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Original poster

Cost of food shop per week

59 replies

Glasssand · 09/09/2023 08:01

What do you think would be a reasonable amount of money to spend on grocery shop per week? We are two adults and 3 young children. 2 of the children have school meals. We all have breakfast at home, dh takes a packed lunch and toddler and I have lunch at home. Cooked meal every evening. I really need to save money and food shopping is the obvious place I could cut back. I thought I would set myself a weekly limit and to try to stick to that but I'm not sure what would be reasonable . Last week I spend £170 which feels like a huge amount. It did include washing powder and there's still a joint of meat in the freezer to use.

OP posts:
coopy10 · 09/09/2023 08:10

I would say about £150. I'm shopping for 2 adults and one child and am struggling to get it under £120 a week which feels a lot when I used to spend around £70/80 and feel like I got a lot more for that as well!

BeanyBops · 09/09/2023 08:15

I spend £120 on 2 adults 1 fussy toddler (who lives off bread and fruit) AND that's with most of our meals being lentil or bean based plus veg and some carbs. So if you are buying meat for most meals and your kids like 'kids snacks' I. E. The spendy things in packets that are marketed as kids snacks, I can definitely see how yours is 170.

The way that good has shot up in price is terrifying.

ginderella85 · 09/09/2023 08:15

Mines nearly £200 a week 2 adults 2 kids, 13 year old has to have pack up as school don't have a kitchen (small specialist ASD school) but tbh it is creeping up a little but more every week

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jusdepamplemousse · 09/09/2023 08:16

We have similar household and if I managed £170 a week I’d be happy. I’m aware it can be done for less but with two adults working full time, two fussy primary school kids, and ensuring everyone gets decent protein, good fats, and fruit and veg…it isn’t easy. Plus we try to stick to some welfare standards in terms of meat / eggs / dairy. I’d say we often end up closer to £250 a week once all is counted in. Which is ridiculous I know but I can’t seem to get it down. We do live somewhere where food is a bit more expensive than mainland uk.

Nannyfannybanny · 09/09/2023 08:19

It does sound like a huge amount. Do the kids get a decent school lunch,if so I wouldn't be giving them a big cooked dinner as well. Do you buy a lot of snacks? Meal plan. Big chicken Sunday,left overs for curry, wraps the following day. Do you cook from scratch,go to work,? I think at the end of the day,it depends if you can afford to spend this amount. I used to watch the HOW TO EAT FOR LESS, with Chris Baven and Greg Wallace, and I couldn't believe how much some people spent.

jusdepamplemousse · 09/09/2023 08:22

I also shop around so eg meat is from the butcher…but it’s insane. I find now you pop to Tesco (not the wee one, the big one and with a club card) for maybe nappies on offer and a couple of bits - maybe eg some fruit and bread and lunch box bits - and it’s £70. Madness.

one thing that surprises me is that m and s is actually cheaper on a lot of stuff - a big plain pizza for the kids, pasta, cheese, butter, some cold meats…

apric0t · 09/09/2023 08:28

We are two adults two kids, one toddler lunch at home, one 5 yo packed lunch at school and both me and DH wfh all week and eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at home. Also 2 cats.

Money has been really tight for a while and I thought I had been trying really hard shopping at Sainsbury’s spending about £100-£130 ish a week but recently things got even tighter and I've had to really really scrimp. One week I managed an initial big shop at Aldi and spent £45 and then got a few top ups during the week of fruit and other bits for about £30. This week I spent £71 on initial shop and have budgeted £30 for topups.

I have cut all brands out now everything is from Aldi, I have cut all treats, been making things like muffins for snacks for everyone and chocolate muffins for myself for a sweet treat after dinner.

We have a big batch of spag bol which we eat over two nights during the week and actually this week I got the 3 for £12 half prepared meat dishes from M&S than come all pre seasoned and prepared which are good value and make eating more fun, one of the options is half a chicken an there was enough chicken left over that my husband had two lunches from it.

indianwoman · 09/09/2023 08:30

Two adults and two teens, my food shop is usually just under £100 plus £20 a week for milk delivery. The occasional top up but that's basically it.

ShesJustAShyGirl · 09/09/2023 08:35

@apric0t doo you have a link for the m&s deal please, I can’t find it but I would like to give it a try.

Beautifulsunflowers · 09/09/2023 08:40

£100 a week max for basically 4 adults.
3 eat breakfast at home, 2 have packed lunches,4 eat dinner each night.
cereal or toast for breakfast. Own brand cereal.
lunches are either leftover dinners or sandwiches/wraps/salads with crisps and yogurt
dinners
pork stir fry
chicken curry
pulled pork
pizza
lasagne
chicken slouvaki
jacket potatoes beans bacon and cheese
all with veg or salad

we have yogurt/fruit/ice Lolly’s or ice cream for dessert or a homemade cake.

also have a cat!

shop in Asda or Aldi usually.

Fallenangelofthenorth · 09/09/2023 08:40

I spend a ridiculous amount for 2 adults and one child too. I'm going to really try and make a conscious effort to get it down to 150 per week then once I can stick to that, perhaps try and reduce it further.

Last time I tried sticking to a budget I found the recipes on Sainsburys and Aldi really helpful. Aldi has "Cardiff mum" recipes - every one I tried was delicious and also very cheap.

MonkeyPuddle · 09/09/2023 08:42

We have DP and Me, one school kid who still gets free lunches and a toddler who’s at nursery twice a week.
I average £60-80 per week. It’s the higher end when we need loo rolls, wash powder or when it’s the school holidays. There isn’t any extra money to spend more on shopping.
I meal plan, check the cupboards before I make a list and then stick to the list. I don’t buy anything branded, I check the prices of everything.
I usually cook most things from scratch as it works out cheaper and I use the slow cooker a lot, can knock up a big curry for £7 that will feed us all twice. Leftovers are used as lunch or frozen if not being eaten the next day.

Clefable · 09/09/2023 08:46

We manage £100 a week for two adults and two young kids but it does require meal planning and we don't buy brands. It includes nappies and wipes and cleaning stuff but not pet food.

Seashellies · 09/09/2023 08:50

We spend about £80 a week, I do meal plan and do around £65 on the 'big shop' and then 15 or so throughout the week on fresh stuff like bread, fruit, milk etc.

I shop at Sainsburys and for fruit but a lot of their wonky range, vary what we get by whats on offer, buy the big packs of meat and portion them out and get a lot of own brand stuff.

Cocteautriplet · 09/09/2023 08:51

I’m finding it very hard to spend less than £200 a week- that’s for a family of 5 ( 2 teens and a 3 yr old ). That does include packed lunches / lunches at home, lacto and gluten free stuff and free range meat though.

Seashellies · 09/09/2023 08:51

That's for two adults and one child by the way, so probably £100 ish for 2 children?

FoodFann · 09/09/2023 08:53

£130 two foodie adults, one baby so much of that is formula and Ella’s Kitchen.
Wine and dog food bought separately.

ToussaintTheChef · 09/09/2023 08:55

I spent £100-£170 a week, buying all organic where poss. Two packed lunches 4x pw, parents both wfh. Cook every night.

Mummyof2Cubs · 09/09/2023 08:55

I started cooking Pakistani food only to save money for this reason. My shop went down from 150 a week to 70 for 2 adults and 2 toddlers. I just make lots of rice, dhal, kidney bean currys ect. I think our dinner costs about 20 a week.

Cupcakegirl13 · 09/09/2023 08:56

Similar set up to up OP and we’re averaging £150 per week on Tesco , that does include cleaning and toiletries.

Kim82 · 09/09/2023 08:56

We spend around £150 per week at Tesco for a family of 5 (dc aged 19, 16 and 9). That includes 3 meals a day for all of us and snacks. We all take lunches to school/uni/work. That includes toiletries and cleaning stuff too so I don’t think we do too badly.

Barleymilk · 09/09/2023 09:02

One adult and one teen,shopping in Aldi or Tesco and averaging £70. Some weeks 45 and some alot more.
The snacks have gone( my favourite aldi crinkle crisps and chocolate) and instead I'm having a few aldi hobnobs instead.
Buying a lot of eggs,peppered mackerel,marinated pork loins and chicken to have with salad and pasta pesto. Son loves peanut butter and Greek yoghurt so spending a lot of this and honey.
Not buying squash or fruit juice any more.
I'm on a low salary ( cleaner) but dont feel I'm missing out,feel great in myself actually.

Iammetoday · 09/09/2023 09:04

We're 2 adults and 2 dc who take packed lunches 4/5 days- the lunches and snacks are adding up! I shop at asda and its around £120 a week, but we do have bits in cupboard and freezer that I use too.we also have to cater for gluten free so that pushes price up.

PetiteNasturtium · 09/09/2023 09:05

I’m on about £120 per week for 3 adults plus an extra adult 2 nights a week, this doesn’t include cat food or litter or shampoo as we get them off Amazon prime.

I have time to shop around and cook from scratch plus get the odd bit of veg off a communal allotment I volunteer on. My Dad ran a restaurant so taught me how to cook so I’m good at getting creative and am a confident cook. I’m making a sort of paella tonight with a salad. I buy stuff on offer and freeze it. Last year a shop had tomatoes on offer, a whole carrier bag for a quid, it is a place that sells stuff short dated. I bought two and made tomato sauce which I froze. When in the depths of small children which a lot of MN population it’s time that is the issue plus just being tired. Those run around days do come to an end.

Lyricallie · 09/09/2023 09:10

We are about £70 for two adults. Some weeks more, but this week we were eating down the freezer. This includes cereal for breakfast or eggs. Then random stuff for lunches and cooked dinners. We do enjoy a beans/hoops on toast for dinner in this house. Included in that £70 is a weekly veg box with 6 farm eggs.