What is a reasonable amount to spend on food etc for a family of 5?

[enprovence]

We are 2 adults and 3 children and seem to spend a fortune on food other essentials.

What is the best way to shop? One big shop in one supermarket or smaller shops in various supermarkets?

I've tried both methods and each has drawbacks. One big shop you run out of stuff or forget something; go back for "bread" and spend another £30. Smaller shops you find you've spent £40 every visit and it's more than if you'd done it all at once.

The best way is to meal plan and stick to it. Doesn't work here because my teens eat everything in sight, so I find that the vital ingredient for today's dinner is missing. Or they start the week using the freezer and cupboard stuff "because it's quick" and leave all the fresh stuff to go off.

We try and keep it under £100 with a 2, 5 and just 8 year old.

I agree with elvis a strict meal plan, my boys are still very small and our weekly shop is about £70. I stick to one big shop a week as I also find a 'bread' shop mounts up and with my ds's I don't have the time (or patience) to be going shopping more than once a week

I'm also trying to do one big shop for household stuff at the beginning of the month for washing powder, loo rolls, toiletries etc. and a friend mentioned getting a costco card and doing a cash and carry shop, she reckoned it was much cheaper so will look at that too - check out their website and see if their is one near you

What do you call a fortune, we are 2 adults and 4 children who eat me out of house and home, especially in the hols. This week we started at tescos on saturday, I called in for a few bits and spent £50, on sunday I took the list and spent £86, and I popped out today for a few bits and spent £45 and will order an ocado delivery for the weekend plus bits of milk and bread at the village shop.I reackon I spend £150 some weeks and perhaps a bit less others. I'm sure I spend less if I just do online deliveries and try to stick to £100 with bits from the local shop.