£76 a week for food for a family of 4 frugal?

Hovel_lady

My OH came home with the free paper (Metr*) tonight.
In it were the results of an "alternative census" that's been carried out. Amongst the things discovered was that the average family spend £76.02 on it's weekly food shop and a further £12 a week on alcohol.
The CEO of the company that did the survey is quoted as saying "Forking out £76 on a weeks grocery shop for a family of four is fairly frugal"

Do you agree?

rachbc

nope - but I guess i depends if its just food, or inc toiletries, household cleaning etc - I read on here someone saying the spend nearly as much again on those as on food which is inconceivable to me but I suspect not that unusual

ceridwen

Ah...we're up against that perennial problem again that "Food" means just "food...and food alone" - but some peeps throw in cosmetics and/or household cleaners into the equation. At that point it all becomes very problematic...

I understand perfectly why some peeps DO throw in the household cleaners and/or cosmetics into the "Food Bill" - ie because they get them at the supermarket at the same time as they get the food - but it doesnt half confuse the issue.

So - that is the first and foremost thing - to ensure that peeps mean "food" and food alone when they talk about the weekly food bill.:cool:

There is also the "Are the people they are talking about ones with normal adult-size appetites on the one hand or hollow-legged teenage boys or young children on the other hand?".

Personally - I would estimate that its quite likely that I could encompass my food bill for £19 per week (even though a high proportion is organic) - BUT by that I mean food and food alone and cant include my coffee even for instance (as I guesstimate that I spend around £5 per week on coffee alone - as I cant stand anything other than "real" coffee - so 2 packets per week x £2.50 = £5 of my weekly food spend). Darn and double darn it - and wish I liked tea and/or instant coffee - but, unfortunately, I just dont....

So - actually - yep I do agree...and think that is pretty darn frugal (assuming it includes ALL food and drink - and nothing but food and drink).

ubamother

it's damn statistics again!

They don't say which type of average, and the results could be read very differently depending on the average used. Also, so many people don't fit into the standard 'weekly food shop'. I supermarket shop once a month, and visit my local shops twice a week. No information either about how long a period they used to work this out, whether it included Christmas for example, as many people spend more which could affect the overall 'average'. They only questioned 2,000 so hardly a full study.

Interesting to have a look at generally though - Alertme.com has the full details on their website - sad that under the category of neighbours the 'average' is "2 that we speak to" I think that is so sad, and not very OS as neighbours (if you have them) that help each other and do things together can save each other a fortune.

ALIBOBSY

usWell its not a massive amount, but not very frugal either-but its an average lol.

When budget is tight-last year when oh was made redundant, 6 of us managed on about 50/60 per week and I reckon I could have pushed it down to maybe 40/45 a week. Now oh is in work on a good wage we are probably spending 60 plus a few small top ups. So about the same as the survey.
Mind you we rarely drink at all so that would be food and "household goods" so might vary week to week-some weeks we might get say washing up liquid on offer so stock up for a few months at a time.

Ali x

Aarons_mummy

I agree, unless this is just food and no cosmetics, household goods, toiletries, cleaning products then that is pretty high spending rather than frugal. To be honest even adding in household stuff, toiletries etc this is still a 'normal' spend I would assume for the masses anyway.

On just food I spend roughly £20 per week for me and the little one, this also feeds his dad up to 3+ times a week when he comes to see him. I think £76 if it were just food is an extortionate amount to spend per week.

goobergirl

OH and I discussing this tonight. We are a family of five, two boys aged 11 & 5 and a girl aged 10. All with good appetites.

I spent just over £73.00 today on a weeks groceries from Lidl and some extra stuff from Morrisons. All food, no cleaning products etc. I got a lot of fresh produce, a chicken and some mince included in this. There were no 'treats' like biscuits, cakes etc in there. Until recently I was shopping at Tesco and spending a lot more than this for comparable products. I shouldn't have to do any top up shopping for the rest of the week.

beautiful_ravens

Hm, it seems a lot to me if its JUST food. I spend between £45 and £60 a week on my entire GROCERY shop including delivery, tobacco and a few cans of beer, delivered once a week, and try to get everything so no extra trips in the car to the shop. This is for a family of -now- 3 DD's aged 5-10 and me. Previously their dad aswell and his packed lunches which came in at £50-£65 a week.
So if that £76 means food only, I think thats loads!
If its an entire grocery shop it sounds reasonable but still quite a lot, assuming its 2 adults 2 youngish kids, which is my assumption for some reason!

quintwins

i was also thinking thats loads aswell, if we spent £76 on food our fridge would be crammed full i have a £10 off £50 tesco voucher and struggled to think of £50 of things we needed thats for a family of 5, 2 adults and 3 kids under 5 but included everything not just food, sayings that me and hubby were discussing this yeaterday and when we had just the tins i used to aim for £70 a week and that included baby milk

merlin68

I spend £60, which includes a monthly meat hamper from the butchers and tobacco. I get my fruit and veg from the market and everything else fromthe 99pshop in town. This is for 2 adults, 2 kids, 2 cats and a dog.

tlb2408

I must be doing something wrong I think anything under £100 a week is good I don't include drink as we don't usually drink or cleaning products as do that shop seperatley.. This is for 2 adults and toddler!! I spent £80 just in morrisons and only had 4 carrier bags was devastated when I got home. Any advice??