Feeding a Family of 4 - Realistic budget

thriftykatie

nodwah wrote:

Don't think anyone's mentioned the slow cooker yet, loads of stuff on the forums about them. I saw some kids TV programme where they were mocking the 70's and my slow cooker was there I was outraged at what they're teaching the children!

Has been mentioned a few times. Certainly has been a lifesaver for me and now wondering how I managed without!

elona

My DH seems to thinks my slow cooker is "magic" - if he lifts the lid and it is empty the look of disappointed confusion on his face is priceless.

For ages I thought the food in there must be evaporating because the level kept dropping - that was solved when i found him eating pea and ham soup at 7a.m.!!!

I love my breadmaker and now use it to make dough for rolls and pizza as well.

Ex-Spendaholic

I'm really pleased to say that I haven't spent money on food since Saturday. Long may it continue.

dianadors

Its almost Hubby's pay day and usually we around £400 overdrawn. Ive checked today and we still have £400 in the account. Its not even because February is a short month as he is payed every 4 weeks. I am thrilled to bits because this effectively makes us £800 better off this month! On the down side, if we had been as careful in the past, we could have been millionaires by now!!! Anyway, its a great incentive!

MrsTinks

dianadors wrote:

Its almost Hubby's pay day and usually we around £400 overdrawn. Ive checked today and we still have £400 in the account. Its not even because February is a short month as he is payed every 4 weeks. I am thrilled to bits because this effectively makes us £800 better off this month! On the down side, if we had been as careful in the past, we could have been millionaires by now!!! Anyway, its a great incentive!

Don't worry i have done exactly the same myself this month I nearly dropped off my chair because I was convinced that it was a bad month for me this month having to fork out on car repairs... But I am still considerably in credit! OH is not but that's thanks to Halifax screwing up grrr and our mortgage not moving in time...

Anyway it's a great feeling isn't it? I celebrated with a slice of HM cake (and thinking about it I haven't done any shopping for 2 weeks other than milk and a bit of fruit )

Ex-Spendaholic

Well done Tine and Dinadors. It must be a great feeling and in a couple of month's time I hope to be just like you. I still haven't had to buy any food. I am falling slightly off the wagon tonight though as it's my birthday. We are just doing a cheap and cheerful pizza hut though. The fact that I haven't darkened the doors of M&S this week has probably already saved about £90 so I think I can justify it.

Dumyat

pizza hut yum yum...can I come?
they do a good meal deal just now and their free refills are good value too.
its our family treat. If you cut down elsewhere you are allowed the treats

Kaz2904

Happy birthday! I was saying to my husband the other day that we need to slash our food bills because it is just getting silly. I don't even know how much we spent last month- probably £400 for four of us DC 5&3. The stupid thing is that my freezer is still virtually full of stuff. I went to draw the money out of the bank today as we are going on a cash only money diet and I spent £8 in Tesco on utter tosh so I need some fine tuning. Best get me over to the recipe boards and menu planning section if there is one!

missysx

just thought i'd say i hope you sort out a budget.

we are a family of four.. with 2 adults and 2 children and i spend £200- £250 per month on food shopping... this normally includes a couple of bottles of wine a week! lol

patentgirl

Happy Birthday and have a great time tonight never had a bad meal at Pizza Hut. That is my aim this month to sort out a budget plan with menus etc and I am going to try to use cash only as well. I have got to get it down from last month over £600!!