Why is my food bill so big?

hieveryone

stephen77 wrote: »

Just post a list of what you bought last week.


At the moment I do not know if your list includes organic beef fillet or value beef mince.


Also if buying wine, the bill can crank up quickly.

Nope, do not buy the best organic food or veg etc.

No wine at all, intact, very very rarely any alcohol!

I am going to keep a spending diary for my food bill this month I think and try to really keep it down.

[Deleted User]

hieveryone wrote: »

Got tea for tonight (steak pie and veg) and some bits and pieces that were on offer - £28!!

"Some bits and pieces that were on offer", there's your answer. If you can't go into a supermarket for one meal without coming out with another £20 worth of impulse buys how do you expect to keep to a budget? You don't need our help, you just need to be honest with yourself. £28 when you just went in for one meal is ridiculous, that amount lasts me for 9 days.

Re special offers: It's not saving money to buy stuff you don't need. Nor is it saving money buying something for half price if it still costs more than the product you would have eaten otherwise.

caringa

I only buy once a week and always have done since we were married - nearly 40 years ago! I always make a list and stick to it. I know friends who pop out for this and that and on comparing our food bills, they spend twice as much. Worth a try!

Flat_Eric

I agree with jack_pott. Its the extras we buy that mean food budgets go pear shaped.

First off, I'd recommend meal planning. Base your meals on what you like and what you have in your fridge/freezer/cupboards. Then make a list for anything else that you need and either shop online and arrange to have this delivered or visit the shop and stick to your list religiously! My supermarket is worth using to "create your shopping list" because you can see which supermarket is cheaper for your shopping. Its also worth using if you do online food shopping as some items qualify for cashback!

I tend to comfort eat when my OH is away so money wasted on extras - puddings/chocolate etc - bad for my waistline and my pocket! I also tend to not feel like cooking so often will stop off on the way home and buy something superquick and easy to cook [eg pizza]. expensive really for what it is.

Anyhow, stick with frozen for your veg - so you can use just what you need. Try to batch cook at the weekend so you have something tasty to look forward to after your long day. I'm not a great cook but the web is a wonderful place for recipes and ideas (including this site).

I buy the very lazy chillis, garlic and ginger - so no waste. Just take out the jar what I need.

I'm not a fan of defrosting in the microwave either but take out 24 hours before and leave in fridge.

geordie_joe

jack_pott wrote: »

Re special offers: It's not saving money to buy stuff you don't need.

It's miserly to not buy stuff you want just to save money, if you can afford to spend that money.

jack_pott wrote: »

Nor is it saving money buying something for half price if it still costs more than the product you would have eaten otherwise.

Yes but what if the product you buy is far better, and something you can not normally afford at full price.

This site isn't about not spending money just to save it, it's about getting what you need or want at the best price.

Mojisola

hieveryone wrote: »

When I say I'm low on time, I am really low on time... I leave for work 7am and get home approx. 7pm, shattered every night.

Wouldn't it be easier to sit and home and do a shop on the computer than rush round the supermarket?

hieveryone

Thanks all,

I am definitely going to try and keep a real eye on things this month.

It's not that I can't afford it, it's that I don't want to afford this much, if that makes sense. I'm not about to go all value brands and be miserable eating my dinner.

I often don't take lunch to work and then go to the shop and spend £3-£4 per day on sandwiches/juice. £4 a day over 5 days at work is £20 quid a week/£80 a month just on the corner shop.

On this online shop I have bought extra carrots to make soup to take to work. Less money and less calories too.

Meant to add that the bill includes all cleaning products and 'house' stuff i.e bunch of flowers for the kitchen, air fresheners etc.

No pets or children...! They cost too much! ha!

hieveryone

Mojisola wrote: »

Wouldn't it be easier to sit and home and do a shop on the computer than rush round the supermarket?

I do that, what I meant was no time to cook the stuff I buy online :rotfl::rotfl:

Barny1979

One thing as we are getting towards winter, tinned soups are a lot better than they used to be and are much cheaper and filling than sandwiches at work if you haven't got time to make your own soup.

meer53

I shop once a week. At Aldi.

Myself and 2 kids (one is 27, the other a teenager !)

My total shop (i do Slimming World, so lots of fresh fruit, veg and meat) comes to about £55.

How do you manage to spend £500 a month ????