Food prices gone up or am I missing a trick?

skintmum2012

Hi everyone I have been of having a huge blow out of money over the summer totally come of the wagon. I am trying to climb back up now small steps. Anyway last Winter I was getting my shopping for 5 of us 2 adults and 3 children for £50 a week. I managed to spent £78 this week. Wondering what everyone one else with a similar sized family spends? I am wondering if I am missing something? Thank you everyone.

moneyistooshorttomention

I don't think you are missing a trick at all. They are and usually by stealth as far as I can see. That being those shrinking pack sizes. It just struck me the other day, for instance, that the concentrated fruit juice bottles I buy have a size difference whereby the bottle has gone down from 500 ml size to 400 ml size, but the price is about the same as it was. This is an "ethical" brand of food sold pretty much only in independent "ethical" shops (not big brand stuff sold in supermarkets).

...and yet they have pulled the same stunt. I did feel a bit "What? (shock)" about that.

HappyMJ

£78 for 5 is very good. Maybe you just happened to restock some monthly items all at once. Add in the shower gels, razors, 20 pack of toilet rolls, a large box of laundry powder, some dishwasher tablets, a 10kg bag of basmati rice and you'll ruin the budget in one week and have nothing really to show for it.

Horace

The price of food has definitely gone up - I only get JSA and by the time I have paid my bills there isn't much left over for food. I have to be careful with what I buy but there are days when I don't eat as I should.

honeythewitch

The biggest price hikes are the basic ranges that have often quadrupled in price. It is all well and good telling people to downsize brands but if you are at rock bottom already there is nowhere to go.

Spendless

How old are the children? If last winter one was a baby and the other an early adolescent, and now they are a toddler and a teen I wouldn't be surprised by the difference in what you're spending.

[Deleted User]

I think prices are creeping slowly back up again as a previous poster says even the basic stuff is going up in price.If we tighen our belts mich more they will cut us in half I think.I think folk are a lot more careful when shopping now and tend to buy what's needed rather than just piling up the trolley as they used to I have stopped going to get a big shop now and only buy when stuff has run out or its a neccessity and I live on my own .How families manage I just don't know My youngest DD has four permanantly hollow-legged boys and she spend a huge amount on shopping.She cooks every night for the boys and her OH.Luckily the boys will eat almost anything and top up with crusty bread

good_advice

The cost of any shopping is going up.
I write a small list of things we need and stick to the list. I only get other food shopping if it is YS.

Have branded down and buy shops own or value more.

We grow some fruit and veg in the back garden.

Make dinners go that bit further. If the dinner I cook like tonight - cottage pie for 4 people it will now serve 4. I made in x2 dishes and one is going in the freezer. Gone are the days of letting Mr Good Advice have a second large helping.

Times are changing

smeeth

It's not just you, the prices are definitely going up.. again.

sugarpuss27

Agree that prices are on the rise, spend half my time researching before I go shopping, I now check the price per gm or litre or equivilant to make sure I'm getting the best deal. Some of the sm offers are not the best buys at all. It's a constant battle to outsmart them.

pigpen

This is why I shop using mysupermarket.. it gives cheaper alternatives to the stuff I add to my trolley.. and savings where ossible or more for the same money offers/options are always a good idea.. there are some things I draw the line at.. value toilet paper for one.. it used to be ok but it is (excuse pun) crap now!

My summer holiday spending included 2 birthdays and I was way way over budget.. thankfully I had a bit of a buffer to fall back on as I knew it was coming and what the impact would be.. I did spend £3 on average per person per day.. in previous months my shopping averaged at 55p per person per day.. I also had to restock dishwasher tablets, cat food, loo rolls.. and due to birthdays there were a lot of treat type stuff for parties.. this month is being reined right back in.. ask me again in early October to work out my monthly total.. it will be a huge amount less!