Help, I need an intervention - sticking to a food budget!

[Bumperlicious]

I'm really struggling at the moment. We are supposed to be on a tight budget but consistently go over it. Our biggest expenditure, after rent, is food.

Firstly, I'm not really a food snob, I happily buy basics of most things. I shop in Sainsbo's and top up in the co-op. I don't buy masses of frivolous things and I meal plan and mostly stick to it. The problem is that I have this obsession with being stocked up. There is nothing more satisfying than having a full fridge an cupboards. I also hate not having plenty fresh fruit and veg for the kids. I really find it impossible to go to the supermarket or co-op and just stick to my list.

I freeze lots of things, batch cook, rarely throw things away. But on a weekend or special day or something we love to treat ourselves with some nice food for lunch. I online shop every couple of weeks but get a bit panicked towards the end of the week when we need fresh stuff.

I'm also doing Weight Watchers which makes it a bit harder to do the end of the week just have pasta and pesto type thing.

I'm not sure of the figures off hand but our budget is about £270 but that has to cover 3 meals a day for 2 adults and 2 children, plus all supermarket stuff like nappies and cleaning stuff etc. Its not a lot, but I know it's doable. I just need to get past my empty cupboard panic. I was bought up on chicken nuggets and oven chips basically, and even now my mum rarely has any proper food in her house, so obviously there are some psychological issues there!

I just need some help.

Ok. Just re-read that, and it's an exaggeration to say I happily buy basics of most things, that's not quite true, but lots of things, and my point was that it isn't food snobbery that is causing me to spend too much. It's my need to feed people! Especially if we have friends over etc.

£270 for how long - I'm assuming a month?

Take cash with you when you go shopping and only the ammount you want to spend. SO if you go to pick up milk take the exact money as close as you can.

Homemade soup is very good for diets adn you can use it to use up the leftover veg at the end of the week. Or I keep split peas in and make soup with those (as they keep forever in the cupboard with an onion adn some leftover bacon plus chicken stock. Still cheap storecupboard type meal but not too bad for the diet.

agree with armadillo...i only take cash and carefully add up as i put things in the trolley/basket....i also never go over £50 per week for dh, myself and ds who is 11....any change i do get will go on extra food for the freezer so it is stocked up....this works for me expecially on bad weeks when car tax mot are needed...i will just need to buy essentials like bread, milk etc...

Sorry, yes, for a month. Soup is good for me, but no one else will eat it! My DD1 is pretty fussy, and the only veg she will eat is cucumber and raw carrot. I grate courgette and carrots into bolognaise and curry.

Part of the problem is I meal plan for dinners, but forget that it is 3 meals a day I'm trying to cover. Taking cash is a good idea, but again, it's the psychological aspect of doing that and limiting myself. You know, what if I spot a bargain? (yes, I know it's not a bargain if you can't afford it, but if it was as easy as just telling myself that the. I wouldn't have a problem!)

I hate this, I really do. It's the worst thing about not having any money. I can take not going out, having new clothes or only getting my hair cut once or twice a year. It's not being able to just eat food I enjoy.

none of mine will eat soup either - I love it though and have it when they have e.g. pasta and sauce or leftovers. Once a week eating a different meal won't harm them.

I make and portion and then either stick in fridge or freezer and then often take it to work for lunches.

Noone else can make you stop spending the money. I know its hard when you spot a bargin but that is what taking cash stops. Worst comes to worst you could go back home and get the cash for it but I tend to find by the time I get home I don't think its worth it any more.