Average monthly spend?

tessie_bear

hi while i find it interesting to see what others spend i think it is important to know what it covers...i once had a work friend tell me she spent £10 a week on food as she was eating a £3 sandwich from the canteen...she looked at me as if i was mad when i pointed this out as she didnt consider the sarnie in her food budget...it was school lunch budget

we are a family of 4 with 2 kids not big but quite fussy eaters...covers all meals 7 packed lunches a week in an average week we dont eat out or buy coffees it also covers snacks and drinks taken to clubs and swimming pool

£ spent
jan....£92.29
feb...£109.17
mar....£194.37
apr...£320.93

hth

PenguinOfDeath

I've been keeping a proper track of every non bill outgoing from our joint account since the beginning of the year - spends divided into 'groceries' and 'other'.. Over the first 4months of this year we spent a smidge over £200 p/m on groceries for two adults, this is with a decently stocked cupboard; meals out, takeaways and most alcohol isnt included in this.

lottie3000

This is the area that I struggle mostly on, I like my food and enjoy cooking at home and planning but still can't manage to keep it under £400 for 3 of us and a dog. This budget doesn't include any eating out or takeaways which averages about 6 a month. Me and my husband take a decent packed lunch to work with sandwiches, nuts, crisps and fruit and then a quite well balanced evening meal (most of the time) My step son feeds himself at lunch with lunch money not included in this budget.

This seems excessive to me but I can't get it below £400

maman

Spider_In_The_Bath wrote: »

The problem with asking a sum for the average monthly spend is that it will vary so greatly.

Some people spend very little on food which I suspect is not achievable by most people. I live in a very rural area so I do not have the same access to many of the shops people use for cheaper items. Also, we both work so time for finding bargains by visiting several shops is limited. I may be able to buy apples cheaper at a different shop, but to have to do a fifty mile round trip to do so is not achievable.

As others have suggested meal planning to help save money is the key. I know that after a long week the last thing we want to do on a Friday evening is cook anything. So on Thursday evening we cook two meals and pop one in the fridge so all we have to do is heat it up the next day and there is minimal washing up too.

We also plan easy meals and more complicated meals each week. So on days when we pushed for time we cook one of the quick and easy meal (beans on toast, salad etc) and then cook the more complicated meals on other days, or at the weekends.

We spend about £65 a week on food for two adults. This includes all meals and treats like beer, some nice cheese and a few snacks. It might be a lot compared to some people, but it works out at about £4.60 a day per person and we eat a lot of fruit and veg. and waste no food at all.

I agree that it can depend on people's circumstances but your £65 is probably comparable with my £50 as mine doesn't include alcoholic drinks and I have access to a wider range of shops.


I'm convinced OP (???) is wasting food and so wasting money.

Smidster

It is difficult because it totally depends on who you are, where you live, the kind of food you like and your financial circumstances.

I currently live alone and get by on around £30 - £40 per week. At the moment I am very lucky in that I work near an excellent market and so can get good quality fruit & veg at super prices. I am also trying really hard to cut the amount of waste and I think it is very easy to buy too much when you are only 1 person.

I am petrified for the future though as the future of the market is not good and so the days of nice food for me will be over (It is very depressing when you think about the amount you spend on Apples increasing from £1.50 per week to about £5!)

It also depends on your income - if you can afford to spend that much and only want the very best ingredients then there is no problem. I tend to think that food is one area you shouldn't compromise as health is so important.

DPJames

Apples going from £1.50 to £5! What are you on about?

Smidster

DPJames wrote: »

Apples going from £1.50 to £5! What are you on about?

At the moment I can buy 10 good apples for £1 (So as I eat 2 per day = £1.50 for rounding sake)

In future if I want to buy the same kind of varieties (Pink Lady, Fuji, Russet or even Granny Smith) you are talking at least £2 per KG for a vastly inferior product.

[Deleted User]

maman wrote: »

I agree that it can depend on people's circumstances but your £65 is probably comparable with my £50 as mine doesn't include alcoholic drinks and I have access to a wider range of shops.


I'm convinced OP (???) is wasting food and so wasting money.

Hello,

I agree with you completely. It does not make sense to waste money and even worse to buy food and then just throw it away.

I suspect that our spending amount is similar per week. I am very lucky as my small, local market town has two butchers, fishmongers, two delis, a health food shop, bakers, greengrocers etc. so the food is very good quality, but there are no local cheaper discount shops.

DPJames

Where are you buying 10 Pinks for a pound!? They're about 50/60p each here!

Not over-dramatising the situation for effect are we?

[Deleted User]

DPJames wrote: »

Where are you buying 10 Pinks for a pound!? They're about 50/60p each here!

...?

They are a similar price near me too.

This is why I cannot understand how people manage to spend just £60.00 a month on food. That works out at about £2.00 a day for three meals. One Pink Lady apple and you would have just blown 1/4 of your food budget for the day!