Your weekly grocery bill... how much?

[Uwilalalalalala]

Okay I'm always trying to economise at the grocery store. But, the best I seem to be able to do is around £150 per week. We have three adults and two kids (18 months and 3 1/2 yrs) in the house. I shop at Tesco, and I don't buy overpriced kiddies foods (like disney yogurts or Thomas pasta, etc.) I don't buy already prepared food (unless it is for me to take to work for lunch because it is cheaper than buying lunch at work).

If you live in greater London, how much do you spend on groceries? Am I going wrong somewhere?

OMG! £150!!!!!!
I went and did our weekly shop and spent £29 yesterday.
I meal plan, make a list and NEVER buy anything not on the list.
Im not in London but that does seem alot of money, i couldnt afford that.

I live kinda outer London, and I cant seem to get below £60-£70... thats 2 adults and a 7 month old! Look at your reciepts and see where it all goes... ive noticed alot goes on shampoo/toothpaste/mouthwash/nappies and DHs meals for work. That would account for £20 odd of it...

OK I don't live in London so might not be much help to you but I spend maximum £60 for Asda home delivery (inc delivery but hardly ever pay for that cos normally get a code) for two adults and two children aged 5 and 2. That includes cleaning products (but have started making my own a bit), some toiletries (shampoo, deoderant, toilet roll etc), wine/beer (but DH drinks very little) but no nappies/formula. I agree with you over the kiddie food. I buy the Yeo Valley yoghurts which are aimed at kids (full fat) but not tied in to a character but not every week, and sometimes I buy own brand individual juice cartons. I also cook from scratch, don't use a lot of meat and tend to buy the cheaper cuts - eg chicken thighs rather than breasts, braising steak, mince, bacon etc.

Not sure but at least 120 quid - 2 adults 1 barely-eating child
I'm in London but shop daily hence have no clue of the total

Oh and DH takes to work, cheese sandwiches everyday. Utterly boring I know, but his choice. So I buy packs of 6 breadrolls for 45p and a huge block of Smartprice cheddar. And he takes two rolls and an satsuma and an apple. So his sandwiches cost about 20p and then with the fruit factored in it is maybe 40p a day - so £2 a week.

Mines £60 for 3 adults, 1 toddler and a dog. I don;t live in greater London though i live in West Sussex.

We are 2 adults and 4dc's plus I c/m and If I spend £100 per week then I'm shocked (inc DS2's ready made formula nappies etc)
Do you shop on the tesco.com? can you cut and paste your shopping bill?

£50 or less for 2 adults one 12 yr old and 2 bloody fussy and greedy cats.Buy mostly organic and cook from scratch.It is really worth buying cleaning stuff etc monthly in bulk at lidl or somewhere like that and MENUPLAN I stopped for a few months while renovating the house and our bill doubled at least I live in Brighton

I don't actually think living in London has any effect on how much you spen in Tescos, the last time I checked the Tesco in central London cost the same as one in the North or one on the south coast.

Oh and sorry I just spent £89 for 2 weeks of shopping bought on Tesco.com all meal planned so if I factor in the extra milk and bread we shall buy it will be about £50 per week over all (probably less as I had to buy a lot of basics this week lentils, flour etc)

I always buy whats on offer, if there is a BOGOF on bread i will get a couple and stick the extra's in the freezer for the week.

I find that sometimes i often over buy just for a week, it's only 7 days and yet i end up buying enough for 2 weeks that then goes off, so be carefull and do daily plans, get just 7 dinner things, 7 lunchbox/lunch things ect.

c.£120pw for 2 adults and a 1-year-old - incl. nappies and formula. We are in London and shop at Tesco. Wine is the biggest expense

I live in London and our average bill is about £80 per week for 2 adults and 2 children. That includes nappies, wine, toiletries etc.

I don't think food is more expensive in London - is it??

Ours used to average about £120 per week (2 adults, 2 children). Currently moneys a little tight, and I'm buying no luxuries at all but I still can't get it below £60-£70 average. I used to work on the checkouts at Tesco and people would do a months shopping for less than £40, but that was just tons of Value stuff adn I'd rather starve than eat that sh*t!

I agree GG, some of its ok though just check the ingredients etc as it came be just no frill packaging

Blimey, I must be doing something wrong.

Okay, what do other working mums feed their families? I say working mums because I'm obviously not home to cook in the day, but I can say cook on Sunday afternoon and eat it the rest of the week. And, for the kids, nanny can cook during the week for them and for herself.

Okay, I must confess I will not eat crap and I will not feed it to the kids. So, tesco value products don't make my list.

Budget pasta rice etc ok

I usually cook from scraytch twice per week - once on the weekend and once on a work day - which lasts for one or two evenings. We always have a big salad in the evening so the meal is usually small-ish.

We have a take away once per week and a ready made meal once (fresh pasta or pecking duck).

Dh is late once or twice per week so I just have a sandwich or similar on those days.

The nanny cooks for the baby - always from scratch.

I don't buy any Tesco value either and my shopping is pretty low, do you have a slow cooker? They are a God send for anyone who is working but want to cook and eat healthy meals.

Yes, I have one. Must admit I haven't cracked it our for a few weeks (because I haven't been hpme on Sunday). I should do that this weekend.

I do not have time for a mid week evening cook.

Okay, what are nice cheap nutritious slow cooker ideas? I think I have some, but perhaps I'm tired of the same old recipes and could do with some new ones to keep the budget down.

I work part time so I cook 3 or 4x a week but not when I am working. Doesn't your DH work away in the week anyway Uwila. So you would only need to cook an extra portion at the weekend for you to eat in the week?

I have my shopping delivered on a Thursday evening and last week it was £48. I cooked the following:
Friday - macaroni cheese with leeks and bacon, served with garlic bread (I made two so one to eat, one to keep)
Saturday - vegetable quiche (used peppers, brocolli, baby corn, mushrooms etc) (made 2) with roasted peppers, poatato wedges and brocolli.
Sunday - went to ILs
Monday - acapulco chicken (thighs with onions, garlic, mushrooms, tinned toms, tinned kidney beans) served with rice and topped with tortillas and sour cream - made double and also double rice and froze.
Tuesday - I am working but have defrosted bacon and mushroom in a tomato sauce which I will cook with pasta
Wednesday - will have other macaroni cheese
Thursday -will have turkey meatloaf (our of freezer) with potatoes and veg

I think part of your expense is because you are buying food for your nanny and the children and more food for you and your DH - rather than one meal feeds all.

£200

Ok yesterday I made 2 streak and kidney pies, 2 lasagnes, a chicken casserole and a batch of scoth broth. I freeze them and then take them out the night before I'm going to eat them and then they are defrosted by the evening in time to cook.
BTW I checked out my regulars items on tesco.com and I the only value thing was tissues which I buy for the DC's as they use so many but I seem to remember that there pure oj was no difference in value or own brand

In one week??? £200. Oh thank God there is someone worse than me. Now, you are going to tell me that's for the whole month, aren't you?