To not agree with dh that 160 is extortionate for a food shop for 4 adults?

[Fadedchintz]

I'm recovering from Covid and while I was ill dh and the dcs (over 18, one on gap year and working part time, one here temporarily for a fortnight) did the shopping and cooking, all good. Over the last 10 days they've used up a lot of things. Went shopping yesterday and spent 90 in Aldi and then 70 in Tescos - dd is gluten free so can't get that in Aldi plus there are some branded things we like. I also spent 15! on olive oil which was extortionate but that was 2 litres from Aldi. I use it for cooking and it will last ages. No alcohol, some dog food and that shop will feed 4 for the rest of the week for breakfast lunch and dinner. Lots of things to stock the freezer, chips, peas etc. Tinned Tom's, baked beans, ketchup (both so expensive now - should move to heinz dupes and will do in future). Lots of fruit because I've been so ill and want to eat healthily. Washing powder, flash bleach cleaner (dogs!)

Anyway, dh looked at the joint account and was really shocked and slightly judgemental. Told me we really need to rein in our spending. I felt a bit like a naughty kid.

AIBU not to agonise over a 160 shop? I've meal planned and that is 6 good dinners, 6 lunches and breakfasts for a week. We never have takeaways. We also live a long way from the nearest shop so food needs to last.

About average I’d say. 4 people, could easily be more.

That’s what I spend a week on 2 adults and my 2 kids who are 3 and 6!! That’s not even including weekend all the fruit is gone by Thursday!

Your £160 for four plus dog sounds about on a par with our expenditure for two plus two cats. It's not a lot bearing in mind what you are aiming to do with it and also considering it's a stock-up shop, including a big bottle of olive oil. Oil, along with dairy, coffee, fish and much fresh veg have really shot up in price over the past couple of years..

I'm very tempted to agree with those who suggest sending your DH out with a shopping list, but I have close personal experience of daft false economies and the money they can waste. (Not my DH, but another man near and dear to me.) The other idea of putting your DMiL's portions in front of him might send the lift to the top floor though. He'd be mortified if he really thought about the difference between a suitable diet for her and his own needs.

Sadly very normal and nothing extraordinary for that money.. you couldn’t have smoked salmon and champers in the budget

Ours is about 500dollars a week (Australia) and that’s about £250. I need to get back to aldi!

Really feel like a pauper reading these shopping posts. I do think £160 is excessive. Id never buy branded products unless there wasn't an equivalent. Like £1.40 for heinz beans compared to 35p and £4 for kellogs cornflakes compare to £1.80. I spend £75-80 for 3 adults, 2 cats and 2 dogs and teenager and even then I feel sick. But I'm aware this is a normal spend for other people and I wouldn't appreciate my partner having a go like as if it was just me eating it. Challenge him to do the shop on his own for cheaper and see what he comes back with.

@Littlesandjoolz I was thinking that too! Just the two of us at home now, but the main shop in Asda is never more than about £50 a week, often it's only about £30 and although we have a few top up shops over the week on other stores the total from all food shops can't come to more than about £60 a week, maybe £70 on an expensive week.

And no, we don't live on value pizza! Have things like roast chicken, salmon, and plenty of fruit and veg.

How though? With dog and cat food, cat litter, cleaning products, toiletries, toilet roll, bin bags, washing up cloth/sponges, laundry stuff etc etc....
My cat is £20pm on food and litter alone

What's your meal plan?

He's being an ass the cost of things are through the roof my weekly food shop is nearly £200 which is double what it used to be

Agree, I'd ask him if he's happy to save by cutting his intake down to the same level as his mother. Not the rest of you though, just him.

Ours is similar and we're 2 adults a toddler and a baby

I have yet to see a full example of a low budget weekly plan. If anyone does post one on previous threads it usually features one or many of: the portions are tiny, yellow stickers, foraged food, no fresh F&V, missed meals, repeated v basic meals(porridge with water), store cupboard uncosted.

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Bollocks - wrong thread and I can't delete on my iPad! Sorry folks.

I think that's going well for all meals for 4 adults. The problem is he used up the stocks so he thought buying some bits for £5 made a meal. Groceries are very expensive and then there's cleaning and general things.

He needs to do it next time!

Yeah because he ate all your stocks of things and considered himself frugal. Honestly, men... There isn't a constant supply of free laundry liquid, olive oil, washing up liquid, loo roll, flour, pulses, tomato paste etc. They all need to be bought and replaced when used!

My ex did the same. I stopped shopping for anything other than one meal at a time. No laundry detergent loo paper etc. Soon cured him of that crap!
(Ps kept loo roll hidden for me and the kids!) He panicked and apologised v quickly.

Thats not bad at all. We spend £80 a week on basics and then another £50 from meat/fruit (we buy from local grocers/butchers). We are two adults and two preschoolers. (preschoolers together prob eat the equivalent to one adult).