Food Budget

mary1201

Hi everyone.

Just wondered what you think a realistic food budget for one and one child (age 5) should be per month. I currently allow £200 purely for food shopping (incl washing powder etc) but am hopefully looking to cut this down.

Is it feasible?

Thanks in advance.

gems2381

Go look on the Old Style board they are brilliant with things like this

newlywed

My budget for groceries (including loo paper, washing powder etc) is £200 a month - although I'm usually over.

That's for 2 adults and 2 step-kids who stay 3 days a week (including the whole weekend).

Definitely should be able to reduce your budget.

Do you plan meals? This helps reduce the amount of food you throw away

MRSMCAWBER

Hi there Mary1201

I gave myself a challenge of feeding me and hubby on 80euro - about £60 for 4 weeks.... just to see if i could...and i came in under budget so its now become a permenant thing, and the rest of the house keeping is going to be saved :T .. and we are eating very well, hubby is a soldier, so he likes his food , im currently losing weight eating OS style as i too like my food...too much:p

Your circumstances are obviously different to mine..a lot of food is cheaper here and you have a little one, who has different dietry needs etc.... but as someone else suggested if you take a look on the Old Stlye board you will get so much help and many ideas....

I would think that you would be easily able to feed you both for £100 a month without going without, or feeling deprived... be warned it becomes addictive:rotfl:

Good luck, and i hope to "see" you on the old style board...

mary1201

Thanks for the replies everyone. Gosh you really think I could come in at about £100?? Wow I hope so, gonna really try hard.

Im shifting this thread over to 'Old Style' to see if the folks over there have got any good tips.

Cheers.

newlywed

mary1201 wrote: »

Im shifting this thread over to 'Old Style' to see if the folks over there have got any good tips.

There will be loads of good tips. There's even a storecupboard thread where you can list what you have in your cupboards and ask what meals they think you could stretch it to

Primrose

Check out http://www.madaboutbargains.co.uk/offers/Off_Your_Trolley.htm which will give you all the cheap bargains in your chosen supermarket, so you can plan some meals around BOGOFS (Buy one, get one free).
Home made soups are a meal in themselves, and wherever possible, do batch cooking and save one portion for the freezer, which will also save on fuel.

angie_baby

Hi,

I too have a five year old, who is on packed lunches, you can def do it for £100 a month as thats our budget.

Agree with the others the OS Board is great, tips on everything. I used to spend a fortune in Mr T's, but have found we actully eat better on a smaller budget!

I was even thinking of joining the £60 challenge for the two months before christmas.

Good Luck, and remember to meal plan.


Angie,

faerie_girl

For two adults (& three cats) we spend approx £70-£100 per month which includes toiletries and £20 of cat food and litter

We often buy lots of store cuboard stuff and the cat food at the begining of the month when we are paid. we buy the fresh stuff when we need it through out the month. If it gets desperate we end up with beans on toast for a few days till we get paid again.

nomoneytoday

We work off £250 a month for 2 people and 2 cats
This includes toothpaste, soap & shampoo etc as well as food.

It was £400+ but we plan meals a week in advance, so still eat "good food" rather than value stuff but hardly waste anything.

If you imagine there are 4 levels of food

Finest
Branded i.e. Heinz
Supermarket own brand
Value range

Usually you can go down 1 level without too much hardship

Good luck

rodsbaby

am i just being stupid - but where is old style board?