How much do you spend on groceries?

[LadyCatherinedeBourgh]

Just looked at the breakdown of our budget for the month and we have spent c. £100 per week this month in the supermarkets! That's for me (a SAHM), DH and DD (2yrs). Baby no 2 due in a matter of weeks so want to reduce spending as will have additional expenses e.g. more nappies etc

I already shop in Lidl (not exclusively as find you can't get everything there), cook from scratch most of the time, switched from Pampers to Lidl nappies with success and tried cheaper washing powders without success.

What do you spend weekly in the supermarkets? Any tips for reducing spend?

I've just done my online shop for the week and it's £173 which is about average.
Me, DH dd(15) ds1 (14) and ds2 (9)
Includes all toiletries/cleaning stuff.

Packed lunches for 5 people as well.

We spend about £50 a week for me and DH, and also DS but he's only here 2 days/week and school hols. We have a lot of veggie meals, we don't drink much alcohol, and DH gets catered meals at work so often doesn't eat at home at all. And I'm on the 5:2 diet so don't eat much on a couple of days a week. We probably only cook an evening meal 2-3 days a week. We also do family get-together meals about once a month where we'll bring just a dish and have dinner with my siblings/nephews

I have found that since making better use of my freezer, I have been saving money on food. For example, when I buy cheese, I grate the whole piece, then freeze it 'flat' in bags, and then I just take out the amount that is needed for a meal.

I also freeze vegetables - DH is mad keen on corn on the cob but only he will eat one and they come in packs of 2, so I freeze the other one and then cook it from frozen.

I freeze leftover bolognaise/curry sauces and then when I have several of one type in the freezer, I put these together for one 'free' meal.

I agree also with confused about not having too many choices of food. I but ice lollies as a treat, whatever is on offer and has a lot in the box!

Another thing to save money on vegetables is for everyone to like frozen peas. Peas are brilliant - no chopping, no waste, they don't go off and you just take out exactly what you need and they are quick to cook. It's a problem if you don't like them though.

Well I am lucky in that the dinky parochial town I currently live in has a Home Bargain Store, an Iceland, an Aldi and a Tescos all in close proximity to each other.

So I go to them all each week and for me and my 8 year old boy the bill is approx £70 but that includes his lunchbox and factoring in that I eat like a gannet lol. I have always had a hearty appetite and been fussy with food!

We only eat meat about one third of each week

HTH.

£130 ish a week for 7 of us. Doesn't include toiletries, household, alcohol or meat/fish. We get those from the cash & carry/farm shop.

Wow. I always read these threads and think how! We meal plan but not strictly as both DH and I work so if late home, then too tired to cook a meal from scratch. Although getting better at having cheap quick meals eg jacket potatoes.

I also use soda crystals to bulk out my washing powder - the kids have sensitive skin and come out in rashes if we use anything other than ecover (have tried surcare and other sensitive skin types) and we use cheaper powder for us.

Cleaning products - yes to e clothes but I still use cleaners as well.

Can't use cheaper bath/hair toiletries for kids - sensitive skin and ezcema - although cut down on baths.

I think treats are our biggest problems - snacks for the kids. They don't eat much dairy and fruit leaves them hungry (3&1).

£150 at least. Food allergies add a big amount to that, but I do meal plan and really can't imagine getting it much lower.

Local radio did a basket challenge where they asked people the price of a loaf, a pint of milk, six eggs and butter. Most people were shocked it was £4.50 but I really do think food has gone up so much lately.

£100 a week ish for 5 people, a dog and a cat. Often a bit more

I dont generally buy cheapest though, so could certainly cut it down, but i try to buy free range, organic and fairtrade wherever possible

Creaturehome popped popcorn is a healthy and cheap snack

we mostly shop in Aldi, have dh, dd and me with dc2 imminent and spend approx £50 a week. much less booze than we used to, and we bulk cook and kind of plan for a few days. we have meat or fish most meals and no processed food except for the odd pizza.

I'll read the rest of the thread and see if I can contribute more

we use ur milkman which costs a bit more per pint but saves on buying other stuff when you pop to the shop (and I'm lazy!).

we make bread mostly which also saves on visiting shops

I buy all toiletries in Aldi I'm trying everything out and its all good so far. people seem to spend loads on cleaning products I reckon £5 a month or maybe £10. slovenly here clearly!!

Mostly £100 per week for two of us /3 at weekends, we don't go out much and we buy our meat from the butcher, stock up on good wines when they are on special offer and bulk buy at cash and carry, the rest comes from Waitrose, mostly taking advantage of special offers. We like to BBQ in the summer so we probably spend £200 if we have visitors.

I think £100 is a lot for just you and 2 others when I spend about that for 3 children, 2 adults, 2 cats and 2 guinea pigs. I shop at Waitrose, cook everything from scratch and the children also have baked or cooked puddings quite a few times a week.

About £70 a week for me, DP and baby DD. sometimes this can last up to a week and a half though. We have all meat from the butchers because DP is a PITA. We go through loads of fruit for DD and this includes cleaning products. Doesn't include alcohol but its rare we buy it and it doesn't include dog food we but that in bulk so when we do it works out as an extra that month but one big bag lasts us 2 months. I think we could cut it down but DP won't eat meat free and we don't eat fish .

Don't buy junk. Cut out biscuits, chocolate, sweets, crisps, soft drinks, cereals, cake, sweetened yogurts/pot based processed, ready meals, basically processed stuff, or stuff with lots of sugar.Drinks are water, milk, tea, coffee wine.

It's a win win for your budget and your body.

Cleaning stuff, I save by making my own sprays, with watered down washing up liquid and multipurpose cleaner and or vinegar.

We spend £600 a month for six of us, youngest is 8, so all big eaters.

£150 a week for two. This includes our toiletries, wine, cleaning products. If the kids are home then around £200 -£225 a week.

That's a lot, amothersplaceisinthewrong. What do you buy?

We eat alot of of snacks in the evenings, well I don't no more and I've lost a lot of weight but DP does so I'm going to start making my own and hopefully that will be cheaper and he will like it and eat it

£150+ weekly dh, me, dd16 and ds11. I never know how people do it for cheaper. That does include all household needs eg cleaning, shampoo etc. and that is me consciously trying to keep it down. I'm in awe of people on here who do it way cheaper. It always makes me feel a bit rubbish

I use frozen fish, frozen veg, pulses, loads of eggs (homemade quiche is cheap), I make bread and rolls, make yoghurt, soups, pâtés, baking and so on. I like making things and I like saving money, it feels like we're beating the system.

Joyful

Do you use frozen onions and garlic? I have never tried them..

We spend about £100 per week at Waitrose which has been gradually creeping up in recent weeks to £110,£115. Must get it down a bit.
That includes cleaning products, loo roll etc, also baby wipes. I use cloth nappies so no nappies . There is me, DP, 10 yo DD1 and 6 mo DD2.

I will say though that I think the reason we end up spending more is that DP and I are both coeliac, and DD2 and DP are dairy /egg/ soy allergic, and i have to follow the diet as im breastfeeding, so I think that it makes a difference to the grocery bill (eg 250g tub yoghurt, coconut milk, is about £3 odd instead of 69p).