What is a realistic weekly budget for a family of four?

helpmepayit

Hi everyone,
Was just wondering how much the average family budget for per week? I am trying to reduce our spending but finding it really hard as the kids are always wanting things or something breaks in the house. I cleared my purse out today and the amount of tesco receipts for the last month really shocked me! From tomorrow I am going to try and keep a spending diary. I am really guilty of popping in to tesco while on the school run so I think I will start taking a few pound sto the shops with me instead of my purse, does anybody else do this?

Tixy

Weekly shop for what? just groceries?
i.e food, drink, cleaning products etc?

There are some on here who manage on £200 a month, so £46 a week. I'd think that £250 was a more common budget, so around £58.

How much are you spending currently? any reduction is a start.

Perhaps analyse what you are actually buying at tescos - is it all groceries? or are you picking up kids clothes or games etc? or taking cashback on your debit card that is bumping up how much it looks like you spend?

helpmepayit

Thanks Tixy, I was meaning a realistic budget for food, petrol and everyday bits and bobs. Think just now we are spending approx £150 in Tesco alone going through the receipts I have found in my purse (I'm not even going to check jacket pockets or handbags I case there are even more) :0( this explains where all our money seems to go! Was just wondering what is the average weekly spend for everyday things x

Learning2Budget

I just leave my purse at home. Lol. If i have it with me its like greenflag to spend!
£70 a week buys us all our groceries, cleaning products and a few treats a week. £15 a week buys us fuel. L2B.x

helpmepayit

I pick up the very odd DVD, no clothes as its only a small tesco (thank goodness) think this is just for food, cleaning stuff, dog food and small toys (my son collects a lot of these small crappy toys)
Not a big drinker but occasionally pick up one or two of the spiced apple and rhubarb cider, they are lovely! X

helpmepayit

Would love to get my shopping to the £70 level, going to make my budget £60 this week (just added myself to another challenge thread on mse) will leave my purse at home this week and see how I get on. Thanks for your info :0) xx

firesidemaid

in theory, you should work out a budget based on your household income, which will include food, petrol etc.

Tixy

I would set a separate budget for petrol from groceries.
Its very hard to compare petrol cost to other people, as your commute might be 20 miles and theirs 3.

helpmepayit

Problem with us trying to budget apart from the fact we are rubbish at it is that we have about £1300 left after we have paid mortgage, electricity, council tax, insurances etc. I have been making big dents in our debts the last few months and every month I say whatever is left after food shopping, petrol etc we will fling at debts! Only problem being we never seem to have much left over?!

helpmepayit

I have seen a few posts about people working from different envelopes! They have an envelope for food another for petrol another for entertainment. I wonder if this might be something I should try x

Tixy

That why a more detailed budget budget helps.

Start gently, maybe set £300 for groceries, £100 for sundries and £x for petrol. And then work out what you think you will have left extra for the debts. Pay half the extra towards your debts at the start of the month, and the remainder (assuming you do still have it) at the end of the month.