Since when was £1000 a month enough for a food budget?

[BitCoinBillionaire]

We are a family of 3 adults - my youngest still at home being 19. We don’t buy alcohol and have 2 cats. Like to eat as well as possible and I’d really been noticing I’d been overspending lately so decided to use ChatGPT to work through a budget with me

I want this budget to include all food, cat food and household type bits - of which I’m generally well stocked up on anyway. I also wanted this budget to just cover August to see how it goes

I’ve put a figure on it of £1000 and ChatGPT has been helpful in helping me see how to divvy it up etc into pots (I’ve previously just been spending as I feel) but tells me that ‘£1000 is very doable to not generous’

Not generous! Is this where we are at now? A grand a month is considered ‘a little tight with not much wriggle room.’

Thoughts? Are you spending this? More than this? I know it’s like asking how long is a piece of string but I think it’s highlighted to me that I need to perhaps meal plan a bit more!

Exactly this. I’ve come to the conclusion at work that people aren’t smart enough for AI.

I can get it to do the vast majority of my written work…but only because I spend hours giving it context, editing, correcting, and adding details. It just gives me a really good framework to start from when doing large volume writing. BUT this only works because I take the time to review it, and change it so that all context is there and everything is correct, and because I give it the documents that contain the answers to the questions I need answering.

If you don’t have good critical thinking, then the mess you can make with AI is frightening. I will caveat as well by saying I use co-pilot at work which seems to be a lot better than when using Chat GPT at home I don’t know if that’s because of the AI itself or something work have programmed into the workplace AI that makes it do things in a better way.

Chat Bot aside, if I had £1000 a month to spend solely on food, I'd begrudge it and do everything in my power to reduce the bill.

I guess it depends what you're eating and if the budget includes eating out.

At a guess I would say I probably spend around £400 per month for 1 adult, 1 child, and 3 pets. This would include cleaning products, personal care items and the odd takeaway.

That said I don't breakdown what I spend on food and household items. I seem to spend far too much time in supermarkets topping up on fresh products and snacks!

We don't eat a lot of meat but if we do, I tend to buy from a butcher.

Stopped buying so many brands when they started getting outrageously expensive.

Pizza and oven chips aside, cooking is mostly from scratch and I freeze leftovers.

Due to a temporary shortfall in income, I do eat up what there is available in the fridge and freezer even if I don't fancy it to prevent waste.

There's also food allergies so some products are more expensive than the standard alternatives.

I don’t have a Waitrose, but I suspect I would be the same because I don’t rely heavily on own brands, and so I am picking the slightly more expensive stuff a lot of the time in Tesco etc…this would make Waitrose the same price for me too I would expect.

We are one adult and 2 late teens, one is a raging carnivore and one a gluten-free vegetarian. I spend about 100-120 a week in Tesco's on food. Lots of fresh veg but it's the gf stuff that adds up. Bread is £2 a loaf and our Aldi doesn't stock gf items. I haven't got time to faff about getting food from 3 different places.
Older teen eats mainly processed chicken, burgers, chips etc that he can just bung in the oven. I will occasionally cook for him. We eat gf toast or dairy-free yoghurt & fruit for breakfast. Toasties, soup, salad for lunch. I take sandwiches to work. Younger takes gf rolls to college.
Toilet roll (48) & tissues (12 boxes) come from Naked Paper every 3 months. Cleaning stuff from smol at varying intervals.

People are really focussed on the AI thing … wish I’d not mentioned that 😂

I can afford to spend this amount - ish. I’d rather not. But meh - I’ll need to cut some corners to do that

I think my focus is more … and rather boringly - where does this end? The spiralling cost of food? And it feels like a bit of a spiral tbh

it’s been really interesting reading everyone’s experience though I have to say

I spend about 850 per month on 2 adults, 2 children and a pup.

I could easily spend more than this but go down through the online basket each week to trim whatever I can.

My DS can only eat certain foods at certain times so this influences what I need to buy each week.

@Namechangeforthis88 but it’s also not some sort of competition and a race to the bottom is it? I’m pleased for you that you can do 3 adults for 80 quid a week. I’d be pretty miserable on that … 26 quid per person per week?

you’re alright thanks.

I don’t have the vocab to debate this.

But yes you’re right. It doesn’t. It has yours and mine and the whole of the internets.

Good quality food is indeed very expensive now. I sympathise OP. Last weekend I made dinner for 5 visitors, and DH and me. We had 6 salmon fillets which I poached £14. 2 M and S quiches and a tub of sun dried tomatoes and mozzarella pearls for £8. 2 tubs of vegan coleslaw so I could eat it as I have intolerances to egg whites and some oils: £5. I made a mango and black bean salad at a cost of approx £4.50. The Greek salad I made was about £5. Homemade potato salad : £2.50. Homemade garlic bread approximately £3. Prawns in homemade Marie Rose sauce approximately £7. Beetroots, walnut and mint approximately £2.50. Nachos and salsa £2
Homemade apple crumble and ice cream approximately £7. Mostly homemade meal for 7 adults , nice but nothing fancy £60.50. There weren’t many leftovers. 3 of the adults are overweight but none of us are big strapping types and I’m a small adult.

Drinks were sparkling water and cordials as most people were driving. I hate to think how much they cost. This was just a get together while a relation was visiting. Not a special event. A special event would presumably be £££.

Next time it’ll have to be chick pea curry.

The whole premise of your OP read to me that ChatGPT says it's generous, what do you think about that? It would be a lot weirder if we had not approached that primarily by questioning the statement.

If you'd posted "I think £1000 a month is not a generous budget, AIBU?" I think you'd have got mostly shot down in flames.

FWIW I think £250 per week for a family of 3 is still generous, but saying that does not add much to the conversation.

Ah but this is MN. It does slightly descend into that Monty Python ‘Four Yorkshiremen’ sketch at times.

I buy own brands

Glad to hear someone else who spends alot on food. I live alone with a small dog and try to spend £400 per month and honestly it's a struggle now to keep within that.

That covers everything - washing powder, shampoo etc but still.

We do try to eat well with lots of fruit, yogurt, protein etc and the dog enjoys meat daily. It used to be easy on this budget but definately struggling now. That's for one person plus small dog.

I could easily (and have done) spend £600 to £700 per month on food just for me plus dog. I would just eat berries every day, crab and all my other favourite foods. Also things like ready prepared veggies from waitrose can really bump the shopping bill up if you can afford it.

Good quality food is expensive. I could quite easily spend 1k a month on 3 adults and a cat for food and cleaning products, however I could also spend half that. You pick your budget and tailor your shop to that

Food threads always descend into eating the cheapest you possibly can, but if good food is important to you then it's okay to chose to spend more. Food is a big part of life, our health and happiness.

Fortunately, with the new, somewhat controversial "show more" feature, this incredibly long post should be condensed.

@BitCoinBillionaire just as a "fairly realistic" exercise

obviously this is AI but instructing it using your requirements wrt budget, meals, household, toiletries etc, this was generated;

These are, purportedly, Aldi prices 2026 (not verified)
Your scaled-up protein basket for 3 adults brings your updated total to £136.32, per week, staying incredibly far below your expanded £550 budget limit.

Itemised July 2026 Shopping List & Prices
Fresh Meat, Fish & Seafood (Expanded Volumes)

Lean Beef Mince 5% Fat (2 x 500g packs): £5.10 (adjusted to 2026 baseline)
King Prawns (3 x 200g packs): £7.47
Diced Chicken Breast Jumbo Pack (1kg): £6.49
Chicken Drumsticks (1.5kg): £3.29
Fresh Salmon Fillets (4-pack): £4.85
Pork Sausages (12-pack): £2.25
Sliced Cooked Ham (14 slices/pack): £2.29 [3]

Fresh Produce & Plant Alternatives

Baking Potatoes (2.5kg bag): £1.59
New Potatoes (1kg): £0.95
Carrots (1kg): £0.65
Parsnips (500g): £0.65
Onions & Red Onions (2 x 1kg bags): £1.80
Mixed Peppers (3-pack): £1.45
Fresh Spinach (250g): £0.89
Standard Salad Tomatoes (6-pack): £0.85
Firm Tofu (2 x 300g packs): £1.98
Alpro or Plain Plant Yogurt (500g): £1.25
Vegan Cheddar Cheese Blocks/Slices: £2.25
Vegan Deli Meat Style Slices: £1.69
Vegan Plant-Based Mince (400g): £1.99
Vegan Plant-Based Sausages (6-pack): £1.75

Pantry & Frozen Essentials

Rolled Oats (1kg): £0.90
Clear Honey or Maple Syrup: £1.49
Spaghetti & Penne Pasta (2 x 500g): £0.56
Long-Grain Rice (1kg): £1.29
Tinned Chopped Tomatoes (4 x 400g): £1.79
Tinned Tuna in Springwater (4-pack): £2.49
Tinned Sweetcorn (3-pack): £1.50
Tinned Chickpeas (3 x 400g): £1.47
Tinned Coconut Milk (400g): £0.79
Baked Beans / Mixed Beans (3 tins): £1.47
Passata (500g): £0.55
Pizza Base Mix (3 packs): £1.65
Stock Cubes (Beef/Chicken & Vegetable packs): £1.10
Vegan Light Mayonnaise: £1.19
Frozen Garden Peas (1kg): £0.99
Frozen Mixed Berries (1kg): £2.79 [3, 4]

Dairy, Bakery & Fats

British Free Range Medium Eggs (12-pack): £2.35
Wholemeal Bread & Wraps: £2.50
Semi-Skimmed Milk (4 pints): £1.45
Oat / Soya Plant Milk (1L): £1.25
Grated Cheddar Cheese (500g): £2.99
Grated Mozzarella Cheese (250g): £1.75
Plant-Based Butter Spread: £1.45 [3, 5]

Mega Snacks Selection

Bananas (7-pack) & Apples (6-pack): £2.44
Peanut Butter (340g): £1.25
Plain Rice Cakes (2 packs): £1.98
Salted Peanuts (400g): £1.15
Tortilla Chips (2 large bags) & Mild Salsa Dip: £1.99
Bourbon Biscuits (2 packs): £0.60
Multipack Crisps (24-pack): £2.99
Cereal Bars (6-pack): £1.45
Popcorn Sweet & Salty Multipack (6-pack): £1.15
Jaffa Cakes (24-pack): £1.35 [3]

Toiletries & Cleaning

Toilet Roll (Equivalent to large 3-ply pack): £5.29
Toothpaste (3 tubes): £1.80
Bar Soap (4-pack): £1.25
Shampoo & Conditioner (2-in-1): £1.49
Multi-Purpose Surface Spray (750ml): £0.99
Washing-Up Liquid (500ml): £0.65
Washing Powder / Liquid约定 Detergent (30 washes): £3.29
All-Purpose Bin Liners (pack of 20): £1.19 [3]

Daily Dinner Recipes (With Vegan Steps)

Monday (Beef vs. Plant Bolognese):
Meat: Fry 500g beef mince and half a chopped onion. Stir in 1 grated carrot and 200g chopped tomatoes. Simmer 20 minutes, then toss with cooked spaghetti.
Vegan: Repeat identical steps in a separate pan replacing the beef mince with 400g vegan plant mince and vegetable stock.
Tuesday (Sausage & Potato Traybake):
Meat & Vegan: Chop 1kg potatoes, 2 peppers, and 2 red onions. Toss in oil on separate sides of the baking sheet (or use two trays). Top one side with 8 pork sausages and the other with 4 vegan sausages. Roast at 200°C for 35 minutes.
Wednesday (Prawn/Salmon vs. Chickpea Creamy Rice):
Meat: Fry your choice of 4 salmon fillets or 600g King Prawns with onion. Add 250g rice and chicken stock. Simmer until cooked.
Vegan: Fry 1 tin of drained chickpeas with onion. Add 150g rice and vegetable stock. Simmer until the rice absorbs the liquid, stirring in a splash of plant milk and peas at the end.
Thursday (Loaded Wedges with Chilli Beans):
Meat & Vegan: Slice 1.2kg potatoes into wedges, coat in oil, and bake at 200°C for 30 minutes. Heat 3 tins of beans with chilli powder. Pour beans over wedges. Top the meat-eater portions with cheddar cheese and the vegan portion with vegan cheddar. Melt under the grill.
Friday (Vegetable & Chickpea Curry):
Naturally Vegan: Fry remaining onions and peppers with curry powder. Stir in 2 tins of drained chickpeas and 400g coconut milk. Simmer for 15 minutes, wilt in 200g spinach, and serve all 3 adults with hot long-grain rice.
Saturday (Homemade Pizza Night):
Meat & Vegan: Combine pizza base mixes with water and roll into shapes. Slather with passata and diced vegetables. Top the meat-eater pizzas with mozzarella and leftover chicken/pork meat. Top the vegan pizza with your vegan cheese slices. Bake at 220°C for 12 minutes.
Sunday (Roast Chicken vs. Roasted Salmon/Veg):
Meat: Arrange chicken drumsticks, 700g halved new potatoes, and remaining carrots/parsnips on a tray. Roast at 190°C for 45 minutes.
Vegan/Fish: Place salmon fillets (for fish eaters) or a seasoned tofu block (for vegans) on a separate oiled tray with 300g new potatoes and root veg. Bake at 190°C for 20-25 minutes until cooked through.

Good food does not have to be expensive. Just because you paid more for your salmon fillet or whatever does not make it any better than the budget version.

Fruit and veg in season are still cheap enough. All the studies show that choosing organic does not make a meaningful difference to health outcomes. Frozen fruit and veg are just as good for you (if not better in some cases) as fresh.

We eat very well. We do not spend lots on food.

I mean…I don’t even know how much Waitrose is…nor was I saying that the AI estimates for the average family was accurate for all. In fact I was actually posting the response I got from my AI to prove that it can’t be relied upon 🤷‍♀️

@HairsprayBabe I was just coming to say this. We eat very well for not a lot too.
This thread reminded me to start putting a shop together on Tesco. Things like wholewheat pasta, Pulses, skyr yogurt, frozen berries, wholemeal pitta, brown rice, seasonal veg, are all very cheap.
The bonus of a cheap shop, for me, is o can then afford to support local independent shops in a small way. I can buy a nice loaf and good cheese if I want. We can eat out, if we want.
I've said it before, but I do hope those spending £200 plus a week are at spending some in their local economy and not just the bug supermarkets.

Surely £11.50 for 5 salmon fillets IS the budget version or close to it now??
It's often £6-7 just for 2 fillets.

In aldi £7 for 8 salmon fillets if you go for frozen - that is the budget version

Three of us and one dog here. We do drink wine but I have a separate budget for that (mostly to keep an eye on it so it doesn't get excessive!). I cook every meal from scratch apart from Fridays (we'll get a takeaway/go out/get M&S pizza or sushi, but again, Friday meals come from a separate budget). I do buy organic meat or from the butcher, and fruit and vegetables from our local grocers so that does add a bit, but I don't use jarred sauces etc so save there. We budget £1200 a month for groceries and almost always spend it all. A year ago it was £1000. Two years ago, £750. I can't believe how much more expensive food has got, to be honest.

So I just had this conversation with my DH this morning,and I was going to brave chat to see if I'm spending to much ...but as this thread is already here ...
So we are 5 adults ,2 dogs ,plus £10 a week on loo roll ,£7 a week on clothes washing liquid ,£10 a week on dog food .£7 a week on cleaning products.
That's all I've worked out so far ...but I'm spending £300 a week,on food , toiletries household .
That's £1100 a month ..omg ..
I must cut down
I worked it out as £10 a day per person for 4 of us all adults
Because one of the adults I just buy about 4 pizzas a week for and milk ..so he doesn't really count .
But that's crazy ,when I think what I could do with that money

We are all vegan as well ,and I'm convinced that is adding pounds to the bill ,vegan chocolate,yogurt ,snacks ,fake meats chicken ,all seem so expensive..
But to be fair I've no idea how much real meat actually costs
I know we always win at Christmas, because no expense of a turkey,so our bill is less then ..
But this is madness

@Lankylegs3 £7 a week on washing liquid? We buy a big pack of washing powder and it lasts weeks. (4 adults). The washer goes on at least twice a day, we just don't use masses of powder. And cleaning products, your house must be sparkling! We just use bleach, which is diluted, or washing up liquid! Just goes to show how different everyone is.

Our cats eat Martha’s from home bargains. Very reasonable. What do yours want?