As food prices continue to climb across the United Kingdom, a young couple's frugal weekly shop at Tesco has captured the nation's attention, leaving many shoppers questioning their own spending habits.
The Viral £66 Weekly Shop
In an online forum dedicated to sharing shopping hauls, a couple posted a picture of their groceries, revealing they had spent just £66 for a full week's worth of food. The image, which showed a trolley containing multiple packs of chicken breasts, vegetables, and other essentials, prompted widespread astonishment from fellow consumers who reported spending significantly more.
The couple explained their strategy, noting they buy several packs of two chicken breasts at £2.39 per pack, finding it better value and more convenient for portioning and freezing. "We can then also freeze and unfreeze two breasts as and when we need them," they wrote.
National Struggle with Rising Costs
The couple's post resonated because it highlights a stark contrast to the experiences of many. On other forums, shoppers have voiced their frustration. One person reported their shop for two people had doubled from £50 to nearly £100 a week, while another lamented spending £58 on a solo weekly shop, a figure that was once £30-£35.
A mother added to the chorus, stating, "I remember when I could spend £60 in Asda and it would last a week for two kids and me! Now I’m spending three times that." These accounts underscore the intense pressure households are under as the cost-of-living crisis bites.
Community Tips and Debates
The revelation sparked a lively exchange of money-saving advice. Some commenters questioned the couple's method, suggesting buying larger family packs of chicken or visiting a butcher for bulk 5kg trays would be cheaper in the long run. The original poster countered that, for them, the smaller packs were more cost-effective and convenient.
Other savvy tips emerged from the discussion:
- Buying whole chickens to portion out, using the carcass for broth.
- Shopping at discount retailers like Aldi for meat to save money.
- Pre-dicing and slicing meat before freezing to save time later.
The debate also revealed vast disparities in spending. One single man admitted to a £150 weekly shop on premium items like oysters, organic steaks, and wild king prawns, while a single woman claimed she rarely exceeds that amount in an entire month.
Expert Advice in a Cost Crisis
With budgets stretched thin, many are turning to experts for guidance. Money saving guru Martin Lewis frequently advocates switching to supermarket own-brand products as a reliable way to cut costs. However, as the online discussions show, even with frugal habits, many feel they are losing ground against relentless price rises.
The couple's £66 Tesco shop serves as both a beacon of hope and a point of contention. It proves that with careful planning and strategic shopping, significant savings are possible. Yet, it also highlights the deepening divide in how UK households are navigating the ongoing financial strain of putting food on the table.
