We do the weekly menu thing so I know exactly what I need to buy. As anal as I am, I even only buy the exact number of potatoes/carrots I need. E.g. if we are having 4 meals that require potatoes and carrots, I know I only cook two potatoes for the two of us and 1 carrot, so I only buy eight potatoes and four carrots that week. DH hates this but I have it down to a fine art these days. Those big 4kg bags of potatoes seem to always have soft potatoes in the bottom of them by the time I come to use them - ick!!
We usually spend about $120 - $160 a week but every fourth week which is when we stock up on nappies and formula, we spend about $200-$220.
I have a pre-printed list which I add to during the week which includes:
A dozen eggs
6L of low-fat milk or us
2L full-cream milk for DS
6 hot dog rolls for weekend lunches
6 hamburger rolls for weekend lunches/dinners
1 loaf of bread for DH's lunch
$3 worth of cold meat for DH's lunch
Fruit and Veg
2 x 6-pack of Up and Go breakfast drinks
Baby food/yoghurt
Notice that there is no meat on our list. That is because we get our meat from a butcher friend wholesale. We buy about 50kg every 6 months from him for about $280 and freeze everything (pork cutlets, premium mince, chicken thigh fillets, rump and corned meat). So, we aldo spend an extra $12 a week in meat which isnt included in the above figure.
Our fridge is literally empty by the time shopping day comes around again because I dont buy anything we dont need (unless DH comes with us and some tim-tams or a small block of chocky ends up in the trolley).
Last edited by Deltadawn; November 5th, 2008 at 04:09 PM.
I spent $306 today, about the norm- that should last us the fortnight. Although i still find i have to go to shops in between that fortnight to get milk, bread or top up on fruit and veges. I dunno what they're doing these days, but F&V only last 2-3 days in my home before they start going off !!!
My tip - Do a list, its saves you soooo much hassle. Its kinda nice too looking at the list in the morning and seeing 'wed night - pasta cabonara'....it takes the pressure off.
We spend $180 - $200 per week, thats just for DH and I, but includes nappies etc for DD who is still breast fed.
We usually have meat and veg for dinner, and fruit for dessert. Ham and salad rolls for lunch. I also buy lots of yoghurt, eggs, museli bars and milk. DH goes to the gym a lot so I can never fill him up! I think we spend a fair bit on groceries but we're very healthy eaters so thats the price you have to pay.
family of five here - and we spend between 200 - 250 a fortnight. I do all my shopping at aldi, we have a vege patch and two chickens. This amount doesnt include nappies - which I buy on special. menu plans are definately the way to go. I bake alot all so.
We budget $100 per week - just DH and I - and thats for meat, veg, everything. I've found Good Taste and Super Food Ideas mags brilliant, they give you recipes and tell you how much it costs per serve.
I also just borrowed my sisters 4 ingerdients cookbook - unbelievably cheap and quick!
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