Food/grocery budget

~Chameleon~

PasturesNew wrote: »

I've no freezer, what I buy I have to eat before it goes green. I don't have the money to buy pricey stuff, so I buy everything cheapest; it's buy cheap or go without.

I guess it's all about priorities then. For example, I'd much rather ensure I eat healthy food than buy a brand new car.

PasturesNew

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

I guess it's all about priorities then. For example, I'd much rather ensure I eat healthy food than buy a brand new car.

Well, that's a choice I won't be making either .... my car's just 8 years old, so good for another 10 years.... then I'll buy a 5 year old one.

~Chameleon~

PasturesNew wrote: »

Well, that's a choice I won't be making either .... my car's just 8 years old, so good for another 10 years.... then I'll buy a 5 year old one.

But you did buy your car brand new. That's something I would never do out of principal as in my opinion it's just money down the drain. I could feed myself for several years on the money I saved by buying a used car <3yrs old. As I said, everyone has their priorities though.

PasturesNew

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

But you did buy your car brand new.

No, it was 2nd hand. I spent more than I'd like at the time as I needed a larger car to move my stuff around with me and I was expecting to cover large distances (200 miles) so needed a 'newish' car for personal safety .... so bought one 4 years old. But once this one dies I might even look at getting a scooter and hiring a car the 2-3x a year I actually need one.

Most of my cars in the past have been bought ropey and had the floor welded on each year to pass MoTs!

In reality, I suspect very few people buy cars new ... except wealthy people with incomes over £25k or so.

ViolaLass

PasturesNew wrote: »

Bread is usually more expensive to make your own - people make their own so they "know what's gone into it" rather than being a price-based decision.

But if you're looking to bring your costs down while not wanting to buy the cheapest, making your own bread is one way. I'm not saying it's the only way but it is a good way to get 'nicer' forms of bread e.g. sourdough or seeded for less.

The OP doesn't sound like they need their only consideration to be price.

~Chameleon~

PasturesNew wrote: »

No, it was 2nd hand. I spent more than I'd like at the time as I needed a larger car to move my stuff around with me and I was expecting to cover large distances (200 miles) so needed a 'newish' car for personal safety .... so bought one 4 years old. But once this one dies I might even look at getting a scooter and hiring a car the 2-3x a year I actually need one.

Most of my cars in the past have been bought ropey and had the floor welded on each year to pass MoTs!

In reality, I suspect very few people buy cars new ... except wealthy people with incomes over £25k or so.

My misunderstanding then. I thought you'd said on a recent thread that you'd had your car from new. Perhaps I'm thinking of someone else.

atush

We spend abt 200 per week.

This is flexible for a family of 2-5 depending on who is home (less when 2 the full 200 when 5 and more at xmas). This includes maybe 4 beers and 6-7 bottles of wine per week. I cook fresh from scratch most times, but do buy high end meats at M&S, Tesco and local butcher/fish monger.

I feel that you may be wasting some of that fresh healthy food you are buying? As you are spending almost as much as we do for 2 and we as said buy alcohol on that spend.

You may also be buying nappies which can be quite expensive? I had twins and stockpiled them bogof in advance and still spent over 1K per year.

Ps we eat lobster once per month on that spend.

Speedster2

This thread is in the wrong part of the Forum, nothing to do with Savings & Investments! Actually there's very little to dislike about Aldi/Lidl food and products and a lot to LIKE! I use Lidl every week for fresh, frozen and chilled foods. Tinned tomatoes and pulses as well as jars of olives, s/dried tomatoes etc are all EXCELLENT! Just my 2p's-worth...

tronator

PasturesNew wrote: »

Bread is usually more expensive to make your own - people make their own so they "know what's gone into it" rather than being a price-based decision.

It doesn't become true because people keep repeating it. It is perfectly possible to make a 800g white loaf for ~50p. And you get a far superior bread compared to the cheap supermarket bread. Just google "chorleywood process"...

kinger101

I'd say at £540 a month for two plus baby, you're probably spending more than most, but it's not wildly excessive, as it's all rather subjective.

Does the total include other household spend? Washing powder, shampoo etc?

If you're eating well and can afford it, I wouldn't worry about it too much. If you want to reduce the amount you spend, there are options available, as some other have already suggested;

(a) Aldi, if not for all of you're shop, then some of it. I find some of the stuff here is horrible (coffee beans) but generally, its okay.
(b) Cut of meat/fish for a few days a week. Vegetarian is usually cheaper. Stuff like mushroom risotto (use dried porcini), aloo gobi or vegetable lasagna are cheap and tasty. Even beans on toast can be nice if you have it occasionally.
(c) Use cheaper cuts of meat. Often they taste better than the more expensive cuts anyway.
(d) Take packed lunches to work if you're not already doing so. If you have a microwave, sometimes you can just take in leftovers from the night before.
(e) Make excess of stews and soups and freeze. These things usually work out cheaper on scale.
(f) Shop just before the supermarket closes and pick up reduced stuff. Sometimes there are bargains to be had. Particularly if it's stuff that can be frozen.