Is our 400 pounds per month food bill excessive? Family of 4.

[fuzzyfelt]

We've got baby no. 3 on the way and are working out ways of economising. I have just worked out that we spend at least 400 quid a month on our Tesco shops. Is this normal or excessive? My children are 5 and 2 and we don't buy any ready meals or other particularyly expensive stuff.

Was inspired to write thsi after reading the Lidl thread - think I might be trying Lidl out!

not to mention your salt intake....

Very few ready meals but mostly organic, so that bumps it up I suppose.

agree nailpolish - menu planning is a top tip

Thanks guys. Am still going to economise a bit though - still throw too much away that's past it's sell by date. Meal planning and shopping at Lidl could be the way forward for me, esp when I go on maternity leave and have bit more time for shopping around (in theory!)

Love your comment Custy! From reading some other threads though, you could cut your bill down by using a mooncup and opening the windows!

3 of us plus 2 cats and 2 lots of packed lunches every day I spend about 50 Buy mostly organic but do cook everything so save on ready meals We usually have 1 meal out or 1 take away every week which is extra!Cook big batches of soups and stews curries etc and lasts a few meals

ready meals are definately more expensive, I have only recently started cooking from fresh and it is cheaper, I can cook in bulk and freeze it (especially lasagna and cauliflower cheese)

I had a really helpful conversation with my mum the other day (after being shocked by the price of 6 lamb chops) about what sort of meat is cheaper/more expensive. She said that generally meat which needs moisture and takes longer to cook costs less (so stews etc a cheaper option than chops or chicken breasts).
No doubt this was all basic housekeeping info to her generation but it was news to me

neck of lamb is great for stews (slow long cook) as with stewing beef

chicken drumsticks and thighs for casseroles (take an hour)

Fuzzy, it sounds quite cheap to me (sadly!!) I seem to spend a small fortune on food and wine!!

I feed me and df (no kids) for about £25 a week which includes the amazing amount of milk he drinks.

I shop local (save a fortune on fruit and veg), meal plan, also don't drive so can only buy what I can carry - stops me getting carried away. I get lots from Lidl and if I do go to the supermarket I buy value stuff.

neck of lamb in stews is lovely, but i can't find any! where do you buy it twigtwoolet

I spend about £70 a week, me, dh and a 21 month old and 3 month old (who obviously isn't on the roasties yet!) that's with planning the week ahead and no crap (does include the odd bottle of vino though )!

I spend £100 to £110 a week, for four of us, two adults, a four year old and a seven year old. I would like to cut it down but can't really work out how or where. I don't buy ready meals or much in the way of junk foods. Although the weekly shop usually includes two bottles of wine.