major gripe with people who home in on the groceries budget on every single SOA. It's an easy target, you can always tell people that they can shave a bit off.

IMHO, everyone knows that food prices have gone through the roof in the last year or so. I'm sure that there are some dedicated (obsessive?) people here who sucessfully feed a family of four on £200 per month, but that isn't a 'normal' budget. I'm not sure exactly what you'd be allowed for groceries if you were going bankrupt, but I think it is more like £400 or more.

So I'd say don't be ashamed, you aren't failing, you are just comparing yourself to an extremely tough target.

Toni_Broke

Yeah maybe your'e right oberon, they certainly eat as much if not more!

I cook the same things as you guys, chillies, stews etc, nothing extravegant. My shopping list is boring certainly no goodies! Apart from the odd 'nicety' at the weekends.

It just amazes me when people claim they only spend a small amount to feed their families for the week.