£800 pm on groceries for a family

You spend less than £100 a week including household bits, do you mind sharing a rough weekly breakdown because even with not eating meat or drinking that seems insanely cheap.

2 adults, 2 teens (boys), 1 cat.
Probably more like 150-180 on the weekly shop (including alcohol and cleaning stuff), but less on top ups - literally £5 of bread and milk unless DH goes, then there is £20 of sushi added
So, I'd say if you are eating well, it's probably about right. We could cut the alcohol or meat bill (or sushi!) if needed

Do you have teens? They are eating machines in our house and eat insane amounts.

I went to M&S this week after my friend told me about the deals they have on - I’d always thought it was very expensive but the deals on were great and got some other of their basic items - no more than tesco and amazing quality

Seems totally normal to me OP. I also have a teen who never stops eating. She’s out of touch.

We’re around the same (not even including Dd’s school lunches which are around £40 a week). Used to be able to get exactly the same monthly shop for £600 a month about five to six years ago. Now it’s easily £800+.

The difference? Food price inflation, largely caused by Brexit, partly by the war in Ukraine, and partly just from profiteering by food importers/commodity speculators/big supermarkets.

Well, nobody expected the war in Ukraine six years ago; but we can blame all the Tory / Brexit voters for the rest — they were all told very clearly that Brexit would lead to food price inflation and they chose to ignore it. Similarly: if you vote Tory for fourteen years you get food treated as a commodity for profiteering by speculators, producers, supermarkets and food conglomerates. These are just the consequences of the British public’s voting choices coming home to roost.

we spend similar. 2 adults and 2 teens. We rarely eat out. cook fresh most days. Take packed lunch/leftovers and aim to eat healthy and fresh. I don't see how you can do it on much less.

I think it’s normal. We are at least that and there’s just the two of us and 2 big dogs. We don’t eat out much. But we enjoy cooking and always buy quality food. Good food has massively increased in price lately. We even make our own dog food and they regularly have steak, fresh salmon, fresh chicken. We could spend less if we didn’t spoil the dogs and us, but we don’t want to.

I would only be concerned if you couldn’t afford it. If you can, ignore what others say.

The days of a family eating for £300-400 per month are long gone. I spend £1-1.5k per month on groceries (food only). Not possible to get cheaper. Well, it is but I choose to buy higher quality produce so I’m faced with the financial hardship it entails….

We spend the same - if not slightly more.
Dh and I and 2 older dds.
Dd2 is vegetarian.
Dd1 likes steak 😃
I buy lots of fresh fruit and salad which is £££
But the shop includes cleaning products and occasional toiletries.

Oh that includes toiletries and household stuff too. Except my face cream and stuff I get from boots.

Totally normally here too (I probably spend more). Your mum is out of touch. I find I get similar comments from my inlaws - food, gas and electricity, water bill etc. Meanwhile they're sitting on a very nice pension (multiple) in a massive house they bought for 190 and is now 2.5x that amount now, installed air pump, triple glazing, house insulated with top notch stuff! Yeah, its really frustrating.

We spend around that, two adults, two kids. I’ve made peace with it as I want to eat fresh, good quality food, a large variety of fruits and vegetables, almost zero UPFs, and as ethical meat as possible, and that will cost.

That sound pretty accurate to me. I’ve just done a Sainsbury’s online shop for us, it was approx £185. Were two adults, one 19 year old daughter but also cat and dog food in that. Also cleaning products etc. Food shopping has shot up.

Just checked my bank and I’ve spent £365 on Asda / tesco deliveries in last month , plus a few bits corner shop. Maybe £20. So about £385 for 2 adults and 2 children.

that was school holidays as well so kids eating a lot at home.

We don’t drink, don’t eat meat or fish and cook from scratch every day (which is exhausting).

I spend close to that for 2 adults and two cats.

Yup. 2 adults, 1 teen, 1 child and 1 dog easily spending £1K on supermarket shopping per month.

We’re probably around £900-£950 a month, 3 adults, 2 teens (15&17).

I’d also like to see the m&s shopping list!

ah we had this with MIL telling us for years she spent £50 a week to feed three adults.

What she forgot was how often they 'popped out' for milk, or picked up some ssusages from the butchers, or had lunch while they were out. If you're doing healthy meals for a budget you can afford then it doesn't really matter what she thinks!

Do please share your M&S shopping list or receipt where you can get 20 portions of meat, 4 portions of fish, 28 breakfasts and 28 lunches and all fruit and vegetables, and drinks for 4 people for a week for 120-130. It will help the OP immensely (and others, I suspect). Does that include household items such as toilet paper, cleaning products?

We're two adults and three teens and though I try, I can't get through a month without giving around £1000 to tesco's. It used to be about £600. Prices and appetites have gone up.