What’s a reasonable food budget for one person?

[PinkOnWednesday]

Hi, I’m trying to set myself a reasonable food budget for one person as I’m currently spending an extortionate amount on food! What would you say is reasonable?
Thanks x

£40 including cleaning products

About £70 per week for 2 adults and a toddler. Plus £20 for a takeaway most weeks.

I reckon it would be about £40 for just me, I don’t really drink but do have meat most days.

As others have said it depends on your budget, tastes and habits. In budget terms, I'd start calculating with take home pay minus non negotiable expenses (mortgage, bills) then think to put aside what you can from that, subdivided into actual savings and also set-aside money eg in an easy access account for unexpected expenses like minor household repairs. Obviously everyone is different but a good rule for that is a third of discretionary spending. Then look at what you've got left and think how you want to divide it: eg would you feel sad if you never spent on leisure matters like gym, books, days out, nights out and other socialising (in normal times obviously!)? If so, take off what's necessary for that. Then take off another £100 to allow for wiggle room. What you've got left divided by 4.5 (some pay months have five spending points in them) and that's your food budget.

If that's not enough for minimum nutrition (which for one adult I'd set at £50) start at the top of this process and work your way through again. If your divided by 4.5 figure is higher than that, ask yourself if you'd rather have more of a financial cushion or if there are any other medium term goals eg holidays etc (again, in normal times!) If there aren't, fill your boots with olives and luxury chocolate because frankly life is short and times are hard.

Depends on what you like to eat, if you drink alcohol, etc.

I spend about £70 a week for me and one DS, so it would probably be about £50 for just me. (DS has school dinners so I don't buy lunch stuff for him).

Well ours was 130 a couple so I'd say 60-70 bit of course you can cut that way back and halve it realistically. Also depends if your only local stores are Sainsbury's and Waitrose or if you have a Lidl and Aldi nearby

I'd say £30, I used to do it on £20 but that was very tight. £30 would have to be well planned so you buy certain things each week.

When I lived by myself I probably spent £30. But I like to cook from scratch, I'm happy to eat the same thing for a few nights in a row, e.g. make a stew to have with mash one night, dumplings the next etc, and I take a packed lunch to work. Dp and I probably spend about £50 now. I think we eat pretty well, but we don't buy loads of branded stuff/extras e.g no fizzy drinks or juices, no branded yoghurt, expensive washing powder and so on. We don't get ready meals either. Not that there is anything wrong with buying these things if you like to.

Would say it depends on why you need to budget. If you really need to £30 is probably quite doable, but if you don't really need to budget strictly and enjoy food, why be so strict £60 - 70, sounds reasonable and more enjoyable

Wow I’m shocked how high these responses are! I spend £40 ish a week at the minute maybe a bit more if I do a top up shop but I was hoping to get it down to more like £20! I can afford what I spend currently but I’d like to save some money x

I was going to say about £40.

What do you normally buy each week?

I don't think I'd find it very easy to budget only £20 a week for food. But I'm sure it can be done and there must be plenty of sites that can help you do this. Jack Monroe I'm sure has plenty of advice and sample shopping lists. Would really be worth finding out what times your local supermarkets tend to yellow sticker their items. That could make a huge difference.

www.goodto.com/food/how-to-feed-a-family-of-4-for-20-a-week-114543

www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/how-survive-coronavirus-lockdown-20-18014663

Both those are from 2020. Jack Monroe's shopping list seems to be from 2013.

@PinkOnWednesday

Wow I’m shocked how high these responses are! I spend £40 ish a week at the minute maybe a bit more if I do a top up shop but I was hoping to get it down to more like £20! I can afford what I spend currently but I’d like to save some money x

Can you outlin what you buy? I mean breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, supper, wine x 7 will cost far more than breakfast, lunch, dinner and tap water. Lidl will cost less than Wiatrose

@PinkOnWednesday what kind of food do you eat/cook at the moment?

@PinkOnWednesday well you could spend £20 a week on food and you wouldn't starve, but you'd be unlikely to be eating nutritious and enjoyable food at every meal and there wouldn't be any treat room at all, whether your treat was a handful of red berries or a bar of chocolate. Why do you want to reduce your food spending so much? Are you in debt?

So I actually checked yes I could definitely do £20. First week might be a little more but subsequent weeks could/should be fine
Soda Crystals for all cleaning needs
Porridge breakfast in the morning
Frozen veg on the side.
Cooking bacon (150g for 75p) is your friend. Freeze that (and mince) in 50g portion sizes
Get an eco egg for the washing machine (big expense week one)
Main meals
Brie and bacon rissotto (Jack Monroe)(but with 50g cooking bacon, 80g peas, 100g mushrooms)
Sag bol (75g mince 100g mushrooms)
Chilli (75g mince)
Carbonara (either with egg or milk) (50g cooking bacon 100g
Salmon paste pasta (jack Monroe)
Sausage and mash
Meat/fish fingers/nuggets and homemade wedges (nuggets or fish fingers first week, meat of choice second week)

First week would be really strict after that you could introduce a bit more choice cos most the meat week one will last a couple of weeks in the freezer

@Hazelnutlatteplease there's fuck all fruit or veg in that. It's doable, but it's not healthy. So as I said yes you can live on that but long term you'd be missing out on nutrients.

I used to spend at least £250 per month inc cleaning stuff/toiletries and cat food. That would be more like £300 now as food has gone up.
If it’s just literally food then £50-£60 per week

@JackieWeaver4PM I'd put two portions (100g) of a basic frozen veg like broccoli, peas, Brussels, carrots, cabbage spinach. Next to (or in but my lot hate in) any meals that are short eg the carbonara or bri and bacon rissotto. I'd add frozen spinach to nearly everything but my kids hate that. Frozen veg is cheap and contains as many nutrients as fresh. Steam the veg it comes out beautiful. I actually used to nutrient count as part of 5 stone weight loss a few months back. The nutrient most easily to be short of, even if you take supplements, is actually calcium.

I haven't done lunches because they are the cheap bits but I'd do a combination of jackets + beans, omelette (chopped fresh tomatoes), cheese on toast, shakura (Jack Monroe).but that was included in the price. If you like curry (mine dont) I reckon you can bring it down further).

Sorry I meant I count each portion of veg as 100g.

And the weight loss was a couple of years back .

I wouldn't recommend any of Jack Monroe's recipes. They might be cheap but they are not tasty!

Depends on your tastes. £50 ought to be reasonable.

The brie and bacon rissotto is gorgeous!! I love the shakura (only not in the books) and the mushroom strogonoff.

Otherwise I agree jack Monroe can be a bit hit and miss. The salmon paste pasta is not my favourite, but will do for a bit in a tight squeeze. All her recipes seem to need the veg boosting and the carbs reducing.