Food bill 2A 2C per week?

[toomanyshoes]

How much do/would you spend on 2 adults 2 children per week? (on food)

I think we spend way too much and yes we eat pretty well but after having a chat we're going to try and save more than we currently are so hopefully can be into our own home again sooner.

So how low do you think I could get the food bill and any tips?

[~me~]

We are 2 adults and 2.5 kids

Our budget is $150 grocery
$ 50 f & v

That includes everything, napppies, top ups also. I stick to it pretty well.
We don't buy our Fruit and Veg at the supermarket as it's more expensive than our fruit and veg market. I rarely buy meat at the supermarket.

My DH goes to the market to buy our meat and spends $100 at a time, that lasts us for a month sometimes longer with a few vegetarian meals thrown in.

I only shop by a list, so as I run out of things, on the list they go. I don't walk down shopping aisles like the the confectionary or soft drink one at all.

HTH

[toomanyshoes]

We're spending $350+ per week!

What kind of meals do you make?

[Fuzzywuzzy]

Wow TMS that is alot. We feed 4 adults and 1 child for less than $250 per week and that's having meat every night. Use cloth so don't buy nappies though. What does the majority of your money get spent on?

[toomanyshoes]

Wow TMS that is alot. We feed 4 adults and 1 child for less than $250 per week and that's having meat every night. Use cloth so don't buy nappies though. What does the majority of your money get spent on?

I don't know TBH. We have meat every night, fish 1-2 times a week, we go through a lot of fruit and veg, the kids take a piece of fruit plus cucumber and capsicum sticks to school 5 days a week but then we don't spend money on pre packaged/processed stuff

[Arimeh]

I don't know TBH. We have meat every night, fish 1-2 times a week, we go through a lot of fruit and veg, the kids take a piece of fruit plus cucumber and capsicum sticks to school 5 days a week but then we don't spend money on pre packaged/processed stuff

We have meat twice a week, a fish meal, some vegetarian meals and then I also incorporated some cheap and easy meals too each week, just to try and keep it down.

I have a meal plan for the month that I follow too.

[Arimeh]

We spend $250 a week, most of the time. Sometimes we run out of fruit so will spend a bit more halfway through the week for extra, but usually we get away with that amount. Thats for 2 adults, 3 children.

[*Efjay*]

We spend $250 a week, most of the time. Sometimes we run out of fruit so will spend a bit more halfway through the week for extra, but usually we get away with that amount. Thats for 2 adults, 3 children.

Ours is about this but with 4 kids.

[Olive]

we shopped today for the week and it was $160, it was $180 but our coles has 10% off because it has been redone, it was an exxy shop this week.
thanks for 7 meals, snacks etc.. i also bought salmon fillets and king island steak, 3 tins of deoderant as well.

[~me~]

You sound like a GF of mine, she spends about that too and has 2 adults and 2 kids.

Lot's of different things...Salmon Steaks on Potato Rosti
Spag Bol
Gourment Pizza (use things like basil, bocconcinni, chorizo, prawns from the market). I make up pizza dough in advance and freeze it.
Tonight is Chicken Kievs (from the market) with roasted veges.
Lemon chicken from scratch.
My DH loves our slow cooker and makes everthing from scratch like Ossco Bucco (yummy!)
Lentil pie
Lasagne
Salads
Stir fry's with Hokkien noodles
gnocci (made this with a burnt sage butter once, very nice)
Beef Stroganoff with home made pasta (I use the master chef recipe)
Rissotto
I make a fried rice from the biggest loser website using tofu, it's very tasty.

I only buy home brand bread as I freeze it, I buy 4-5 loaves at a time.
My DH just spen $100 at the Vic Market and got heaps, including chicken breast, roasts, chops, mince, whole fish, pork chops.
We also said we would never skimp on food and we don't We eat very well.

I meal plan on the days I am home, so I think what I feel like then google recipes. That's how I came by the home made lemon chicken, about to make it again as it really was nice.

[AndiE]

We're spending $350+ per week!

What kind of meals do you make?

If it makes you feel any better, our weekly shopping bills are generally between $250-$300, sometimes a fraz more if we need nappies.
I'm going out of my skull trying to cut it down - I pretty much get what we need, there's little waste (just the odd veg or fruit that expires before it gets eaten). And I don't remember the last time we ate steak!
The price of a head of cauliflower last week was $9 - I know it's due to the bad weather, but still!!! Used to be a staple in this house, but not for ages.

[toomanyshoes]

I just spent $150 for a week but that was going through the fridge/freezer/cupboard and making sure everything is used up this week.

Guess I will have to wait and see what the following week is like.

[Olive]

goodwork!!

[Madham]

We spend about $150 we have a roast, veggie dish, mince dish, fish & salad, chicken stirfry and usually casserole or something as well as one night we will have family pie or lasagne. We don't buy any biscuits, junk type foods. I get muffins, scones etc from my parents bakery for kids lunch snacks and pies for dh lunch so I probably save $50

[~Hestia~]

I'm coming back to this thread as I'm spending waaaaay too much on food. I'm sure that's our biggest problem with our finances - NO food budget! Got no idea how much I actually spend though.

Thanks for posting!

[~clover~]

Without nappies, we spend $200 a week max. We've gone up to $250 on the very odd occasion, but we are lucky to make the $200 mark usually.
We have meat 5 or 6 nights a week at least. Once a week we usually have something a bit less fuss. Pies, hotdogs etc.

I make everything we eat for dinner. I usually buy a bulk pack of lamingtons & mini cupcakes for school & will bag them up & freeze them. If we are low on money I make my own.

Spag bol (pasta, mince, 1 tin tomato soup, 1 tin diced garlic & basil tomatoes & tomato paste)
Chicken fettucini (pasta, chicken, cream, shallots, bacon, capsicum, chicken stock)
Pies (pastry, mince, veggies & gravy)

I buy frozen veggies & fresh fruit. I havr my list of what I need & thats what I buy. I try to buy whatever is on sale/clearance, or home brand (most things).
Cottenelle toilet paper is on sale at Woolies atm, 16 pack for $8. One of these lasts us 2 - 3 weeks!

We also go through alot of spuds. We have potato of some sort almost every night. You can do soooo much with a potato!

We usually buy a $20 pack of ciggarettes in that $200 as well.

[mbear]

2A 4C....$300 per fortnight...in that fortnight i will have to top up on F&V and milk and bread, so prob $330-350 per fortnight.............
I only have 1 in nappies now and have found that to be a huge difference.
None of us are big meat eaters. I dont eat any meat. I try and serve up at least 2 meat dishes a week. DH has been on a diet for the last 2 months and only eats fish and salad and the occasional meat dish.
I find the girls snacks for school our biggest killer....i can cook, and i do cook. But often cant keep up with the demand....

Ive been there...spending all my money on food....having nothing left over to get you thru the fortnight/week. Meal planning and NOT popping into the shops for 1 or 2 things are my tips....

GL...

[Pandora]

Hmm. Not a lot.
We have $200 a fortnight which has to cover food, nappies for 1c, petrol, train fares, medication etc.