Food is expensive

[goldenorbspider]

Went to aldi got few bits for the week and not a big shop for me and one infant. Spent £40 and it's not even a big shop. What do people do to save money on food? I can't imagine spending much less. I know it would cost waay more at other supermarkets.

@schnubbins I’m in Ireland and I pay euros!! I have posted my receipts! I paid €54 for my shopping this week!! Is it really that much of a difference in Germany

The ex pat will be in the Southern Hemisphere. $600 a week in Sydney is normal without alcohol or baby stuff

If you eat 'properly' and your list looks like you do, then yes food is expensive.

If you skip breakfast or just have toast or cereal, a sandwich for lunch and pasta for dinner, and no fruit or healthy snacks, then it will cost you a lot less but almost your entire diet will be refined carbohydrates.

To keep it healthy and a bit less expensive you can try adding some meals where the main ingredient is legumes, eggs, tinned sardines, smoked mackerel or chicken livers. I find Middle Eastern and Asian cooking to be quite good inspiration.

It's expensive but it is going to get so much worse next year, especially when it comes to fresh produce.
Depressing.

We are vegan and spend £25 a week in Aldi for my son and I. It's the cheapest way to eat :)

I think food is quite cheap at Aldi and Lidl. Make your own sauces which only takes 5 mins and is very cheap and wait to have your cherries until the summer. We eat apples, bananas and satsumas in winter and strawberries, cherries and raspberries in summer season. I don't think £40 is much for what you got.

If you skip breakfast or just have toast or cereal, a sandwich for lunch and pasta for dinner, and no fruit or healthy snacks, then it will cost you a lot less but almost your entire diet will be refined carbohydrates.

Don't get me wrong I love carbs but they just don't fill me up! Would rather have a mahoosive pile of veg and a good steak

We've started buying frozen from cash and carry inc veg, spend about £100 and does a few months x

Plan your meals We normally spend about £60 a week (we have a take out once a week our choice)

I shop at Aldi/Lidl.

I quite often buy a large tray of chicken breast or mince and freeze them into smaller portions that way I can alternate which week I buy meat so it’s not all in one shop. Same with the double packs of bacon I always cut them and put one in freezer.

We always have a roast dinner on a Sunday - normally pork as it’s pretty cheap and we just cook it slowly. Normally some left over the next day for sandwiches. We generally will have fajitas one night, pasta bake one night - just a jar one quick and cheap! Mince made into spaghetti Bol or lasagne. Carbonara another fave.

Husband and son take packed lunch. Buy ham for sandwiches, cheese cube (just get a large block of cheese and cut some cubes off) yoghurts, bread sticks, mini cucumbers or a large cucumber cut into batons, grapes and other fruit.

Don’t really but too many pre made things other than fish fingers and the odd pizza for the kids but they only like the cheap cheese and tomatoe ones anyway!

People are being a bit snotty to the OP.

Tinned lychees aren’t nice.

Carbonara and white sauce ‘easy and cheaply made at home’ - I cant make those very well and would rather buy ready-made.

The fruit the OP bought isn’t ‘posh’, it’s just not British/in season.

But anyway, I actually think that’s a lot of food for £40.

I haven't read through all the replies but I agree that it's a good amount of food for what you paid. Aldi is also my go to supermarket then Tesco if I can't get something at the other.

I did try out the peach and chickpea curry last week by jack monro. Very pleasantly surprised. It was lovely and OH, who is a big meat eater, asked for seconds 😁

That's a lot and you don't specify on some items I.e what toiletries? How many?
Toothpaste: Aldi or Colgate at £2 a tube?
Salmon: fresh or frozen?
Nappies are a few quid a pack, you've spent at least a fiver in fruit.

You get the jist. That's actually really good for what you bought.

Buying frozen fruit,berries etc,is way cheaperbythan buying them fresh,i even buy frozen in summer. As i live alone i buy frozen veg too,saves it going off and being thrown away. I buy chicken family size pieces,not fillets,i get 3/4 meals out of that.Turkey steaks are cheap,marinated they can be delicious.Get those at Lidl.I buy long life milk,lasts ages,buy packets of nuts,seeds oats etc,in Lidl ,make my own museili,add a banana and easy peeler.

Even in M&S if you go in evenings they reduce stuff well.i got their large calamari pack half price last week,great in pasta,i use dried wholemeal,and making own sauces way cheaper than bought ones. And tinned sardines and mackeral i do prefer M&S in olive oil,you can grill them like fresh ones or use them in pasta,tinned anchovies too Aldis and Lidls are fine.

I used to spend far too much on food,but ive definitey saved money recently.

I just dont get aldi and lidl, never once been able to get what I get from tesco for any cheaper (some items yes but it soon goes right back up again with other items), I shop ingredients and cook from scratch and I can never find what I need as they just dont have the variety plus I dont shop brand name so am always able to find value products which you just dont get in aldi or lidl.

@boredbum you've fallen for the middle aisle "must haves" and done the best part if £12 on pizza.

How much quinoa do you eat?

You've also bought 3 or 4 bread type items, including brioche? Will all this be eaten? Home baking would save you a few ponds a week if you've time....

Rather than the chicken breasts, maybe try buying a large chicken instead as it is a lot better value. You can have it roast and then make a curry, one night, use some for a stir fry it and then finally use the carcass for a basis of soup and bung a load of veg into it

Also @boredbum paying £2.49 for 500g of grated cheddar is a pricey way to consume cheddar !

Buy local, in-season fruit and veg. Think of the planet. Tastes better too, and less packaging.

After Brexit transition period will be hugely more expensive.

That’s a lot of food in that for £40, but I’d expect that quantity of food to do more than a week for one adult one toddler. Do you freeze portions!

You buy fresh healthy foods to make nice dinners, fruit too is expensive.

Not sure what you're asking.
That actually seems like a LOT of food for £40.
You are buying some rather expensive items eg:
lots of meat
Salmon fillets
Cherries
Blueberries
Salad mix
jarred sauces
So either swap these for cheaper versions, or accept that you want them and then don't expect a super-cheap food bill.
I'm sure there are loads of lists of how to save money on groceries - eg buy store-brands, less meat, in-season fruit & veg etc etc.

Apples , not cherries from goodness knows where , lentils, onions, celery ,tin tomatoes,
Chickpeas, brown rice ,etc all cheap tasty and nutritious.
Look up some simple recipes and cook something ,

Earthling1994
I agree.

0ne of the biggest expense is meat.

Swapping it out for other forms of protein saves loads of money.

buy butter, flour, milk to make the carbonara sauce

Sacrilege! That's a white sauce. Even if you add pancetta and cheese, it still only makes it a cheese sauce with pancetta in it.

Carbonara is egg yolks, olive oil, garlic, pancetta and pecorino or parmesan. Cream if desired (which it always is, in our house )

It's probably our favourite 5-minute dinner. We eat it a lot.