I actually enjoy this side of wifework, so I take pretty much sole control over all this. I think that helps because there is only one person making decisions/planning. I work from home a lot during the week, DH tends to work more erratic hours out of the house. That's a big factor.
Do you shop weekly? Monthly with weekly top-ups?
This has changed recently as I now get a veg delivery box once a week. I know what's in it in advance so will have a rough idea in my head of a few meals I want to make, and will probably do 2 top up shops a week. Having the veg box has changed how we eat - so instead of buying ingredients then having salad on the side, we now plan meals around the veg and I buy things like goats cheese, prawns etc to make meals out of them. Regular other top ups are breads, extra fruit, yoghurt etc.
Milk and eggs come from the milkman.
Once every 2-3 weeks I'll do a bigger shop and get things like cereal, rice/pasta, store cupboard top ups, meat to go in the freezer, cleaning products etc.
Overall our shopping bills have probably gone up slightly but we are eating much much more healthily.
I try and plan which supermarket I go to to keep costs down - so I'll go to M&S if I want their spicy prawns, but will avoid buying basics like bread or bananas from there and get those from Aldi.
I keep a blackboard on the kitchen where anyone can write down things that have been run out of or ingredients we need. I photograph the blackboard when I go out in case I pass the right shop.
Do you plan things like take-aways or eating out in advance and budget for them?
I can't remember the last takeaway we had - part of eating heathier has meant I'm less tempted to order these.
We used to eat out very frequently as a family at weekends, and have cut that right down too. Partly down to eating with the kids becoming more relaxing as they got older. BUt we're now very conscious that spending #30-40 on a nice cafe lunch or takeaway really adds up over a month.
Do you make lunch the night before and take it to work, or do you just buy something you fancy each day?
I have one day a week when I buy lunch out, and I treat myself to a nice cake because it's my worst work day. THe rest of the time I eat at home or make packed, using food that I know needs eating and the kdis probably won't - salad bits etc.
DH has a subsidised lunch at work so doesn't take it very often, but will take leftovers if I make extras of things like roasted veggies/couscous.
Do people actually keep household accounts so they know how much they have and how much they've spent?
No. we have a joint account where all bills on direct debits are paid from. There isn't nuch left over on that for food/petrol/unexpected bills, but I check it at least once a week and eitehr DH or I top it up fro our current accounts if needed. WE also have a text alert if we're running low. That focusses the mind on how much we've spent that month.
Do you meal plan and shop accordingly?
I have a running meal plan in my head - i am pathological about avoiding food waste though so am constantly adapting it to make sure that things that need eating get used up. I google a lot of recipes using the key ingredients I know need using in the next 2-3 days for inspiratoin and then adapt them.
How do you plan spontaneous purchases of drinks/snacks etc, for yourselves and the kids?
Kids have a snack box which they are allowed into, plus fruit bowl at any time. Then there's an area of the fridge that is always free for them to eat from - but things I've planned for dinner are put separately. Everyone in the house - DH included - knows not to crack open a packet of something like chicken without asking if it's needed.
I do work away quite frequently - during those weeks I just try and fill the fridge with things like sausages that everyone likes and let them go free for all on it!