£800 pm on groceries for a family

[popsickle555]

recently had a conversation with my DM (lighthearted) but I explained our weekly shop is now around £200 for a family of 2 adults and two teenage children during summer school holidays. She said she thought me ‘overspending’.

Anyway here’s what we spend:

£150 ish weekly shop (has to be weekly during the holidays as they eat so much)
£50 on top up shops fruit and veg and occasional extras eg wash powder and such things. This also includes cat food (1 cat on cheap food).

this includes lunches for me and DH (wfh) and also packed lunch stuff for DC’s who have been on a drama camp.

AIBU to think it’s actually quite hard to eat reasonably well (I do cook most days and I am buying decent ish ingredients but also plenty of ‘basic’ range options) for less than this sort of price now for 4 full portion people eating 3 meals a day? We hardly ever eat out unless on holiday.

For reference my DM hardly eats a lot now she’s older and when she does it’s really simple and generally quite boring stuff eg omelette, jacket potato etc. My DH and DCs needs more protein than that as are all very active.

I just came away feeling like I’m wasting money but genuinely can’t see how I can do it for much less without really scrimping on ingredients and protein.

We are two adults and two toddlers and spend almost the same.

We spend roughly £700-900 for two adults and two kids, that’s all meals and snacks including lunchboxes for school/childcare. I could get it down but by reducing quality/variety which I don’t want to do.

Your DM is out of touch with food pricing nowadays

Do you buy meat quite regularly? That always pushes the cost up.

It’s about right I would say if you eat really well. We spend £140-£160 (editing to say per week) including toiletries, household cleaning products for 2A 2C 9 and 13. I expect it to climb as they get older.

Of course you can spend less, but it depends on how you prioritise your diet.

I totally understand how a weekly shop is £200.

That's totally normal, OP. Some will spend less, some more, but nothing wild about your spend there.

We spend a bit less and it isn't always the same each week but don't have teens. Shop a lot in Aldi now which has bought the cost down.

I spend £120-130 a week in M&S. No top ups. 2 adults, 2 children aged 15 and 12. Meat for dinner 5 days, 1 day fish, one day vegetarian. Only breakfast, lunch, and dinner - no snacks. Basically no UPF. Which they all hate

Agreed. I was actually thinking that's very reasonable for what is effectively 4 adults (because let's face it the teens won't be eating less than you).

I spend £120-130 a week in M&S. No top ups. 2 adults, 2 children aged 15 and 12. Meat for dinner 5 days, 1 day fish, one day vegetarian. Only breakfast, lunch, and dinner - no snacks. Basically no UPF. Which they all hate

Wow, I can spend £50 in M&S or hardly anything but I am partial to some of their snacks!

I think that sounds fairly normal now food has gone up so much. Why does the cat have to eat cheap crap though? Are you really struggling financially?

Yes exactly! Teen one eats more and teen 2 same as me now.

Sounds about right to me, 2 adults and 2 DC here (11 and 14). It's basically 4 adults, plus the 14yo is very sporty and never stops moving, therefore needs at least twice the calories I do.

Yes we do eat meat, only in the evening but most days, do one or two veggie meals a week.

Exactly. Honestly, ignore your mother you're spending less than 50 quid a week per person when you take into account all the other household bits which is very impressive budgeting!

DH do main shop once a week around 150£. I do top ups for around 50£ per week. So yes 200£ per week for 2 adults and 2 teens. This includes hygiene products and cleaning stuff.

Well he is fussy and only likes a specific dry food and Felix!

We're two adults and three teens and though I try, I can't get through a month without giving around £1000 to tesco's. It used to be about £600. Prices and appetites have gone up.

Do please share your M&S shopping list or receipt where you can get 20 portions of meat, 4 portions of fish, 28 breakfasts and 28 lunches and all fruit and vegetables, and drinks for 4 people for a week for 120-130. It will help the OP immensely (and others, I suspect). Does that include household items such as toilet paper, cleaning products?

ah we had this with MIL telling us for years she spent £50 a week to feed three adults.

What she forgot was how often they 'popped out' for milk, or picked up some ssusages from the butchers, or had lunch while they were out. If you're doing healthy meals for a budget you can afford then it doesn't really matter what she thinks!

Yes please do as I used to shop at M&S occasionally and stopped due to price! This was a few years ago.

Yes my mum doesn’t actually cook - my dad does it all and so I just think she doesn’t realise costs and portion size for teens! Last time she came over I offered cheese on toast for tea as ‘we are budgeting’ as a bit of a joke!

We’re probably around £900-£950 a month, 3 adults, 2 teens (15&17).

I’d also like to see the m&s shopping list!

Yup. 2 adults, 1 teen, 1 child and 1 dog easily spending £1K on supermarket shopping per month.