Shopping and money management..

Annie_99

So my question is, how do you all manage to make your money last all month.
I have a set amount for the month but havent worked out how to manage it properly.. it seems to just "go" and i end up with just enough at the end rather than a divided set amount. No matter which way i shop, plan, cook etc. I still havent managed to feel ever in control and its driving me mad...
There are 4 adults and we have around £500 for food etc budget. I always seem to let it go at the beginning few weeks and struggle. i see others saying they can get there food down to incredible small amounts and i cant. What am i doing wrong.
Do i do a huge shop at the beginning or weekly shops, what do i include just food or seperate budgets if so how/where
Do i make sense or is it just me who struggles.
We have no debts now so i want to get this right and be more in control..

-taff

do one big shop every month for staples, then a small weekly shop for perishables [milk/bread]. Make your own food, don't buy ready meals, make meal plans, and shop for those plans.
Meal planning includes breakfasts and snacks.

Blackpool_Saver

In theory it sounds like an adequate amount, but I too have this problem and I shop at all the discount/low end supermarkets, and I can't believe how much food costs

WantToBeSE

Would it be easier to do it weekly?
I would divide the amount you have for food (e.g.£500) by the number of weeks in that month (or how mnay weeks between pay days).

Then you should only need to visit the supermarket once a week, you can meal plan easier (in my experience) and things wont go off.

dreaming

Blackpool_Saver wrote: »

In theory it sounds like an adequate amount, but I too have this problem and I shop at all the discount/low end supermarkets, and I can't believe how much food costs

When my monthly income reduced recently I tried shopping at the discount stores and Pound shops but found that I seemed to spend more as I would "just pick up" a few extras each time and it soon mounted up as I was shopping more often. I now do my "big shop" online monthly (tinned stuff/freezer items/groceries/pet food/etc.) but always (always, always) meal plan for the month. I can then take things out of the order if it becomes too expensive. Then I have a set amount for milk and fresh f&v (and chocolate) each week.
One thing I used to do as well is to split my monthly budget into 5 even if it was a 4 week month. That way I managed to build up a small reserve every now and then.

ciderwithrosie_2

I use a spreadsheet in Excel and online banking to keep an eye on the finances throughout the month. We were in an IVA until July this year so have no credit cards or overdraft facility, so I have to make the money last all month.

The people who can feed the family for less, usually have meal plans worked out to make the best use of what they buy.

We're a family of 5 adults and I work full-time, our shopping bill is about £500-600 a month (prices seemed to have jumped again lately). We get through 30 pints of milk a week for starters, that's £10 just on that! I shop mainly in Tesco because I get a small discount as OH works there. I shop weekly online and try to pick up bargains when I see them.

I'm sure I could feed us all for a lot less if I was at home more, as I'm a competent cook, but the lads and my OH often want convenient stuff with minimal prep and cooking when I'm not here, also they eat at different times so that doesn't help. OH can cook fine but he works nights and is usually too tired to cook anything from scratch when he gets in.

westcoastscot

I have £400 for three adults, and have found the best way is to take £200 of that and do a big shop for staples/anything that will last the month, and then £50/week for perishables.
We don't have access to cheaper supermarkets here, but it seems to work ok with a lot of planning!

WCS

gailey_2

Last few months we been struggling 2 adults, 3children.

We stopped the huge shops and now do it weekly.

did basic shop at tesco mostly value passatta, tinned stuff,packet mixes pasta , rice spent £60 4weeks ago that keeps store cupboad well stocked.


Then weekly milk, fruit, salads.

we do ix aldis/lilds but even stopped doing big shops with them.

instead we do great reduced hunt in

sainsburys local
tesco metro
co-op large one
morrsions.
m&s

where tend to eat

only reduced bread, bakery products we have large freezer
only fruit kids have s value, reduced or tinned
been getting cheap meat and fish from morrises from £4 to 49p.
Using what have in storecupboard i then plan my meals aroud those reductons

So thsi weekend will meal plan the next week.

Hubbys just bene sainsburys and suspect got carried away spent too much.

we try buy reduced, value or offers only and ask do we really need it?

if I see things like naans, wraps, garlic reduced i buy and freeze ready for when we have meals go wth it

I batchcook and freeze some meals/

if passing £1shop pop in usually get crisps but try not get carried away

we like farmfpods its a distance so not been in ages but mostly use frozen veg ie

corn on cobs
peas
sweetcorn
veg mix
always buy yorkies
brocoli , cauli and ake cheese sauce go with.

Standby emergency foods.

tinned pasta,spagetti
baked beans
tinned tuna
packet mixes pasta
dried noodles
packet savoury rice kids see to love which added more ixed veg too and chopped up ham or chicken.
tinned soups
some jars curry sauce, value pasta sauce
passatta
packet mixes can be quite cheap and help me transform some finds.
gravy granules

Can get 2-3meals out of a chicken. m&s dine for 2meals can be food if includes a whole chicken think it does this weekend even better if includes bag potatoes not the premade prepared sparow potions of veg as includes wine and dessert.

I estimate we spending £200 a month last few months as trying spend no more than £50 a week but 2toddlers guzzlig 6-8pints milk a day dont help.

[Deleted User]

I find it easiest to have a set amount every week in cash and never use a card when I'm shopping for food. I always make a weeks menu for breakfast, lunch and supper and make a list to take with me when I shop so I'm only looking for specifics and not tempted by anything I don't need. I always look for reductions or offers but only on what I have on my shopping list. If I have any housekeeping left at the end of the week I invest it in 'futures' i.e things that I use regularly to go into the store cupboard so we never run out and it includes things like shower gel, toothpaste, washing up liquid, medication really anything I know I'll need in the future. I find that works for me and keeps my spending under tight control.

Rummer

I do my shopping (especially for food) online as it lets me compare prices and ensures I do not casually fling random things into the trolley as it is too tempting. Even with the delivery costs I have made a massive weekly saving

maman

I'd say you can get the cost down if you have time for shopping around a bit and access to a range of shops. You've had a range of tips and I'd say meal planning and having a storecupboard/freezer packed with offers is the best way forward.

All I'd question OP, is whether the other three adults are on board with what you're trying to do? I've read loads of threads where people are sabotaged by their family. For example, left overs planned for a second meal/tomorrow's lunch disappear or picky eaters won't eat own brand stuff or expect the cupboard/fridge to have loads of grab and go foods. Is any of this happening to you?