July 2021 Grocery Challenge

FluffyBabyPenguin

• Family of 5: Larger families of 5 (two adults and 3 younger children) spend around £121 on the weekly shop and another £63 on food prepared out, bringing the total average food bill for a family of 5 to £183.

That post was indeed interesting, and I feel a little better knowing that the "average" is £183! I reckon we could easily spend that in a week, counting a takeaway, occasional meal out, buying snacks out and about, plus kids' dinner money in school.

I've just made husband some sandwiches and chocolate "protein balls" for his lunch tomorrow so that should save him a fiver at least. The protein balls were made from ingredients that were in the cupboard already, and they really fill him up and give him energy to get through the long workday, and they work out a fraction of the price that local shops sell similar balls at.

pamsdish

FluffyBabyPenguin said:

I've just made husband some sandwiches and chocolate "protein balls" for his lunch tomorrow so that should save him a fiver at least. The protein balls were made from ingredients that were in the cupboard already, and they really fill him up and give him energy to get through the long workday, and they work out a fraction of the price that local shops sell similar balls at.

Would be interested in the recipe for the protein balls please @FluffyBabyPenguin

MissRikkiC

FluffyBabyPenguin said:

• Family of 5: Larger families of 5 (two adults and 3 younger children) spend around £121 on the weekly shop and another £63 on food prepared out, bringing the total average food bill for a family of 5 to £183.

That post was indeed interesting, and I feel a little better knowing that the "average" is £183! I reckon we could easily spend that in a week, counting a takeaway, occasional meal out, buying snacks out and about, plus kids' dinner money in school.

I've just made husband some sandwiches and chocolate "protein balls" for his lunch tomorrow so that should save him a fiver at least. The protein balls were made from ingredients that were in the cupboard already, and they really fill him up and give him energy to get through the long workday, and they work out a fraction of the price that local shops sell similar balls at.

Id be interested in the recipe for these also since my husband now has negative associations with anything snack and protein related unless its meat!

MissRikkiC

So from this on 29th June (which actually was up to date as of 25th June) "£142.33/£230 gone already leaving £87.67 for the month! Goodness me!" - 

As of 05th July, we have a grand total left of £68.63 (exc bulk) however ive only used a touch from there anyway to take the cost of half the pies hub bought (Apparently the best in the country and made by his friends mum so how could i say no!) so happy to just count the food bill.

Including the other half of the pies (@£12..... we did get 10) there has only been 1 shop of £6.95 which was a YS haul on fresh stuff at the C0op last night so i am pretty smug right now! 

Chicken Rogan Josh for dinner tonight which i usually LOVE but since it was chicken (cooked by ones self.....) which made me ill at the weekend i am still feeling a bit delicate about the idea of eating it again so soon... *GULPS*

Sallyp2

FluffyBabyPenguin said:

• Family of 5: Larger families of 5 (two adults and 3 younger children) spend around £121 on the weekly shop and another £63 on food prepared out, bringing the total average food bill for a family of 5 to £183.

That post was indeed interesting, and I feel a little better knowing that the "average" is £183! I reckon we could easily spend that in a week, counting a takeaway, occasional meal out, buying snacks out and about, plus kids' dinner money in school.

Glad you found it useful - I certainly did. It makes you feel a bit better about what your spending as an average. If I can get my spending to the average I would be happy.

Suffolk_lass

Sallyp2 said:

FluffyBabyPenguin said:

• Family of 5: Larger families of 5 (two adults and 3 younger children) spend around £121 on the weekly shop and another £63 on food prepared out, bringing the total average food bill for a family of 5 to £183.

That post was indeed interesting, and I feel a little better knowing that the "average" is £183! I reckon we could easily spend that in a week, counting a takeaway, occasional meal out, buying snacks out and about, plus kids' dinner money in school.

Glad you found it useful - I certainly did. It makes you feel a bit better about what your spending as an average. If I can get my spending to the average I would be happy.

@Sallyp2 Your signature suggests you are below the average already. Going by your signature, you are spending an average of £118.22 per week across the ten weeks you have covered (by your signature). 

One of the long-standing pieces of advice on here is to reduce your budget by small amounts after beginning by measuring what you are spending. If you followed the established wisdom you could aim for £100-£110 a week and make significant savings towards tour £350 per month goal over the next month or two.  If the target is too far away it may demoralise you (of course that assumes you don't have a smug filter that means that you treat yourself if you reach your target, iyswim)

Sallyp2

Suffolk_lass said:

Sallyp2 said:

FluffyBabyPenguin said:

• Family of 5: Larger families of 5 (two adults and 3 younger children) spend around £121 on the weekly shop and another £63 on food prepared out, bringing the total average food bill for a family of 5 to £183.

That post was indeed interesting, and I feel a little better knowing that the "average" is £183! I reckon we could easily spend that in a week, counting a takeaway, occasional meal out, buying snacks out and about, plus kids' dinner money in school.

Glad you found it useful - I certainly did. It makes you feel a bit better about what your spending as an average. If I can get my spending to the average I would be happy.

@Sallyp2 Your signature suggests you are below the average already. Going by your signature, you are spending an average of £118.22 per week across the ten weeks you have covered (by your signature). 

One of the long-standing pieces of advice on here is to reduce your budget by small amounts after beginning by measuring what you are spending. If you followed the established wisdom you could aim for £100-£110 a week and make significant savings towards tour £350 per month goal over the next month or two.  If the target is too far away it may demoralise you (of course that assumes you don't have a smug filter that means that you treat yourself if you reach your target, iyswim)

Thanks for the advice but I am not a family of 5 

FluffyBabyPenguin

Protein Balls recipe

This isn't my recipe, i just found it somewhere on the internet and it has worked quite well for us! 

100g peanut butter (or other nut butter)
100g honey
100g dessicated coconut
25g sesame seeds (other seeds may work too)
24g cocoa powder (+ extra for dusting if desired)

Combine the peanut butter and honey in a small saucepan, melt over a low heat (or microwave in a suitable bowl).
Mix the coconut, seeds and cocoa powder together in a bowl, add the peanut/honey mixture.
Stir well to combine.
Roll into balls (I aim for about 10 balls), roll in cocoa powder if desired, refrigerate until firm.

They should easily keep a week in the fridge, if not longer. Alternatively you can use cashew butter, almond butter, a mix of different ones etc, I have used both crunchy and smooth peanut butter, whatever is cheap/on hand. Same for seeds, use what you like or use up what you have. Next time I might try swapping out a tablespoon of honey for a tablespoon of Nutella for extra yummy flavour.

I calculated the protein total for the batch, it came to 60g protein so if you make 10 that's 6g per ball (if you're counting!) I worked out the cost per batch at around £1 using ingredients from Lidl. 

Enjoy!


@MissRikkiC my OH is a meat-lover too, we have a food dehydrator so sometimes we make beef jerky from those "housekeeper joints" in the supermarket, for him to take to work. Takes a bit longer to do than the protein balls but might be more satisfying for the carnivores!


Although the average family of 5 may spend £180-ish per week on food, it would not work out financially for us to actually do so. That's half of husband's weekly wage, so I'd prefer to keep it closer to £100 per week if we can. Come October we'll be a family of 6, so any savings made now will make things easier for us then.

pamsdish

£6.58 In Morr1e$, got 3 y.s. steak&kidney pies for the freezer, 1 charged full price although clearly marked, usually scan my receipt before leaving the store, but was messaging my friend who I was shopping with.

wheelygreat

Hi I would like to join this challenge. 

What is a sensible budget for family of 5. 2 adults and 3 teenage kids?  At the moment we are all over the place with budgeting. We have been spending about £900 per month all in the one supermarket.  Feels like there is never anything to make/eat. Is there any help or tips? It seems we waste an awful lot of money and throw out lots of food each week as well.

thanks.