Worried about rising cost of food - do you think it'll get higher?

[ConfusedPigeon]

In the last 18 months or so ive been struggling to keep the food budget down. I found an old receipt dated 2016 last week and everything has gone up in price - some things not significantly (up to 20p say) but some things are quite significantly more expensive.
I'm just wondering if anyone knows if it's likely to get any higher? Started to get a bit worried - we've already had to cut back and we're spending the same we were about a year ago but fresh fruit is now limited, we have to be careful about what we eat and when and almost everything we buy is basic/value brands, with the odd item being from the next brand up (Tesco own brand, but not value) if value doesn't have that item, mind you I've also noticed value brands being changed to sound "naice" and prices being changed when the packaging is; even if the item is the same...
bulk cooking and meal planning is now a thing in our house too,
We mainly shop at Asda or tesco.
Has anyone else noticed this and is it likely to get much worse?

Yes we've definitely noticed this. We enjoy cooking meals from scratch, but have noticed it's cheaper to eat out or get a takeaway now that food prices are on the rise. We've recently reassessed our finances and I really need to bring our food budget down. It's sooo tricky as I already feel we are stretched.

Yep noticed it here. I’ve adapted what we eat, have had to cut back on meat and substitute with pulses, veg etc.

I think it will get higher unfortunately

Yep, it's worrying. People will come on and clype up about how cheap food is now compared to 1970, failing to account for the fact that the cost of living in general is far higher, especially for private renters.

food prices will rise a lot
We’re all in for a nasty surprise

Yes I think prices will get much higher particularly with Brexit looming and the unusual weather this year impacting on crops. There have been lots of predictions and experts commenting on the issue.

Whether or not food was comparatively more expensive in the 1970s the fact is that people have become used to lower prices and as such it will impact on people.

I am buying things in bulk when they're on offer so that I'm always benefitting from the offer prices (clearly you need the cash flow and the space to do this), growing things myself and also using up everything in the freezer so that I can fill it up again with things I think will get really expensive.

Prices are definitely getting higher. I’m sure the 2 months of no rainfall will have a negative effect too.

I’m lucky we have the money to buy in bulk and take advantage of any deals that pop up. But we’ve really noticed the hike in prices.

I'm a bit young to remember prices in the 1970's but with the cost of everything else (rent, childcare etc) if our food bill ends up going up drastically (25% or more) we'll be on plain pasta 7 days a week. We have space to bulk buy a bit, but can't spend maybe more than £20 a month doing that as our belts have to be very tight right now.

Also yes to trying to cut back but feeling stretched, as I said we're already on limited fresh fruit (fresh carrots, potatoes etc, remain pretty reasonable though) and basic brands I don't think we've got much to cut it prices go up again.

Just wait until we have to add customs duties onto everything we import if we end up with a shit Brexit deal (and that seems to be where we are heading). A chunk of the prices we are seeing now is due to the pound's exchange rate drop following the Brexit vote.

price of carrots likely to go up since the crop has apparently been poor this year,

This is just the start, food prices are going to go up a lot.

Do you have space to grow veg, or have chickens?

We are about to start breeding meat rabbits.

I agree prices are rising for many foodstuffs.

I can't agree that it makes financial sense to eat out though? Maybe the takeaways are expensive in my town. Due to cost alone I feel incredibly guilty if I buy one!

Have a bit of space to grow veg, couldn't have chickens though.
Is veg hard to grow? Don't think I've grown anything in my life

Once you grow your own lettuce you won't look back!

Seriously though you don't save a lot as what grows well in the garden is what is seasonally cheap in the shops! If you have hungry kids it does help though and the flavour / freshness is lovely.

Herbs are what I find genuinely cost effective.

Lots of veg (and fruit) is very easy if you have some space. Spinach, potatoes, lettuce, herbs, courgettes, strawberries. All basically put them in the ground and they grow.

But now this thread will turn into a row about how impossible it is to supplement your shop with home-grown...

rhubarb is very cost effective - put it in and it lasts for years.

home grown will be more cost effective as prices rise.

We only have 2 meat/fish days per week now and the rest of our meals are vegetarian (lots of pasta dishes, chillis made with beans/lentils etc). We limit fresh fruit too but have lots of veg which seems to still be good value

Yes we've definitely noticed this. We enjoy cooking meals from scratch, but have noticed it's cheaper to eat out or get a takeaway now that food prices are on the rise.

i cant see how eating out/takeaway is cheaper please tell??

ive noticed over the year there is less of the basics,smart price ranges they have deffo got rid of some,anybody else notice?

Yes of course it will. The dry summer has effected the yield and/or quality of pretty much everything grown in the UK, the worldwide soy is suffering and the pound is making things worse.

And you might not like it, but we don't pay as much for food as we used to - the percentage of your income spent on food is a lot smaller than it used to be. Can't remember the figures right now, but might google later. Currently cooking a 2kg chicken from Lidl costing £3.65 - still ridiculously cheap when compared with the cost of production.

inflation is not actually 3% unless you eat playstation and phones. Energy costs go up 10% a year, and the tax on insurance ( the other thing we all buy) has doubled in two years and will double again.

food prices are doing the same - too cheap for too long.

aldi if you have one ( no loyalty cards, shelf facing or excess staff) and learn to go with the special offer fruit and veg. home grown stuff is delicious and will save money but you need space and to think seasons.on

also - if anything is in the food waste bin apart from eggshells, peelings , tea bags and coffee grounds you are serving too much and need to plan more. bulk cooking also uses less energy.

rabbit is delicious but dont breed, learn to shoot if have land with permission nearby. far too many of the things and myxi is still around.

I think it’ll get worse.

Sterling is falling so stuff costs more to buy, supermarkets will rightly or wrongly blame Brexit and use it as an excuse to put prices up as much as they can.

If you have a Morrison’s nearby they have a Wonky fruit and veg range (everything still tastes the same but just doesn’t look as pretty). It’s great value!

Yes I’ve noticed a reduction in the smart ranges too..@flopsy
Last week I revisited Aldi after time away (being lazy and using Asda home delivery) and wow I literally got a whole trolley load for £65, my normal shop at Asda would come in at around £100 weekly. I bought monthly things too such as shampoo / conditioner / washing up liquid and washing powder /softener (buy in bulk for the month).

Tons of meat at great value.. lots of whoppsies that I have frozen. I’m converted again!

I would recommend anyone who hasn’t to revisit it... the layout of our shop has changed and much more user friendly!

I do dread to think in two year though how costly things will be!

I also plan to give my kids apple and plum trees as gifts if they have gardens as longer term they have been great to have. Not a cost effective short term solution though!

I always think fruit is expensive though so don't buy a lot. Frozen can be a good deal and is good in crumbles and smoothies. Frozen vegetables are as healthy as fresh.