Food budget
- Thread starter PaulStat
- Start date
AJUK said:We spend about 40 quid between two of us per week. We also have the occassional top up shop, perhaps once a week at most for a special meal or treats etc., that comes to about a tenner usually.
Lidl for the win.
Lidl is the pwn.
I got a hammock and some choclate ice-cream for a fiver.
I used to be able to do £5 a week at uni by doing the trick at Sainsburys where if something was reduced and buy 1 get 1 free you would buy two reduced items then they would minus the original price to give one free, so sometimes they were giving you money to take their food off them 
I'd disguise this by getting other stuff aswell, but quite often I'd end up with a load of mince and other stuff that could easily be turned into pasta sauces and other various, wholesome dinners 
I'd disguise this by getting other stuff aswell, but quite often I'd end up with a load of mince and other stuff that could easily be turned into pasta sauces and other various, wholesome dinners 
The killer for me is pre-made packaged sandwiches... just so handy on the move though.
...especially at train stations etc, when you're tied in. Bah. Some of those bad boys are >£3... for that you could buy a loaf of bread, a lettuce and some chicken breast and make 10 sandwiches!
...especially at train stations etc, when you're tied in. Bah. Some of those bad boys are >£3... for that you could buy a loaf of bread, a lettuce and some chicken breast and make 10 sandwiches!
Currently I live on about £30-40 per fortnight - I shop every two weeks as I dont really eat much fresh stuff - when I do I eat it all in the first few days after the shop.
This doesnt include the odd few sandwiches and £3 meals at cafes at uni etc, call that £20 per fortnight (maximum) - brings me to about £60 per fortnight or £30 a week ... not bad - most of it is fairly healthy too (no super/pot noodles, crisps, chocolate, fizzy drinks etc).
On a side note, I once did a challenge at uni where me and a couple of mates lived off £1 a week each, basic rules were set, no handouts from people not involved, must begin with absolutely nothing, we clubbed together and bought a reasonably sized bag of asda pasta, loads of 8p super noodles and cans of 6p beans amoungst other bits - we actually managed it! Wouldnt say it was easy though, the temptation to just splash out a couple of quid on a tasty sandwich was immense by the weds/thurs (friday wasnt so bad as you only had 2 days to go)!
This doesnt include the odd few sandwiches and £3 meals at cafes at uni etc, call that £20 per fortnight (maximum) - brings me to about £60 per fortnight or £30 a week ... not bad - most of it is fairly healthy too (no super/pot noodles, crisps, chocolate, fizzy drinks etc).
On a side note, I once did a challenge at uni where me and a couple of mates lived off £1 a week each, basic rules were set, no handouts from people not involved, must begin with absolutely nothing, we clubbed together and bought a reasonably sized bag of asda pasta, loads of 8p super noodles and cans of 6p beans amoungst other bits - we actually managed it! Wouldnt say it was easy though, the temptation to just splash out a couple of quid on a tasty sandwich was immense by the weds/thurs (friday wasnt so bad as you only had 2 days to go)!
Soldato
- Joined
- 24 Dec 2004
- Posts
- 11,364
- Location
- Knowle, Solihull, UK
£15-20 per week
You can eat healthily without spending much money too
For example,
500g Extra Lean Steak Mince £3
Pasta £0.30
Sauce £1.20
Total: £4.50
This will do four meals!
Compare that to your cheap ready meals with awful fatty mince for the same price.
Cooking yourself saves a fortune
You can eat healthily without spending much money too
For example,
500g Extra Lean Steak Mince £3
Pasta £0.30
Sauce £1.20
Total: £4.50
This will do four meals!
Compare that to your cheap ready meals with awful fatty mince for the same price.
Cooking yourself saves a fortune
I spend far too much. I've been on nights and when i finish at 06:30 in a morning, nothing is nicer than a McDonalds Bacon and Egg McMuffin meal 
£2.50 but after a long nightshift, its sooo tasty, so breakfast has consisted of those for a while. Good job i dont do permanant nights else i'd spend all my money on junk 
£2.50 but after a long nightshift, its sooo tasty, so breakfast has consisted of those for a while. Good job i dont do permanant nights else i'd spend all my money on junk 
Man of Honour
- Joined
- 5 Jun 2003
- Posts
- 91,552
- Location
- Falling...
If I'm buying for myself then about £40 per week on average. It can fluctuate depending on whether or not I'm in the country - in which case I spend about £0 per week 
However if I need do a bit more of a "major" shop it can go up to about £80. Often I just chip in £20 a week or so it's a full house (which is rare). That's one solace of working aborad a lot, is that my food bills are low... that's about the only +ve point really. I never buy ready meals, or stuff like that. I do keep a pizza or two for emergencies or lazy nights, but I seldom use them. I'm a master of improvising and making quick meals.
However if I need do a bit more of a "major" shop it can go up to about £80. Often I just chip in £20 a week or so it's a full house (which is rare). That's one solace of working aborad a lot, is that my food bills are low... that's about the only +ve point really. I never buy ready meals, or stuff like that. I do keep a pizza or two for emergencies or lazy nights, but I seldom use them. I'm a master of improvising and making quick meals. 
Man of Honour
- Joined
- 17 Feb 2003
- Posts
- 29,640
- Location
- Chelmsford
Family of four plus Rabbit - about £150 a week
Family of 3 here - between £75 and £80 a week - that does include non-food stuff like nappies toiletries etc
When I lived on my own, my weekly shop was £25-30 which seems a little disproportionate compared with what we spend now!
When I lived on my own, my weekly shop was £25-30 which seems a little disproportionate compared with what we spend now!
