Shopping budget keeps creeping up, any ideas?

JodyBPM

I've used loads of the advice from this board over the years, and used to be able to do my shop for a family of 4 (4 & 5 yr old children) for £40 a week (about 2 years ago). I've gradually noticed the shopping budget creep up, and being a bit of a geek set up a spreadsheet for our spends account to see where all our money is going, and the groceries are now costing £60 a week on average:eek: (averaged year to date, so should be fairly accurate). Actually, that doesn't even include the milkman, which is an extra fiver or so a week, and we have chucks in the garden for our own eggs!

I think I need a talking to from you here on the OS board to get me back on track!

This is my meal planner for the current fortnight
Omellette, salad & new pots
Pasta, pesto & frankfurters
Smoked haddock chowder and fresh bread
Homemade pizza
Chicken kebabs, served in pitta with salad
Poached salmon with new pots and veg
Homemade sweet and sour vegetable stir fry
Paella
Homemade goats cheese, tomato and spinach tart with salad
Fish fingers, potato waffles and veg
Homemade thai green prawn curry with rice
Chicken korma with rice
Roast chicken, roasties & veg with gravy
Homemade spaghetti bolognese.

Lunches are packed on school days or stuff like egg on toast, beans on toast etc.
Breakfast is cereal, porridge or toast.
Snacks are fruit or homemade biscuits/cakes.

Its important to me that we have a healthy ish diet, I know I could buy processed stuff cheaper, but I want the kids to have a good balance, and I have to watch my weight too.

Am I on track with £60 a week, or is there something I've slipped on? This £60 does include all household cleaners, toiletries, bin bags etc.

Any suggestions? We can afford the £60 if necessary, but I'd rather spend say £45 and have more to put towards our mortgage free goal!

seabright

Stir-frys are quick, easy, cheap and healthy. You can make them from whatever bits are around (I estimate 1 chicken breast or equivalant per 2 adults). A good way of using up the random bits of veg in the bottom of the fridge.

Also, any stir-fry leftovers make nice sandwich fillings.

zippychick

Hi JodyBPM :hello:

To be honest your budget sounds pretty ok to me - but then I'm a single person so it's hard to judge.:o

There is a thread where everyone lists their shopping budgets here so you can have a look through and see what others spend. It seems as if you are doing pretty much everything you can to me? Do bear in mind the increase in prices int he past two years.

Also, the Grocery challenge would be helpful for you as you can strive alongside others to reduce your budget. It's good as everyone motivates everyone else

Once you get plenty of input, I'll add your thread to the Grocery Challenge to keep all the information together

Thanks:)
Zip

JodyBPM

seabright wrote: »

Stir-frys are quick, easy, cheap and healthy. You can make them from whatever bits are around (I estimate 1 chicken breast or equivalant per 2 adults). A good way of using up the random bits of veg in the bottom of the fridge.

Also, any stir-fry leftovers make nice sandwich fillings.

Yes, we like stir fries, but any ideas for homemade sauces other than sweet and sour? I'm not keen on buying too many ready made sauces, and with no sauce at all I think they are quite bland.

seabright

I don't use a sauce, I just use a mix of normal oil and seasame oil to fry in then add a load of soy sauce and herbs/spices/sea salt later on in the cooking. That way everything still feel nice and light & crunchy, rather than weighed down with a gloopy sauce.

The ready-prepared ginger in a tube is great for this (and lasts months in the fridge).

Norman_Bean

I've started having soup day every Monday to keep costs down. Going well so far.
We are 4 - me, H, 4yo and 3yo
I spend about €40 a week.
HTH a bit

E x

ubamother

Is it worth checking your menu against seasonal products that may be cheaper - are you making the most of special offers, cheapies, bulk buys for cooking and freezing etc. Might be interesting to take out all the non-food items and see what the actual food cost it. If you're buying all in a supermarket, may be worth checking out getting the household stuff at Wilkos/Home Bargains type stores (if this doesn't add to petrol costs!)

Ches

I would look at the house cleaning stuff to see if you can cut down there. I think apart from loo rolls you can get away with very few cleaning products. I didn't get on with stardrops but I have seriously cut down on the amount of different products I buy and the house is still clean. Being frugal with washing powder has also helped. I use an old serving spoonful in each wash and it still cleans the clothes. A mixture of washing up liquid and disinfectant in a bowlful of water cleans the kitchen surfaces, then the floor and then the drains. Food wise I think you are doing well and your menu looks mouthwatering.

merlin68

Don't forget the cost of food has risen sharply. I was spending £50 a week 5 years ago now spending £100 for the same stuff.

JodyBPM

Thanks everyone for the feedback, a few ideas to try, but I'm getting the impression it might just be about the price rises more than anything.
I'm going to make extra efforts to use up stuff in the freezer, keep an eye on my cleaning product prices as look for seasonal alternatives, but hopefully with summer on the way I should have lots of fresh veg growing to supplement us which should knock a few pennies off!
It's trying to find the balance between eating cheaply and eating well, which is so hard!

floss2

Why not get even more investigative, and start to save your receipts? Then you can compare what you are buying and paying against certain dates / times of year?

May also identify any particular "trends" maybe in school holidays, and how your shopping habits are changing.