Page 12 | £800 pm on groceries for a family

popsickle555 · 2025-08-23T16:13:49+00:00

recently had a conversation with my DM (lighthearted) but I explained our weekly shop is now around £200 for a family of 2 adults and two teenage children during summer school holidays. She said she thought me ‘overspending’. Anyway here’s what we spend: £150 ish weekly shop (has to be weekly during the holidays as they eat so much) £50 on top up shops fruit and veg and occasional extras eg wash powder and such things. This also includes cat food (1 cat on cheap food). this includes lunches for me and DH (wfh) and also packed lunch stuff for DC’s who have been on a drama camp. AIBU to think it’s actually quite hard to eat reasonably well (I do cook most days and I am buying decent ish ingredients but also plenty of ‘basic’ range options) for less than this sort of price now for 4 full portion people eating 3 meals a day? We hardly ever eat out unless on holiday. For reference my DM hardly eats a lot now she’s older and when she does it’s really simple and generally quite boring stuff eg omelette, jacket potato etc. My DH and DCs needs more protein than that as are all very active. I just came away feeling like I’m wasting money but genuinely can’t see how I can do it for much less without really scrimping on ingredients and protein.

cumbriaisbest · 23/08/2025 21:03

Sorry @GleisZwei , I can cook pretty well. And coming from a Nothern heritage, I can do a casserole. That's my point! It's tasty and can be cheap but it starts to taste the same.

DrPrunesqualer · 23/08/2025 21:02

Miriabelle · 23/08/2025 20:09

Statistics are not blanket statements, and you can see clearly in the data the skew towards older age groups. Everyone you know might have voted against Brexit; but many people clearly voted for. The vote wouldn’t have gone the way it did if only younger age groups had voted.

Pretending that we can’t talk about it is all a bit odd. MN has tons of threads like this with everyone bemoaning how expensive food and everything else has become, as if we don’t know exactly why that’s happened. It isn’t like it’s suddenly happening for no reason at all. Pretending that for some reason it’s “hateful” to notice that it was a deliberate choice by many voters to do this is very strange indeed.

Don’t you think it’s important that the people food inflation is hitting hardest are those with families? How do we stop it from getting worse? There are no economic indicators on the horizon that things are going to get any better, and all likelihood that things will get much worse.

Are we all supposed to sit here like frogs boiling in a pot, saying “gosh, it’s all got a bit hot recently, hasn’t it?”, but being chided for being “hateful” if we want to talk about why and how it got so warm, and how we could turn the heater off? Perhaps voters would make better choices next time if they were loudly confronted with the consequences of their votes.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/520954/brexit-votes-by-age/

https://www.statista.com/statistics/567922/brexit-votes-by-gender/

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I’m aware of the stats and I agree how they sit but no one should make statements that it’s all older people.
Now if a statement said demographically older people voted for Brexit then that’s different. But sweeping statements fuel hate and discrimination

Lilactimes · 23/08/2025 21:01

It sounds reasonable to me. Good quality food costs and you’re all at home/on school hols.
It’s not up to anyone else you know irl what you spend. If that’s your priority then spend it, eat well and enjoy xx

Original poster

popsickle555 · 23/08/2025 21:01

mentallyilltotallychill · 23/08/2025 20:55

YANBU.

could it be cheaper? Maybe….. (not sure how though with prices like they are, bulk buying meats and freeze the meat If you have a friend with a cosco card get them to get it and pay them only thing i can think of) But like you said you're cooking most days and its not cheap. You’re probably cooking a variety of meals too which is way better for them than the same meal for a week.

BUT teenagers eat you out of house and home especially in the summer holidays. They eat more anyway, coming downstairs like “omg whos in the house!” Looks like a grown man but its just a kid in a dressing gown eating a massive bowl of cereal at 1am in a dimly lit kitchen😅 and when they grow they ask for more “i need steaks to hit my goals” “i need x type of yogurt”.

Especially with the protein needs and costs! Tbh id live on jacket potatoes etc because i cant be bothered to cook if its just me. But kids dont work like that, they need the variety, for nutrition and so they dont get bored and put off, and youre doing that💖

it sounds like you are shopping for your family meeting all their needs nutritionally and taking into account they're growing. Lunch wise, if not doing so already, for you and DH, left overs? And just pack out the dinners a bit. Like id make bolognaise with lentils as well as the meat and it goes further so theres lunch for 2 adults the day after. Lentils can pack out most things if cooking with mince😅

budget wise i think youre probably bang on, you could be spending wayyyy more.

You’re doing fab keeping your families nutritional needs at the forefront front of your mind💖.

Thank you! Lolz at the ‘who is in my house’ when it’s a teen having cereal!

yes i do cook a good variety and everyone is happy with my cooking so I suppose that’s a good way to think about it.

OP posts:

GleisZwei · 23/08/2025 20:59

cumbriaisbest · 23/08/2025 20:40

Texture! Everything starts to look and taste the same. I made a casserole to day and binned it. Sorry Mea Culpa. It smelt bad and tasted bad.

Economy tastes bad. Where are the seasonal, local fresh things?

Casseroles can taste lovely if properly made - they can also be served alongside fresh ingredients.

Original poster

popsickle555 · 23/08/2025 20:58

EnglishGirlApproximately · 23/08/2025 20:19

We're two adults and a teen and spend about 600 so that sounds about right. We don't eat meat every day but we do eat well - lots of fruit, (loads of berries which need their own budget!), I like good quality but butters and use a fair bit, nuts and seeds, greek yoghurt, proper butter, olive oil etc. I'll always have a 'just in case' pack of fish fingers in and I don't bake bread as I just don't have time, but I'd say 90% of what we eat is decent quality, fresh food.
I could get it down to £400 if I had to but we enjoy good food and at the moment can afford it.
Even a one bag top up is £60 at the moment!

Yes, berries are expensive aren’t they! DH is on a restrictive diet which involves huge amounts of yoghurt and berries and has found the cheapest way is buying in bulk frozen. Fresh is extortionate. We also go berry picking locally and freeze them but obviously they don’t last long, And the same with apples, in the freezer for crumbles etc.

OP posts:

icallshade · 23/08/2025 20:56

£150 a week here, 2 adults (DP is 6ft6 and a regular gym-goer), a 3 year old who eats almost as much as me and a 9 month old who eats 3 meals a day (and literally as much as an average 3 year old 😳).
Big majority of our spend is meat and fresh fruit, the children go through thousands of berries a week!
Can totally see us spending £200+ when DC are teens 😭😅

mentallyilltotallychill · 23/08/2025 20:55

YANBU.

could it be cheaper? Maybe….. (not sure how though with prices like they are, bulk buying meats and freeze the meat If you have a friend with a cosco card get them to get it and pay them only thing i can think of) But like you said you're cooking most days and its not cheap. You’re probably cooking a variety of meals too which is way better for them than the same meal for a week.

BUT teenagers eat you out of house and home especially in the summer holidays. They eat more anyway, coming downstairs like “omg whos in the house!” Looks like a grown man but its just a kid in a dressing gown eating a massive bowl of cereal at 1am in a dimly lit kitchen😅 and when they grow they ask for more “i need steaks to hit my goals” “i need x type of yogurt”.

Especially with the protein needs and costs! Tbh id live on jacket potatoes etc because i cant be bothered to cook if its just me. But kids dont work like that, they need the variety, for nutrition and so they dont get bored and put off, and youre doing that💖

it sounds like you are shopping for your family meeting all their needs nutritionally and taking into account they're growing. Lunch wise, if not doing so already, for you and DH, left overs? And just pack out the dinners a bit. Like id make bolognaise with lentils as well as the meat and it goes further so theres lunch for 2 adults the day after. Lentils can pack out most things if cooking with mince😅

budget wise i think youre probably bang on, you could be spending wayyyy more.

You’re doing fab keeping your families nutritional needs at the forefront front of your mind💖.

Spies · 23/08/2025 20:51

Duechristmas · 23/08/2025 20:45

I'm spending £120 a week, not £200

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Yes but that's approximately £40 per person compared to the OPs £50 and if you had one extra person like the OP you'd be spending £160. So very similar to the OPs pricing. Unless you also have a partner at home that you didn't include?

Chickenbone123 · 23/08/2025 20:51

popsickle555 · 23/08/2025 20:10

Please share your plan somewhere - we all need it! I can imagine it’s taken a lot of hard work but clearly it can be done!

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I never have a week the same. I posted up thread some tips.

Download cherrypick app and do a trial. Basic is free but I find it so useful I pay for pro. I think that’s just under 100 for the year but it saved me that in the first week.

Yes it was a real headache to begin with and I just couldn’t crack it. But the app saved me a lot of the legwork and freed up time to then focus on each expensive thing.

It’s linked to Sainsbury’s so that is more expensive. But what’s good about the big stores is you can still buy singles. So buy the number of carrots you need rather than a whole bag in Aldi. If things aren’t cheap in sainsburys; like sauces and crisps. Make a list for those and buy the dupes when you do the Aldi sundries shop.

You can do it! And you will be so impressed.

idontknowhowtodreamyourdreams · 23/08/2025 20:49

Sounds pretty standard!

We are 2 adults, 1 teen and 2 X younger kids. I would say that on average we spend £150 per week in the school hols, including washing powder and fabric conditioner.

I do keep it down my buying chicken thighs instead of breasts etc and lots of own brand/basic range (pasta, rice). I also plan well in advance and reduce the amount of meat I use in, say, a spag bol by bulking it up with extra veg.

But food just is really fucking expensive!

TimeForATerf · 23/08/2025 20:48

I spend £100 a week without top ups for two adults and two cats, DH works away all week and I don’t feed him Monday to Friday. We do eat very well though, lots of high quality food, have a chest freezer and house hold freezer full to the brim.

i could spend a hell of a lot less and still eat healthily, but I like to put into the basket whatever I fancy.

Duechristmas · 23/08/2025 20:45

Spies · 23/08/2025 18:58

How can it be steep if you're spending not much less per person?

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I'm spending £120 a week, not £200

CharlotteCChapel · 23/08/2025 20:44

We pay around £80 to £100 occasionally more on our weekly Tesco delivery and probably £50 on a top up at Lidl. That's for 3 adults, one ,me, has a small appetite. The others eat much bigger meals but no snacks.

Pibrea · 23/08/2025 20:40

We spend about 150 per week for two adults! It sounds like your family eats very healthily, you’re doing a great job.

cumbriaisbest · 23/08/2025 20:40

Texture! Everything starts to look and taste the same. I made a casserole to day and binned it. Sorry Mea Culpa. It smelt bad and tasted bad.

Economy tastes bad. Where are the seasonal, local fresh things?

Ontobetterthings · 23/08/2025 20:40

We spend a lot too but swapped over to Iceland deliveries. Finding it a lot cheaper.

DryAndBalmy · 23/08/2025 20:38

You are doing really well as you are doing. Well done.

Pay no attention - she’s massively out of touch with the cost of food/ living and the realities of trying to feed healthy, young, active people (and a cat!) and the costs of running a busy home. I bet your machine is on loads for than hers, for example. That’s much more laundry liquid, isn’t it. More washing up liquid/ dishwasher tablets, more bin liners, more cleaning fluids etc etc.

Ignore the comment. Your households’ needs are incomparible.

Sharptonguedwoman · 23/08/2025 20:31

Beachtastic · 23/08/2025 20:28

Cats are mad, though! I used to buy mine all sorts of "treats" and she would turn up her pretty little nose, but put down the cheapest ASDA "tuna for cats" and she would purr "I know quality when I see it..." 😍

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So true. I fell victim to a large pack of frozen cat food on special offer. One sachet eaten and the cat won't touch the rest. Meh. I have given it away now to someone with a more sensible cat.

Sharptonguedwoman · 23/08/2025 20:30

Sodastreamin · 23/08/2025 18:00

£800pm is ridiculous and I’m someone who really likes good quality food.

How, please? We are a family of 2 and I reckon it costs for everything, probably about £90 pw. Some cat food, toiletries, wine. We do eat meat. DD takes packed lunches which are predominantly fruit and salad with some protein.

Yes, I could give up wine but life is too short.

Beachtastic · 23/08/2025 20:28

ToKittyornottoKitty · 23/08/2025 17:20

I think that sounds fairly normal now food has gone up so much. Why does the cat have to eat cheap crap though? Are you really struggling financially?

Cats are mad, though! I used to buy mine all sorts of "treats" and she would turn up her pretty little nose, but put down the cheapest ASDA "tuna for cats" and she would purr "I know quality when I see it..." 😍

herbetta · 23/08/2025 20:26

popsickle555 · 23/08/2025 17:40

That is cheap, but we don’t drink either and I’m also cooking from scratch 95% of the time. We also bake own bread (although do buy that too).

I don’t batch cook because I’m already cooking big amounts for DH and DCs but I could and I could bulk out meat with more veg eg chilli etc. And happy to eat more veggie - please share any tips and recipes you do that are cheap because £385 a month seems super cheap.

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We spend £160 on all food etc (not pets) a month for 2 adults who are very active - we eat well & healthily.

We shop seasonally, eat mainly veggie but still prioritise protein. I buy meat when reduced & freeze and buy what we use a lot of on offer. I know my prices / do my research and meal plan and batch cook.

Will make at least double of everything and bulk out stews / mince dishes with lentils, oats, veg, beans etc.

We're just finishing last year's blackberries and I have picked tonnes again to freeze. Also grow a little fruit & veg and take the neighbours gluts when offered.

We also use all the apps / deals / points / coupons (we both have the apps to maximise), take advantage of employee discount schemes and regularly use Farmfoods & Home Bargains. Mainly shop in Sainsbury's & Lidl.

UpUpAwayz · 23/08/2025 20:25

QueenofallIsee · 23/08/2025 18:14

5 adults here + 11yr old who is with us 50% of the time. I do one big £350/400 shop at the start of the month to refill freezer, store cupboard, cereals etc and then we top up at around £75/80 per week. My lot are all snackers, have packed lunches for work and are in and out at different times due to work patterns. I could reduce it down but I don’t - everyone being fed and enjoying their food is high on my list of priorities. My family looking forward to their favourite meal gives me joy. You aren’t struggling you say, the price of food you enjoy is what it is, we are all in the same boat. I am grateful I can afford to feed my family when lots can’t

Can you tell me more about this approach? It sounds like good value actually for that number of people. Do you manage to get all meat and fresh dairy and fruit and veg for £80 a week? Or is some of that in the big shop?

missrabbit1990 · 23/08/2025 20:19

Chickenbone123 · 23/08/2025 19:16

Part of it is getting economies of scale on the expensive stuff. Like Olive oils, pepper. I buy bulk of that and decant it.

Part of it was being super strict with the meal planning and avoid top up shops. Like I literally cannot walk into Sainsbury’s without spending £40 even if I just went in for milk.

I have cherrypick pro so it’s a meal planning tool and rationalises your ingredients. I I do click and collect once a week so save on delivery and do not enter store. There are good recipes on there and you can tweak them also. With pro you can add your own recipes so I have found lots in Jamie’s 5 ingredients, Rukminis traybake books. Searching online in cheap recipes.

The trick is really to roll over when you’re planning. So if recipe A has chicken, cream and mushrooms then you want recipe b to have a few of these to use up extra and get economies of scale. Getting clever with lunches and actually cooking. So those spare mushrooms and cream, add a bit of Parmesan, nutmeg and a small of white wine and that’s an incredible mushroom on toast.

Herbs bought in pots rather than cut. I only use half and then put it in a regrow area and cycle a few around. Garlic/ ginger etc all adds up. Have frozen for garlic and onion. Also garlic paste, or ginger paste. The Asian and Indian brands are cheap than home brand if you go to the exotic aisles. Same for coconut milks.

Also cheaper cuts of meat. So pork loin, bacon instead of pancetta, if buying beef it has to go the extra so brisket in ragus which can be frozen or in a stew which can be turned into a pie next day. Mince dishes usually freezable so even if it’s a cup full it’s good for a kids meal. Chicken whole or boned (so unboned thighs or legs) - not without risk as I ate a chicken bone last week hence the name 😂 Fish cheaper option species (although none of it’s that cheap these days). Thick Cooked ham offcuts also super cheap to make into pies. Sausage is cheap.

Get the clothes liquid, toilet roll and household bits and bobs in Lidl or Aldi. Buy washing liquid buy the pouch rather than plastic bottles. Bought 100 micro clothes from Amazon so now never buy wipes. Bought 10L vats of white vinegar. Buy some more technical household bits from home bargains (like limescale remover, specialist cleaning stuff, whitening powders etc.). So there is some investing required for that part.

The only thing I haven’t figured out is coffee pods. I tried cheap ones. Nasty. There is a reusable metal pod you fill yourself but haven’t tried it.

Hope that helps! Defo try a cherrypick trial and play around with it until you can get a week which works.

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Thank you! I’ll try this!

DH has finally agreed to have some meat free dinners so I’m hoping with that, and some changes similar to yours, we can bring it down quite a lot!

And your mushrooms on toast recipe sounds fantastic.

EnglishGirlApproximately · 23/08/2025 20:19

We're two adults and a teen and spend about 600 so that sounds about right. We don't eat meat every day but we do eat well - lots of fruit, (loads of berries which need their own budget!), I like good quality but butters and use a fair bit, nuts and seeds, greek yoghurt, proper butter, olive oil etc. I'll always have a 'just in case' pack of fish fingers in and I don't bake bread as I just don't have time, but I'd say 90% of what we eat is decent quality, fresh food.
I could get it down to £400 if I had to but we enjoy good food and at the moment can afford it.
Even a one bag top up is £60 at the moment!