How much is too much for one person a week?

rabidbun

Have you checked out local butchers (if you have one) to see if they do a deals day at all to clear excess stock? You might also find that they sell chicken breasts for the same price (or less) as the supermarket but actually sell the whole breast, rather than the partial breast that you get in supermarkets (missing the bits that the supermarkets remove and sell separately as goujons). Whole chickens or chicken legs/thighs rather than breasts would also most likely be more cost effective as others have said already. I also freeze a lot of the cooked meat (after poaching or roasting whatever is on offer) so that I can just dump smaller portions of shredded chicken into curries/casseroles/whatever I am cooking - goes a lot further bulked up with various veggies that way.

Most of the rest of your list I get at Lidl, Aldi or in bulk when the supermarkets have really good deals. Worth keeping eye open for huge 10kg bags of rice as well at low prices (mostly in the world food aisles in supermarkets) and also for cheap bulk herbs/spices in the same way. Ethnic food shops (if you can get to them) will also do really good prices on staples.

Sublime_2

I didn't even spend that yesterday at M&S. If you can afford it, why not, but that amount usually feeds 3 of us.

I don't eat a lot of meat regularly, and tend to pad meat dishes out with veg, wholegrains etc. Meat is usually the most expensive purchase for me, because I tend to buy good quality from my local butcher.

beachie

The best thing I learnt about shopping is to NOT have a weekly shop. By this I mean don't go every week out of habit.

If you only go when you really need to then you cut your spending by alot as you make do without things for a few days.

I reckon my spending is down to about £15 a week by buying at the right time and the right deals.

ailuro2

The best way to save money when you go shopping and can afford to buy whatever you want is to write out a meal plan, then a shopping list and stick to it.

I don't think £40 a week is horrendous considering the amount of meat you're eating, though for your own health you could probably eat a bit less meat and a bit more veg!:D ( wish I could practice what I preach.:rotfl:)