To not be able to food shop for cheaper?

[cheesetriangles]

I’ve tried all the supermarkets possible but can’t manage to get our weekly food shop for less than £100.

(£100 is inclusive of all food, toiletries, cleaning products, detergent, vitamins, kitchen/loo roll, tin foil etc)

It’s only two adults eating but we do have to buy some free from products in that. We don’t buy alcohol. I’ve been to all the supermarkets and just can’t do it for cheaper at any. We eat very little meat, maybe the weekly shop includes two meat products that’s it. I wish I could save on this but maybe that’s just not practical with the cost of living? AIBU?

I do the four of us for the same amount, but free from costs a fortune so I can see why you spent that for two tbh. Food has gone up so much.

reconstituted powdered skim milk tastes likes water. Nothing about mixing it up thickly compensates for it being fat free

I’m £70 for 1 adult and 2 kids. Kids each a lot so I’d say equal to 2 adults. It’s rotten at the moment but doubt it’ll change much.

I used to get a full fat one and used it for porridge. They might not do that anymore, I know the shelf life isn't as long as it can go rancid.

Many of which contain gluten as an ingredient.

I probably buy tinfoil once or twice a year. Use tuppaware boxes instead. You don’t need it for cooking. You are probably overusing cleaning products too. I don’t use them as can’t tolerate the smells. I need a bottle of bleach about once a month and some cream cleaner every couple of months. I’ve got a spray mop
so floor cleaner lasts months. You don’t need antibacterial spray etc. clothing with washing up water on it is fine.
downgrade your toiletries too.
get loo roll from aldi. It is so expensive in other supermarkets for same quality.

I

• buy things with the yellow sticker
• make an extra large chicken last 2 or 3 meals
• eat meat but often buy inexpensive cuts
• I go to the supermarket at the end of the day and see what the meat and fish counter have that is good value
• I stock up the freezer with good value meat
• mainly give the children fruit snacks as far as possible
• cook from scratch quite a lot
• buy from Ocado but select offers and flash sales items
• use vouchers and special offers
• tend to get a Waitrose free coffee if I am out rather than going to Costa et al

It feels as though we are travelling in a really expensive country! with really expensive food! all the time!

Having said that, the children are never hungry and we do eat quite well, I think.

I don't spend that much for 2 - between £65 - £80 usually. I don't look out for the cheapest products either and often buy organic and brands over own label. Only one of us eats meat but I still buy a small amount.

Might be worth getting cleaners etc in bulk from home bargains or I get eco options online. I use solid shampoo and deodorant. The shampoo lasts 6months+ (£12 or less for a year)and the deodorant the same possibly longer £9 for a refill. I also use flannels that were £3 for 10 for spills and things so kitchen roll lasts ages as barely use it. I bought 40 6 years ago and still good. Not sure how that compares as haven't bought from supermarket for so long but might be worth looking at the non food parts of your shop to see if you could save there? Prices are so high ATM it is so tough! Xx

This is just meaningless really. If you had to spend less then you would. If you’re buying vitamins and toiletries you’ve got enough money. I say this as someone who has known extreme poverty. It’s something I will never ever forget. I couldn’t feed myself or pay a bus fare to work. 100 a week for food etc all depends what you’re buying but it’s definitely enough if that’s what you have to spend

We buy lots of yellow sticker food

We also used Too Good To Go food waste apps

If you cannot reduce your food bill
Can you reduce something else instead like insurances, other household bills ?

Vitamins are expensive. Personally I would ditch the vitamins in favour of better quality food rather than baked beans.

This is a massive problem. Own brand curry sauce £1.20 but it’s cheap because it’s bulked out with wheat. Sharwoods curry sauce is wheat free but it’s £3.50. Beans 40p but they contain wheat, Heinz beans are wheat free but cost 80p.

I don’t think £15 a day for two people is a lot though? A fiver for a packet of mince, kidney beans 75p, peppers 80p, onion 20p, passata 60p, cheese £1, sour cream 75p, rice 20p. That’s nearly a tenner for two people to have chilli for a main meal. Plus the other meals and toiletries etc is easily another fiver.

quite simple to make your own curry sauce though

I assumed the same. I can't eat gluten but I've stopped eating a lot of Free From foods as they're so expensive. Instead I've changed to foods that are naturally gluten free and stopped buying unnecessary free from foods such as cakes and biscuits. I've saved a bit of money and I'm healthier without the cakes and biscuits!

Baked beans are actually very good for you. They count as one of your five a day, they are full of plant based protein, they are high in fibre, as well as being low in fat and calories. They also contain minerals such as iron and zinc, and are a good source of B vitamins such as folate.

Tin of coconut milk (LIDL does it for about 90p), some ginger and a tablespoon of curry/tikka powder makes a decent enough curry sauce. Can't say that the bought versions taste any better.

Have you had a look at this? I find it helpful: five meals for £25 Tesco meal plan: https://realfood.tesco.com/5-easy-family-dinners-for-25.html

If you've tried all the supermarkets then you can't buy your grocery shopping cheaper for what you want.

This is MN. People will always tell you you could save money by buying sacks of beans and make your own soap.

But if you want to buy what you want and enjoy, and have tried all the suppliers then no, you can't get it for cheaper than you are already.

It is not as easy to actually get everything one needs even jf you eat fresh nowadays. Barely tipened tomatoes sitting somewhere in storage for week+ will not have as much nutrition as local grown eaten within days of actual ripening.
And everyone in uk should take D...

Beans 40p but they contain wheat,

I suppose you would have to look at the labels but no. For instance aldi essentials baked beans, 28p, no wheat. Same goes for the curry sauces, no wheat, but those are easy to make anyway, even I can do it.

Jacket potato and baked beans is a great meal BTW people. Loads of fibre and micronutrients, nothing wrong with it as long as you aren't putting lots of salt/having lots of sodium in all your other meals too.

We buy in bulk online on essentials - butchers and greengrocers - avoid the main supermarkets for temptation.

Just a quick note. It's usually best to seek medical advice and/or get a blood test first before taking vitamins. I was happily taking supplements (and had been for a while) and a subsequent blood test showed very high levels of Vitamin D (which can be dangerous) and other vitamins.
Just a cautionary message (not a criticism) as people may not be aware (I wasn't)

I’m a coeliac and my little boy is dairy and soya free. My DP has no dietary requirements. My little boy only has nappies for bed now. I manage to do a weekly shop for the three of us for around £90. Not a lot cheaper tbf, but I find meal planning works best for us and we use own brand laundry products etc.

My DP always spends more than I do as he buys lots of stuff that I don’t think we really need. It’s so difficult with the free from things when a small loaf of own brand Free From bread is £1.90 and a carton of oat milk £2.20 (or £1.45 if you’re lucky enough to nab an own brand fortified one!). I also can’t tolerate milk after breastfeeding so also have to buy almond milk for myself (can’t have the oat one as not gf).

I try to limit how much bread I eat, and try and take left overs for lunches instead.

I spend around £60 in Tesco and £30 in M & S give or take a few quid, and that feeds 2 vegetarian adults, and includes an £8 bottle of wine for Fridays, and a £12 one for Saturdays. Plus around £10 for bread and milk in the week. And a bottle of whisky for DH that lasts 2 to 3 weeks.