Good budgeting

[Amichelle84]

I'm trying really hard to get our finances in order so we know what we're spending each month.

We really struggle with food budgeting as we don't have a joint account and both buy bits here and there when needed. We are going to open one we just haven't got round to it so I know that's the first thing to do.

Looking for everyone's top tips for a monthly food allowance and how to stick to it. I reckon we spend about £80 a week on food/nappies/formula.

People here usually suggest a variation of things such as -

1. meal planning and sticking to it
2. YNAB - paying for a budgeting app called You Need a Budget
3. Spreadsheets to keep track of spends
4. specialist bank accounts like Monzo or Starling which analyse your spends

if you are specifically looking for food budgeting I can share what keeps ours fairly low (2 adults, 1 primary DC, 1 toddler DC and a dog) at about £50 a week -

1. Meat is used more as flavouring in predominantly veg and rice based dishes (Biriyani, Keema Pulao, Paella, Risotto etc)
2. alcohol is not bought
3. a rice cooker and instant pot
4. hefty use of the freezer which is chocka with frozen mixed veg (for those rice based one pot dishes!), and various frozen veg
5. two designated “fakeaway” meals on our busiest nights of the week - where we take a tenner to sainsburys and “splurge” on a fakeaway for two. This has absolutely eliminated takeaways.
6. Buying whatever meat is cheapest that week in a large amount and roasting the lot to be used across the week
7. 3 veggie dinners (usually a paneer curry, a mushroom risotto and something else)

if you establish a list of meals which can rotate regularly you should be able to do this.

I do love cooking though and use it to stress bust after a full on FT work schedule and two small DC!

both buy bits here and there when needed
This is what you need to control. Buying when needed often results in impulse purchases or buying at corner shop prices.

You need to sit together and make a plan. Do this when the DC are in bed so that you can discuss it without interruptions.

Discuss what’s needed- bills, groceries, rent/mortgage, savings. Agree how much each of you put into a joint account and set one up. Have two lists

Needs - as above
Wants- anything else

Prioritise the needs first, then savings, then wants.

You both need to know what’s going out and how much X costs etc.

Meal plan too, and batch cook, having a plan stops you resorting to more expensive options like takeaway/delivery.

Hi I found a really good article here with a free downloadable budgeting template....

beamoneypro.com/budgeting-for-beginners-in-4-simple-steps/

I don't know if I have swung from one extreme to the other but where I would plan only a few days in advance,

😁...I'll try that again.

humouring the various whims of people in the house - which ended up being quite wasteful, I've started a weekly meal plan that I will stick to for weeks in advance and I'll only change it up here and there. So although I can't take advantage of various offers now, it's more than made up for by having a standardised shopping list and reducing the number of times I hit the shops in a week. And this is, obviously, much cheaper.

Do the weekly food shop online. Reduces food waste as you can amend the order right up to the day before so you don't overbuy.

Buy cleaning agents toilet roll et c in person at pound shop Savers etc.

I’ve gradually been buying things in bulk from Costco. Rice, pasta, tea, coffee, cleaning products etc. my weekly shop now is considerably less. Obviously I understand not everyone can afford to bulk buy.