Grocery shopping....anyone else finding it increasingly expensive? What do you pay weekly?

[whispywhisp]

Anyone got any recommendations on Tesco Value products - are they any good? What foods to avoid that are clearly rubbish?

We are a family of four. I have always tried to buy our groceries economically but have tended to avoid Tesco Value products because I've worried about the quality.

Its now become so expensive to buy food and household products that we've got no choice but to buy the cheaper range.

I don't know what everyone else is spending each week but, on average, I'm paying way over £100 per week on everything - food, cleaning materials, pet food etc etc and we simply can't afford to continue like this.

What does everyone else do? Are we all finding it increasingly expensive to buy groceries? Anyone found some of the Tesco Value stuff should be avoided?

I would grow my own stuff but we don't have the room. I would use a local greengrocer...if we had one. I cook all our meals - we are a family who eat a lot of fruit and veg and its those items that I'm finding have gone up so much. I like my kids to eat well, which they do, I don't want them to eat junk (which they'd love to, I'm sure!). Help!

Sorry, to make my last post make sense must say I have a toddler in nappies too. He likes them so much it's driving me mad as he's nearly 3!
My other tip; always go to tabletop sales and school fairs. once we went to 4 in the same day. Kids have a great time there for free or almost free and we come away with toys and books for a few pence. Look in the paper for free days out and go to Sure start fun days toddler groups, they're brilliant and often free and they give the children free fruit regardless of income etc.the other day we went to a church fete, met an African bishop and won an antique print in the raffle all for 50p and the kids did all the traditional games- we spent about 3 pounds .We have also joined a community gym which is £2 a year and £1.50 each visit and just as good as any other.They accepted my 12 year old too.

we spend approx £300 a week, there are 5 of us & 2 cats!!

£300 a week?!

I have a load of washing just finishing having used Tesco value washing liquid and Tesco value softener....watch this space! I will report back later!!

FYI the washing liquid was 66p for a largish bottle and the softener was £1 for a litre.

yes, £300, but have 2 teenage sons!!

Just to let you know dp has had Aldi garlic sausage for his luch 36p for pack and he says it's really nice !

Sandy !

I'm shocked....£300 a week for a family of five? I didn't realise having teenagers made such a huge difference to grocery bills each week.

We're a family of four with my eldest DD being almost 10yrs old...plus a dog and two cats. I could never afford £300 a week to keep us fed each week.

I think a lot depends on the type of meals you are cooking. You get so much more value with recipes like toad in the whole, shepherds pie, and some simple lunches like sardines on toast. I have stopped getting my veg at the supermarket as my local greengrocer is better quality and is cheaper, I saved a tenner shopping there. I also get my tins from Netto, and get own brand washing powder and cleaning products. I grow my own veg and buy my meat from the butcher and local suppliers too, fresh home made beefburgers from the butcher only cost 40p each.

I know, it does seem a bit excessive !? and we cook from scratch.

I am maybe doing something wrong. Although DP does most of the shopping.

ahh Sandy i could never let dp do the shopping it would be at least double

On a good week I can feed 3 for 50 but I have to be quite strict. You need to get out of the supermarket culture of shoving things in. I always take cash now so I stick to my budget.

This week i have probably spent £60 for weekly shop between Aldi,asda and the greengrocers and that includes two bottles wine!
That's to feed 5 of us although dd2 is still weaning and 3 pets!

Cost your meals when you do the list it's the only way. I would write everything out and put the cost next to it and then go back and revise it. I keep all my old lists and meal plans so I know what works.

Have a pack lunch, snacks, breakfast, lunch and dinner section and cleaning.

hear hear fio, I avoid the supermarket it's the best way to budget.

Do what you can yourself I have just made elderflower cordial and 5 gallons of elderflower wine and the main cost was sugar. If you have a flower bed get lettuces in there and grow tomatoes.

We tried Aldi recently to save some pennies and were very impressed. Value prices bit IMO nicer than the cheapo supermarket versions, especially pasta/sauces, cleaning stuff and biscuits etc.

can i point out that ocado price matches tesco so tesco is not that cheap - it just looks it!

im a big fan of shopping on line - it makes you avoid impulse buys and you get to compare things. If you spend over 75 (which we do) and choose your time slot delivery is free -saving petrol and about an hour of time.

you then save time that you can spend popping into wilkinsons for the real bargains

£70-80 a week online at Tesco for 4 of us. Usually find a bargain code.
DCs have school dinners 3x weekly so an additional £10 for those needs to be factored into that.

Miraculously things don't seem to have gone up hugely - we are spending more or less what we were a year go. But I wonder if we are subconsciously buying less!

We're going to try to Martin Lewis (moneysavingexpert)'s tip of taking everything "down a level" - Finest to normal, normal to own brand, own brand to value etc. Apparently you can save 30%. Of course with some things this is false economy and with others you just can't get cheaper versions.

rebelmum weve got tomatoes cucumbers lettuces cabbages beans peas all in garden plus my huge herb garden herbs make all the difference
sandy i have 7 in my family will be 8 next week and that includes a 19 and 16 yr old,still spending approx £80 a week
i guess i try real hard to bugdet a i could not go without my holiday to usa for a month every year
food or florida no contest

With 7 to feed that is pretty good going! You need to get some potatoes and onions in next and a couple of chickens and piggies

I usually do an online shop every 2-3 weeks and spend on average £90-£100 (it used to be £70-£80). I then top up by probably £10-£20 a week buying extra milk, bread, meat and veggies. The online shop includes meat for the freezer eg if mince is 2 for £4 or whatever I'll get 2 and freeze one-this has beenreally useful when we've had an unexpected bill etc and so haven't had much money to spend on food

There are four of us (2 adults, a 2 year old and a 6 month old). I use washable nappies and wipes so don't need to buy those. I don't really buy baby food other than the odd organix biscuit or sometimes fruitapura if it is on offer.