to spend £280 a week to feed a family of 5?

[TempleOfBlooms]

I spend about £280 a week on food. This includes my work lunches which tend to be salads from places like Leon plus coffees etc. The rest is food eaten at home.

Breakfast for all five of us tends to be things like Bircher muesli or chia based stuff with fruits and nuts. Fresh juice too.

Lunches in summer are usually a selection of dips and cheese and meats and salads.

Dinner is usually fish or chicken with a selection of salads and grilled veg.

So fresh food but not caviar or ridiculous indulgences.

It seems like everyone else on here can feed a family of four on tiny amounts. How? We certainly could eat more cheaply but that would mean fewer veg, fewer fruits, less fish etc.

Is it really so unusual to spend so much on food? I never see anyone else admit to it.

It’s a lot to be spending. If you can afford it then that’s up to you but it would be v easy to cut back if you wanted to.

What about all the rubbish you are creating with all those ready made salads and take away coffees though? That’s a lot of packaging when you could just make a packed lunch.

But they haven’t. Announcing you make £60 spread a week is of little importance to me. I have been very poor and I’m now not, I’m not hugely well off but I’m not poor. I have spent £50/£200 and everything in between.

There is no way a weekly shop for four including lunches, breakfasts, dinners and snacks can be fresh, healthy and varied for less than £20 a head. Even the government estimation is above that.

Why this is something people have such a problem with I don’t know. What you feed your family is 100% your concern and not mine. The OP probably wonders how anyone can spend £20 per head and eat well, we all have different ideas and methods I guess. It’s fine.

Oh Cant there is just no point in trying to reason with you. It's become very obvious that you equate being richer with being able to feed your family better. In reality that's just not the case, an omelette and salad is a perfectly adequate evening meal that costs very little but you for some ungodly known reason thinks this is poor nutrition.

I actually give up and I rarely do that 😕

Yes, now I am better off, I can afford to feed my family better.

This is bugger all to do with anyone else’s family.

The likelihood of me getting my children to eat an omelette is slim to none, unfortunately, which is fine because a packet of chicken/ham/etc with salad costs exactly the same!

I do love an omelette after training though.

For YOU that is £80. That's fine. Other people are more skilled at meal planning, buying in season (which is not only cheaper but much nicer to eat!) and cooking the food they buy than you are. You're judging by your standards. That's why you are offending people.

Exactly.

I was jumped on by two posters because I said I was proud to earn enough money to give my children a healthy and varied diet.

But when you first said it, you added how you'd worked hard to get qualifications to get a better job, which you work hard at. That implies that people who don't have well paid jobs, haven't worked hard enough. There was an element of smugness and condescension in that statement.

Also, British meat whether it's free range, organic, or not, doesn't have hormones in. You're getting it confused with American standards of producing meat.

MOTO

Yes I did, because I’ve worked really hard to provide for my family and I’m proud of that. I was shot down for saying I was proud of that.

I have EVERY reason to be proud of that.

7 years ago we were in a temporary house, grieving and just getting to grips with my bipolar diagnosis. No family help from anywhere. We are doing really well and every time I can make a choice about better meat, or to get the veg I want rather than what’s on offer, I feel good about what we’ve accomplished as a family. Snort and attack all you want.

I believe that everyone (through support, top ups or wages) should be able to feed their families comfortably. I believe comfortably starts at £80 a week for a family of 4.

I believe that if you’re doing well and feeding your kids good food you have every right to feel good about that.

I am glad that cheaper options exist, I know people need them (as I have lots in the past) but no family should struggle so much in this society. That’s nonsense

Consider lentils and pulses. They are nutritious and can cut pounds off your food budget.

They are easy to eat too, so children associate them with comfort food and look forward to eating them.

Soak a cupful over night and cook them for 45 minutes with a tin of tomatoes, fresh herbs after frying off a few onions, garlic, chilli and ginger.

Salt AFTER or the beans do not soften.

You can do it between waking up, tea and shower.

It's a lovely thing to come home knowing there is a huge pot of something fabulous for supper and you have spent pennies.

Just remember to turn off the gas before you go to work!

@FourFriedChickens well, this was true, that's all I can tell you. It was the difference between shopping in a London Tesco and a Tesco in the North West. Similar shop, more of it, cost £40 less, that was my experience.

Oh lord don’t suggest lentils or pulses to Cant despite the fact I cook them myself because they are cheap and nutritious. God knows what their viewpoint will be on those ‘cheap’ offerings.

And yes I’m well aware of the facetiousness of this comment but for the love of god that person’s smugness, arrogance and condescending attitude knows no bounds.

Yes Cant you have achieved where others have failed, I’m exasperated and not sure why I’m wasting my energy on you 😏

There is no way a weekly shop for four including lunches, breakfasts, dinners and snacks can be fresh, healthy and varied for less than £20 a head. Even the government estimation is above that.

You can. We do. My classically trained Chef Husband with three current rosettes ensures it.*
*
I give up too slutty.

how annoying,,,,I live in Wales and find the food in London actualy cheaper. But who knows,,,,

I tried to feed my children a lentil and potato stew once and they said it looked like vomit....

Wow camel you seem quite onsessed with government calculations.
And yes it was your smugness and superiority complext which was the issue, not how hard youve worked or how much you spend.
Oh and pointing out a spelling mistake.
Go you.

Hi,

I've not looked at all the details of this thread and looking at the last couple of threads wonder if its got a little too aggressive, but wanted to add some ideas to cutting down your weekly costs without giving up any 'standards'. If cost is not an issue then seriously don't bother reading any more.

I have 4 children (x1 adult, x1 teen and x 1 boy (i.e. he eats more than myself and my 3 daughters yet is as thin as a rake (grrrr)) so we number 6 and believed that spending 150 a week was over the top. My main go to shops are Aldi and Waitrose with bits of everywhere else dependent on need. I'm obsessive about quality of food, especially meat, but to some degree veg, but to keep costs down have learnt (via YouTube) to butcher large cuts of meat (like a whole chicken) into the various components as this is a massive massive money saver. Also look into what should be bought organically veg/fruit wise and what is a massive waste of money so logically buying organic bananas when you remove the peel that contains most of the nasty stuff is a waste of money. Finally think about how you prepare things. I'm lazy and therefore ALWAYs buy organic carrots because all I have to do is top and tail. Carrots are notorious for soaking up the fertilisers and pesticides, but buying organic means I don't have to peel.

Remember that Waitrose is part of the John Lewis partnership and thus has the motto 'never knowingly undersold'. Translated this means that for like for like products they will either price match or beat all competitors. The problem with Waitrose is all the 'high' end food that is on display. I counter this by not walking into the store where possible. I order and get delivered. Not only do I believe that I more than make up for the additional delivery cost through cost savings and quality (I do this on a yearly basis through Ocado) BUT I don't run the risk of buying things that I 'fancy' - i.e. have been blatantly advertised to me with the hope of my buying etc! In terms of personal circumstances, as an aside, 3 of my kids are on the autism spectrum and one in particular is also ADHD and walking them around a shop with any form of strip lighting is tantamount to social suicide! The lights themselves seem to send them into overdrive and heat seeking missiles intent on causing mayhem and destruction. I should have named my son Ernest as he means well (so much so) but standing at the beginning of a supermarket aisle is equivalent to pinball. I simply stand there and look down the aisle assigning different points to the various obstacles (displays/cans/toddlers/old people etc). He never fails to cause mayhem and destruction.

So this love of having food delivered, however, is the only reason I don't shop at Aldi (and my 3rd favourite but rarely get to, Lidl) all the time. In my opinion they're great value. Yes sometimes their cuts of meat are not great - so yes I'd look elsewhere for them but in terms of everyday shopping they can't be beaten. No they don't have 'named' brands, but their own brands seem to more than meet if not surpass named brand standards. This is fact as I subscribe to Which - the consumer association which regularly checks out quality. (well worth the subscription price if only to check you're not being screwed). Meat wise I dont feel you can beat a trusted local farmer. I have found a couple. Then buying large joints (I recently bought half a lamb) and learning how to butcher it into its various components including stocks etc means that you can access quality foods at a fraction of the cost. However if cost is not an issue - then why on earth are you mentioning it on Mumsnet given the very broad spectrum of individuals on here. If cost is not an issue then you should have the decency not to rub other peoples faces into what you can afford.

That said we don't have loads of what people consider to be 'essentials' but we consider to be luxury items. So maybe I should just shut up - I get that!

If you can afford it who cares! Obviously not eating out or getting coffee and buying cheaper brands, using cheaper supermarkets and buying frozen food could bring it down to less than 100 pounds

Ok Cant before I too give up at your stubborn snobbery my weekly meal plan
Gnocchi bake with bacon and cherry tomatoes - £4
Chicken stir fry - £5
Fish wrapped in parma ham with roast new potatoes and salad - £5
meatballs pasta and salad - £4
Burger, wedges and salad - £4
Meatloaf, potatoes and veg - £5
Curry - £5
£32 for my main meals leaves £28 for breakfast and lunches which will be porridge with frozen berries, weetabix, omelette's, sandwiches, fruit, cheese salad, home made cheese scones and muffins. Fruit and veg from the market.

Easy varied and under £60 for a week for four people.

sprinklesinmyelbow. It was NOT" driving round France", nor just Jamaica for a wedding, it was also Florida, and I was giving examples. I don't even fancy Jamaica, hence stopover in US to break it up, and more intresting places there than Disney. As I said, we may have different ideas on a fuck off holiday. So no need for the face!
I am sure you could spend far more than 5k to have some luxurious holiday in theMaldives or wherever ,where you get fanned with a brick for a fortnight in some all inclusive, exclusive resort, where you lie on a beach for a fortnight and see nothing of the place you are in. And if that's what you want to do ...fine.

Personally , that would be my idea of hell on earth. My ideal holiday would be a holiday to Patagonia with a cruise to the Antartic on one of the Discoverer boats which is just over 5k for 2 of us (exp spends).
But each to their own.

I am probably spending around that for a family of four + a live-in nanny. That's £8 a person a day, on weekdays that covers only lunch + coffee.

We are a family of 4 and spend about £140 for 2 weeks worth of food, this includes nappies, bottled formula and pouches of baby food.

CantankerousCamel
You were "attacked" because of your superior attitude and the fact that you assumed that because you didn't feed your family as well when you were not in the financial position you are now that other people are the same. Maybe those people just make better choices than you when it comes to food.

Not everyone has chief husbands ffs.

This thread is ridiculous.

LADY

Half of the ingridents you’ve mentioned I couldn’t buy for the price you’ve put as the entire meal price! It makes no sense!!

SLUTTY

I did what I had to do, I’m glad now that I can buy fresh food with more variety.

I would rather be seen as smug that be coming across as utterly jealous and relentless as some of you.

I absolutely don’t need or deserve this shit from any of you.

For what? For feeling slightly differently about fucking food budgets?

Honestly.

That is ridiculous amount to be spending. We eat well and fresh. I have a good stock cupboard, fridge and freezer. I buy our meat from an online butchers. I buy fresh steak, lamb, fish and so on. We have deserts and plenty of fresh food.

Your obviously uncomfortable with what you are spending so I suggest you look at your budget and where your buying from.

I don't shop at Aldi or Lidl either. If your paying for your lunches and other foods out that will be a massive part you can cut out.

For example your coffees. Buy a Starbucks mug and your own instant drinks like latte for example fron the supermarket and all you need is not water from a kettle. Make your own lunch to take into work with you.

There's a tv program it sounds like you could go on. I can't remember the name of it. Its the one where they cut people shopping bills down and get them to make better choices in what they are buying.

Maybe Google cutting down on your shopping budget if you really want to save money and still eat well

I'm going to stick my neck out and say cooking is a skill - it requires knowledge and experience and I'll be fucked if my skill is belittled by saying it's just following a recipe. Knowing when to stop cooking something is not written in the recipe - the timing is approximate, knowing when it tastes right, knowing how to chop, how to chose a piece of meat, the correct rice, potato, tomato etc, how to match side dishes, know a recipe is written incorrectly...this might not seem important for your family but why not? It's one of life's greatest pleasures. So I started my kids on the road to cooking dinners a few years ago, teaching them the skills necessary to tackle any recipe and every recipe they make, they learn new skills and gain confidence...

Half of the ingridents you’ve mentioned I couldn’t buy for the price you’ve put as the entire meal price! It makes no sense!!

I buy very high quality meat and fish I just don't need the expensive fish or cuts of meat. We don't eat huge amounts of meat in each portion either. Plus the discount for bulk buying my meat. I shop smart, I cook well.