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Cost of living

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Is this living hand to mouth and unsustainable?

173 replies

honourthethreat · 16/05/2023 16:50

I've pasted actual 4 weeks' food shopping below, purchased for 2 people in March; teenager and adult. Budget is £70 per week but I've been advised this is unreasonable, their cupboards are bare, they are living hand to mouth, cannot stay within budget and do not have enough to eat.

Note: There is no alcohol purchased and cleaning products have a different budget so this is for food only. I'd like your opinions please whilst I consider if an increase to budget is justified. Thanks in advance.

06 03 - £89 incl. takeaway
Protein: Chicken thighs, bacon, minced beef, smoked salmon, chicken tikka, cooked chicken slices, sushi, pizza & dip, x2Fridge raiders, x2 beef pasties, x2 chicken bake, x2 tikka slice, doner kebab & chips takeaway.
Dairy: 6L milk, x2 butter, cheese, mayonnaise, x12 fromage frais, milkshake.
Carbs: x2 large loaves, garlic bread, wraps, rocky biscuits, choc biscuits, Jaffa cakes, x12 crisps.
Fruit/veg: Onions, potatoes, coriander, stir-fry mixed veg, peppers, spring onions, cucumber, lettuce, tomatoes, coleslaw, apples, avocado, clementines, apple juice.
Other: Stir-fry sauce, mineral water, Large L’or coffee.

13.03 - £75
Protein: x2 pizza, fish fillets, beef mince, 1kg chicken breast, cooked chicken slices, x2 chicken bake.
Dairy: 8L milk, cheese, oat milk, yoghurt, soured cream.
Carbs: Large loaf, garlic bread, cereal bars, x 2 cheese pasties, x2 pasta types, rice, pasta sauce, tortilla wraps, x6 crisps, Jammie dodgers, lettuce, peppers.
Fruit/ veg: Mushrooms, chopped tomatoes, kidney beans, coleslaw, spring onions, broccoli, cauliflower,1kg carrots, cucumber, apples, bananas, grapes, tropical juice.
Other: Volvic water, hot chocolate, Large L’or coffee, 2L Pepsi, X4 Mars bars.

20.03 - £79
Protein: x4 burgers, diced steak, beef mince, medium chicken, salmon fillets, 1kg chicken legs, 1kg chicken thighs, smoked salmon, cooked sliced chicken, x2 tikka slices.
Carbs: x12 crisps, spaghetti, x2 cheese/onion slices.
Dairy: 4L milk, large tub butter, eggs, x6 yoghurts.
Fruit/veg: Plum tomatoes, potatoes, onions, mushrooms, stir fry meal deal, clementines, bananas, grapes, apple juice.
Other: x2 large coffee, vegetable oil, BBQ sauce, x4 Twix, x9 toffee crisp, x5 peanut butter cups, 2L mineral water.

27.03 - £71
Protein: Chicken kebabs, x2 pizza, beef meatballs, chicken breasts, salmon fillets, beef mince, x2 packs cooked sliced meat, medium chicken.
Carbs: Yorkshire puds, biscuits, Naan, garlic bread, flatbread, fries, noodles, rice sachets, x3 biscuits, cereal, x6 crisps, Lge loaf.
Dairy: 6L milk, cheese, yogurt.
Fruit/veg: Veg medley, chopped tomatoes, coleslaw, peppers, cauliflower, cucumber, lettuce, mushroom, onions, carrots, potatoes, kidney beans, bananas, apples, clementines, grapes, cherries, tropical fruit juice.
Other: Chocolate, 2L mineral water, Large L’or coffee, Bolognese sauce, pasta sauce, curry sauce, stir fry sauce, squash, salad cream, ketchup.

OP posts:
PlacidPenelope · 16/05/2023 17:38

That's not living hand to mouth by any means, that is plenty of food.

As for the teenagers must eat constantly crap line that is always trotted out - teenagers of every other generation managed to live and thrive without eating constantly.

Okunevo · 16/05/2023 17:40

That's not what I would buy on a budget, it would be easy to buy much more food for the money if they changed what they bought.

LakeTiticaca · 16/05/2023 17:54

There is lots that could be trimmed off that list. Meal planning is the way to go.
Get a chalk board and write on your daily meals for each week and shop accordingly. Just buy what you need for the week with a couple of treats included

honourthethreat · 16/05/2023 17:58

Thanks for your replies, to answer a few queries.

I’m not one of the two people and not related, it is a work situation and I decide the budgets.

It’s not in Divorce, it’s posted in Cost of Living? I’m not a controlling ex and I don’t need ammunition.

I reacted emotionally to the suggestion of “bare cupboards and living hand to mouth” as an opener about a request to raise the budget as opposed to “It’s a new financial year, inflation is running at 10%, is there room to uplift?” which would have led to a reasonable discussion.

I agree about the many varieties of chicken but the teenager has recently stopped eating pork and this seems to have been replaced with more chicken.

The teenager would prefer only to drink bottled water so he’s indulged on this. (I suspect they refill the bottle.)

OP posts:
Reasonableadjustments · 16/05/2023 18:00

I don't understand why you're controlling someone else's food budget to be honest.

honourthethreat · 16/05/2023 18:01

KnittedCardi · 16/05/2023 17:00

x4 burgers, diced steak, beef mince, medium chicken, salmon fillets, 1kg chicken legs, 1kg chicken thighs, smoked salmon, cooked sliced chicken, x2 tikka slices

I would say that should feed four for a week, but maybe I have a small appetite. 2kg of chicken, plus a medium roast chicken, is a fuck load of chicken!

You’re not the first to suggest the meat could feed four.

OP posts:
caringcarer · 16/05/2023 18:01

They are buying a chicken bake most weeks but could make a chicken bake a lot cheaper than a ready made one. Rather a lot of milk too for 2 people. If they need to cut back to £70 per week they could get rid of 4 litres of milk and the takeaway plus the L'or coffee. Are these your children in a house share at Uni OP? When my dd was at uni, many years ago now she spent £25 per week on food for herself at Aldi. Ok it would probably be about £35 now.

Badbudgeter · 16/05/2023 18:01

I mean it’s tightish but doable. I would say sparkling water is treat to myself. It’s less than a quid for 2l in most supermarkets so not really the problem here.

It is a lot of protein swap it out for a couple of cheap pasta / pesto / peas dinners a week will save money.

peachespeachespeaches · 16/05/2023 18:02

Reasonableadjustments · 16/05/2023 18:00

I don't understand why you're controlling someone else's food budget to be honest.

OP has said why.

Reasonableadjustments · 16/05/2023 18:03

I still don't understand sorry.

If it's a work situation and they're your employer then surely you put it to what they tell you? Because it's their money?

honourthethreat · 16/05/2023 18:04

cocksstrideintheevening · 16/05/2023 17:07

I don't really understand your question. Buying take away isn't living hand to mouth.

Do you have a teenage son that is on a protein kick and this is some odd kind of reverse?

I didn’t explain it well, sorry. I was told they were living hand to mouth so I wrote out everything from the food shop receipts to see if it was true. I agree with you but I wanted see what posters thought generally.

OP posts:
Reasonableadjustments · 16/05/2023 18:05

Are you responsible for providing the money? Responsible for doing the shopping?

honourthethreat · 16/05/2023 18:08

Reasonableadjustments · 16/05/2023 18:03

I still don't understand sorry.

If it's a work situation and they're your employer then surely you put it to what they tell you? Because it's their money?

I’m the employer

OP posts:
UCquestions · 16/05/2023 18:08

What is the exact situation ? Why are you controlling a food budget is it some kind of supervised parenting placement?

Reasonableadjustments · 16/05/2023 18:09

So why aren't you just paying them a wage and letting them decide what to eat?

This is very odd

Kingdedede · 16/05/2023 18:10

This is very odd - why are you monitoring what they eat?

Doggymummar · 16/05/2023 18:10

I don't understand the scenario but I would assume this is someone with limited cooking ability or equipment. So much junk food and barely a vegetable. My oh would move in like a shot,

UCquestions · 16/05/2023 18:11

Has your employee asked for a pay rise and you’ve made them provide receipts to prove they need more money ??

honourthethreat · 16/05/2023 18:11

Reasonableadjustments · 16/05/2023 18:09

So why aren't you just paying them a wage and letting them decide what to eat?

This is very odd

I do pay their wages, but they can eat meals as part of the job when they are on duty, they’re not expected to pay for food from their own wage.

OP posts:
Xrays · 16/05/2023 18:12

Kingdedede · 16/05/2023 18:10

This is very odd - why are you monitoring what they eat?

This.

Before people can judge I think we need to know the exact circumstances. Are the people vulnerable/ do they have learning difficulties? That might change the responses.

Reasonableadjustments · 16/05/2023 18:12

So you employ someone with a teenage child? What age of teenager is working for you?

honourthethreat · 16/05/2023 18:12

UCquestions · 16/05/2023 18:08

What is the exact situation ? Why are you controlling a food budget is it some kind of supervised parenting placement?

Yes, it’s a residential situation.

OP posts:
Reasonableadjustments · 16/05/2023 18:13

But if it was a residential parenting placement the op wouldn't be the employer.

honourthethreat · 16/05/2023 18:13

Kingdedede · 16/05/2023 18:10

This is very odd - why are you monitoring what they eat?

Because I was told they cannot manage on the budget and I’m investigating whether that is the case. I posted for independent opinions.

OP posts:
Kingdedede · 16/05/2023 18:14

honourthethreat · 16/05/2023 18:11

I do pay their wages, but they can eat meals as part of the job when they are on duty, they’re not expected to pay for food from their own wage.

So you expect them to only eat when they are on duty? That makes no sense.