How many times a week do you go food shopping?

[HappyAutumn]

I probably go to the shops 4 times a week or every other day. I buy little and often but I’m sure I spend more that way. On the other hand, if I get a delivery and try to stock up I find I waste a lot as it’s only me and a teenager at home and it’s hard to plan too far in advance.

I’ve stopped myself shopping today and I am going to make do with what we have in the fridge and maybe I can save a bit if I do that regularly.

I was wondering if other people go to the shops as much as me?!

I do 4 shops a month 2 big (£150-200) and 2 moderate (£100 or under), other than that it'll only be the odd pint of milk if ever had visitors and used more than usual or find we've unexpectedly run out of something, but most weeks that isn't necessary at all and on weeks of is it's a few pounds , definitely no more than £5. I mean plan, and batch cook one or two meals a week which gives quick meal options for future weeks. I also buy large packs of chicken breasts/pork steaks etc, split bag and freeze.

About the same 4-5 times a week.

We used to get a delivery once a week in uk, but now overseas we can’t get delivered.

I find that doing one big shop fresh stuff goes off half way, or we overbuy. Often now I do one bigger weekly shop which has most the basics in for the week or things we have ran out of. Then the other couple of shops are smaller with top up for milk, bread and fruit, plus any odd ingredients needed.

For example I realised we had lots of eggs and garden grown spinach and pepper's in fridge, so this morning I picked up cream and some cheese for quiche later. If I wait until the weekend again the veg will have gone off

A bigger shop to stock up once a month for toiletries and cleaners, frozen veg/fruit, tins and sauces.

Saturday for fresh weekend and lunch stuff
Wednesday for another fresh top up ( and DD is at rugby and Tesco is warmer than the field).

We have a corner shop too within 100m and I find if I go there for milk and bread I can easily spend a small fortune. Sometimes it helps to actually just take a fiver cash instead of tapping my phone/card.

1 big shop once a month to stock the cupboards.

1 medium shop once a week on a Friday for fresh stuff for the weekend/week.

A couple of quick stops in M&S after the school run to top up on veggies/berries.

Seems to be most cost effective for us. If I just do one shop a week, we end up wasting fresh stuff and pining after whatever we didn't get!

Throughout the week I add things I need to replenish to my list, and at the end of the week I meal plan for the following week, so I only need to shop once per week. Occasionally I might go to the shop for something different or unexpected extras for guests etc, but not often. I have to be strict about eating the meals on my list that week or having a backup in the freezer if I can't face it!

I can't do weekly shops. If I try, I end up wasting food.

I go to local farmers market weekly for fruit and veg. Local butchers once or twice a week and supermarket at least 3 or 4 times a week.

I know it's probably more economical to meal plan and do a big shop but I wouldn't stick to it and would over shop.

One big shop which arrives Saturday morning.

One or two small shops for things we've forgotten or run out of.

A monthly splurge in B&M on everything I never knew I needed.

I do 1 big shops (£200) every 3 weeks and maybe 1 more top up a week (£50)
This is 2 adults

I try to get a delivery 1a month of the main stuff.
But I'll pop to supermarket if I fancy something particular or I run out of something.

I'd say maybe two or three times a week I'll pop to nearest Tesco.

Now DC are at uni once a week for 2 adults and cat

When they are home, Ocado delivery every 4 -5 days. Nearest supermarket is 5 miles away so don’t do in person shopping much.

I do one big shop a week. But I plan meals in advance for the week ahead so there’s no waste. Mid week I may pop out for stuff if we’ve run out of milk or bread, or get something that needs to be very fresh (like bean sprouts).

I used to be the same as you and go every day or two just buying little and often but I was just spending a fortune and never making work lunches at home either. It suited me for a while but the depleting money for what felt like nothing was just so annoying…

Now I get a delivery every 10-14 days roughly and go to the garage for milk or bread as needed. I can usually make the two-ish weeks stretch out by being conscious of buying longer lasting food or frozen veg. I find strawberries etc. go off so quick so I go for apples, oranges, frozen smoothie mix etc instead now.

It’s not the most varied or exciting diet but suits me for now and don’t feel like I spend all of my free time in Tesco any more!

I go once a week and perhaps one top up shop where I probably spend under £15 . We definitely make do on the last dinner and packed lunch for the next day . I rarely waste anything fresh .I do meal plan the main meal and shop accordingly

I do one shop every 10 days (delivery). I meal plan every meal and use soft fruit/short date first and the longer lasting meals last. So today we're having Shepherd's pie using the fresh veg and potatoes that came at the weekend, by the end of the week we'll be using frozen veg, pasta and rice, dried fruit and apples or batch cooked meals that are in the freezer. I freeze milk, bread etc. It takes time at first to organise and not waste anything but it saves me loads. When I started I planned 8 days then just increased by a day each time and found 10 days is about the limit (due to freezer space).

I shop once a week, Tesco delivery. I might pop to aldi once a month or so to see what’s there, I go to the market every Friday for fresh fruit and veg .

i buy the big packs of chicken breast/chops/sausages/mince then freeze in portion sizes get out what I want I. The morning for dinner that night.

2 loaves of bread does a week, one in the freezer. Though I often bake bread I try to keep a loaf in hand in the freezer so never run out. Don’t use much milk, it last the week easily, but when we used more I just bought enough for the week keeping an eye on use by dates. I try to always have a long life in which is fine for sauces etc when running low.

there are often weeks when I run low on fresh stuff, but I keep peas etc in the freezer and just meal plan round what’s left.

I absolutely refuse to shop mid week, I’ve cut my shopping bill down big time by being careful, and the hours I spent going to the shop, those 20 minutes add up when life is busy.

i do run a well stocked food cupboard and freezer, I think that’s the secret. My son / DIL and 3 children came for 3 nights last week, 2 days after my delivery. We managed fine without going to the shop once. We had nice meals and the children and I baked treats, yes the cupboards are very depleted but I will build them up again over the next few weeks

We do online shopping and have two deliveries a week.

We’re a family of 3 - 2 adults and a 4 year old. I do a meal plan for a week on Sundays and then do the shopping on Monday night. I also have to top up on fruit, veg and milk a couple of times a week. We spend about £450 a month for everything- food, toiletries, cleaning products etc

One big shop every 3 weeks. Top ups of fruit, bread and eggs as needed. 2 adults one kid.

Once a week, no top ups

4/5 small shops a week. But I walk past every day anyway so it's no fuss. I have a fussy teen so often have to change what she's having for tea.

I do a big food order about twice a month for bulky items.

I changed in the last couple of months and now get a delivery once every 4/5 days, I've found we're spending much less this way as if I run out of something I add it to the next delivery which is always only a few days away and so that has reduced the 'little visits' where you pop in for milk and spend £20

Delivery once a week wasn't often enough and there was a lot of wastage of things we didn't really fancy by the time the week had almost passed, whereas now I'm only planning 3/4 days meals and can switch things around. Spending around £70 every 5 days for 4 of us(2 adults 2 kids, 8 and 4)

I dont have a car so I do little shops almost every day

We have literally just started doing it the way you do. Usually got our food shopping delivered every Friday evening, but by Tuesday most of it was gone off and there was so much waste! I go about 3 times a week now. It’s a pain having to keep going to Tesco every few days and I do agree it’s more expensive. But I can’t be doing with the waste

There's only 2 of us but we cook a big family meal most weekends and often have friends over.

A 'big' shop every couple of weeks. But most nights on the way home I'll pick something up for tea as I go past a butcher, co-op, deli and greengrocers. Or say just some prawns as I've got the makings of a stirfry already.

Big shop on a Tuesday, strict meal planning to a budget of £60 p/w
Top up shop for bread, milk, ham etc on a Saturday for £10 p/w
Thats for 2 adults, 2 young DC, 2 cats.