Grocery bill getting out of control

[Gardencentrevoucher]

I've just had a major row with DH over the credit card bill. Its his card that I don't see the statements for and he is really bad at letting me know what the bills will be. The money comes out of a joint account and this is the third month in a row the bill has been way higher than I expected. Apart from a one off big purchase the entire bill was food shopping and petrol. DH does a weekly online shop at Asda and also drops into Aldi most weeks after his football practice. I need to somehow get the next bill much much lower without another huge row!

I've worked out we are spending £20 per day on food on average, or £5/person per day.

We're a family of 4 (2 adults/2 kids at primary school) and I just can't believe we need to spend that much on food. We don't drink alcohol or eat out often. It seems like a crazy amount of money for just normal family grocieries.

What is a reasonable amount per person per day or per week to budget for spending on food? Ideally I'd like it to be £10-£12 max to get the credit card back under control

Is that for all meals and other essentials?

Do you meal plan? I think you can easily save money and bring that weekly total down. We're a relatively high income household of 2 adults and I'm completely obsessed with ruthless efficiency 😂. Do you cook from scratch and will the kids eat the same meals as you? What is everyone doing for lunches?

That's doesn't seem a lot to me. We are two and spend about £750 at Tesco plus takeouts and sometimes top up. But if you can't afford it maybe get a delivery twice a week and order it so you have control

I actually think £20 a day for four people sounds okay, this isn't extortionate by any means, I'm a single mum of two and am really struggling too with food being a huge expense x

You spend 750 a month?

Obviously it depends on so many factors. But that doesn't sound massive to me. Food has really gone up.

I think that's pretty normal if it includes day to day toiletries, cleaning products, loo roll etc.
What sort of things does he buy that you think need to be cut back?

Even if you don’t see the bills you must see what’s in the fridge and cupboards - are you buying a lot of branded stuff? Lots of soft drinks or snacks? Eating meat multiple times a day? We spend somewhere around £20-25 a week per person at Sainsbury’s including household stuff/toiletries but don’t buy much meat or snacks and no alcohol. We also meal plan.

I don’t think that’s excessive for a family of four with today’s prices. We spend more than that. As someone else has suggested, are you able to take on doing the food shopping?

Everything is still shooting up and groceries inflation is much higher than the general rate of inflation

We’re a family of 5 and eating pure shit at this point, and can’t get our shopping under £190 a week

That's not very much. I'm probably spending double that... family of four but to be fair my kids are teens so eat a lot.

Food is expensive.

You could save by swapping to Aldi own brand cereals/coffee/ice cream etc instead of getting the branded stuff from Asda if you don’t use them already.

Actually is this a reverse. Is it actually your husband having a go at you because he thinks you're spending too much?

£140 a week for a family of 4, assuming that includes cleaning, laundry supplies, basic toiletries, shampoo , toothpaste etc. Seems about average. Yes you probably could get it down lower with some rigorous planning if you can't afford it. Ours probably averages about that if not more for two adults, one DC.
We eat plenty of fish, and not much processed food. I could get it cheaper with oven chips, chicken nuggets etc, or veggie curries/daal on a regular basis, jacket potato with beans type dinners. We're ok financially so I don't worry about it.
I think it's a bit much to have argued with your husband who seems to be the one in charge of the food shop, he's not buying caviar and bottles of champagne with that budget.

This made me laugh. Your candidness.

What is your definition of pure shit? £190 seems like a healthy budget.

We probably spend £30 per adult per week including basic toiletries, but we don't really eat meat , and don't drink alcohol. Mostly vegetarian, everything from scratch, but still can't get it below that.

Family of 4, meal plan etc but kids aged only 2 & 4, shopping is £100 per week. That includes all cleaning products and toiletries (although these are cheap and cheerful as I'm married and so have given up caring).
Also includes ond bottle of wine. Because married

Prices are really high.

Is it the same food as usual that he's buying? Or are you entertaining more? Half term additional costs?

How did the row come about? It doesn't feel good to be accused of overspending if you're the one doing the work.

We're around £140 a week now for all supermarket spends, inc cleaning/nappies/toiletries on top of food. Family of 6. Can do the food-only shop for £70 if absolutely necessary but it's not fun

We budget £700 a month for food, plus £160 for school lunches 2 adults 2 teens

🤣

We’re £200 a week at least, family of 5. Your bill doesn’t sound high

We spend more than £150 a week generally for2 adults and 1 dog. If my dh is with me, the bill is generally in excess of £200.