Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Cost of living

Stretching your budget? Share tips and advice to discuss budgeting and energy saving here. For the latest deals and discounts, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Food Spending is ridiculous and I can't seem to reduce this.

163 replies

spababe · 19/10/2014 11:26

Ok so I cut back last month and had to have a big shop on 1st Oct but so far this month I have spent £400 on groceries and have £30 to last me until the end of the month. I also have spent £80 on school lunches.
I vary my shops between Lidl and Tesco online (where I can track what I spend as I order)
I have 2 teenage sons and DH so 4 of us but the milk bill alone is £30 a month as they get through 4 pints a day.
We do not eat meat or much processed food. We live rurally so no takeaways.
I do meal plan.
I do have quite a bit in the freezer to get us through the next week but then we will have to survive on the last £30 through half term - tricky.
It's ridiculous really but I have no idea how to reduce this.

OP posts:
SpottyTeacakes · 19/10/2014 12:27

I also use olive oil just get it when it's half price. Obviously you need to be really careful for the rest of the months but following that, with a budget of over £100 a week, there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to eat the nice things you like.

spababe · 19/10/2014 12:27

no market for 10 miles
and we don't eat puddings

OP posts:
smashboxmashbox · 19/10/2014 12:28

Spotty - I do sometimes get olive oil, esp when it's on an offer in Lidl, but I only use it for things I'd notice it on, like a drizzle or a fancy fing, for normal roasted veggies and so on I just use veg oil. With herbs and spices for the flavour.

smashboxmashbox · 19/10/2014 12:29

Yoghurts and chocolate mousses are puddings in this house Confused

Wearegoingtobedlehem · 19/10/2014 12:32

spababe, I empathise. The last 4 weeks I have not been able to get our shopping below £100 per week. we grow some of our own veg ( you could have all the courgettes you like here!) and raise our own lamb (although only went in the freezer last week).
Hubby is a farmer and eats for 3+, two young girls - although one has specific dietry needs due to a health problem. We make our own bread, cakes and cook from scratch. I think my problem is that hubby wants meat every day and eats so much. i have just started to give him bread and butter with his tea each night.

Wearegoingtobedlehem · 19/10/2014 12:34

oh - and we use 4 pints of milk a day tooBlush

Gileswithachainsaw · 19/10/2014 12:41

Is there any way you can order online and bulk buy Staples like rice, pasta, pulses, lentils, oats etc. Would you have space to store?

4 pts a day of milk is ridiculous. Make them drink water.

When do you go shopping? Could you change the times so you can stock up on reduced items like bread and store in freezer

smashboxmashbox · 19/10/2014 12:43

Milk in cooking - at times when I have been skinter than I am now - I have used the cheap powdered milk for lasagnes and the pasta sauces. No one noticed, esp with cheese in them. It was great, because it kept the fresh milk for what was needed. I might actually start doing that again. From a handiness point of view this time, rather than skintness. and I have mixed the powdered with fresh 50/50 and no one noticed. Or if they did they didn't say.

OP, what cleaning stuff are you buying? Are there savings to be made there?

Have you tried the "going down a brand level if I like it I stay there if not I go back up" thing? I did and discovered value pasta was ok, but toilet rolls have to be quilted, although Tescos is fine, doesn't have to be Andrex, and I won't compromise on my Kenco Millicano AT ALL. Grin

spababe · 19/10/2014 13:07

pasta is the Tesco value or Lidl stuff about 29p for 500g
oats are Tesco value - cheaper than Lidl - 75p a big bag
I don't see much reduced stuff because I internet shop with Tesco. AT £3 a month, it is cheaper than driving there and back as Tesco is 5 miles away.

I have recently switched to Tesco dishwasher and washing powder from Finish and Persil/Ariel although always bought these on offer.

I have Tesco loo rolls and I'm switching from Plenty to a cheaper kitchen towel - buying Regina Blitz as on offer at the moment.

Have just made a batch of flapjacks to help fill up DS after school Smile

OP posts:
Viviennemary · 19/10/2014 13:20

Tesco's aren't that cheap these days. And I have found the quality of food especially fruit and veg below other supermarkets. And there offers are misleading. I'd try a different supermarket. Milk isn't very expensive. But cost of ingredients for food tech course is unacceptable. How could people really struggling afford this every week.

Passthecake30 · 19/10/2014 13:27

I remember the starving teenager years myself...I'm 6ft and getting there was hungry work! I remember lots of fresh bread to fill up on, stodgy meals and stodgy puddings. Lots of cake and biscuits and pancakes. ...carbs all the way!

Can you save money on toiletries/cleaning stuff, use half powder and water down softener, shampoo, washing up liquid, hand soap. I've heard about watering down full fat milk to make semi skimmed, not tried myself. I don't think £400 is too bad for the month, if it lasts!

capsium · 19/10/2014 13:33

Pass - I do not use softener. What luxury is this? Grin

I buy shampoos etc from pound shop, they have a load of brands which I know are good enough to make my long hair manageable.

Conversely, I find reducing carbs makes me less hungry. Eggs are good for being cheap and filling. For me anyway.

FunkyBoldRibena · 19/10/2014 13:37

Spa - how are you making these meals?

Can you post your last weekly shop on here? Take a photo of the receipt/list from internet shop? See if we can see where you are spending unnecessarily.

For example - do you really need kitchen rolls? And using half a tablet rather than the two for washing clothes...it worked for me for around 5 years before I changed over to splosh. And I garden for a living so am often very muddy.

Fluffycloudland77 · 19/10/2014 14:03

I'd stop them drinking the milk for health reasons alone. Cows milk makes you pump extra insulin out, you can only make a finite amount in a life time so you really don't want to waste it.

Dh drank lots of milk before he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes & had done so since childhood. You have to remember we are not really cows target market Wink

I don't drink it at all because I'm allergic to it.

I'd make the 10 mile journey to aldi, any costs in petrol will be negated in savings on food. 10 miles isn't that far, I drive further than that for a decent haircut.

Artandco · 19/10/2014 14:10

I think you spend lots on non food items

Ariel - we use an Eco egg (£20 egg and refills last 3+ years washing)

Finish dishwasher - we use eco one. Much cheaper, and make sure it's fully loaded before used. Or hand wash basic items

Plenty kitchen roll - we just use a cloth and hot soapy water. So no buying any, it's a waste of money and resources. Can't you use a cloth to wipe spills?

Passthecake30 · 19/10/2014 14:10

Ha ha I don't actually use softener either but I've heard it exists Grin

I get tesco value kitchen rolls, prob get thru 2 a year....it's there mainly for visitors!

SpottyTeacakes · 19/10/2014 14:15

I love bounty kitchen roll Blush

Badvoc123 · 19/10/2014 14:20

Well op I am not one if those MNers who can make meals from hairspray and dust :) but I can tell you how I have cut down my spending...
I switched to aldi and then top up at either asda or the local co op.
I struggle to spend £40 at aldi per week for basics like uht milk, juice, tea, coffee, fruit, veg, choc, biscs, ice cream, eggs, frozen veg etc
Aldi own brand painkillers Etc have also saved me a fortune.
Their cleaning stuff is excellent and cheap!
I can now stay within my budget of £100 per week.
There are 4 of us and that includes, meds, toiletries etc too.
I don't buy meat there and there are some things I prefer from other stores but all in all the quality is good. The tomato sauce and mayo are really nice.

Trollsworth · 19/10/2014 14:25

Has anyone on this thread got teenaged boys? The calorific requirements for teenaged boys are roughly double that of an adult woman. The OP is having to provide enough food for six of her.

OP - buy value pasta. Allow a bag per meal. It's about 30p a bag. Use a tin of tomatoes and some salt and pepper rather than a sauce, and instead of using quorn, use lentils and onions and make a bolognese.

If you are trying to save money as a vegetarian, quorn is not your mate. Lentils and pulses love you you, though.

Next, try to get a sack of farm potatoes, and wedge them. Serve them with carrots and peas and fried eggs. Still hungry? More potatoes.

Buy in flour, sugar and baking margarine. Want cake? Have fun, boys! Clean up after yourselves, please.

Four pints of milk a day? Not at all excessive IMHO. I get through that with me, an eleven year old and an eight year old. They both like milk - and milk, for your family, is a very important source of b vitamins.

Buy huge bags of brown rice. Boil it up, and cool it very quickly. Then you can use eggs, oil, peas and soy sauce to make egg fried rice. Super filling and tasty. Use brown because its more filling.

Buy cheap bread, not the fancy shapes. You would be surprised at the mark up per gram of bread once it's not a sliced loaf any more. Don't give the kids dinner money,provide a packet of ham and endless bread and let them make their own box up.

It is worth visiting supermarkets are seven, and buying up their reduced cheeses, fish, etc. freeze it. Use it when you need it.

Tinned sardines are a good source of oily fish, mix with left over mash and make fish cakes. Serve with whatever you have to hand!

Coolas · 19/10/2014 14:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

isitsnowingyet · 19/10/2014 14:49

How is powdered milk a cheaper alternative if it's £1.88 for 6 pints? Our milk is £1.00 for 4 pints. eg powdered is 31p per pint compared to 25p per pint.

Thanks for extensive post with suggestions Trollsworth as I have two teenage boys in the house, both taller than my DH and me - and still growing!

MewlingQuim · 19/10/2014 15:04

Vegetables are really expensive from supermarkets, and not very nice IMO. Supermarket fruit goes from underripe to rotten without going through the oh so important edible stage Hmm so more likely to get chucked out. I find a veg box is better value as less is wasted. Market veg would be even better but I am not able to get to one Sad

To spend 400 quid on a vege diet you must be buying mostly ready made food or wasting lots, surely?

chickydoo · 19/10/2014 15:17

I spend £150-£160 a week in the supermarket.
4 kids (3 teens) DH & me. 4 cats ( fussy eaters)
The above includes all cleaning stuff, all toiletries, San pro etc.
We have 6 pints of milk a week, sometimes 8. That is for 6 of us!
My teenage boys eat lots of bananas, lots of pasta & when the snacks are gone they are gone.
I cook from scratch 7 days a week ( have a takeaway about twice a year...Max) I make pack lunches for 3 people 5 days a week.
The kids make vast quantities of toast when they are hungry, or have a can of soup.
The cats cost me about £12-15 a week out of my budget, so I don't think I can realistically cut back any more.
If I were you Op, I'd not buy as much milk. Buy lots of bread, lots of soup, lentils for dhal. Rice & noodles for cheap veggie stir fries.
Do one shop a week, and tell the kids.. When it's gone it's gone.

furcoatbigknickers · 19/10/2014 15:19

Make the porridge with water.

capsium · 19/10/2014 15:33

its I'd not posted the cheapest powdered, stupidly. Here is a cheaper one, £1.15 for nearly 8 pints.

www.tesco.com/groceries/product/details/?id=258290438

I just remembered how cheap it was, from being a student. Also not as nice as fresh, so not as tempting to just drink by itself! Grin