Official Average Food Shopping Cost

singingsister

Hi guys,

We are re-doing our budget and I'm trying to find an official cost of what the government say you should be spending maximum on grocery shopping.

I can find various costs from lots of different websites but I'm after an amount that would be used by officials say at the council/benefits office.
Does anyone know if this exists and how to find it?

Thanks In Advance.

PRAISETHESUN

Something like this? https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/family-food-201718/family-food-201718

Speedbird676

singingsister said:

Hi guys,

We are re-doing our budget and I'm trying to find an official cost of what the government say you should be spending maximum on grocery shopping.

I can find various costs from lots of different websites but I'm after an amount that would be used by officials say at the council/benefits office.
Does anyone know if this exists and how to find it?

Thanks In Advance.

I'm not sure the government should be dictating the maximum one spends on groceries 

Highland76

singingsister said:

Hi guys,

We are re-doing our budget and I'm trying to find an official cost of what the government say you should be spending maximum on grocery shopping.

I can find various costs from lots of different websites but I'm after an amount that would be used by officials say at the council/benefits office.
Does anyone know if this exists and how to find it?

Thanks In Advance.

You honestly need someone to tell you how much food you should be buying? Seriously?

Black_Cat2

I think peeps spend according to their income.  As speedbird says the govt should have no input lol

The_Green_Hornet

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation publishes an annual Minimum Income Standard report which suggests what different family types spend. The 2020 report states that a Single adult of working age spends £51.17 on food, a Couple pensioner £75.53, a Lone parent, two children aged 2-4, and primary school age £81.74 and Couple, two children aged 2-4, and primary school age £112.39.

Details can be found on their website.

D3xt3r5L4b

singingsister said:

Hi guys,

We are re-doing our budget and I'm trying to find an official cost of what the government say you should be spending maximum on grocery shopping.

I can find various costs from lots of different websites but I'm after an amount that would be used by officials say at the council/benefits office.
Does anyone know if this exists and how to find it?

Thanks In Advance.

Spend according within your own means

Eco_Miser

Speedbird676 said:

I'm not sure the government should be dictating the maximum one spends on groceries 

Black_Cat2 said:

I think peeps spend according to their income.  As speedbird says the govt should have no input lol

If the government is providing the income, of course it should have input on what proportion of it is spent on food.

If the government isn't paying their estimate is still a good guide on what is reasonable.

D3xt3r5L4b said:

Spend according within your own means

It's easy to spend within your means then find out years later that you should have been diverting some of those means to cover future spending.

Having an official estimate of what people in your position should be spending is a great help in setting a budget.

Black_Cat2

If you're income is say £100 per week and after you've spent out on essential bills, say £60 per week and you're left with £40 then in my eyes it's up to them whether they spend all of it on groceries or not.  If the govt is providing the income (i.e benefits) I get the impression that every last penny is spent on groceries/living so nothing will be left over anyway. 

It would be wise to keep some saved back for other future essentials ofc but not everyone is in that position.  In my experience peeps do tend to live by their means 🐈

John_

singingsister said:

Hi guys,

We are re-doing our budget and I'm trying to find an official cost of what the government say you should be spending maximum on grocery shopping.

I can find various costs from lots of different websites but I'm after an amount that would be used by officials say at the council/benefits office.
Does anyone know if this exists and how to find it?

Thanks In Advance.

The government in the UK doesn’t tell people how much they can spend, on anything. If you are earning £1m per year, and decide to spend £20k per week on caviar and Champagne, then that’s up to you.

John_

Eco_Miser said:

Speedbird676 said:

I'm not sure the government should be dictating the maximum one spends on groceries 

Black_Cat2 said:

I think peeps spend according to their income.  As speedbird says the govt should have no input lol

If the government is providing the income, of course it should have input on what proportion of it is spent on food.

If the government isn't paying their estimate is still a good guide on what is reasonable.

D3xt3r5L4b said:

Spend according within your own means

It's easy to spend within your means then find out years later that you should have been diverting some of those means to cover future spending.

Having an official estimate of what people in your position should be spending is a great help in setting a budget.

The government is not your parents, or guardian, so no, they don’t do this.

I’m assuming that you are pretty young, and just looking to work out how much life will cost when you leave home, and people on here will be able to give you some great advice, directions, and tips, but the government don’t.