How Much For Shopping A Week?

mumzyof2

Ive tried meal palnning it doesnt work for us but i always buy meat from tesco that is reduced as its going out of date (but still looks fresh) and i freeze it. I usually buy cheap food and from jan 1st im only buying food that is on sale, reduced, or b.o.g.o.f
what you think? Ive set myself £150 food budget from now till 31st..but my mum bought xmas food so dont think il spend that much im going to be keeping all reciepts so i can figure out a shoppin budget for january
hows that sound?

Pink.

mumzyof2 wrote: »

Ive tried meal palnning it doesnt work for us

Why doesn't meal planning doesn't work for you? Is it that you're unable to plan ahead what you want to eat? I'm not being funny, just genuinely interested and trying to help.

Pink

mumzyof2

i not too sure really, i think last time we did a meal plan i made a lost of everything in freezer/fridge/cupbards and i did a meal plan..and what prob is with me we stuck with it for few days and then we would be out shopping around dinner one day so we missed dinner etc. I don plan ahead on anything i do..i dont decide where im going for the day till i get up lol i dont plan my tea meal till i wake up either n look in freezr although i do not go out and buy a chicken because i fancy chicken i do use whats in the freezer. I buy all my meat at once in monthly shop and like now its all gone because its nearly xmas and xmas food needs to fit in freezer...and we are now eating junk food (pizzas, chips etc) stuff i would very rarely eat.
Hope that helps

skintas_2

im gonna do a shope tomorrow and gonna get everything to try and last till first week in january, till kids go back to school. i buy long life milkas you said it saves goin to corner shops. i have a small freezer so i can freeze everything only thig im not gonna get is the fruit and vegetables.gonna stock pile, so ican be lazy and not leave the house for days at a time. also i cant leave the house cos i have no money......anyway good luck. im looking at spending £150 on everything to do with xmas..........

computerwoman

I find that £80 a fortnight for myself and DS is enough...I get loads of veg and store it in the bottom of the fridge...I get all my meat from tesco but I find that the value meat isn't any different from the dearer meat...I don't buy pop...bad for the teeth...but I do buy 1 2litre of fresh orange...once it's gone it's gone...I buy 6pt's fresh milk and 14 UHT milk...and that usually does us...I buy alot of thing's when they are on bogof or multi-buys like oxo cubes at the moment they are 2 for a £1 so I have got 8 packet's I tend to buy alot of stuff in bulk as it last longer and it's about once a couple of months thing...I also save £2.50 a week and go to Lidl once a month with a tenner and get cheap tinned stuff for when I am not up to cooking but most days I cook something fresh...am going to do a stew soon for tomorrow which will be for lunch with rolls then dinner with dumplings....all from out the fridge...although veg does go along way...:D

mumzyof2

computerwoman wrote: »

I find that £80 a fortnight for myself and DS is enough...I get loads of veg and store it in the bottom of the fridge...I get all my meat from tesco but I find that the value meat isn't any different from the dearer meat...I don't buy pop...bad for the teeth...but I do buy 1 2litre of fresh orange...once it's gone it's gone...I buy 6pt's fresh milk and 14 UHT milk...and that usually does us...I buy alot of thing's when they are on bogof or multi-buys like oxo cubes at the moment they are 2 for a £1 so I have got 8 packet's I tend to buy alot of stuff in bulk as it last longer and it's about once a couple of months thing...I also save £2.50 a week and go to Lidl once a month with a tenner and get cheap tinned stuff for when I am not up to cooking but most days I cook something fresh...am going to do a stew soon for tomorrow which will be for lunch with rolls then dinner with dumplings....all from out the fridge...although veg does go along way...:D

Your going to make a stew soon???? are u crazy?? Its 1.43am!! LOLLOL

computerwoman

mumzyof2 wrote: »

Your going to make a stew soon???? are u crazy?? Its 1.43am!! LOLLOL

it's on now smells lovely and it save's putting the heating on...lol...:rotfl:also I have been in bed all day not to well so I need to make something else my DS will think we are on a diet of fresh air...lol..:rotfl:

Penny-Pincher!!

I would start by making a list of all food items you have in then building meals with what you already have which will save you wasting money on food that you already have and use stock that needs using up.

From this list you can mealplan.

There are 2 adults and 1 teenager here and we spend about £30-£35 a week including all cleaning materials etc after using vouchers/codes or coupons.

What type of meals do you like? We eat things like:

Roasts
Curries
Shepherds Pie
Stews
Toad In hole
Sausage Cassarole
Chops
Fish Pie
Spagbol
Cheesy Pie

You will probaby find that you have most ingredients to some of the meals and just buy what you need to make the mea complete.

HTH

PP
xx

Kaz2904

What did you decide to do for tea tonight then mumzy?

smitty2702

Hi

If you cant meal plan strictly (I can't as OH does wierd shifts at short notice) why not do what I do and plan about 4/5 meals a week, not to have on a specific night just so you have the ingredients. Make sure you have pasta / pizza's in for the other nights so you can throw something together. The lovely people on here are always great if you have some stuff in your cupboards and no inspiration too!

I also find batch cooking can help save money as you can often buy larger quantities of meat cheaper. Its also great if you are feeling a bit low or know you will be short on time when you get home, just take out of the freezer in the morning and bung in the oven when you get home.

I need to address our familys snacking habit as that seems to cost as much as the meals!!

Smitty