Trying to get the grocery bill down

MawB, I don't really know WHAT they eat while I'm away Maw. They're both vegetarian and her income is really low so no meat replacement products I would assume, because that stuff is expensive. I still pay for all 'cat stuff' while I'm away, because they're my cats. One of them will only eat ONE brand of wet cat food and one brand of biscuits, so that isn't cheap.

No, Callistemon, she has a small income. Not a lot. She contributes to the grocery budget but not a lot. I also buy what she'd call 'posh' food. I don't regard it that way, but... I insist on healthy snacks, particularly for GS, for example. She IS an artist, but any money she makes is massively reduced at the moment, for obvious reasons.

Overall our expenses have reduced. Normally both myself and my husband shop for food and household supplies, I shop at Waitrose weekly, but also go to Savers and/or Wilkinson and to M+S for some things. I also shop in Lidl once monthly. My husband used to shop daily in Morrisons. Now we do a weekly shop with Asda, using their Click and Collect. We’re still eating much the same as we did before, but probably drinking less alcohol. I used to enjoy a bottle of wine or Prosseco every weekend with my daughter in law, but now I don’t see her, or any of my family except on FaceTime ?

I do a large shop once every 4 weeks. As I'm retired and live alone there is little difference in my food budget. If I need it I buy it and if I want it I buy it. I rarely eat out but I usually have the family (5) once at least at the weekends so that's not happening now.

Don't answer if you think that is too personal but you did say upthread that you are all dependent on your salary.

Is yours the only income to the household GagaJo?

I thought your DD was an artist. Is her income variable then depending on what she sells?

We are spending about the same but only shopping once a fortnight. I like cooking but not everyday so once shopping is done I make and freeze meals for the next two weeks. As another poster has said something like a chicken will make 4 days meals we have soup most days whatever flavour I make at least 2 portions go straight to freezer. If we do succumb to CV there will be plenty to feed us. Being a rural area delivery spots are very rare however having been showed in for 3 weeks during beast from the east we have had practice ??

My food bills have gone down. I am eating things from the freezer and my shopping deliveries only include things which I really need instead of anything which takes my fancy. ...... My garden bill has grown though, as I’m not able to get products, like compost, from my local garden centre where I have a loyalty discount card, and am having to order on line, and pay for delivery. Oh well, hopefully I’ll be slimmer and fitter, but with a beautiful garden by the end of this......whenever that might be.

Well said Maggiemaybe !!

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

My Granddaughter's are doing my shopping and I’ve told them I always have the best of everything, so if there’s a choice, go for best.
I wouldn’t consider £130 a week for 3 people to be ott.
My bank account is going up due to missed meals out theatre and cinema.
If this is all I can do, then I’m going to have the best of everything and treats in top. Because I deserve it.......?

My spending has probably gone down, mainly because I forget what I need to put on a delivery list - only limited time to do it!

I'm spending more because I used to shop around for good value, or see a loss leader in the supermarket and think that I'll have that tonight. Now I just go in only one shop and I'm out again asap. Did it start week 1, when we were paying over the odds for pasta or loo roll?

Forgive the personal question, but what do your D and GS live off when you are in Switzerland?

I usually have my breakfast and lunch at school and maybe soup or cheese and biscuits of an evening. Have actually lost weight with the walking and stress of having to cook!

My week,y shopping bill is more as we normally go Aldi. Lidl. And now getting shopping from Sainsbury, Iceland deliveries. But overall my spending has gone down as not going to my weekly social group. Not meeting up with friends for a cuppa or lunch. Not having days out with my sister.

Spending so much less now that I'm not feeding grandchildren but this doesn't at all make up for the loss of their company

Our shopping bill has gone up - mainly because other half is doing the shopping! Then 2 days later, decides that his car 'needs a run' so goes to the farm shop for fruit and veg!

I am spending about the same but I am only shopping once a week whereas I often top up shop normally at a different shop. However DH is 'popping' into various other supermarkets & buying bots & pieces- nothing useful or that we usually eat either. I have asked him to stick to buying alcohol as he is good at that & I have no idea what to do with some of the things he brings home- anyone want
3 x Twinings Infusion sachets for water bottles? No?- thought not. Me neither.

I'm struggling a bitwith the grocery bill, too. I live with my adult DD2 (25) we're both furloughed on 80% and used to having one meal a day provided at work

Supermarket bill has definitely risen due to the fact that all our meals are being eaten at home. And we are also buying more treats. But overall we are saving money on food because we are not going out for tea and cake, lunches or dinners.

I need to be very very careful with money. I'm getting paid ATM but that may not be the case from next month onwards. I can keep us going for a while, but with no income, we'll run out eventually.

Gabriella I always have a house full of flowers. Living in the Netherlands it was the norm. I miss that and may give Freddie’s a go. I get letterbox flowers once a month from my DD but I am missing popping into the supermarket for tulips.

For anyone finding that they’re spending less at the moment and wanting to donate some of the savings to a good cause, Sainsburys are currently matching pound for pound any donation to the Big Night In appeal, effectively doubling any money given until 1 May. The money goes to Children in Need and Comic Relief to help those struggling most at the present time.

Our supermarkets are often criticised, but I for one think they and their staff are doing a great job at the moment.

www.comicrelief.com/sainsburys/

I don't think our food bill has changed. We are 3 adults (my son could eat for England) and the cat. We have been menu planning each week for a couple of years now, using a mixture of freezer, store cupboard and fresh bought food.
Average bill pre COVID £125 week but that includes all cleaning products, toiletries and random home 'n' wear items.
DH is doing the shopping and despite a detailed list he seems to spend the same amount even though there are no home 'n' wear items.

Gagajo, now is not the time to economise, unless you really have to. I think a good variety of nice food and treats keeps our spirits up.

Artdecogran, we're supposed to be shopping infrequently, not every few days. Why risk extra shopping trips? Stay as safe as possible.

I have everything delivered (since February) instead. I don't spend any more (with no family visits) and spend more time cooking/baking.

If there are no delivery slots, I do a click and collect instead. Three local taxi firms will collect and deliver to me - for the usual fare, which is very handy!