Budget for food per day

[pumpkinwaffle]

We're a family of four. Two adults, two small children.

I had budgeted £400 a month for food but sometimes it's tight due to long months. The five week type!

So I've done £400 x 12/52 = £92.30 a month.

Which works out daily to £13.18.

It feels such a small number for four people , and really brings home how much everything going up is going to impact this amount.

Just an observation I thought I'd share!

Sorry that was £93 a week, not month 😵‍💫

What's scary is a year ago that budget would probably have been fairly comfortable.

Indeed @sittingonacornflake

When DC were younger and both on formula, which costs a bomb, I could do a weekly shop for £60, including meat!

I've really tightened our belts here, but how far can you go?!

I know what you mean. I used to spend much less to eat much more luxurious food than we do now.

I've always been a fairly frugal person. That was by choice, where now it feels like a necessity

what meals are you eating in the evening? say for the last 5 days

what do you both have for breakfast and lunch?

@LoisPrice on an average day DC and I will have cereal/porridge or toast (homemade bread) for breakfast

Eldest gets lunch at school, due to their age.

Youngest takes a packed lunch to nursery. Usually a sandwich, yoghurt (again homemade) and some fruit.

Usual dinners are sausage and mash, spaghetti pomodoro, chicken tray bake, beans on toast and homemade pizzas.

We try to alternate one night meat, next night a veggie option.

It is doable in £13 a day but that money used to go so much further!

Not complaining as lots are in a worse situation. It's just very striking when you break down the numbers to daily and see how little it seems to get you now

i don’t buy sausages any longer, a combination of reasons but they are not cheap. I’ve switched to drumsticks or things with skin and bone - a kilo for under £3

lentils and rice dishes go a lot further, chickpeas also go far as are cheaper

i tend to have 3/4storecupboard meals I stick up on and that’s helps.

Yes I agree. We got some ice sausage's a few weeks ago from the local butcher. We had a fair amount just not LOADS and it was £12!!

I'm all for a rice dish and always add chickpeas to my curries. Makes twice as many portions like that