Trying to get the grocery bill down

I think I'm spending more on food because every meal is eaten at home but I am spending far far less on other things because you can't go out socially to events or eat out in a restaurant.

I think I'm spending a lot less.

Tangarine, we did the eight day thing when the kids were small. The extra went on a nice outing!

MaryXYX, the Co-op is expensive. They class themselves as 'convenience stores' rather than supermarkets.

Here, we live half a mile from a Tesco. I can't get a delivery slot but I do get click and collect.

Local taxi firms will collect and deliver to me - for the price of a normal fare. Perhaps the scheme operates in your area too?

Are they completely inedible?

I've had meatballs from a tin in Spain. Not great but not vile either.

Can you and/or your dd apply for Universal Credit, Gagajo? From what I’m reading, they’ve relaxed their rules during this crisis.

Someone gave me a tin of meatballs ?

I can't face the idea of going to to my usual supermarkets- too many people and a long queue, so DH goes to local Co-op and I go to M&S Food. Working out probably a bit dearer but like other posters, we're not eating out or spending as much on petrol. I buy fresh meat/ chicken /fruit and veg at Mark's plus a few treats. Make sure we use up all leftovers so a few unusual meals. DH is getting used to yesterday's tea returning in a different format as tomorrow's lunch. Managed to get some flour recently and yeast so now working on finding perfect pizza recipe so I can use leftovers on topping.

My husband used to go to the shop every morning and pick up perishables that we needed (or wanted). Obviously he's not doing that now, so I am getting them with my Sainsbury's delivery, which makes that a lot more expensive, but it's really just transferring the spend from one account to another. I haven't worked out whether we are spending more overall. Probably a bit, as I do think prices have gone up, but in the end it will mostly cancel out, I think.

I haven't a clue what we're spending. Luckily if doesnt matter. We're having to get deliveries from our local Eurospar. They haven't got a great variety but I'm just glad to get it.

Go shopping every eight days instead of every week. After eight weeks, you'll have saved a week approximately.

My DH is over 70 and has a heart condition, so we started to isolate before mid-March. Our first few bills during this time were huge because I was pretty low on stock and had trouble getting online shopping slots, but it has all balanced out now.
DH likes simple food so we have roast chicken which reappears as risotto, fajitas, chicken with jacket potatoes etc. Also batch cooked mince which becomes bolognaise, cottage pie, and lasagne. We always have eggs for breakfast and now sometimes have tortilla which can reappear for lunch another day. We've rediscoverd the kipper!
I'm lucky because I've always alternated my online shops between Ocado and Waitrose and have been given priority slots by both which means I can still have a normal sized delivery every week and include items for older neighbours who need them.
The thing I miss most is going to Lidl every week to buy my fruit, veg and free-range chicken. DH misses their NZ sauvignon blanc!

Much cheaper for me. I normally only snack at home and do regular lunches. Now I'm snacking a little more but the restaurant bills have completely disappeared, of course. I'm wondering which of my eateries will still be in existence once the new normal appears. Cooking doesn't hold much appeal for me thus I find the snacking element more than adequate.

Ours is much the same I think. The bills from the butcher and greengrocer seemed high but when we added up what we spent daily instead of in a big hit it worked out about the same - or would have done if we hadn’t ordered too much! On line Tesco shopping has brought it down as we’re new to it and don’t browse so no impulse buys.

DH intends to browse Tesco wine section this evening so things may change!

I live on my own and, at the moments, am shopping fortnightly. It almost made my eyes water when I went shopping this morning and saw the size of the bill. However, I comforted myself by dividing it by 2, making it a weekly shop. However, prices have risen, understandably.

Already there, with the baking Hetty! And you're describing much of our diet already. I don't have fancy tastes or a desire to cook elaborate meals. Love my veg tho.

Our grocery bills have most definitely gone up, as I am having to do all my shopping in Denmark, as we are not allowed to cross the border to Germany.

I usually do my shopping there, 3 km from our house in Denmark, as prices are far cheaper.

We are DH, myself and cat, and we only very rarely eat out, so it is the difference in food prices and in VAT between the two countries that is causing the rise in housekeeping outgoings.

I suppose I could coggie. It's arduous though. Especially after a day of online teaching. But I guess needs must.

I’ve noticed my bill is much higher, not that we are eating more or better. I think it’s because there are no special offers, and the budget range is non existent. A bit unfair to my mind.

Gaga, could you try online tutoring? it must be a growth area.

Every week we are saving €100 (or slightly more) as we are only buying groceries + drinking alcohol at home. No bars, no taxis or train fares, no tapas meals out.

It’s budding boring though.

I have just realised that i havent opened my purse or been in my handbag for over a month. I will have to open DHs wallet when my favourite ice cream shop in the world calls to take payment for the delivery i have made for next week. I was overcome with emotion when i realised they were delivering to our little village.

My grocery bill has gone up a lot but I'm buying extra to put in the food bank box that the local charity collect every 2 weeks. Just paying it forward. Is anyone else doing that?

I rarely ate out before lockdown, so it didn't make such a big difference. I had my grocery shopping done by a local volunteer yesterday. They had to use the Co-op because that's the only chain here supporting volunteers shopping for vulnerably people. The prices were between twice and three times what I usually pay at Tesco, so my bill has definitely gone up.

Our food bills are a lot less if you include eating out. Normally we would eat out at least 3 or 4 times a week. Since lockdown we obviously cant eat out so have had creative meals at home instead, this also includes a bottle of bubbly with meals at the weekends. We still ahve about 12 bottles left from Christmas and brought 6 back from holiday duty free (it would be rude not to do) so far we have bought a new Kenwood titanium XL with several attachments and a new computer processor and 24inch screen from our money saved. The supermarket bill is up a little but now that much, we are spending about £20 per week more than we did normally. I dont think tha is bad at all. Hubby is working from home as he works in Adult services now and I am in Safeguarding at home for 3 months but being paid my full salary so I guess we are lucky, we also have pensions paying out which are guaranteed. All in all we are much better off right now, even managed to get food deliveries for the past 2 weeks. Whoever has a delivery slot gets my order. I am only loyal to the deliveries. ;)

GagaJo, if you need to be careful with money, now is the time to research all the local sources of help.

In the UK, local councils should have a list. There are groups on Facebook and WhatsApp too.

Being prepared to access help, if needed, can put your mind at rest.

There's nothing wrong with back to basics food. Beans on toast, jacket spuds, vegetable stew etc. It's a good time for home made cakes and biscuits too!