Average weekly food spend

Rosa_Damascena

MandM90 said:

Ours is currently budgeted at £350 a month for a family of 4, including cleaning products and cats. So that's £80 a week and at least £15-20 is usually booze.  But we're vegan so cook with lots of lentils and beans which probably saves money, nearly everything from scratch usually. I've found my food costs rose quite a lot in the last year. Hard to tell what's inflation, what's due to lockdown and what's due to personal changes (having a baby and moving to Northern Ireland where food is a bit more pricey).
I think you could probably cut down from £60, especially if that doesn't include alcohol, but I wouldn't say it's outrageous.

What's the produce situation where you are atm? I heard that NI was running out of supplies of imported fresh foods due to Brexit red tape?

purpleivy

I was expecting omissions and subsitutions the last couple of weeks but not happened yet. In an ideal world we wouldn't be purchasing salads in the winter, but we do!  This week tomatoes were from Morocco, Spanish cucs, english onions, peppers from Spain and celery also.  Onions before Christmas were Dutch and Spanish. Chilean avocados.  I'm only going to get those every other week I think!  

The last time I took a note of all food purchases was when my dd was in 6th form. I was wanting to know how much we spent as a family before starting on what we might expect to budget for uni!  Daughter was vegetarian at that time, son 3 years younger.   I made all my own of a lot of things, as I had more time then.  Making stuff like tortillas and naan on top of regular bread for the family brought the costs down, own pastry etc etc.   My goal, usually attainable was £200/month, food only, no booze or household stuff, but I suspect that will have gone up a lot. Daughter was obliged to have lunch at school, son started in that school with lunches but really really preferred his own packed lunch. I engineered leftovers for him quite often. 

I think I should maybe have another go. Thanks for introducing the thread, it might just push me into doing it!

purpleivy

The question is..... how much would £200/month food pounds in 2006/7/8  be these days?

Frith

£30 per week for me and 2 children (who are both over 6 feet tall!)

That includes other groceries and cat food. 

maman

I'd say that your £60 is reasonable but could be less if you really want to save money. If you're not bothered then you're not being overly extravagant.

We probably spend a similar amount or a bit less but I choose to shop mainly in Aldi for better value.

Overall we have saved quite a bit since last March but that's because we usually eat out a fair bit and that's not been happening. Locally, we can spend the equivalent of a week's shop on a meal out. I'm fortunate in that I shop carefully from choice so that I can use my hard earned on what I choose rather than lining pockets of supermarkets that charge more because they can.

As others have posted, the answer to your question depends on what you want to achieve. 🤔

Rosa_Damascena

Frith said:

£30 per week for me and 2 children (who are both over 6 feet tall!)

That includes other groceries and cat food. 

I'm not sure if I should be impressed or call in SS? £10ph pw?!

PipneyJane

purpleivy said:

The question is..... how much would £200/month food pounds in 2006/7/8  be these days?

According to the CPI calculator, £200 in 2008 is worth £268.61 today, @purpleivy.

- Pip

Greenqueen_2

£ 30  is tight but doable if you are adaptable and clever.  We are 3 adults who spend about £45 per week but that includes alcohol and meat or fish every day.  It helps that we have access to both Aldi, Lidl and Morrisons with the ability to visit at yellow sticker time!

maman

Greenqueen_2 said:

£ 30  is tight but doable if you are adaptable and clever.  We are 3 adults who spend about £45 per week but that includes alcohol and meat or fish every day.  It helps that we have access to both Aldi, Lidl and Morrisons with the ability to visit at yellow sticker time!

I like that idea but where do you find enough left from your £45 for food?😉

Greenqueen_2

To be fair, only 2 of us actually drink alcohol. We will get a four pack of lager and a bottle of inexpensive wine per week. (Approx £7-8 in total).
We cannot afford best steak but buy cheaper cuts of meat, use fruits and veg that are in season and buy the best value quantities of foods. Nothing gets wasted. The freezer is well used and we rotate the menu to enjoy fish 3 times a week, chicken twice and meat twice. Totally vegetarian meals do not appeal to my men!