No idea how much spent on Food

[Aquarius1234]

AIBU to have no idea how much on average I spend on food per week/ month.

Eeeeek anyone else??

Then you need to stop doing all the little food shops and do one food shop a week. Write a list of meals you will eat and the ingredients needed for them so you don’t buy stuff you won’t eat or waste. Or do a click and collect.

My online banking AND my credit card tell me how much I’ve spent monthly in the different types of shops.
Only takes a click, OP.

Yes, no idea what I spend monthly on food. We are not extravagant, cook almost every night, so only pay attention to other areas of spending. But yes, I am very fortunate to be in that position.

I get quite anxious if I don't know how much I'm spending! We spend about £100 each week in Sainsbury to feed three adults and two cats, with occasional trips to the Chinese supermarket (maybe £50 every 2 or 3 months). I meal-plan and cook from scratch most nights because I'm a greedy pig bit of a foodie.

Going to the shop and spending randomly every day is exactly how my exH and I got into terrible debt. He was awful with money and hated budgeting. I didn't even open bank statements. These days I check my banking app several times a week, budget very carefully and we never eat jacket potatoes unless we really want to.

Do you know your take home salary per month and what is left at the end of the month?

Even if you don't save, are you left with no money at the end of the month or do you always have a bit left?

I would be so stressed not having any idea at all what I was spending on something as key as food but if you have a decent amount of money left at the end of the month I guess you just don't see it as a big enough issue to look into more?

Or is it more than you know it's going to be a crazy amount and you're putting your head in the sand a bit?

Probably should add i am really strict about once a week shop, and I can't go over budget so some weeks it's apples instead of strawberries etc
I use a clicker to count my shop or do it online

I worked for one of the big supermarkets, they love customers like you.

Exactly, surrounded by supermarkets, bakeries, delis, farmers markets. Lots of little shops, never add it up. So absolutely no idea what i spend per month. But I do think about all other purchases, so I don't just randomly buy clothes, household items, holidays etc, only food is treated like this. Have a very very old car, don't wear make up, don't do nails etc. But love food and don't cut corners. Lucky not to need to I know.

Lol its embarrassing recognising the shop staff.

Do you care how much you are spending?

I agree spending lots on food or being not careful about spending in supermarkets. Doesn't mean you lead a luxury lifestyle. Those that are crazy about budgets and tight on food budgets, probably have thousands in the bank and or go on lovely holidays!
I buy taste the difference potatoes cos I like them!

I do a weekly "big shop". 2 adults, 1 teen, around £70 per week, incl basic toiletries, some cleaning, etc., but not including stuff like big jars of coffee, washing powder and the like.
DH will do the odd top-up shop for stuff I've forgotten, also milk, wine, etc.
DH will sometimes go to staff canteen rather than take lunch from home.
DD will buy school lunches, but sometimes she'll take something from home instead.

So I couldnt tell you exactly how much we spend in a week, but would average around £500 a month all in. Which is an insane amount but does include alchol and we seldom go Out.

OP, are you scared to know, or do you not care?

This thread is very confusing.

Yes I'm probably bit scared to know. I waste bit too much I'm sure. Want to cut down 1 visit a week at least.

I bet there is more people than you think that don't realise how much they are spending!

It's not the weekly big one I lose track of as try and do on line and stick to a budget It's all the flipping top ups in the week for hollow leg teenager . Fresh bread etc and then pick up more bits each time.

Can you afford to shop without paying attention to how much you spend? You say you're not saving but are you able to cover the cost and other expenses or is it causing you problems?

Denial. Op is in denial.

Well of course you're not saving because you're spending is out of control.

That's fine if that's how you like to live but I prefer to know exactly what our money is going on so I can make a budget for holidays, savings etc.

I've made an excel spreadsheet and once a week update it from the online bank statement.

Takes perhaps 1/2 hour pw.

Pretty close idea - up to £130 a week for 2 adults and 5 cats (don't ask). Because it comes out of the joint bills account it's easy to keep track. At times I keep a note on my phone. Why not do that for a few weeks?

We have a veg box for £18 a week and a monthly bread box which works out about £8 a week, then the cat food and litter is around £30 a week. We're pescatarian, fish is expensive and I'd say we have fresh fish at least once a week with another tinned fish meal. We use fancy ingredients a fair bit like specialist mushrooms, herbs, spices and curry pastes. We can afford it but it's a lot just for the two of us. We're aiming to grow more food this year.

Sounds like a fun life !

I. I'm a. It shit a general budgeting bit need to feed my kids so I work it
Out. We allow £800 pm plus school lunches.

You sound like you are proud of your ignorance. It isn't difficult to get a receipt. If you don't know what you are spending, find out. If you have so much money it's all peanuts to you that's one thing, but if you are eating cornflakes for dinner, pull your socks up and take control of your finances.

I'm fortunate enough to no longer have to worry so much about balancing the books to the penny every month, but I still look at what I am spending.
I know what I spend each week, which doesn't vary that much, and it isn't difficult to multiply that by 4.5 to find the total for the month.

You probably are spending more by being tempted by things every time you go in.

If you are loaded, then that's a choice you make. If you (as you say) are not loaded, then it seems an odd way to go about things.

Op sorry but you are either an utter idiot or so tone deaf it’s untrue.

i don’t have a budget as such. But I know pretty much what I spend each week.

please stop digging now. It’s embarrassing.