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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Food is not expensive

320 replies

ragandbonewoman · 12/07/2025 18:26

That is it really. I suppose I’m curious as to whether people agree or disagree with me. This follows a conversation I’ve just had with a friend where we disagreed on this point, but it’s something I’ve really noticed as things (life, not just food) have become more expensive. Lots and lots of people complaining that food is “so expensive” We are actually in the fortunate position of being able to spend less than the majority of the rest of the world (relative to our income) to follow a healthy diet.

Yes food has gone up. But (and I admit this is an anecdotal observation) food waste is prolific. I think we need to change our outlook. We should be prepared to pay more, especially for meat, to ensure that suppliers, farmers, animal welfare, are all getting a fair deal. I’ve always found it ridiculous that you can buy a whole chicken for £5! How?! And then people readily admit they throw half of it away.

Is this unreasonable? Food is important. People on the absolute breadline might have little choice, but for those that can take a little slack from elsewhere, they should. And stop complaining that you can’t get a tin of beans for 9p anymore! Stop throwing food in the bin because you feel like eating something else. Or AIBU?

OP posts:
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SumUp · 12/07/2025 20:28

Food is cheap relative to the amount of effort it takes to produce it.

R0seberry · 12/07/2025 20:27

SilverHammer · 12/07/2025 20:24

8 fruit and veg? Since when? It’s always been five.

Exactly

www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/how-to-eat-a-balanced-diet/eating-a-balanced-diet/

SwearyYellowStartish · 12/07/2025 20:26

Food is cheap in the UK. It’s the only one of my expenses that is cheap. It’s gone up, there has definitely been food inflation, but it’s still cheap.

SilverHammer · 12/07/2025 20:24

Brokenforsummer · 12/07/2025 18:29

How many people are you shopping for? Are you have your daily 8 veg and fruit, 3 portions of calcium and weekly 30 different whole foods, fish twice a week and one of which is oily?

Food can be cheap but a good diet isn’t cheap. Especially if you have my children’s tastes!

8 fruit and veg? Since when? It’s always been five.

ArticWillow · 12/07/2025 20:21

I agree, basic food isn't expensive. I can feed 3-4 adults on £80 - £100 p/w - that's nice fresh ingredients, including some organic things!
But to benefit from the good quality & nutritious cheap food you need 2 things: time & cooking skills. The 3rd is, beeing prepared to have 4-6 veggie or vegan days/ week, because decent meat is very expensive.

BountifulPantry · 12/07/2025 20:15

Runnersandtoms · 12/07/2025 20:11

Aldi extra large chicken is £5.50. It feeds us 2 adults 2 teens a roast dinner plus,enough meat for a curry or stir fry.

But I spend easily £100+ a week on food for 5 of us (one veggie) even though I shop carefully so I do find food expensive.

Only 2 meals???

You’re letting us down there. Surely one chicken can last a family the whole week?!

Hedjwitch · 12/07/2025 20:13

Ginger is only pennies for a decent sized chunk. Learn to read pricing labels!

Runnersandtoms · 12/07/2025 20:11

Aldi extra large chicken is £5.50. It feeds us 2 adults 2 teens a roast dinner plus,enough meat for a curry or stir fry.

But I spend easily £100+ a week on food for 5 of us (one veggie) even though I shop carefully so I do find food expensive.

Runnersandtoms · 12/07/2025 20:11

AgnesX · 12/07/2025 19:06

Where do you shop? I've never seen a chicken that's a fiver. I do think that you have to meal plan and stick to it.

It's all the incidentals that are expensive though, washing powder/pods, cleaning materials and loo roll.

Aldi extra large chicken is £5.50. It feeds us 2 adults 2 teens a roast dinner plus,enough meat for a curry or stir fry.

But I spend easily £100+ a week on food for 5 of us (one veggie) even though I shop carefully so I do find food expensive.

vyvyanne · 12/07/2025 20:07

I agree with you OP. In the 50s and 60s food was approximately 33% of your income. Now it's 10 to 15%. Food is much cheaper now in relation to income than it's ever been.

StMarie4me · 12/07/2025 20:01

Just how stupid are you?

WhatTheHelll · 12/07/2025 19:58

It’s definitely gone up but I don’t feel it’s too bad. Prices seem to have settled.

Luckyingame · 12/07/2025 19:55

No, you are not offensive by starting this thread.
We are all different.
I don't shop in Waitrose, neither do I earn 6 figures, but myself and my husband are fortunate and don't have to check the prices.
He does it more out of principle. Whole chicken for five pounds doesn't seem expensive to me.
No kids by choice, income through property portfolio.

Zanzara · 12/07/2025 19:52

MissAmbrosia · 12/07/2025 19:13

Food is very cheap in UK compared to Europe

It depends which parts of Europe you mean. As someone who lives half the year in the UK and half in Spain, I'm taken aback every time by the prices in British supermarkets. The UK is generally very expensive, with high energy and property costs feeding into so many areas of life.

MyUmberSeal · 12/07/2025 19:51

Snorlaxo · 12/07/2025 19:51

@reversegear It’s £5.50 per kg

🤣😂

Snorlaxo · 12/07/2025 19:51

@reversegear It’s £5.50 per kg

Food is not expensive
Goody2ShoesAndTheFilthyBeast · 12/07/2025 19:50

It can be cheap.
Tesco

Own brand pasta 500g 41p
Tin of tomatoes 45p
Own brand cornflakes 88p
Pack of 6 apples 69p
Loaf of bread 55p
Etc etc
If you get the cheapest of everything and dont have a varied diet you can eat for very little. If thats all someone can afford then that's what they have to do.

ScrambledEggs12 · 12/07/2025 19:49

reversegear · 12/07/2025 18:59

Seriously I just put a piece of ginger down in Sainsbury’s today £5.50.. when did ginger become a luxury item? We have reverted to freezer food here, chopped ginger.

Some pre packed sliced chicken is £5 a whole chicken is less. It is about making adjustments but I think is going a bit crazy when Tesco are reporting huge profits.

The last piece of ginger I bought was 16p in Tesco....

Lilyhatesjaz · 12/07/2025 19:44

Before covid I used to spend £80-£90 per week for 4 adults. I am now spending £130 most weeks and that is for 3 adults. I think prices have gone up massively.

Migrainesandme · 12/07/2025 19:41

I dont feel the pinch like others do but i am single and no children to worry over.

Everydayimhuffling · 12/07/2025 19:36

The thing with food is that it's a similar amount per person to do a grocery shop no matter how much you earn. Obviously more if you only shop in Waitrose or M&S, but the baseline is fairly similar. So food has gone up but wages haven't, which means it's a big percentage of some people's expenses with no real way for most people to cut it. I can cut out takeaways and eating out, but I can't much cut the groceries.

Ponoka7 · 12/07/2025 19:34

shirtyshirt · 12/07/2025 19:27

Me and my friends often talk about how we could do a simple shop on our family allowance (now child benefit)

It used to be universal back then didn't it?

Yes, but we could also feed ourselves on it. Now we couldn't. Things have changed for the worse, even shopping in the Heron etc.

LadyKenya · 12/07/2025 19:33

ragandbonewoman · 12/07/2025 19:15

I spend £500 a month, sometimes more but generally around that. DH and I earn £4K a month between us. I think it’s a fair percentage of our salary for quality food. Food is important, I want to pay what’s fair so everyone in that chain gets a fair deal. I’m not perfect, I can’t afford free range meat, but try to only eat meat twice a week, and will never throw any meat leftovers away

I raised an eyebrow when reading that you cannot afford free range meat, on your combined wages per month. Did you mean to say, that you don't prioritise buying free range meat?

Ponoka7 · 12/07/2025 19:30

"This obviously doesn't mean that everyone in the UK can afford food, but it does mean that on average over 90% of expenditure is on non-food items (housing, cars, etc.), so most people can afford to eat - and eat well - if they choose to."

So cheaper housing is available? The Local housing allowance hasn't plunged people into poverty? We have good public transport so cars are a choice? People can't afford food because there are other pressing essentials.

Tiredofwhataboutery · 12/07/2025 19:29

I think food feels expensive in comparison to what it was 4 pints of milk was £1 now £1.50 ish, I used to get 750g lean mince for £5 now it’s £7 something. My wage has gone up by pennies so I have to work longer / harder comparatively.

It is still cheap in comparison to lots of countries, how we can pay someone to grow, clean, sort and bag 1.5 kilos of carrots and sell at a profit for 70p a bag amazes me.