How much should a family of 5 cost to feed?

7roland8

the biggest way i found to cut down on expenditure was to eliminate the need to shop bang on every 7 days. more often than not i have enough fresh food in the house to get me through a good week, if not two. ok on delivery day my fridge is fit to bursting and 2wks later its one limp lettuce leaf and a half-eaten tin of beans, but we havent starved to death, just because mid week we run out of muller corners, and cheddar

Us too - I have pushed o=it to once a fortnight now - use uht milk at the end of the week - also use all the freshs tuff up the first week - then make do for the next -w ith tins and frozen - works fine.

lindseykim13

Thanks for all the comments, made me feel a lot better anyway. Just over on the OS board now browsing for quick healthy meal ideas which will hopefully help me to cut the cost too.
I need a list now!

katskorner

I probably spend about £60-£65 per week for 5 of us and two cats, not including alcohol but I grow my own veg and I shop around. Plus I have two huge freezers and stock up when things are reduced and buy in bulk from cash & carry with things like chicken breasts.

katsclaws

Can I just ask if all the above budgets include packed lunches. I provide packed lunches for five adults every day and I can't get this to less than £2 per person per day. It includes sandwiches (meat & salad), fresh juice and fruit/ chocolate bar. That is £50.00 per week before even thinking of main meals and breakfasts etc. I just don't know how other people do it.

katsclaws

viclspence

we spend £55 a week for a family of 4, which I know is one less than you, but basically approximately £10 per person, plus luxurys (mags, chocolate) and then extra when we need washing liquid, toilet roll etc, it is very rarely more than £55 but we do shop at Morrisons which we find makes a big difference, if we go to Sainsburys it's usually £75 for the same amount and at Asda we find that the quality of the food isn't any where near as good. We don't have a tesco within a suitable distance for frozen food etc to get home whilst still frozen.

What we do do however is plan our meals, this week it is lasagna, jacket potatoes with turket escalopes, roast pork dinner, sausages, curry and a fry up, not very healthy I know, but budgeted for!

This includes packed lunches for 1 adult and 1 child