Grocery shopping

jackie_w

Hi There,

I hope this is the right board im on if its not, can someone direct me.

Anyway, Im just wondering (if you dont mind me asking) what everyone else spends on grocery shopping. I shop for 2 adults and 2 children, I cook everything from scratch, and I end up spending about £300 -£350 per month
Does anyone else spend this or am I overspending?

Ive read of people taking about the "old style boards" where there is lots of recipes, where would I find these?

Any comments would be gratefully welcome.

Jackie xxx

violetb_2

Hi - I spend a similar amount, perhaps a little less overall and find mysupermarket.com really useful for finding the best way to spend my cash.

Hope that helps, not sure if this is the right board either.

V

frugalsar

Wow! I have 2 adults and 2 smallish kids - I spend 70 big shop a month and 15 each week on fresh veg n fruit!
so 130 a month! kids do have school dins 5 days a week and hubby buys his own luch 5 days a week....
I don't cook much from scratch but i'd say we eat quite healthy?

ti1980

You want the Moneysaving Old Style Board, see here.

http://http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.html?f=33

There are loads of tips here that will help you and some fabulous people that know all about budgetting and getting the most from your food.

Do you throw a lot away? Make the most of special offers?

Loads of different factors that make food shopping so high at times.

jackie_w

Hey Frugal Star,

tell me your secret!!!!

jackie

jackie_w

Hi Ti 1980

I do make sure i use the special offers. Although I make everything from scratch, I still by frozen food for emergencies ie if im running short of time, or if ive forgotton to take anything out of freezer.

I dont throw alot away, if I make a great big batch of spagetti bolognaise, that will feed the 4 of us, if there is any left over, hubbie eats it.
Im not joking, he could eat for Britain.
I remember when I was little, my mum used to make a big batch of homemade soup for us & serve it with potatoes and bread, and that would be our dinner,
but, if I were to serve that to hubbie he would be like "well thats the starter wheres the main course".

I will check the old style boards for some more menu and shopping ideas to see what I can do to save.

Jackie

ti1980

Where do you go shopping Jackie_W?

Use all the resources you can, if you have a decent local butcher, or a nice greengrocers than these are usually better than the supermarket. Do you use own brands?

I used to always buy too much so things would go out of date or mouldy before I had a chance to use it.

Make lists of things you need and check online to see if they are on offer somewhere before going shopping.

Take it a bit at a time and you will get there.:)

littlescarlet

Hi Jackie

It kind of depends how old your kids are - teenagers can eat more than adults - but for two adults and one six year old I now spend £200 per month which includes toletries etc. I used to spend £450 per month but managed to cut that down quite a bit quite quickly. I know there are people who live on much less than that - one very regular contributor spends only £45 per month for I think one adult and two kids but that person's weekly menu did not contain any fresh fruit and veg. I reckon the general opinion is that you can get by on £20 per person per week and still live healthily. I like to think that I can make not only healthy but actually very tasty and varied meals for my budget but it does need a willingness to cook nearly everything from scratch - and a non-fussy family who will all eat the same or similar. I am trying at the moment to come up with a one month plan including shopping lists - pm me if you are interested and I will send you one if it ever gets done

goggins1977

Jackie,i spend the same amount on my grocery shopping ,i also make everything from scratch,personally i wouldnt say you were over spending ,i would say thats a realistic amount,Frugalsar i would be very interested to know what kind of meals you eat to be able to spend so little on your shopping.....

goggins1977

A little off topic sorry but i have a friend who shops for 2 adults and 3 kids and she can spend well over £300 a week and her husband is a butcher ,now that is over spending,and they have takeaway at least 2 times a week lmao

frugalsar

I Do 1 big online shop at tesco and use the extra points coupons - get as much bogofs etc as poss and stock up on basics,i don't buy much fresh meat I usually get freezer stuff? always buy value bog roll, foil, bin bags and cleaners. buy own brand wash powder and fab con, and get frozen stuff.
they I go tesco weekly and get whatever best offer fruit & veg is on!
I am also coupon mad and get stuff i have coupons for just to try it! I stocked up on toothpaste, brushes, shampoo and bubbles etc with the H&B coupons (see discount coupon thread)
I stock up on good offers when I can, like finish tablets were on bogof so I got 6 lots, coffee 2 for £6 I got 4 etc!
I also do a list by looking what offers are online and don't deviate from the list !!!!! say no to temptation!
i also spend a few quid a week in the bargin shops like quality save on chocs biccies soups, noodles etc as they are often cheaper there!

hope this gives you some ideas, I used to just buy whatever I wanted but then when I stared to really look at what i was buying and money save it makes a big difference! (OK I do use what i save to treat us to take away every so often!) oh and We go to my mums for tea once a week which saves money and gets the visiting over with in one go!!!

Good luck I'll keep an eye on this thread so i can get more ideas from everyone else!!!
frugs x