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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask what you spend at the supermarket on average each week

370 replies

Joysmum · 10/12/2013 17:10

I'm just wondering what everyone else's costs roughly are, for how many people and whether this includes lunches?

OP posts:
passedgo · 13/12/2013 10:37

But it's not proper eating out if you have to drink tapwater and don't have a pudding! And fit in with voucher criteria.

I would prefer to get a good roast and eat at home. We only do cafe's now, even that sets us back £5 a head for cake and drink.

passedgo · 13/12/2013 10:48

Organic veg boxes a a bit of a laugh as well. They keep coming to my door trying to sell me one. I'd happily buy one (for half the price) but I'm not paying £20 (for 3-4 people) for some carrots and spuds and wilting greens. That's twice our weekly veg bill.

MyMILisfromHELL · 13/12/2013 11:40

We spend around £70 pw including nappies, wipes & top ups. We are a family of 4 - dh, dc4, dc1 & I.

We try eat organic & free range where possible. It takes a lot of meal planning, cooking from scratch & making the most of coupons & vouchers.

I realise our expenditure will go up as the dc grow & the cost of living rises. However, there are some people on this thread spending £200+ pw on groceries. Wtaf? Either they're eating luxurious, rich foods & too much meat or aren't watching portion sizes & are therefore obese.

Whistleblower0 · 13/12/2013 11:43

Eating out is one of the joys of life. We always have tap water as well, but just so we dont neck the wine too quicklyWine

passedgo · 13/12/2013 11:46

But I'd rather have good cake and good coffee in a nice cafe than a cheap meal in a cheap restaurant on a cheap budget.

marzipanned · 13/12/2013 11:56

MyMIL we spend about £120pw without children. I can easily see how people would spend £200, without eating overly rich foods or becoming obese.

At our supermarket, buying free range chicken for 4 would cost £15-20. Buying a more expensive type of fish would be about the same. If you did that sort of protein three or four nights a week, that could easily get you to £60. We don't drink much wine, but let's say add a couple of decent bottles and that's another £40. You're already at £100.

I'm not saying that we DO eat like this, but it could very easily be done.

As others have said, if you can afford it, and choose to spend your money on it, what's the problem?

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 13/12/2013 12:04

MyMIL why on earth would you be judgy about what other people spend?

PMSL at 'luxurious food' as if that is some kind of sin.

TantrumsStoleSantasBalloons · 13/12/2013 12:20

MIL, you know what? If people can afford it, why on earth can they not buy "luxurious food"?

What on earth has it got to do with you, what people choose to eat?

My shopping was £204.78 this week. It feeds 5 of us, 2 of those are teenagers. We all take packed lunches during the week. We take it in turns to cook "from scratch" every night.

What do you count as luxurious food?

TantrumsStoleSantasBalloons · 13/12/2013 12:22

And fwiw I don't know who decided what "too much meat" is. Is there a limit that has somehow passed me by?

And no, none of us are obese, or even overweight, because clearly that has some relevance to you

MILLYMOLLYMANDYMAX · 13/12/2013 12:30

Sorry passedgo for being tee total, and as for no puddings, dh is diabetic and I really am not bothered about them. We don't often go to chain restaurants, and as for the voucher thing, we have never adjusted what we eat to suit a voucher, 10 %, 15% off or free pudding etc doesn't make a difference what we choose off a menu.

Possiblyorange · 13/12/2013 12:36

I have just calculated average spend per meal, out of interest. Four of us (all on packed lunches when out of the house, so every meal made from food shop)plus 3x nanny meals per week comes to an average of 86p per person per meal, which seems pretty reasonable.

MILLYMOLLYMANDYMAX · 13/12/2013 12:36

Also passedgo I noticed you say you prefer not to go to cheap restaurants. Can I ask do you look at the price of something and if it is deemed too cheap then you don't go in?

If you know where to look there are some lovely restaurants in the centre of London that are really good value.

Whistleblower0 · 13/12/2013 12:45

Well i am clearly wasting my money on fripperies, such as extravagent foodWink
i went out for dinner last night with some friends and spent just over £40 on two courses and wine.
Bloody lovely it was too. Smile

Whistleblower0 · 13/12/2013 12:48

Well i am clearly wasting my money on fripperies, such as extravagent foodWink
i went out for dinner last night with some friends and spent just over £40 on two courses and wine.
Bloody lovely it was too. Smile

Whistleblower0 · 13/12/2013 12:48

Sorry posted twice.

MILLYMOLLYMANDYMAX · 13/12/2013 12:58

Whistleblower if you enjoyed your meal then you go for it. Both myself and dh are from that part of the country that is known for being careful and it is a inbuilt thing we have grown up with from both sets of parents.

Dd's birthday soon and we are going to her favourite restaurant and then on to see a west end musical, stalls seating. Total price will come to under £100in total. I do like the best it is just that I also enjoy getting it for less.

MyMILisfromHELL · 13/12/2013 13:02

Clearly I live in another world.

The carers/nurses who (will) wipe yours, your parents/grandparent's bums get paid c.£200pw for the privilege.

& yes obesity/gluttony is an issue for me. I have a problem with fat rich people who gorge on food all day. There is such a thing as portion control.

Spending £200pw is decadent & wasteful whichever way you look at it. Millions worldwide & thousands here in the UK are starving through no fault of their own.

MN is full of rich little girls who have no idea of poverty or the real world or making it on your own. It makes me sick.

Whistleblower0 · 13/12/2013 13:03

Good for you Milly. I hope you and your family have a great timeSmile

passedgo · 13/12/2013 13:04

So MIL how much do you spend on your weekly food shopping?

FruitSaladIsNotPudding · 13/12/2013 13:05

Nurses don't get paid £200 a week.

Taffeta · 13/12/2013 13:09

Why are on you on MN then MIL, if it upsets you so?

passedgo · 13/12/2013 13:10

possiblyorange at 86p per meal that's £3.50 per meal, which is £11.50 per day which is around £80 a week. Interesting because that's how I work out my food bill, the cost of the meals themselves. That gives you a basic essential amount that you simply need to spend. After that you have to make allowances for fripperies such as nibbles and drinks, coffee, juice, chocolate etc.

AngelsLieToKeepControl · 13/12/2013 13:10

MN is full of rich little girls who have no idea of poverty or the real world or making it on your own

Is it really? I think you need to take another look around, but if it makes you that sick then feel free to use another site.

Whistleblower0 · 13/12/2013 13:11

MyMiL i'm sadly not rich, but love nice food and wine. i am equally happy in pizza express with dd and dh, as i am in the lovely fish restaurant i went to last night.
You sound a touch jealous tbh Envy

TantrumsStoleSantasBalloons · 13/12/2013 13:12

MIL, why is it wasteful?

What proportion of your income is spent on food overall?