Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Money matters

Find financial and money-saving discussions including debt and pension chat on our Money forum. If you're looking for ways to make your money to go further, sign up to our Moneysaver emails here.

Original poster

Your weekly grocery bill... how much?

148 replies

Uwilalalalalala · 07/11/2006 09:06

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?

OP posts:
lucycat · 07/11/2006 12:53

Brains faggots and black puddings on their way - that'll sort 'em

jura · 07/11/2006 12:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mercy · 07/11/2006 12:59

No thanks!

I don't think food is more expensive in London, don't supermarkets charge the same prices all over the country?

Eating out and takeaways are usually cheaper in London, local shops might be more expensive though.

Original poster
Uwilalalalalala · 07/11/2006 13:15

Yes, dh works away. God knows what the bill would be if he didn't. I do have a problem with wasteful members of the household who do things like throw away good food because they can't be arsed to wrap it up and stick it in the fridge and finicky eater who refuse to eat what I cook, then complain they are out of cereal (cause they scarfed it down when they turned their nose up at my cooking). I have completely run out of patience with this behaviour. But, I also have accepted I can't control it.

The rule in my house is write it on the list and if you don't it won't magically resupply itself on the shelf!

Sorry, rant over....

OP posts:
Original poster
Uwilalalalalala · 07/11/2006 13:17

Oh, and I should probably confess a liking for Stella Artois and an unstoppable addiction to mass qualtities of Diet Coke. I've been cutting back on the Stella (weekends only). But, I simply can't live without Diet Coke.

OP posts:
Original poster
Uwilalalalalala · 07/11/2006 13:18

Oh lord, that was mass quantities!

OP posts:
TheBlonde · 07/11/2006 13:22

Mercy - supermarkets vary their prices according to local competition

ComeOVeneer · 07/11/2006 13:23

Uwila (quick hijack) are you still coming to thebigLondon christmas meet-up?

Mercy · 07/11/2006 13:25

Blimey, I didn't know that.

So what about on-line shopping, the prices must be the same surely? Do the delivery charges vary from area to area?

hannahsaunt · 07/11/2006 13:30

In 04/05 our weekly bill was never more than £100 all in (menu planning, cooking from scratch, veggie box and odds & ends). After our year away (in UK from August 06) it's now at least £100 - lots of things seem to have gone up significantly in price. Still menu plan, still cook from scratch, ds1 now has packed lunches as he's at primary school and no longer included (as it was at his nursery); haven't changed buying habits in any way that I can think of (do buy principally organic meat but in small quantities). Maybe the boys are just bigger and hungrier?

2quokkasandaparetree · 07/11/2006 13:33

If it makes you feel better Uwila just got back from waitrose and spent £110, that doesn't includ nappies or wipes as I use cloth. Doesn't include booze, dh looks after that. Will also spend another £20 at the butcher, only buy chicken at the supermarket. Toying with the idea of menu planning to cut costs but haven't got around to it yet.

mrsmalumbas · 07/11/2006 13:33

We spend about 150 per week as well including a big tescos shop plus extra pints of milk and bread etc bought at the local co op during the week. That's for three adults and two children - DH works at home and our nanny and DD2 also eat at home every day, and I take a packed lunch to work as does DD1 to school. That doesn't include wine which DH buys from the Times wine club (we live in the middle of god knows where and never go out so that's our indulgence). I do a meal plan and pretty much stick to it but I do like to buy decent quality food - bread, coffee, olive oil, free range eggs etc. I will economise on basics like tinned tomatoes and beans, rice, pasta and so on. I was thinking that was a lot of money but given that it's feeding us all for all our meals I don't think it's too bad really.

LadyOfTheFlowers · 07/11/2006 13:34

does this help at all?

Original poster
Uwilalalalalala · 07/11/2006 13:39

Hi COV. Yes, still coming (of course!). Are you still coming out to play with us before the party? Not much planned. Probably just lunch and shopping.

OP posts:
berrycherry · 07/11/2006 13:42

just got back from Waitrose, spent £77 (but only 1 bottle of wine), and will probably go again on Friday and spend another £60-80. also £10 for organic veg box. This does include cleaning products and toiletries. Some weeks I go to the supermarket 3 times, but try to avoid, as every time I go in, it adds up to over £50! I must be a supermarkets dream customer.

would normally have a few more bottles of wine, which could add £30

saltire · 07/11/2006 13:54

Mine is usually between £45 and £65, usually nearer £45. I've just had an order delivered, which should have been around £55 but is higher because of the substitutions made by the store staff.I always do my grocery shopping online, and altenate between asda nad Tesco.
I do buy a few own brand things, and the only value/smart price things i buy are
children's biscuits - bourbons etc
Tinned toms
Tinned kidney beans
and value disinfectant which i dilute and use for wiping down my surfaces.
I do buy a lot of own brand things
Cartons of juice
Bottles of squash
Pizza
Toilet rolls
Kitchen rolls
tins of beans
tins of sweetcorn
tins of tuna/sardines etc.

ComeOVeneer · 07/11/2006 14:03

I was thinking it will be a bit of a pain having to lug my stuf in to get ready at the hotel and then taking it to the meet-up. I was wondering if you were going for a bite to eat in the evening beforehand, in which case perhaps I could join you then?

TheHighwayCod · 07/11/2006 14:58

have just been to tesco
it was

£156

BUT wqs HIGe washing powder
somec lothes
s tking fillers
etc

nailpolish · 07/11/2006 14:59

omg

jessicaandrebeccasmummy · 07/11/2006 15:01

OMG indeed cod.... OUCH!

We spend £40 a week at asda for 4 of us. Menu planning all the way!!! (That includes a fe treats!)

Zippetydoodahzippetyday · 07/11/2006 15:07

£45 in Supermarket and then probably about £30 throughout the week on bits of things.

CountessDracula · 07/11/2006 15:10

£40 to £50 a week at farmers market

About the same in Waitrose or Sainsbury

anon666 · 07/11/2006 15:23

When I used to shop at Sainsbury's it was well over 100 per week, but dh protested so am now use the cheaper shops. I do miss the choice, but the bill is down to about 60 per week. Planning helps too as does careful entertaining. We used to spend about 20-50 (or more incl booze) on just one evening if friends were coming over, so I think that is what made a big difference.

nailpolish · 07/11/2006 15:26

i used to shop i asda because it is obviously cheaper

but i got fed up of crap choice so i now go to sainsburys which im happier with

my bill is NOT any higher, im just more careful what i buy, i only buy what i need and will use that week

FlossFawkes · 07/11/2006 15:48

Not all value products are crap BTW canned chopped tomatoes are just as good as any other value dosen't necessarily = crap. I use it for certain items. My bill is about £70 for one DS and two adults - but I plan to try and cut that back.