What should be our total shopping spend

PRINCESSX87

I'm after some advice, As we like many have noticed that we are currently over spending & the bills are suffering.

So, I decided to learn how to become less wasteful & cut back.

We are spending around £250 per month for the following:-

Food,
Drinks (Juice, milk, fizzy)
frozen,
Pet food,
Household cleaners.

This is just for 2 adults & 3 pets (2 cats & a medium sized dog)

The problem is, Because we don't drive we have resulted in buying from Asda
(Being charged delivery 4 times a month as we are shopping weekly) And spending around £80 of the above on Iceland frozen foods because again, We can get it delivered.

Its not just our pockets being punished. My poor partner is sick to death of eating the same foods, So much so, He's been going without lunches (Packed) & evening meals, And just snacking.:o

I feel, I have let everything get out of control, One being lazy but also because i know i cant cook! Of course i can do basic's, But thats everyday!

Any help?

rachbc

is 'should' be what ver you an afford and think is a reasonable amount, which will be different for everyone.

We spend £240 for 2 adults, a teen boy, 5yo, 3 cats and 3 chickens.

This includes all food and drink, cleaning stuff and animal food. Hubby doesn't eat breakfast and buys his lunch out of his own money - so breakfast for 3, packed lunch for 3 and evening meal for 4

dlusman

rachbc wrote: »

is 'should' be what ver you an afford and think is a reasonable amount, which will be different for everyone.

agree with this. If the original title should be "help - we are spending too much" , then the best way to get advice on here is to list your typical weekly/monthly shop and the amount you have spent on each item.

I would guess you are spending most of it on pre-packed/cooked meals. Cooking from fresh is normally cheaper.

PRINCESSX87

I agree with the title, Will try & change.

The problem i have is i just see something and its in the trolly, So i don't have much of a shopping list.

alinwales

We've started planning meals a fortnight in advance and then doing a big shop at the same rate. The idea is to shop for £150 a month (2 adults 2 small children, though one is on boob milk, and a cat) though it's normally around 160-170 (and this includes nappies). Planning makes it so much simpler and nothing has to be set in stone. Plus it takes me less time to get around the shop.
We have 14ish different meals, so can feel a bit samey, though when you have a baby to deal with, simple and easy is better than creative and tasty!

rachbc

Ok first things first make a list of everythign you can cook, then a list of things you'd like to try and learn to cook.

Make a meal plan - inc lunches (even if onyl sarnies) if you want and work out what you need to buy to make the meals on the list. As you start to build a supply of cooking ingredients you shopping maybe more or as expensive at first but once you've bought a few staples like olive oil, herbs/ spices etc etc you won't need to replace that often and can use them in lots of dishes.

ONLY BUY WHAT IS ON THE LIST!

if you don't feel confident in your cooking Delia Smith How To Cook and jamie Oliver Ministry of Food books are brilliant. Also check out the Old Style board on here - there are loads of recipes, advice etc etc

StuartMacpherson

try making more meals from scratch? Things with rice, pasta etc. I spend around about £100-£150 a month on food/house hold for my partner and I, but I make as much as I can from base product. I can't say enough how good Value rice is once you clean it, and how good value pasta actually is once you get a sauce on it (30p a bag...). I just use a lot of chopped tomatoes, or soft cheese (50p ish each).

Other thing i can't get enough of is home made soup, and that costs pennies to make...

Edwardia

Although OH can drive he commutes to London and as we live 5 mins walk from station we don't have a car.

Waitrose does free delivery any day/time (which can save up to 6.99 compared to other supermarkets) and though you may feel that Waitrose is expensive, much of the stuff is price matched to Tesco now and the value range, essentials, includes things that other stores charge more for. I did an internet shop this afternoon and President butter was 1.21 as opposed to 1.40 in Morrisons.

Lidl is great for veg, deli stuff, UHT milk with a plastic pourer (no cutting corners off), washing powder and I reckon you could easily save enough to pay for a cab if you live locally. Other people swear by Aldi.

99p stores is good for kitchen towels and pet food and Poundland is also good for pet food.

I've just started going to Morrisons for fish and they have some good offers and also on veg.

Making stuff from scratch can be a lot cheaper and more nutritious than buying ready meals but that's a lifestyle choice and besides not everyone feels confident cooking.

If you keep eyes out online at their websites or get leaflets through door there are offers to be had at Costcutter, Spar (which has own value range called S), Co-op, One Stop and Budgens (has expanding own brand range now).

Coopdivi

It doesn't strike me that you're particularly spending a lot on food. £250 a month is less than £60 a week. If you allow £10 for the pet food then each adult is getting about 24 quids worth which isn't a great deal.

I think your biggest problem is that you don't have enough variety in the foods you eat.

You say you can't cook but you have to remember that not all home cooked meals are difficult to prepare. Home made burgers are easy peasy and taste miles better than most shop ones. You can prepare a casserole in less than ten minutes. Just roughly chop up a variety of vegetables, most of which you don't need to peel because the supermarket has already washed them, and chuck them in an ovenproof pot (one where the handles aren't going to melt) add cheap cuts of meat like chicken drumsticks, pork spare rib chops, stewing lamb etc top with salad potatoes (no need to peel) tip some gravy powder in and finally loads of water. Put a lid on the pot and cook for 3 hours at 160C. The result is a substantial and tasty meal made with the minimum of effort. If you use a slow cooker it'll cook itself while you're both at work and it'll be ready when you come home.

Those are just two examples but there's lots of things you can make without being a Gordon Blue chef.

Just remember that food is one of life's pleasures, to be enjoyed not endured.

anniecave

Have a look at any items that you buy as frozen. If they are "prepared" in any way, look up recipes to make your own versions or variations of them.

Common ready meals are:

Pasta with a tomato and cheese sauce
Cottage pie
Chicken, potatoes and vegetables with gravy
Macaroni cheese

These are all really easy to make meals for starters...

Lasagne is a variation on the tomato/cheese pasta, just with extra vegetables or mince. When I make this, I don't actually cook it in the oven, just mix the cheese sauce in with the tomato sauce and then top with grated cheese to serve. Easier!

Hovel_lady

Have you had a look at the OS (Old Style) board?

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