how much do you spend on food and household bits and bobs per month?

[MissusScrooge]

tis the season...

conscious of what is being spent..

figure we spend about £500+ per month on food, cleaning supplies, nappies, wine etc

we are 2 adults, 4.5 yr old and a 2 year old (in nappies) who doesn't eat v much.. dh at work all week, doesn't have breakfast at home, dc1 at preschool ft and i work 2 days a week so dc2 in nursery 2 days a week!

we're in london. is that normal or should i be shopping more sensibly or spending more? would be interested to see what others spend please!

Excellent MissusScrooge!!

in my house there is me and 2 boys 3yr & 4yr. both eat lots! i normally spend £30 a week which includes everything. ds1 has school dinners, so just me and ds2 to feed at lunch times. i make everything from scratch but also make sure we have a couple of cheap nights a week like beans on toast or homemade soup. i also try to get 2 meals out of 1 like fro a chilli i'll add another tin of toms & beans and its an extra meal for 50p.

I am really surprised how much some of you spend.

We spend 200 pounds a month for me and DH. First baby due any day now. We eat really well, but plan our meals and budget. So we'll do a big chilli and baked spuds one night, then make another meal with the leftovers the next night.

We also do homemade pizza, which is incredibly cheap and tasty, and things like lasagnes which will then be lunch the following day.

Not much booze so maybe that's where we save, but we get all our toiletries on that too and often have friends over for meals.

I would say meal planning is the crucial factor

Well I don't know how you all do it. Admittedly I do a combination of Sainsbury's and Waitrose. Used to buy tins and basics on a monthly shop for Asda but with full time job, once I pay the fiver for delivery and add up the extra time it seems not such a saving.

Can't really justify it except we eat well, but not smoked salmon and fillet steak and the best cuts. I suppose teenagers eat more than the average adult. We very rarely eat out and might have a take away about once every six weeks.

I would accept that some things I do pay more for, ie, toiletries and cleaning stuff but do the calculation on the basis that I work full time, run a home alone Mon-Thurs and reckon my time is worth more than the potential saving of Poundland, etc.