Reasonable amount for single women to spend on groceries per month approx?

[aaarrrggghhhh]

Just that really. i.e. to include food, toiletries and cleaning products.

Healthy food - so fresh fruit and veg etc but can live without red meat.

I really don't have a clue what is reasonable!

Thanks so much for any input.

When I was single I spent £30-40 a week, this included toiletries and cleaning stuff

And I ate pretty healthy, with salad and fruit etc for lunches and did a bit of batch cooking for the freezer occasionally

I was living on my own last year and spending about 50-60 a week, mainly in Aldi but some Sainsbury’s.

Included cleaning stuff and the occasional cat food.

That's a great question. It has varied vastly throughout my life depending on circumstances. Sometimes it was 25/week and other times it was 80/week plus more for dining out. I would say possibly 35-50/week depending on where you live and what you’re experiencing at the moment.

Broke? Really low.

High stress job or too depressed to cook properly for yourself? Higher because you’re getting more ready made food due to exhaustion.

See what I mean?

I would say aim for 250/month with 50/week earmarked for regular groceries and the remaining 50 meant for bulk or occasional buying of toiletries, pet food, stocking up on your favorite sauce, etc.

Thanks all. I've moved recently to somewhere near an Aldi - I keep on thinking they must have made a mistake when they add everything up!

I definitely spend more when I'm busy and stressed - but this is something that should be within my control in my current circumstances - but I need to readjust my spending patterns!

Think I'm going to budget for £260. We shall see...

Based on what I spend for a family, I'd say £50 per week max.

£10 on 3 packs of meat should have some left overs..
£10 fruit and veg
£10 tins/cereals/bread
£10 wine and toiletries/washing up liquid
£10 ham, yogurt, milk, cheese - again, should be some left over.

I try to either do one online shop a month for about £100, then buy fruit/veg/bread/milk etc on top, or two real-life supermarket shops a month for £30-40ish. I don’t eat meat though (do eat fish). Try and buy own brand/best value. My problem is def. going in for one thing and coming out with £50 worth of assorted random crap!

Thanks all - I think making Aldi my primary point of call will make a difference. I keep drifting back to Sainsburys...

I just made a huge pot of vege soup from all the left over veggies that were about to turn and shocked myself when I realised I've made about 8 lunches and it would have cost so little.

Also going to stop using coffee pods and get some instant - I've been patting myself on the back for not buying coffee from coffee shops but realised that I just end up having lots of cups at home (I'm working from home now) with my Nespresso machine and if I keep going the way I am could spend up to £1k a year just on at home coffees!!! Eeeekkkk!

The Aldi coffee pods for nespresso are actually really good and only something like £1.65 for 10.

They also do flavoured ranges online. 👍🏼

Oooh it depends. I drank a lot when i was single!

food only id guess £25 -£30 a week if you menu plan.

Beauty and hygiene anything from £5 per month depending on how much make up and hair products you use

Cleaning products and toilet rolls etc 10 to £12 per month?

I’d say £50 a week.

It depends on how frugal you are trying to be. When I lived alone I was earning awful money and my shopping budget was £15 a week inc. toiletries.

£25 a week should be plenty!

I would have said min 30 a week being careful but up to 50. Surely it depends on what you want your budget to be, you can be more or less frugal to meet that budget. Family of three and a dog we manage on max 70 quid (usually an intake of breath at the check out if I reach that - lol) but usually between 50 and 60. But I am frugal regarding cleaning materials and use plenty of old fashioned methods rather than the latest spray etc.

I used to shop in Aldi when I live don my own and spent between £20-£25 which often included a bottle of wine! I was also pretty healthy so had plenty of fruit and veg in that shop (always aim for at least 5 a day). I would often meal plan a whole month; if I did a spag bol or a chilli I would make 4 portions then freeze 3.

aaarrrggghhhh and yes stay away from those coffees! perhaps just limit to one coffee mid morning? Have it as something to look forward to during a mid morning break

I've just made a pot of dhal that will possibly last me until about September - so I'm sorted for the next while...

You could add variation to the dhal by adding in extra things (within budget!) And by having various sides (again within budget)

My aim is £30-35 a week, when my DS leaves home for university in a few years. At the moment, it's £40-50 for everything, mostly shopping at Sainsburys.