How much money for food? 14 November 2018 at 11:12AM in MoneySaving mums 6 replies 3.1K views

louloulouisa

Hi

I want my 15 year old daughter to respect money more! She wants an array of different foods for breakfasts, lunches and dinners, and always moans! :mad: I was thinking about giving her a budget so she could learn about money! and budget her own shopping!

I have M.E and a son with special needs, and am exhausted! so this would help me and her!

How much would you say was a good amount?

It's a difficult one as I cook a family meal from scratch each night, and she refuses to eat the family meal sometimes, so ideally I need a separate option for if she doesn't have dinner with us!

(she can earn separate spending money by doing chores)

Thanks!

Mrs_Soup

As she is 15 unless you are cooking things you know she loathes then I would just keep a few store cupboard staples in (eg pasta and something) and let her cook her own alternative if she won't eat what you are cooking.

Savvy_Sue

Mrs_Soup wrote: »

As she is 15 unless you are cooking things you know she loathes then I would just keep a few store cupboard staples in (eg pasta and something) and let her cook her own alternative if she won't eat what you are cooking.

And clear up afterwards ...

But this is about more than food. Worth a conversation, I'd have thought, or several, about what she likes to eat, and how much effort she's prepared to put into helping you provide it. Can she help you menu plan? And help shop? And then help cook? And clear up (did I already say that?)

louloulouisa

Thanks for your replies

sunny intervals - no I don't think so, we make sure she gets regular 1-1 time, and family fun time, I think she's just at a horrible age!

Mrs Soup - yep I let her cook alternatives but feel like I need a budget for her to pick from

Savvy_Sue - thanks, I made a list of all the things she likes, and she done a menu plan, but I still feel like I need a budget for her to stick too

moneyistooshorttomention

Two thoughts - many people seem to reckon around £25 per person per week.

On the other hand - I believe the amount bankrupts are deemed to be allowed for food comes to £35 per person per week (which is probably round about what I'm spending personally as a single person). On the one hand I don't eat meat or fish and I grow what fruit/vegetables I can for myself and, on the other hand, I only drink real coffee and I buy everything organic as far as possible.

humptydumptybits

I wanted to teach mine about money and what I did was I worked out how much I was prepared to give them for pocket money then I added enough for the cheapest school meal (no drinks or puds) then I paid that into a bank account for them monthly. I had bread, butter and cheese or ham or something in the fridge, usually crisps in the cupboard and squash. If they got up early and made themselves a lunch they kept the money, if they wanted school lunch, pudding and a drink they had to use some pocket money.


They soon worked out strategies e.g. make a sandwich and buy a pudding and they had a profit. If they got up late then no profit for them and maybe a loss if they wanted a pudding or drink.


When that was working well I worked out what I spent on clothes for them in a year, except uniform, divided by 12 and added that. By the time they were 16 they had savings and were really good at working out a budget.


I do think however you do it it is a very worthwhile thing to teach them the realities of money.

dawyldthing

I’d say £30 but show them ways of making it stretch like visiting home bargains etc as £30 can be enough. Plus you’ll teach her valuable life skills as if she wants a posh version one day she’ll have to cut back another. Same with puddings and fruit, all to be budgeted for. Will help for going to uni too mind if they chose to as we all do it eventually