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AIBU?

...to ask how much you spend on groceries per month?

189 replies

glitterglitters · 23/03/2017 14:01

For me, dh and dd (toddler) I get and spend £150 for groceries. Dh also bulk buys chicken from wholesaler every couple of months at about £15 pm.

When I talk to people about this they think it's stingy, too little, utterly crazy?

OP posts:
MrsELM21 · 23/03/2017 14:02

We spend about £80.00 per week for me, DH & DC 5 & 3

IamFriedSpam · 23/03/2017 14:02

Shock I spend more like £400 it was £350 when it was just DH, toddler and I. I'm impressed that you manage to get it that cheap!

glitterglitters · 23/03/2017 14:05

I do a lot of bulk shopping at wholesaler, cook from scratch a lot (but not in a crazy obsessive way). I still shop at Sainsbury's and get treats like lamb etc on occasion. We eat lots of veg and stuff but all our meals contain meat (dh gets sniffy if there's no meat 😂).

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ThePants999 · 23/03/2017 14:05

£350-450.

Porpoiselife · 23/03/2017 14:05

I spend £240 per month. There's 5 of us including 2 teens. That figure also includes household stuff like loo roll, washing powder etc. I cook most days from scratch though so I don't buy many pre-made or pre packaged goods.

HermioneJeanGranger · 23/03/2017 14:05

About £200 a month for two adults and two cats, including toiletries and cleaning products. We could do it for less if we had to.

Everythingsr0sie · 23/03/2017 14:06

We spend about £700 for 2 adults and 3 children.

That does include alcohol and cleaning products and I know I could cut it back a lot if necessary.

When it was the 2 of us and a toddler I would have said about £75 a week, although that was 11 years ago.

Factorysettings · 23/03/2017 14:06

About £400 a month, not including school dinners. Two adults and three children.

glitterglitters · 23/03/2017 14:08

Hmmm this is interesting. We're expecting dc2 and I don't think dh realised that the food bills will increase. We don't really drink or anything but I'm a bit worried that my frugality has shot me in the foot now 🙊

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Moanyoldcow · 23/03/2017 14:09

My budget is £150 a week and we do sometimes go over if we're being stupid but if properly planning my meals this is the right about. I'm me, DH and 4YO so same as you.

I buy lots of branded stuff, lots of fresh vegetables and we cook from scratch most of the time.

The people who say they spend £80 a week for a family of four are who I want to be.

I must say, we switched to Lidl for a while and then topped up with whatever was unavailable from Sainsbury's and that saved about £40 a week but I just can't get the time and headspace for a weekly Lidl trip even though I thought most of the food quality was excellent.

Moanyoldcow · 23/03/2017 14:10

£150 per MONTH? Sorry, I just read that properly! OMG - you need to tell us how and what you eat! I'm embarrassed by my pp now Blush

shirleycartersaidso · 23/03/2017 14:13

Wow I spend £90-£120 a week when being careful. Cook from scratch, meal plan. Can't really bulk buy as no space for storage.

Guess it depends if that's what you need to spend?

glitterglitters · 23/03/2017 14:14

Lol @Moanyoldcow I've got a heavily stocked herb and spice cupboard, a chest freezer filled with vegetables that can be added to bulk out food etc. We get about 45 portions of free range chicken from a wholesaler every few months. I have a good store of tinned food. Basically lots of "fall back" meals. I only shop online and shop with recipes planned.

OP posts:
glitterglitters · 23/03/2017 14:15

I do think the chest freezer makes all the difference. We have another two normal freezers too and two fridges.

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donajimena · 23/03/2017 14:15

£40 per week for 2 teens and 1.5 adults (partner doesn't live with me)
I've switched from sainsbos to farmfoods and aldi. This doesn't include toiletries or cleaning stuff though as I get this free through my job. It does include loo rolls.

StandAndBeCounted · 23/03/2017 14:18

Try Aldi Moany I used to do same as you. Lidl with a Tesco top up, but switched to Aldi and found it was cheaper than Lidl and I could also get everything I needed

Even at Aldi though I spend about £100 per week, but we have me, DH and 4DC aged 1-8. I cook from scratch mostly too the odd takeaway aside

OP we're gonna need you to write us down everything you buy for the month and a full inventory of everything you eat!

FrizzBombDelight · 23/03/2017 14:20

I'm trying to stay to £400pm for just me and my partner but often it's closer to £600 Blush I thought £400 was being really thrifty!

glitterglitters · 23/03/2017 14:21

I'm impressed @StandAndBeCounted that's brilliant for a household that big. One big thing is I splurge on things like butter tomatoes etc otherwise if I buy cheaper ones they don't get eaten. Dd has always eaten what we've eaten as well which is a BIG help. I'm not adverse to bulk buying fishfingers etc Also I cook a lot of Jamie Oliver recipes substituting things like pancetta for bacon etc. The portion sizes are humongous and a meal for four usually does us for two nights!

OP posts:
Falafelings · 23/03/2017 14:23

3 adults 3 kids. 400 per month.

We eat really healthily, cook from scratch, make every meal including packed lunches.

FrizzBombDelight · 23/03/2017 14:25

I'd live to see your shopping list too! At the minute we are saving nothing-that needs to change asap!!!!

FrizzBombDelight · 23/03/2017 14:25

*love not live

glitterglitters · 23/03/2017 14:29

I'll see what I can do. I usually do one "big" shop every other month (freezer filling, herb stock ups etc) and then alternate with a run to Costco for dry goods etc. We don't eat a lot of crisps, chocolate etc either. Dh's dad is a baker so we get free bread (that definitely helps!)

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Bloggybollocks · 23/03/2017 14:29

2 adults, 2 kids, averages £500 per month.

jcne · 23/03/2017 14:38

We budget 200 for each me and bf. We are usually way under in the supermarket but way over anyway as we eat out instead Grin

I'm here on my own quite a lot and probably spend less than 40, even less than 25 a week. We should pay closer attention though.

Baby arrives in 5 weeks so this will all change!

Degasinacar · 23/03/2017 14:43

160 a month for two adults a 9 year old and a cat. I shop very similarly to you OP.

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