Having a bit of trouble, can you help?

Question

Well we need to start budgeting, so I thought I'd start with the weekly shopping. I planned on spending £40 a week for a family of 3 but I am having trouble getting everything I need. I'd like to know how much weekly you give yourself for shopping and how you do it (don't mean to be too nosey.) Thanks

Answer 1

Cook from scratch

Answer 2

I spend about £30 pounds a week on 2, make sure you look out for special offers, iceland is really good for lots of frozen food.

I find buying frozen veg saves a lot of money (but this is not everyones taste)

And like above dont buy ready meals far cheaper to cook from scratch.

Answer 3

try going to aldi, lidl or farm foods?

Answer 4

Buy seasonal, look for good deals, and above all , make a list when you go shopping and really try to stick to it!  

Answer 5

Don't buy snacks, cook from scratch.

Answer 6

My shopping budget is £50 a week for two people, a cat and two hamsters.

I know it sounds silly to count the hamsters and the cat but the money for food and bedding and litter all adds up!!

Certain things I buy in bulk so the we might be a bit over budget the first week in the month but under for the rest of the month so it balances out. For example, the bigger the bag of pasta you buy then the cheaper it works out so although there is only two of us we buy a huge bag of pasta. Washing powder and toilet rolls are the same.

Also, we shop around we dont do it all in one supermarket. We get all our frozen stuff at iceland and our fruit and veg from the market and our householdy bits and pasta and stuff at tescos.

Its not always about how much you buy but how much you cook as well. I ent from living with three younger brothers and my mum to living with my boyfriend so to start with I was cooking enough food for 5 of us when there were only 2! thats something that you learn though.

Try not to buy too many really perishable things as well. Nowadays jsut because its in a tin or a packet not fresh it doesn't mean it wont taste fresh. oh and avoid things with lots of packaging because that will effect the price you pay.

My last point would be dont be too s****. about things. Ther eis nothing wrong with having to buy tesco's own not McVities or Birdseye or whatever and there are certain things that you buy tesco's value or sainsburys basic and you cant tell the difference.

Good Luck!!

  

Answer 7

You should look at www.moneysavingexpert.com its a fantastic site that was started by Martin Lewis (the guy from the tv) about 4 years ago! it has lots of forums with helpful advice and ideas.

The forum thats best for you is probably "money saving old style"

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/foru...  it has meal plans and ideas for feeding a family on a low budget.

Good Luck!

Answer 8

I have a family of 3 to budget for and i can usually manage between £50-£60 at Morrisons.

I stopped buying pasta sauce and now use passata, tomoto puree, basil and garlic.Costs about 50p.

I make my own pizza dough(very easy if you buy ciabatta bread mix).Costs about 75p and you would normally have the topping in.

I always buy the Savers version of cheese and toilet roll.Cheap bubble bath.Cheap tampax.Etc.

The only thing i wouldn't cut back on is meat or fish.

But i tend to use alot of Quorn products.Which are just as nice as meat and cheaper.

Iceland has very good offers too.

Hard work this budgeting malarkey!

:O)