Shopping-Monthly vs Weekly or daily (merged)

nimpoppy

what i do is work out how many days there will be a requirement for food, next month i know that there will be 18 nights where we will both need feeding (parties, takeaway nights etc.. taken from the full month total)

I then buy 18 meals but don't allocate them to days. That means that i have a menu of lots of things to choose from each night!

cuca

I have always shopped monthly as being paid monthly it seems the best to do. But, we are on a very tight budget atm and so have started shopping weekly instead.

I found that even though I shopped monthly, I would still have to go shopping to get weekly things like milk, veg etc. Then there was the situation with cheese and treat foods. (not that I buy much treats stuff, but you know the odd packet of bisc etc) When the kids see there are 4 blocks of cheese in the fridge they think its open time for cheese parties etc. So I felt that I was spending more because now if there is no more cheese, it waits until shopping day, so they hve to have marmite or jam instead........

I also found meal planning for a week easier than monthly, otherwise we tend to have to same thing over and over again. With weekly I know I have to use up what I have.

So I havent been weekly shoppin for that long, but my golden rule is - NO KIDS ALLOWED

flippin36

I guess its what ever works for you, but I prefer weekly shopping. I have a budget per week which will all depend on my monthly budget if you know what I mean. When I have done a monthly big shop I find that we seem to get through it all very quickly and perhaps aren't as carefull about what we use. So we end up spending more by the end of the month.

Agree with Cuca definitely no kids, and in fact no husbands for me too. I will go with a list which will include items for meal planning. But he starts interfering - and putting things in the trolly regardless of whether we need it, he admits that food bills are always more expensive when he goes shopping.

yummymummy1987_2

Bulk buy and live off a small amount per week, or keep to a weekly amount? What do you find easier?

We have always just had XX amount for shopping and gone and done it on a certain day. Tending to buy say 4 toilet rolls,2 tins soup/beans etc. Basically a set amount of what i know tends to get eaten/used in one week. However we have found ourselfs running out days and days earlier and are at a point where we need to rein in our spending so am considering doing one big shop on friday and then having a small amount each week for veg/salad/fruit and milk and bread. However im worried ill run out and then wont have hardly any money to buy things?

I guess its a case of trial and error? But would be intrested to hear what works best for you
We are a family of 4 with a 1 yr old in nappies

Outdoorlass

This is a tricky one, it all depends on how tight you hold the reigns on the food and toiletries. If I do a massive shop and the cupboards have lots of crisps and bikkies in, my kids tend to think its a free for all and they don't last the week.

Then again too many trips to the supermarket can be tempting and you could end up spending more, but if you stay strong you should be ok, on the plus side you can always take advantage of any offers or whoopsies if you time your visits right.

Not much help really am I:p

zarazara

I find a monthly budget works best for us. This way theres room to buy things which last ages like spices and mint sauce etc. Also I tend to buy toiletires,loo roll,washing powder,cat food etc just once a month, so its 1 big shop then smaller ones for fresh things like fruit and veg. With a monthly budget if its running out near to the last week we can always life of things I've frozen eg home made soup and whoopsies i've frozen like reduced meat. and theres always something around for an emergency eg tonight just had pasta with oilive oil and pepper on it for dinner followed by a jam sandwich as am waiting for weekend before going shopping again.

Penelope_Penguin

yummymummy1987 wrote: »

Bulk buy and live off a small amount per week, or keep to a weekly amount? What do you find easier?

But would be intrested to hear what works best for you

I do a monthly shop for dry goods. I then shop locally for milk, meat, F&V and small things I need

Others' suggestions are in this thread; I'll add this one to that later to keep ideas together.

mambury

I too work on a monthly budget.... big shop at the start of the month for frozen/cupboard stuff and toiletries and then I go once a week, sometimes longer if I can eek the fresh out a bit. I find it helps to keep all the fruit and veg in the fridge as it keeps it fresher for longer/

adelight

Monthly budget with one big stock up(dried, canned, frozen), and trips for fresh foods every 3-4 days? My weekly spends are so erratic due to this, I just have to be mindful.

ixia

I try to set an amount for the month and do a big shop at the beginning of the month. With whats left I divide it up into a weekly budget to use for fruit, veg, bread and milk.