Sick to death of grocery costs (1k/ month)

[Icannotbudget]

Our grocery bill has slowly increased and is now around 1k per month. This is for two adults, two very active teenage boys, and two dogs. This includes everything you would get from a supermarket eg personal care and laundry/ cleaning stuff.
Both kids are neurodivergent one in particular is very fussy and would rather go hungry than eat ‘cheap’ food. The older one just seems to need constant protein.
I am vege and pretty unfussy but don’t like freezer food. No alcohol and i shop at Aldi as much as poss but do use other supermarkets too.
DH works long hours and Ive just gone back full time and really struggling its impossible to cook from scratch every night.
Not sure if I want sympathy or strategies to be honest, its crippling me and im feeling really down.

Yes it’s those with genuine disabilities who will suffer thanks to those on the bandwagon.

Or they just don't eat at all, which is what can happen in this country too. Kids will starve themselves and end up in hospital on drips and feeding tubes because of ARFID and food aversion.

Maybe buy a block of cheese and cut it into small rectangular blocks?

I'm struggling to see cheese string as an essential item that can't be removed from your shopping list.

I find the only realistic savings i can make are on household products. Cheapest toilet roll and for cleaning either cheapest washing up liquid for the bathroom and kitchen or cheapest distilled vinegar for glass. So the only cleaning stuff i guy is washing up liquid and vinegar. I also use vinegar as a fabric softener in the washing machine and almost no washing powder. And absolutely zero brand loyalty.

But you’ve clearly just made that up. It’s so so difficult to get PIP. I’m diagnosed with autism, GAD, depression and OCD and I’ve been rejected twice for PIP.

People are committing suicide because of it. You have no clue.

Her children should always come before pet dogs. If she can't afford the dogs, they need to go.

I eat very little ham/bacon these days but notice Iceland have got cooked ham trimmings (which is usually nicer than some ham slices).

• Three packets of 325gm ham trimmings for £3.50 or £1.67 per single pack of 325gm
• One pack of 600gm ham trimmings for £3.50.

Great for pea & ham soup, quiche, salads, sandwiches, pies, etc..

BTW I don't work for Iceland - I just remember from when I'd buy for my mum instead of the horrible ham she used to buy - the ham trimmings not only tasted better but you got more for your money. We'd portion it out so she had enough for a few days in the fridge, and portions in little bags in a Tupperware in the freezer. 🌹

Oh I’m not saying it’ll be awarded but surely these really tenuous claims bung the system up and make it slower for others.

And I haven’t made up the writers cramp. The charity ‘benefits and work’ have a comprehensive list of all conditions PIP is claimed for and their success rate. Wont link as I don’t want to derail but you can find it easily online.

For 2 adults, 2 teens and 2 dogs - too much?? Really?

She hasn't said she can't afford the dogs, just that she wants to make savings.

I would do the odd convenience food meal. Though my DC both ND eat it no problem he would hit his stomach. It was his way of telling us he had tummy ache. He wasn't a big meat eater back then. Would pick fruit over a biscuit. He would rather have a home cooked meal than conviniance food anyway.

They both have the same health condition so eating 3 regular healthy meals a day is important.

What food do the dogs have @Icannotbudget as someone may be able to put you on to something equivalent but cheaper
Could you list your meals and what you actually buy using 1 week as an example so people could get more idea of where you could either cut back or buy cheaper .
Would it be better to shop somewhere like Tesco where you can scan and shop so you know exactly how much it is as you go round or do it online to avoid impulse buys . During and after covid when I either did all online / my sister did my shop I spent way less than I do now as I’m always popping into M&S or Tesco just to pick up a few things .
Would it be worth looking at Costco if you have one local and buy big packs of fish / meat for the freezer , the meat / fish is hoot massively cheaper but it is very good quality . There are also good deals for cereals / yoghurts / baked beans and the household items like cleaners , loo rolls , kitchen rolls .

Probably the only food saving you can make without even more hassle is on you and DH. Maybe you could make a vat of lentil soup or similar for a few meals. You'll feel better than having a ready meal.

Always the poor animals that have to suffer. Why should they get rid of the dogs? Having a pet especially dog's is great for children's mental health.

And yes op it’s crap. I spend a similar amount to you. I just don’t want to live like a pauper. I want my treats…my 70 percent chocolate, my salmon, my occasional fillet steak and my protein puddings and I’m not apologising for that.

I don’t want to live on cheap carbs and I’m not going to feed my dogs rubbish either.

@ThisOldThang the dogs can just go?! Wtf!! This thread is ridiculous!

How did you think that the relentless rain and waterlogged fields wouldn't have an impact on farming and food production? How is it possible to get to adulthood and not make this connection. Honestly, the mind boggles. Lambs have been drowning in fields, so expect the cost of meat to rise too.

OP you have my sympathy ❤️‍🩹

I have DS with AFRID.

What I have noticed with all of us is protein and good fats are really important to feel full. Then you can load on as little or as much carbs as you like.

The protein can come as plant protein which is cheaper but takes some adjustment.

If you’d be open to it, I’d suggest trying out the Zoe nutrition program. It would help the health of your whole family and may reduce your bills.

If you’re veggie and tired I would look at vitamin b12 deficiency and ferritin and get a panel done at the GP. You can ask for a well person check up every five years on the NHS, once you reach 40.

Porridge really is better and healthier (and much cheaper) than the other things like rice crispies and cornflakes which will leave you feeling hungry again an hour or so later.

Porridge with a handful of nuts will keep you going for hours. It’s also really healthy. I understand ND kid won’t eat this but for my DS it’s weetabix because at least it’s wholemeal. It is still a processed food though but it does keep him going longer.

For teen boys my brother gets them a loaf of bread, some jam and butter and lets them get on with it. There is also a bag of carrots and a bag of apples in the fridge. That’s it. They get berries and nice fruits on Friday nights only.

No juices. Again bad for teeth, bad for blood sugar, can’t see the point why you’d pay for this as storing up problems further down the line.

For cereals I’d put in higher fibre options if you can’t switch to porridge. Again you’re paying for hunger to be filled fleetingly but not to feel properly full. Theyll just need to eat more again = more money.

Try switching the butters over using their packets, and get them to test it. Then see if they notice.

Some of this is just about habits and humans are very habit forming with regards to foods.

I buy cheaper cuts of chicken and plain white cod can be fairly reasonable.

Barts chicken seasoning whack it over the chicken, under the skin a bit too, stick it in the oven, new potatoes in the microwave and side of beans or bag of veg also in the microwave. This is what most of our meals look like.

i use the same seasoning with cod and a bit of olive oil. Schwartz do a piri piri seasoning which ND DS loves on fish.

DH could help by doing a big vegetable preprep which is what my DH does. He doesn’t cook but he helps chop stuff up.

we save a lot by buying lots of veg whole and chopping it up for the week. Big bowl every night in the microwave. We buy cheap stuff in season but the regulars are always there, broc, cauliflower, carrots, leeks and add frozen peas and beans. DS won’t eat this though.

We’re spending £800 a month for 4 and no pets - but I could cut down if I needed. We already batch cook at weekends - larger joint and some of it does for a stir fry or curry on Tuesday. We batch cook bolognese - 750 g pack of mince but we use loads of tinned tomatoes and cheap veg and get four large Tupperware sauce portions out if it so eg just cook once a month and get four meals bar the pasta. That’s our quick meal each week. We blitz the veg and tomatoes as our DC don’t like lumps of veg and we make the meat go a long way. I’ve restricted what DS16 thinks he can eat after the gym- he was eating another meat which was basically a load of chicken, but that was too expensive. I agree with a pp that you need to put some limits on as some teen boys can eat a ridiculous amount.

@ThisOldThang

so you honestly think Op should get rid of the dogs so that she can buy her sons Lurpak?!

NO ONE needs butter, NO ONE

OP, our weekly shop is £400 a week, incl dog food, and toileteries plus top ups and eating out, we are a family of 5 late teens, food shrinkage is a real problem.

We are lucky that we can afford it but I am sorry people that are saying they can feed a family for £60 a week must not be including toileteries and cleaning stuff or have very young children, my teens are eating non stop.

I'm sorry OP but I'd stop pandering to your children-they are old enough to understand the situation neurodivergent or not. After all, what will your son who "won't" eat cheaper food do when he's living in his own home as an adult? They are old enough to be doing some of their own cooking, learning about budgeting and doing some of the shopping. Stop taking all this on yourself and work to instil some independence, decency and understanding into your children.

I have a ND son with food issues too. Like you I have cried at times and been exhausted. Forgive me for having read the whole thread - I have read all your comments - but things that have helped here....

I decant cheaper products into the expensive brand bottles that are the only ones he can stand. He doesn't notice. It's a faff of course but by going to wholesalers etc saves an absolute fortune.

We support a local charity who do food saving. It's a bag of food for a £1. Both my children like the eco friendly aspect. My son will come there to pick food but is overwhelmed in supermarkets and bored by them. Because it is someone other than Mum saying 'have you tried x' he will. I quickly got over my exasperation at this in favour of him eating some veg and salad 😂

I do maximise deals as much as possible when paid. Friends who shop in other supermarkets help by highlighting the deals on things my son will eat.

If he won't eat the family meal he has to help cook the separate meal for him.
Including the washing the up. Sometimes means he will eat the family meal.

He has a multi vitamin each day. I wish he got all he needed from his food but.....we were advised to do that and at least when he will only eat x it is something.

I appreciate some of this is nothing to do with budgeting but..... Know how hard it all is and will be reading the thread for other ideas when can

I genuinely find Ocado cheaper than every other supermarket. I've just checked chickpeas... can't find them cheaper anywhere else. Same with crumpets. They have a half price section and a 20% off favourites.

It's not "pandering", ffs. These children are diagnosed neurodivergent - they are not fussy.

Many autistic adults just eat an incredibly limited diet of "safe" foods. So in the DS's case, they would still buy Lurpak and just spend less on other foods, or they wouldn't buy it and would just limit their diets even further.