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AIBU?

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Original poster

Aibu to be annoyed the food shop disappears so quickly

510 replies

toadstool32 · 07/09/2025 12:09

It drives me insane. Food shop arrives and within a day most cupboard snacks / fruit has been eaten. I’ve spoken to everyone on numerous occasions about making things last. Family of 5 plus a dog, spending anywhere between £100-£130 a week. How do you make things last?! (Obviously not fresh stuff with dates but the constant snacking).

edited to add: school lunches and snacks are all provided by school. I get lunch at work too. So this is just home food.

OP posts:
TomatoSandwiches · 07/09/2025 13:11

We are a family of 5, me, DH, DS17 DD13 DS 9, I've tried to cutback a lot but still end up spending around 230 every sunday shop AND a top upon milk, bread and fruit by Thursday.
How old are your family members, could you look at apps like Olio and pick up treats on there for free

FightingFish · 07/09/2025 13:11

FightingFish · 07/09/2025 13:10

OP, have you got a Lidl close? I shop there of a morning and they often have 5kg fruit and veg boxes. The food is ‘out of date’ but still good to eat. A bit hit and Miss but they usually include lots of bananas and apples (which last quite some time).

Forgot to say the main point, the boxes are £1.50!

GleisZwei · 07/09/2025 13:11

Remingtonsteele · 07/09/2025 13:08

She’s buying expensive stuff. Fruit needs to be the cheap stuff. Biscuits the same. Snacks from the toddler aisle are a rip off.

She's also choosing expensive places to shop based on cashback - I will guarantee Aldi or Lidl would be cheaper than sainsbos even with a cash back.

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I didn't disagree with that, it's simply those telling her how much they spend and that she should do the same - not everyone can afford that. ✌️

FcukBreastCancer · 07/09/2025 13:11

I wouldn't limit fruit. Bananas are cheap.
We generally stick to a max or a sweet thing and crisps per day. It was my mums rule... although I bent the rules as I was older! She tried snack boxes and my dad swapped our good stuff out!! Bast*Rd!

Mrsttcno1 · 07/09/2025 13:10

whoboo · 07/09/2025 13:07

Agree. Honestly

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That’s unfortunate but if you cannot afford to buy more then you have to accept that the reason your snacks aren’t lasting is because you are not buying enough to feed the amount of people you have!

There’s no tips here that don’t include increasing the amount of food- which does not necessarily mean increasing the price- but it’s ridiculous to be annoyed at food not lasting when you simply are not buying enough.

FightingFish · 07/09/2025 13:10

OP, have you got a Lidl close? I shop there of a morning and they often have 5kg fruit and veg boxes. The food is ‘out of date’ but still good to eat. A bit hit and Miss but they usually include lots of bananas and apples (which last quite some time).

Winteriscoming80 · 07/09/2025 13:10

Well for comparison our weekly food bill is now £200+ family of 4,shopping at Aldi,
that isn’t a lot of snack stuff,6 bananas is one each for the week.

MyDeftDuck · 07/09/2025 13:10

Don’t buy the yummy snacks………if they’re hungry tell them to make a sandwich rather than reaching for cakes, biscuits or crisps……sorted

Zippidydoodah · 07/09/2025 13:10

I keep some snacks aside so that my hoover of a teenage son doesn’t eat them all and leave nothing for the others.

GleisZwei · 07/09/2025 13:10

Mrsttcno1 · 07/09/2025 13:08

Buying more does not necessarily mean spending more, just buying more of different things.

Not everyone can afford to do that and I do get that, but in that case you have to accept that snacks are going to disappear because you’re not buying enough. You can’t really snack-box your way through simply not buying enough food.

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Read the comments.

Remingtonsteele · 07/09/2025 13:08

GleisZwei · 07/09/2025 13:03

Well, my comment wasn't directed at you then. ✌️

Show quote history

She’s buying expensive stuff. Fruit needs to be the cheap stuff. Biscuits the same. Snacks from the toddler aisle are a rip off.

She's also choosing expensive places to shop based on cashback - I will guarantee Aldi or Lidl would be cheaper than sainsbos even with a cash back.

AnotherOne101 · 07/09/2025 13:08

Encourage eating toast with beans / jam and cottage cheese / peanut butter / cheese / eggs as snacks. Buy apples and bananas and cheaper fruit. Own brand biscuits. Then if you choose more expensive snacks (in our house, crisps, chocolate and nuts) it gets divided up in boxes. If budget is limited try to encourage more eating of filling healthier food.

Mrsttcno1 · 07/09/2025 13:08

GleisZwei · 07/09/2025 13:06

Some are saying that she isn't spending enough.

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Buying more does not necessarily mean spending more, just buying more of different things.

Not everyone can afford to do that and I do get that, but in that case you have to accept that snacks are going to disappear because you’re not buying enough. You can’t really snack-box your way through simply not buying enough food.

Brightlittlecanary · 07/09/2025 13:08

Happyher · 07/09/2025 12:52

Find a hiding place and ration them out through the week

What here’s today’s five grapes, a quarter of a rice cake, and and your quarter of a Milky Way type thing?

someone called them locusts, someone else commented in gobbling, such disordered language when for five people this is simply a very small amount of food. The op is looking at it all together, but when you break it down, for five people, it’s very small.

whoboo · 07/09/2025 13:07

GleisZwei · 07/09/2025 13:02

All the folk saying 'spend more' must not realise that some folk simply cannot 'spend more'. It's such a privileged comment to make.

Agree. Honestly

Ilikewinter · 07/09/2025 13:07

toadstool32 · 07/09/2025 12:46

Hmm interesting so many think I’m under spending. I can only really raise my budget to £150/£160 max and that’s including cleaning products etc too. I work full time so don’t have time to make homemade snacks.

I would also revise where you shop, I have always found Morrisons to be very expensive, can't comment on Sainsbury's but traditionally that isn't cheap either!

GleisZwei · 07/09/2025 13:06

BeltaLodaLife · 07/09/2025 13:03

We’re not saying spend more, we’re saying spend different.

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Some are saying that she isn't spending enough.

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 07/09/2025 13:05

GleisZwei · 07/09/2025 13:04

Strawberries are luxury fruit for many folk. Substitute for grapes/apples/bananas/whatever is on offer.

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Yes, that was kind of my point, lol.

Don't waste your money on tiny amounts of expensive strawberries that will last 20 minutes when you can buy 5 bunches of bananas or whatever for the same price.

GleisZwei · 07/09/2025 13:05

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 07/09/2025 13:04

She doesn't need to spend more - she needs to stop buying strawberries and branded cookies and buy apples and own-brand custard creams instead.

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Yep, but again, my comment wasn't directed at you.

Bearinthesmallmessyflat · 07/09/2025 13:04

I agree with more cheap fruit rather than expensive berries, plus crackers, things for toast and sandwiches are good for cheap snacks.

What are the specific toddler snacks? Ours have always just generally had what the rest of the family are having and generally the snacks in the baby and toddler aisle are a an expensive rip off imo

GleisZwei · 07/09/2025 13:04

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 07/09/2025 13:03

Really? I would say two punnets of strawberries between 5 people is pretty miserly, really. That's about five strawberries each!

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Strawberries are luxury fruit for many folk. Substitute for grapes/apples/bananas/whatever is on offer.

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 07/09/2025 13:04

GleisZwei · 07/09/2025 13:02

All the folk saying 'spend more' must not realise that some folk simply cannot 'spend more'. It's such a privileged comment to make.

She doesn't need to spend more - she needs to stop buying strawberries and branded cookies and buy apples and own-brand custard creams instead.

BeltaLodaLife · 07/09/2025 13:03

GleisZwei · 07/09/2025 13:02

All the folk saying 'spend more' must not realise that some folk simply cannot 'spend more'. It's such a privileged comment to make.

We’re not saying spend more, we’re saying spend different.

GleisZwei · 07/09/2025 13:03

Remingtonsteele · 07/09/2025 13:03

I’m not saying spend more. I’m saying be more strategic.

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Well, my comment wasn't directed at you then. ✌️

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 07/09/2025 13:03

GleisZwei · 07/09/2025 12:57

It's not huge but it's also not miserly, based on the other info OP has provided.

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Really? I would say two punnets of strawberries between 5 people is pretty miserly, really. That's about five strawberries each!

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