weekly food shopping

[toecrusher]

how much on average do you spend on your weekly food shopping(including alcohol) there are five of us and i still buy all the childrens toiletries etc. my bill seems to be spiralling upwards, probably up to about �170-�200!. is this normal?

[Artful]

My answer won't help you very much, toecrusher,  but you sounded so desperate for an answer in Body and Soul - there are 2 of us and in a French supermarket once a week I will spend approx. 170�.

[Artful]

Sorry, Imean hypermarket, not supermarket.

[Bob A Job]

I spend About � 35 (�50) per week

thats for me, the mrs and two cats.

[Artful]

Oh, thankyou so much for the euros, I really didn't think I was going to be able to compare. And yes, Bob A Job, again thanks when I said 2 of us I didn't say the dog, cat and 2 geese (and our geese only eat tomato and cucumber - not cheap when not the season!).

[netibiza]

For 3 of us I spend between 140� - 176� not including booze

[ann_h]

2 adults, kid and baby. Plus 3 more at weekends.

Spend about 100 pounds if I have it, some weeks about 50 or 60.  I am led to believe this is not normal, but years of practiced impoverishedness

[silly moo]

Sounds like a lot to me.
Only 2 of us and I shop monthly for most things, fruit& veg , and meat bought seperately so fifficult to come up with an amount.
Also tend to buy stuff and freeze when cheap.

[shaz-rla]

We (me, hubby and three kids under 8) spend anywhere between �80 and �130 per week that doesn't include shoes or clothing.  It can sometimes come in at more than that and hubby has a heart attack...

[flaming]

 Can't  answer 'cos my shopping pattern is so erratic,  but I like stuff in hand in case I'm marooned by illness/injury. (I live on 2nd floor of a block/ no lift)   Some weeks I spend an alarming �60 at supermarkets,  +quite a few  more quid  for specialist items, but then I remember that I've bought a few household & storecupboard things in with the main bill.  The next week I spend hardly anything.  I don't buy much home booze  and have a modest near-vegan diet; last week batteries added a lot.  In  small late-night shops I tend to pick out one or two fruit and veg. and pay cash - seem to get a lot for under a fiver.  I have found this last year or so that I have had to economise on things like cut flowers, dry-cleaning, coffees out, the pub., newsapers.   I  banned ready meals ('cept soups) & prepared salads.   I keep all the receipts but don't look at them often!  The huge supermarkets quite near are open all hours, one Tesco all night.  I  keep out of it as I find that one gets more than intended - the name of the supermarkets' game! 

Theatres: thing of the past;  occasionally see a film or eat out - try to keep  below �15 more like �10 if I have a bowl of pasta and coffee.  extravagance:  paper towels, which seem to vanish. Stay in more -  that way i save on dolling up.  

Your total sounds good considering  the prices of  purchases).  Dunno how people with kids manage, there are such demands from them.  I think about �60 a week FOR ME ALONE  before the utilities.&Council Tax!  Biggest expense: toiletries & household.

[nicola_red]

There are 2 of us plus a pet rat and we spend �30-35 most weeks.  That would exclude my starbucks addiction and occasional lunches bought rather than made at home, but includes most alcohol - we don't buy a lot to drink at home.

[Bob A Job]

Just read my post, realised id switched the �-� the wrong way

Should read � 50 - � 35 (doh)

Damn Jagermiester....

[willow74]

Far too much money.  But if you can afford it then no reason why you shouldnt have the nicer foods etc. 

i reckon your overspending by �50 - �75 per month. Surely the children do not need weekly toiletrees so that should reduce it to fortnightly toiletrees.

I guess it depends where you shop - Asda will reduce that cost easily

[flaming]

I forgot to say that the evil weed is included  my budget.  It's no good wishing I could give up as it's more comfort to me than eating loads of sweets.  I gave up for many years -started again only in recent years, so am still quite enjoying the ciggies for a second time round.

[toecrusher]

thankyou all for your answers, i do shop at asda willow,i buy alot of own brand and value products and dont buy kids toiletries weekly, just when they need them, just cant work out what is happening to this food etc bill. Am now going to become a very sad person and keep all my shopping lists and all my reciepts and see where i am going wrong.!Thanks again

[nuoyg]

toecrusher...I don't spend that much as it's only me and my boyf...however, we have tried all supermarkets and our personal experience has found that Morrison's is the best for value - lots of buy one get one free and special offers so it may be worth taking a look in there if you can?  We always did use Asda but a new Morrison's opened near us which is why we are converts.  If you're kids are working then you could encourage them to buy their own toiletaries?

[oxeyedaisy]

hope my husband doesnt see this question as he will put us on rations..we spend about �150 each week and their is only us two left at home and the dog and he gets his on top of the �150..the toiletries come out of it..but also i go and get more which dont come out of it..i couldnt manage on less..we dont eat junk food and i like to get as much organic as possible...and we fetch fresh veg from the market so thats about �15 a week..i dont know how some of you manage..please mr daisy dont read this.if .you guys ask loads of questions so he doesnt see this one as it will have gone to the previouse page..he will have me on an economy drive if he reads this..

[secretspirit]

My weekly shopping (for me + husband) costs around �70, which I feel is �10 too much. We have been stocking up on baby products the last few months but I'm hoping to cut it down to �60pw.

[callisto]

dare i say this?....... right here goes being the sad people that we are me hubby 2 teenage girls and 7 yr old girl , 2dogs and one cat we have done our weekly shops at three different supermarkets just to see the difference in spending although we tried to buy similar or same at all so reasonable comparisions could be made ... morrisons was fantastic for offers and ended up being the cheapest checkout bill at �135. although the quality of meat and veg was poor and the curry only had 4 pieces of meat in the meal (my dogs get more!), tescos was �146 and everything reasonable even the value range, Sainsburys �157 but excellent quality foods and wide ranging..... it has to be said yes i could do cheaper , yes i overspend but at the end of the day its good healthy food that my family get and no complaints from teenagers who eat meout of house and home.... when theyve left i guess my bills will b cheaper ?

[oxeyedaisy]

i go to sainsburys also as the quality is their have tried the others just to see and ended up doing a second shop..back at sainsburys..you get what you pay for at the end of the day..i think some of the meat looks nasty at other supermarkets..i still cant see how some people spend so little as for instance i buy a large washing powder every week that costs nearly �6 and thats before i buy fabric conditioner etc..then their are the other cleaning products..it all adds up...and we dont over indulge in anything..i am sure mr daisy has been looking on this site he doesnt post..but last night he said some people live on �40 so i told him he was having a laugh..as its not possible..will send him out with �40 and see what he comes back with..

[silly moo]

One way to save is to shop in the supermarket monthly.
You will find that all the really nice stuff goes first , i.e choc biscuits eaten in first week and rich tea last week.
You also only make 1 lot of impulse buys; and can more easily take advantage of special offers.
You do need extra storage though, and wouldn't be easy if weekly paid.
I started doing this when children and pay packet quite small; now do it because it's a habit AND I don't really like shopping.