To attempt to have a weekly shopping budget of £50?

[LittlePickleHead]

In the last few months of saving for a wedding and a lot of expensive things coming up, so for the next few months I'd like to try and stick to a £50 a week budget for me, DP and 2yo DD.

I know this has been done before, but really looking for tips on how to do this, or whether I am being completely unrealistic!

I'm having to give up my beloved Ocado for a while and switch to Tesco (not really a fan TBH), but I've just used mySupermarket and managed to get a shop for just under budget, although haven't had to buy washing powder this week (though this does include nappies).

Anyone else manage on this small amount? I usually spend around £80 at Ocado, not including any alcohol...

I didnt like the aldi nappies tbh....they kept splitting and the gel "stuff" was coming out Didnt like their wipes either...their chocolate is fab though!

Asda nappies are fab though - I get 2 large packs for £10. Also get huggies pure wipes - just bought 8 packs for £7.50.

I think tesco is quite expensive...asda is the cheapest IMO.

Have you thought of getting your fruit and veg at a market/farmers market??

I generally use cloth nappies (way cheaper if you are on a budget) but have used Lidl nappies in the past to go away with, and they were fine.

Great thanks! Sorry for hijacking the thread!

whats cheaper anyone - aldi or lydl?

I'm currently on a major mission to reduce our food bill each week; we've been spending ridiculous amounts, admittedly due to DH's fondness for popping to the shop.

I've started buying fruit/veg from Aldi and Lidl. I stock up on the special offers each week and then store them in Stayfresh bags in the fridge. The bags mean that it all stays fresh for up to 3 weeks. Lidl had big bags of apples last week for something like 79p, so I bought 3 bags and have put them in the stayfresh bags. Things like crisps and biscuits I buy in Poundland; a multipack of 12 packs of branded crisps is up to £2.99 in somewhere like Tesco but obviously £1 in Poundland so I go there once a month to stock up. Poundland also do loads of Weightwatchers food.

OK rising to the challenge. Tucked 55 in my purse on Thursday and so far have spent 4.40 on a reduced sausage plait for 1.34, brocolli, packet twix, packet lettuce and a couple of bits. Have to confess at this stage that used fishcakes and oven chips from freezer last night as didn't have time to shop and the dc have had hoops and beans on toast this morning. Think it's fair to deduct another 3.00 for that so have 47.60 to last until Thursday.

Have budgeted 30 to get through to Tuesday morning and meals include: macaroni cheese and salad tonight, a picnic - long planned tomorrow, roast chicken Sunday eve, and chicken, broc and pasta cheese bake on Monday.

Wish me luck because the DC are already complaining and FWIW on Thursday night DS ate: left-over bowl of pasta, half sausge plat and veg, 4 fingers of twix, two chocolate easter cakes and one bowl of cereal.

we live down the street from an iceland. Our weekly shop (for a family of three) rarely hits £50 and thats with lots of treats!

oncemai are you getting your meat and veg from the market, as that will make a massive difference?

marking my place to read later.

We are in the same boat, £50 a week for DP and DDs, 2.5yo and 1yo and myself.

I need to stop buying things when out and save money that way and start taking lunch to work!

OK, so far a change of plan. Because there isn't a fridge full of food they were starving at lunch time and had pasta with a small tin of tuna, butter, spring onion and cheese. Changed Macaroni cheese plan and having burgers (home made) with three buns I found at the back of the freezer, oven chips and salad bits left over from Thursday. Don't have a local market but have been to Sainsbury's. Large basics chicken for 4.12, reduced treats incl sausage rolls and cadbury cake bars, few basics: eggs, juice yoghurt, bread, cheese, cereal, bit of veg and a cucumber, satsumas (1/2 price). A reduced special chicken pie in puff pastry reduced from 3.99 to 1.70 which will do for Tuesday. Have 24.06 left for Tues/Weds/Thurs. Please bear in mind the DC are 16 and 12(nearly 13)!!!

You can do it. We spend about £70 a week on food for me, dh and two dcs. This doesn't include any alcohol or special treats, but we still eat well and have decent quality stuff. It does include cat food/litter and packed lunch stuff for ds1.

Try to visit the local butchers for meat and we bought a turkey leg for £1.53 from Sainsburys last week. We roasted it and it was lovely - the dcs thought it was chicken.

Aldi is great for staples like pasta, rice, cooking oil, cooked meats, cheeses, yoghurts, tinned tomatoes, fruit, vegetables, toilet/kitchen roll and juices.

Inspired by this thread I have spent far far less since tuesday on our evening meals, as follows:

Tues: chicken stirfry

wed: Chilli made with reduced lean mince 700g as on sell by date and two tins of basics kidney beans, with rice.

Thurs: left over chilli with garlic bread I had in freezer

fri: six egg omlette with onion, coriander and curry powder with paratha which I had in freezer.

Sat: Blow out in kebab shop ( working all day and knackered )

total cost of food purchased including cost of things I already had £20.65.

DP only had one meal with us as he worked late; however I am well proud.

I have swapped all the kitkats/preprepared drinks/cheese strings for DS ( I know ) for custard creams and rich tea/ squash and uncut cheese.

We are eating better and there is no waste.

I shop daily for only what I need as I'm working opposite supermarket and I am now working my way through all the stuff stored in the cupboards aswell

I am on such a mission! Going to go to aldi tomorrow to get pasta, tins of toms etc, this is fine for dd and I but OH is a meat and two veg type man and fussy into the bargain. Not sure how to overcome this but I am determined to find a way! Managed last week to do jacket pots with tinned tuna, spring onion and mayo for 3 of us (ds stays at gp's for school during the week as travely to his school is a nightmare) 2 nights in the week and no1 complained! Swopped ready bought drinks for packed lunch for orange squash, frozen and left to defrost in packed lunch and dd is a convert! I will manage £50 a week!

Saw this advertised last night as well

This is going better than I expected. The Sainsbury's basics chicken was much bigger than the usual free range one and there was enough left over for chicken with new potatoes, salad, and coleslaw. Have been to Sainsburys again for salad stuff, new potatoes and some crisps and little puds. I estimated an 8.50 spend but looking out for reductions and special offers it was 6.20. Now having pasta bake with cheese sauce and brocolli with salad tomorrow, the chicken pie with veg and new potatoes on Wednesday. Still have 14.31 left from my 55.00 and could do egg chips and beans on Thursday. That will be 8 days on just of 40.00. Admittedly no cleaning stuffs or cat food required and the dc have school lunches. Amazed I have done this so easily.

Done it with 11 to spare.