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How much do you spend on weekly shopping?

111 replies

arabella36 · 01/01/2011 15:37

I'm amazed how much I spend each week. We are just 2 adults and one baby! What do other people spend weekly on food? I'm wondering what's average.

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TheBrandyButterflyEffect · 05/01/2011 14:22

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TheBrandyButterflyEffect · 05/01/2011 14:23

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arabella36 · 05/01/2011 14:28

Thanks for posting that link

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lenak · 05/01/2011 18:01

We spend about £60 a week on average (including some, but not all alcohol) for two adults, one 3 year old and a dog - although three year old eats all her meals at nursery during the week.

We don't buy cleaning products from the supermarkets - we use dilutable industrial stuff.

About once every 2 - 3 months we stock up the freezer with meat from a wholesale butcher who also has a shop counter (excellent quality - massive chicken breasts - very cheap).

Dog eats Bakers Complete which we get in bulk (2 massive sacks for £30 from Pets at Home which lasts him 2 months or more)

We spend about £120 at the beginning of the month 'stocking up' on bulk items (I'm including the meat in this): Pasta, rice, loo rolls, washing powder etc as well as the fresh shop for that week. The next three or four weeks we spend £30 - £40 a week of fruit, veg, bread, milk and anything that we have run out of.

We still throw far too much away so could probably bring this down quite a bit - and intend to this year.

This site tells you how you can feed a family of four for £25 a week. You have to like humous though Wink. It wouldn't work for us, but I intend to use it as a base and supplement it a little, and hopefully get the shop down to under £200 per month.

HollyBollyBooBoo · 05/01/2011 18:41

This thread has been so illuminating. I budget £400pcm for food for 2 x adult and formula for 6mo, that includes dog food, alcohol, household cleaning products etc, but think I probably spend a lot more than that. Will definitely look at maximising meat with extra veg/lentils etc and buying a whole chicken rather than just chicken breasts for recipes.

Feeling very motivated so thankyou all!

MamaVoo · 05/01/2011 18:49

About £60 for me, DH and 3yo DS.

arabella36 · 06/01/2011 13:46

lenak, I've just had a look at the site you linked, its very good thanks. The only thing is, there are always about a third of the meals which my DH or i would not like to eat in meal planners like this.

How do you manage this when your family object? I suppose you just substitute other stuff?

OP posts:
lenak · 06/01/2011 18:05

Yes - that's the problem for me. It also doesn't allow for snacks or my fussy toddler etc.

I guess you would just substitute things you really didn'y like for something of a similar price.

Even if someone could get a £100 shopping bill down to £40 or £50 using those meal planners as a base though - it would still be worth it.

bessie26 · 06/01/2011 22:48

lenak thanks for the link to that site, very few meal planning sites I've seen have a veggie option, and to find one where the recipes aren't all cheese-based is brilliant! Grin I'm defn going to try the nut & seed pastes in my sandwiches for work.

TheButterflyEffect · 07/01/2011 03:29

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IoannaSE1 · 05/10/2011 22:57

menus4mums.co.uk/ has changed my life!

It takes all the work out of planning, shoppping and preparing meals and has really brought our grocery shopping bill right down. Plus it offers a good vegetarian option and you can try a 4 weekly meal plan for just £6.95

Would highly recommend this website to anybody

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