In light of the hot topic of the moment I was wondering would a thread about how people budget on 200 Euro a week for groceries for a family of 2 adults and 4 teenage children can be done. Economically, cheaply and nutritiously would be important factors.
Groceries has to include toiletries and household cleaning products.
Also ideas for the cheapest family meals.
AAM does not have a form called budgeting so I've posted here, if it's the wrong forum please advise.
Hi there, we are the same size family and here's what we do.
We buy our meat (a lot of chicken) at the start of the month from a certain place, it's not really relevant where, as you can get special family offers in most places, I seperate and bag them and take them out as I need them.
This has saved me a fortune.
The trick is to do up menus that you all like.
Ask the kids their favourite meals and then yourself and husband, and already you have covered 4 days, a sunday roast is 5 days and you can juggle the other two days.
We have a budget of 260pm for meat and this works out at less than 9 euro per day. For that we get plenty.
I don't buy my fruit and veg in bulk. At most I buy for 2/3 days (I appreciate that everyone wouldn't have the time), but I found that buying too much fruit put everyone off and the veg didn't hold great. I used to blanche and freeze it, but it is a bit of work if you are restricted for time. I buy what I know the family will eat and I don't throw out half the fruit I used to.
Stock up on tinned tomatoes, these are great and versatile for making your own sauces. Check out your dry cupboard and add plenty of herbs and spices, experiment a little.
For example, I make a huge batch of bolegnese on a Monday, we use what we want and then I add chili powder (and/or kidney beans if you like) I freeze it and a few days later we'll have a chili, if there is any left over then have burritos for lunch the next day, simply heat the sauce a bit, throw it into wraps in an oven proof dish and put some grated cheese on top, heat in the over for a few minute, add some our cream and off you go, kids love them.
For cleaning and toiletries I always buy on special.
Try to seperate into 4 groups. (use your own preferences, just giving you an example) and only buy what is on special, even if you pick up one thing it will save you, as it's when you need it then you pay more.
Week 1. detergent and dishwasher items.
Week 2. toilet roll, kitchen towels.
Week 3. Shampoo, shower gel, toothpaste.
Week 4. Cleaning stuff.
You can build up your little stock, nothing blows a budget quicker than having to buy all the detergents etc when shopping for food.
My tip, buy Lidl or Aldi brands if you can't afford to stock up on the brand specials, if you run low on something if it's not on special just get something to tide you over.
As has been said by ajapale, keep an eye on "specials", if they are on an aisle outside, go to the main aisle to check that there aren't better offers, I used to make the mistake of pulling from the special aisle and then one day I noticed a brand that was cheaper.
Also be careful of "big value packs", many times I have seen if you buy two smaller packs this can work out cheaper.
Check out your local supermarket "reduced shelf", you can pick up bits here that you have to use on the day or the next, but you can get the makings of a meal for a bargain.
