Aibu to spend 160 a week on food shopping

[user1484615313]

We're a family of 6.
2 adults 3 teens one toddler. Included in the shopping is baby wipes /nappies and toiletries. Is this too much ?

[MorrisZapp]

How could it possibly be too much? Are you unable to pay other bills?

[delilahbucket]

Can you afford to spend it? If so, it isn't unreasonable. If you can't, then YABU.

[AndNowItIsSeven]

Yes, what are you buying? We are a family of nine and recently the shopping bill has crept up to £90.

[upperlimit]

Too much?

Spend what you like, it's your money.

[Whatsforu]

Family of 9 and you spend 90 pounds!!! There are 4 of us and we are at least 90 per week. We do like our food.

[Allthewaves]

Family of 5. With 3 primary age. Dc have been diagnosed with dairy and wheat intolerance - cutting out has made a huge difference to their health BUT my food bill easily tops £100 plus a wk when it used to be £60

[Blumkin]

Surely it depends on what you can afford? If it's not placing a financial strain on your family then that's ok, if it is then cut back by shopping in cheaper places, eating more lentils, etc.

These threads always turn into a but of a bun fight, some people will view £150 as a ludicrously high amount and accuse you of stealth boasting, others will spend similar amounts...

[Fairylea]

We spend a lot on food. About £150-200 a week, that doesn't even include alcohol as we don't drink..! We are a family of 4 and just really enjoy food. We eat a lot of branded and finest stuff from Tesco just because we like it. We eat a lot of things like smoked salmon, steak and lots of fresh veg and fruit. We just really love good food, it's our one main pleasure! If you can afford it go for it. We've been at the other end of things and had a period of extremely low income (on income support) and managed on £50/60 a week because we had to and it was do able but if you don't have to then spend as much as you want.

[witsender]

How long is a piece of string surely?

[Untangled07]

How can anyone possibly answer this? It depends entirely on your financial circumstances and whether you and your partner are both happy with the amount you spend. There are certainly ways you could reduce your food bill if that's what you want.

[barefoofdoctor]

If you can afford it then no it isn't too much. I spend far more then I should on our supermarket shops but am a bit weird about what I eat and always stock up when something we will need is on offer. A high proportion of our income goes on (healthy/daft faddy) food, but we just do without other things. Reading (charity shop books), listening to the radio, gardening and hiking are entertainment and hobbies, no mobile phone contract/sky TV/takeaways/eating out. I've noticed several perpetually 'skint' (though with much higher income than me), friends spending repeatedly on lunch, coffees throughout the week (then pleading poverty and never repaying the odd drink I stand them). All relative. If it isn't a problem then crack on. Food is important!

[TrueSay]

Well I don't every week we are 2 adults and 2 young DC. I bought 120 nappies today- also big boxes of weetabix because they were on offer. £70 Aldi and £50 in Asda.

That's a high week for us.

That includes all our meat and veg. Plus we had my mum for 3 days.

DH has a heavily subsidised canteen at work so for 1.50 he can get like chicken salad - and tonnes of salad and superfoods with that - they actually have like an AA rosette chef!! Ridiculous. Anyway so he doesn't take lunch. Eldest eats one meal
At school so generally me and the toddler.

Have frozen some meat and fish from this shop for next week. Next week I'll spend about 50 I think.

But you spend what you need to spend!

[Peaceandharmony7]

If you can afford it then it's not too much but is it at a cost of not saving for pensions/kids futures etc?

I'm sure it's doable for a lot less.

[StressedMover]

I think £160 per week for a family of 6 including 3 teens is very good.

[StressedMover]

Look at it as £3.81 per person per day. That's food, toiletries and washing products!

[muckypup73]

Teens eat a hellof a lot, I am sure you can bring it down a bit if you wanted to, depending on where you shop.

[MacarenaFerreiro]

Spend what you like. Doesn't affect me in any way at all. If you want to cut it down you might be able to but if you can afford it, crack on.

[BewtySkoolDropowt]

£50 to £60 here for three adults (one of which is a teen adult). That includes cleaning stuff and cat food for two cats.

You could probably do it for less, but if you can afford it and you are happy with what you buy, then it's not a problem.

[Theresnonamesleft]

It depends if you can afford it.
If any of those teens are girls this will push up the toiletry bit a lot. Nearly broke me have 3 females in the house.

[user1484615313]

We can afford it atm. But would like to save a little more now. So wasn't sure if my spending is over the top or average for my size family.

[AndNowItIsSeven]

Whatsforu we only have two teens though, the younger five are 6,5,3,3,2.

[caffeinestream]

So long as you can afford it, spend what you like.

It's only "too much" if you're going without necessities in other areas, or unable to pay the bills.

[NoodleNinja]

Family of 5, I do one £60 shop for staples then £20-£30 a week in the butchers and probably £10-£20 a day on fresh food/slimming world things. It's a LOT when I think about it but there are definitely days when the kids are moaning there's nothing to eat. Although what they mean is there isn't any junk/convenience food, plenty of fresh/frozen though.

[PerspicaciaTick]

If you want to save a bit, then £160 should offer you plenty of scope to save some money. Set yourself a reasonable target of maybe £135 a week instead which will save your £100 a month or £1200 a year.
If you enjoy spending £160 a month more than you want whatever you are saving for then just carry on as usual.
What everyone else is spending and saving is a bit of a red herring.