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Food shopping - how much is too much?

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Hi, my family comprises of two adults, two children and two cats. I'm vegan, my wife is vegetarian (and on slimming world) and my children eat both meat and veg. I'm just wondering really if we are spending too much on shopping every week? Currently we spend £100 a week. I would love to cut this down if possible as my wife is going back to uni soon and money will be tight!

How much do you all spend on groceries and is it possible to spend less?

Thanks in advance

J
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Comments

  • dlusman
    dlusman Posts: 2,711 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts I've been Money Tipped!
    It is possible to feed yourself for a lot less - using lots of yellow stickers / reduced stuff . Personally I frequently buy a couple of weeks worth of food for myself for less than £5
    It all depends how much time and effort you want to put in to saving money.

    I would say that £100 a week for 4 people + a cat is close to average
  • VfM4meplse
    VfM4meplse Posts: 34,269 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker I've been Money Tipped!
    OP, you'll find a lot has already been posted about this on the OS board.
    Value-for-money-for-me-puhleeze!

    "No man is worth, crawling on the earth"- adapted from Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio

    Hope is not a strategy :D...A child is for life, not just 18 years....Don't get me started on the NHS, because you won't win...I love chaz-ing!
  • redfox
    redfox Posts: 15,336 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    we move threads if we think they’ll get more help elsewhere (please read the forum rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com"]forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].
  • System
    System Posts: 178,330 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    I can easily spend £100 a week on three adults and two small dogs. I try and aim for a total of £80 though.
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • caronc
    caronc Posts: 8,516 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I suppose it boils down to if you can afford it it's not excessive and you'll know if you waste stuff. If you need to trim things financially yes you could reduce it quite a bit - it's the old cutting your cloth etc. A good first step would be look at what you buy and what (if any waste) you have, if there are lots of treats and "branded", pre-prepared, convenience or high end supermarket stuff that could be a good starting point to trim and prioritise. For me I'll happily go cheaper with lots of things but it has to be Kenco instant decaff and Hellman's mayo so I'll compromise so I can have these. Good luck
  • I'm a vegetarian and spend about £10 per week on my food. However I cook everything from scratch and have a pretty basic, unexciting diet - I am an unexciting person so this suits me fine but won't be right for everyone. I imagine part of the expense for your family could be making different things for different people?

    My tips to start off with would be to consider giving Aldi or Lidl a try if you're shopping at one of the others or if not try going down a level brandwise - so if you're buying brands like Heinz try the own brand versions and see if you like them.

    There are lots of recipes on the 'Grocery Challenge' threads (at the top of this forum) which might give you some ideas. I've found my slow cooker helps - ideal for stews and making my own soups which are both cheap and can be left to cook all day which is ideal if you're busy.
  • Linda32
    Linda32 Posts: 4,385 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    It all depends on what that money goes on.

    Is that just food or is there alcohol in that for instance? do you take packed lunches? How old are you children. Makes a difference if they are age 2 / 3 or teenage boys.

    As you said you would like to cut it down and that is probably possible but to give an answer, is there any chance you could post an average shopping list and then we will be able to spot something that you haven't.
  • I allocate £350 a month for 2 adults and 2 kids age 5 & 10. This amount is for food & tolietries & alcohol & cleaning stuff but I'm monitoring this at the moment. January we spend £320 and so far in deb its £200. We do eat meat and make some meals from scratch but other meals for quickness like be cod etc.

    I go shopping to a big supermarket 1 week and then go to Iceland the next week and lidel the following week and back ti the supermarket. I note the price of certain things and if too dear then i go to another shop where cheaper for one item. We do not waste much food so happy with our food price but try to get reduced stuff to put in freezer for the following weeks dinner. I have lists of the stuff in our 2 freezers and work through this for dinnertimes. Good luck.
  • VfM4meplse
    VfM4meplse Posts: 34,269 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker I've been Money Tipped!
    *Margaret* wrote: »
    I'm a vegetarian and spend about £10 per week on my food.
    Me too! Recently have been spending closer to £10 than £15 pw (day 19 and I have spent less than £18 on food so far this month), barely cook and what has been cooked stays in the fridge for a couple of days before being binned. I cannot imagine fending for a family.
    Value-for-money-for-me-puhleeze!

    "No man is worth, crawling on the earth"- adapted from Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio

    Hope is not a strategy :D...A child is for life, not just 18 years....Don't get me started on the NHS, because you won't win...I love chaz-ing!
  • tallyhoh
    tallyhoh Posts: 2,307 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    2 of us & I spent £190 last month including a lot of wine. I also run a soup kitchen once a week for 35/40 people.
    Tallyhoh! Stopped Smoking October 2000. Saved £29382.50 so far!
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