Hubby asked me a question about our shopping bill today, and it set me thinking.
Since rejoining SW, my food spreadsheet has been expanding and by the end of the year I anticipate the total being some £200 more than it was for 2018. Most of that is down to the extra fruit I’ve been buying, even though since the beginning of the month I’ve been trying to cut back. I’ve succeeded to some extent by not buying raspberries or blueberries practically every other day and buying a 4 or 6 pack of nectarines, peaches or kiwis instead, especially when they’re on special offer at 49p a pack!
Not all that long ago, our food bill worked out around £30 – £35 a week which was considerably higher than £25 – £28 pw on the boat. Now it’s almost an extra tenner on that and to be honest, I’m interested to know where else I can plan to cut down.
My current spreadsheet consists of pages for basics, fruit and veg, toiletries, dog, etc etc, so I’m going to now do an exercise on how much it costs to stock our freezer, cupboards, staples (dry stuff) and perishables on a weekly basis and see where the money’s going.
With a new month starting next week, I’m quite looking forward to the challenge actually!
pensitivity101 
Don’t forget to figure in inflation. It may not be that you’re using more, just that things have gotten more expensive. I know that here (Kentucky, USA) I’ve seen the price of a gallon of milk go from $1.97 usd to $2.98, eggs from $0.58 to over $1.28 a dozen, sugar from $1.25 to a whopping $4.00 for a small 2lb bag, over the last few weeks. Gas fuel (Petrol) has likewise seen a significant rise in pricing. There is a reason, and hopefully that reason can be re-examined in this upcoming election cycle.
I usually work on an increase of 10% for my following year’s household budget. With food, I know what I’m prepared to pay and if it’s more than that I either buy less or don’t buy it at all. Hence the stoppage of raspberries and blueberries as it was crazy! Fuel for our car is around £1.27 a litre now, and our mileage between 57 and 60 per gallon depending on the roads.
I know budgeting tight all too well. That’s why we’re moving. I’m not willing to pay the rent increase from $698 to $950usd for a two bedroom, 800sq ft apartment that is roach infested, has no heat control, and the you have to empty your dishwater in toilet because sink doesn’t drain. For that, our already tight budget is drawn so tight that I fear something will snap before we can move. I’ve cut out virtually all fresh anything as it’s too expensive. been buying frozen veggies, and fruits. I can live off foraging in the forests, but I feed hubby better for work.
Oh I am so sorry and how I sympathise! We had a rent increase of 25% in 1991 plus the introduction of the controversial Poll Tax meaning I had to find another £125 a month which we simply couldn’t cover, and why we bought our first house as it turned out I was entitled to a mortgage subsidy through work.
Can you get any state help with your rent?
We moved here after selling the boat as property was cheaper, our budget was tight and we had to furnish a home as well as purchase one. Thankfully we have no rent or mortgage to pay here.
Fresh fruit is becoming expensive and the quality dire, so I’ve taken to buying the frozen berries. Maybe there are some ideas in my blog that could help you stretch your food budget? I’m always looking for ways to save money, especially now. Do you have a family? It’s only Hubby, me and the dog.
Our Fam is me, hubby and our beloved kitty, Maryjane (got her name because she looks perpetually high). I use a lot of my Gr. Grands recipes from the depression era. Most have potatoes as a staple, and whatever else you have to throw in. Hubby calls them “ugly” meals… they are not something to look at, but they are hardy. His fave, I’m making today has shredded potatoes, cheese, sausage, eggs, and a bit of sourcream (Gram’s recipe uses buttermilk, but it’s hard to get here.) Sometimes I throw in some peas/carrots/onions. I’ve got some frozen mixed vegs today to throw in. Was able to grab a couple taters at the farm market this morning, and a bag of green beans (for tomorrow’s meal). When I stared using her depression era recipes I was able to cut our food budget down a whole 75% … Now, we’re down to about $100-$150 a month for the two of us. I have a snack for brunch and dinner with Hubby. I’m proud to say I’ve lost 150 lbs since last September, but I seem to have settled in that arena.
Wow, and I thought I was good! This is impressive out of necessity, and congrats on the weight loss and levelling off.
I make vegetarian curries or ginger and pineapple with rice, also a vegetarian lasagna which is filling. Potatoes are always good as a jacket with a topping of some description.
Or maybe it’s inflation.
not that much I think but we shall see.
You definitely will sort this out.
Number crunching and analysis is what I’m good at, just that this time I won’t get paid for it!
But then you will be saving money. It’s even better. 😍