Families of 4 or more kids REALISTICALLY how much do you spend?

[PaulaYatesBiggestFan]

A month on food?

I say a month because my bill varies hugely from a 'stock up' week to a 'treaty bits' week

I am off to check my last few visa and see what the REAL damage is!!

OOh and include school lunch money etc

At least £500 though I don't keep careful accounts, and source food variously. That's without eating out, but we rarely do that at the moment.

I'd have to look at the accounts - bit scared of what I'll find though!

my budget is £600 - I spent slightly more than that last month, but had a couple of parties to cater for.

We don't buy much booze, but do get organic meat. (4 children, 3 adults).

that doesn't include eating out. or eldest 2 school meals as they are included in the fees.

ps why are you so keen on Paula Yates?

I was spending a fortune in the supermarket - so now take out cash, do a fifteen day meal planner and shop once a fortnight - with a small top up on friday. I have really cut down - literally halved my bills.

this is for pybf

I'm only supposed to spend £600, plus dinners for the oldest two - the little two we pay as a lump sum in with fees. Don't often manage to stick to £600 tbh, but am trying hard

Probably 450 quid, not including takeaways, eating out or DH's lunches (those all might be another 150?). But dc4 only 2 wks old, mind.

wow did not think anyone had replied and oddly someone has atrted a similar thread although not for big families!

Has anyone thought we should heave a 4+ children section on mumsnet where we can discuss such trivia as - where do all the loo rolls go? is it really feasible to have food in the house for more than 5 minutes and what is harder 'teen' 'toddler' or 'both at once'?

oh yes and i have calculated almost £800 in our house

3 teen/pre teens

5yr old 2 yr old and 2 adults!

about £400 a month, but that because Callum is only 5 months old, we use washable nappies and he is BF.

ooh Gglmpp thankyou so much for the link - almost worth breastfeeding for ( i hope you know who i am/was!)

FAR too much.

most weeks the shopping bill is £130.....(on a budget week it is never less than £80 and that isn;t often).

that does include lunches tho as they all have packed lunch, but it doesn't include all the extra's from the corner shop...ie, extra bread, little things forgotten from the weekly shop, extra washing powder/lenor as I run out sometimes when I strip all the beds at the same time just cos it is a sunny/blowy day and hadn;t figured it into that weeks shop.(and the wine too after a hard day)

oh, and doesn't include the extra's at dancing either.

we have five, none huge eaters as such, but all are dancers so do eat little and often and therefore it all mounts up rather quickly!

oh, and husband is a brickie/builder so a very active man who eats well

I would say same PYBF.

3 adults (one 21), 2 teens, and 1 toddler. None of them ever stop eating, they are like locusts

I am fed up of it. I want some to move out so we can have normal sized food bills, and normal size shopping trollies. I read some where that the avarage family spend about £80.00 week on food. I wish we did....

mine includes all washing stuff/lunches/eating out and toiletries

5 dancers psychomum how lovely - i can only dream girly dreams and keep putting the wellies away!

i know fizzbuzz it's teenage boys

never full drives me nutty!

Around £120, that includes wine and gluten free stuff. My kids lunches are paltry compared to other children. I went on a school trip and was astonished by the frubes, dairylee thingys, biscuits, chocolate, cheesestrings. Mine have a sandwich, some fruit and some squash in a bottle. Poor dears!

I seem to spend about £140-£180 per week and it makes me feel queasy every time I do it. Usually top up on fruit on a friday as well. That's for 2 adults and 5 children and a very fat cat.

£550 a month, sorry.

Yes, I would like a 4+ children section because it is so different to having a smaller family.

aahh friendly it is good to hear!

bout 400. 3 teens (plus assorted friends) and a 4 yo. But I budget like mad.

dancers may sound lovely, but believe me, when it somes to shows and medals and exams it gets BLOODY EXPENSIVE!!!!

the last show alone cost me £400 in costume fee's alone, not including the rehearsal fee's, DVD costs, photo's, new dance shoes, tickets, hair bits etc etc etc....and I could go on.....

I do love it tho, especially when they are all in tutu's (well, obviously the girls, as the boys might look cute, but they would also be scowling!).

shame I don't have a scanner anymore otherwise I could upload the last photo of the three girls in their tutus......one red, one white, one blue. !

it is different isn't it rachelsara!