What a diet costs in reality, What do you pay per week?
leaderzzz
Posts: 113 Member
Whilst the word ‘Diet’ is used to for me to lose weight, unfortunately it does not mean cost savings by far, in fact my shopping bill has risen a little, the obvious benefits are there when on a diet, but for me, it has hit the pocket a little. Here is an example of what it can cost to cover a week ( me only)
Eggs per week £ 8.00
Chicken per week £12.00
Green vegetables per week £15.00
Porridge oats per week £3.00
Milk 8 litres per week £3.50
Vegetables per week £12.00
Fruit per week £10
Yoghurts and other dairy products £14.00
Protein drinks and vitamins per week £25.00
Purchased water £7.00
Purchased snack foods (pasta etc) £15.00
Nuts £6.00
Meats £20.00 per week
Spices, oils and flavorings £10.00
Gym membership £10 per week.
Total costs: £170.00 per week ( $263 Dollars)
This is actually about £40 pounds more than I had spent on a regular diet, but the diet is clean and fresh and has the supplements to help me achieve my goals; I believe the cost above could be substantially saved, and would be really interested anyone can come up with a better price for the above than me...
Or even better, what do you pay for yours?
Eggs per week £ 8.00
Chicken per week £12.00
Green vegetables per week £15.00
Porridge oats per week £3.00
Milk 8 litres per week £3.50
Vegetables per week £12.00
Fruit per week £10
Yoghurts and other dairy products £14.00
Protein drinks and vitamins per week £25.00
Purchased water £7.00
Purchased snack foods (pasta etc) £15.00
Nuts £6.00
Meats £20.00 per week
Spices, oils and flavorings £10.00
Gym membership £10 per week.
Total costs: £170.00 per week ( $263 Dollars)
This is actually about £40 pounds more than I had spent on a regular diet, but the diet is clean and fresh and has the supplements to help me achieve my goals; I believe the cost above could be substantially saved, and would be really interested anyone can come up with a better price for the above than me...
Or even better, what do you pay for yours?
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Replies
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I have a family of three (teenage son, husband, me) and my grocery bill is roughly £130/week. That's for all of us.
Gym is about £10 a week, same as you. Protein/supplements can get really expensive, depending on what you take....I don't think I take £25/week though. I'd guess about half that, and that's a generous estimate. I try to buy all those sorts of things in bulk if possible. I eat lots of coconut oil, for instance, and I make sure to shop around to try to get the best quality for the best price. Same with whey protein and other supplements.
Obviously you're a big guy--I'm guessing you're eating a lot more than I am as you're bulking up? I eat around 1800cal/day, which I'd think is a bit less than you probably eat.
I don't buy water. I also don't buy snacks, pasta, grains, bread, milk, and rarely buy nuts. I mostly just buy meats (incl. chicken and fish) and veggies, spices, herbs, greek yogurt, and a bit of fruit. I look for deals on stuff (buy one get one free, etc.) and plan menus around that.0 -
Whilst the word ‘Diet’ is used to for me to lose weight, unfortunately it does not mean cost savings by far, in fact my shopping bill has risen a little, the obvious benefits are there when on a diet, but for me, it has hit the pocket a little. Here is an example of what it can cost to cover a week ( me only)
Eggs per week £ 8.00
Chicken per week £12.00
Green vegetables per week £15.00
Porridge oats per week £3.00
Milk 8 litres per week £3.50
Vegetables per week £12.00
Fruit per week £10
Yoghurts and other dairy products £14.00
Protein drinks and vitamins per week £25.00
Purchased water £7.00
Purchased snack foods (pasta etc) £15.00
Nuts £6.00
Meats £20.00 per week
Spices, oils and flavorings £10.00
Gym membership £10 per week.
Total costs: £170.00 per week ( $263 Dollars)
This is actually about £40 pounds more than I had spent on a regular diet, but the diet is clean and fresh and has the supplements to help me achieve my goals; I believe the cost above could be substantially saved, and would be really interested anyone can come up with a better price for the above than me...
Or even better, what do you pay for yours?
I havent done the cost per week and then individualized it - I am the mom and I shop for us all, son 2.5yrs, daughter 4 yrs and myself very active, hubby moderately active and grandma (sedentary)
I shop for fresh, whole foods and belong to a wholesale store called costco-there is a membership fee but it is provided to me free from work.
On average the "grocery" bill comes to around 200 dollars per week
This affords us
fresh fruit and vegetables to go along with meals and snacks for the duration of the week
dairy-milk, eggs, yogurts and cheese as needed for meals
grains-gluten free for me, but rest of family toast, bagels, cereals, baguette ect
meats- whatever is on the meal plan I make up each week, this week we are having meatballs, ham, roasted chicken, roasted turkey, bacon and a "cheese burger pizza" ala daughters request!
im in Canada, its winter, fresh out of season produce can get expensive, so some veg and fruit I buy frozen (green beans this week!)
I then hit the ailes and grab the staples from there
-pastas rice, soup base, peanut butter, protein powder, crackers for my kids lunches, ect
The 2 usual big price tag items in my cart are the protein powder and diapers for my son-depending on packaging size those can run nearly 100 dollars on their own.
my tips- Shop early-look at your weekly specials at the stores-you may have to go to a few different stores, look for multi buy items you can free for use later (get a deep freezer!) and buy in bulk if you can- I love plain nautral almonds and the box with 10 sleeves of 100 calorie packs is 11.99 here, but the bulk almonds I can measure out my amount needed and im sure I will get 10 or more servings out of my bag and it only cost me 6.89.
small savings add up0 -
Luper, nuts are so expensive when or where I buy them... don't know why..and holly, I think your right about seasons, I did not think about that. I am also not a very 'seasoned shopper'.
My supplements are multivitamins, and protein drinks I have allowed £70.00 per month for protein and £30.00 for the multivits = £25.00 per week. My protein drink is expensive probably because I buy it off the shelf as opposed to on-line and I prefer the taste of the drink compared use to other brands0 -
I agree.... Eating healthier does cost more!
It is a constant balancing act with the grocery budget.
Wishing you continued success in your journey to a healthier you!0 -
Where are you buying your porridge oats - or how much do you eat - to cost £3 a week! We buy Tesco Value oats (they are just oats and perfectly good) and they cost 75p a 1kg bag. My partner and I eat a bowl a day, and we buy a new bag every 1-2 weeks. Cheapest brekkie ever!0
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Where are you buying your porridge oats - or how much do you eat - to cost £3 a week! We buy Tesco Value oats (they are just oats and perfectly good) and they cost 75p a 1kg bag. My partner and I eat a bowl a day, and we buy a new bag every 1-2 weeks. Cheapest brekkie ever!
Hi ya, i use Quakers oats and use just over a box per week... ( i do eat lots)
http://www.tesco.com/groceries/Product/Details/?id=260946145
I will have a look and try the above mentioned by you BBe
I might do a shop later today to get a tillroll cost, whats cheaper Tesco or Sainsburys?... I never freeze anything either..(except icecubes)0 -
How many eggs do you consume per week? £8 sounds a little excessive given that the average 12 free range egg pack is well below £3. Same with yogurts - I guess it depends on the quantities you consume but £14 sounds far too much.
My weekly shop is very different as I tend to eat meat only 2-3 times per week and have plenty of lentils, chickpeas, beans or vegetarian mince on the other days. Plus I never buy bottled water as tap water is pretty good where I live!0 -
Whilst the word ‘Diet’ is used to for me to lose weight, unfortunately it does not mean cost savings by far, in fact my shopping bill has risen a little, the obvious benefits are there when on a diet, but for me, it has hit the pocket a little. Here is an example of what it can cost to cover a week ( me only)
Decided it'd be easier to just reply to what you did...
-Eggs per week £ 8.00
I don't eat eggs.
-Chicken per week £12.00
2 packs of chicken wings £5
Chicken Breast £2
-Green vegetables per week £15.00
£3
-Porridge oats per week £3.00
£1
-Milk 8 litres per week £3.50
Can't drink that much milk. £1
-Vegetables per week £12.00
Covered under green veg
-Fruit per week £10
£2
-Yoghurts and other dairy products £14.00
66p
-Protein drinks and vitamins per week £25.00
0p
-Purchased water £7.00
0p
-Purchased snack foods (pasta etc) £15.00
£1
-Nuts £6.00
£2
-Meats £20.00 per week
??? I just eat chicken
-Spices, oils and flavorings £10.00
£1?
-Gym membership £10 per week.
Free
-Total costs: £170.00 per week ( $263 Dollars)
~£20. Was ~£15 but I'm on a bulk anti-diet so eating about 1000-1500 more than I was when cutting. Bear in mind, I mainly buy Value/Basics/Smart Price goods so even the vegetables have horse protein. Probably. :bigsmile:
Probably save about £10 as I buy much less cider and crisps/biscuits etc than I used to.0 -
Great post, alot of people I know spend £100 but then £60 in the pub on a Saturday night so I don't mind £140(ish) and £0 on a Saturday night
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I have actually found that eating healthier costs me less since I am not buying all of the processed junk from the center of the grocery store. I also shop at Super Walmart which helps immensely! I can feed myself my husband and my 2 year old son on about $80/ week, and that includes lots of fresh produce and the non-food essentials like TP, soap, etc!0
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whats cheaper Tesco or Sainsburys
Products vary especially "shop's own" stuff. Eg Tesco cottage cheese is 85p IIRC, Sainsbury's is £1.15. But other stuff might be cheaper or bigger for same price. Just go to what ever gives you the cheapest price overall and isn't far (thinking petrol costs).0 -
Never added it up, but I think I save money due to eating less and less dinners out.0
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I'm too lazy to figure it all up, but I'm gonna say its lowered my food cost per week. I used to spend like $30 on fast food a week - that is down to $0 (or $10 last week because I bought 2 subs from subway lol). I buy my meat when its marked down and frozen veggies aren't that expensive.0
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Are "porridge oats" just oatmeal.. or is it something different.. sorry to not add anything.. but I always wondered what "porridge" is. haha0
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Are "porridge oats" just oatmeal.. or is it something different.. sorry to not add anything.. but I always wondered what "porridge" is. haha
It's the stuff the 3 little bears ate lol...other than that and this place I have never heard anyone say "porridge".0 -
Wowza, you guys spend a lot on groceries!!!We are a family of three, me my partner and a 14month old, we budget £50 a week on a shop, as we have very little to spend however we eat very healthy. Im a vegetarian, my partner eats meat and my little one eats meat and fish along side a vegetarian meals. I cook everything from scratch, buy "value items" or reduced items from the supermarket and buy from markets, butchers green grocers etc. Only buy fruit and veg in season otherwise you pay huge prices for food that tastes bland. Eat smaller portions, saves a fortune especially on cereals, breads etc. Only drink water and tea, and the odd can of diet pepsi if i really feel the urge. Bulk make foods and fill your freezer, and bulk out your meals, pasta in soups, pearl barley in stews, lentils in everything. Also always make use of your leftovers, eg roast a chicken for the weekend, shred the leftovers for a curry, and boil the bones for soup.:D x0
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Our week costs about $78 right now. Family of four on a $60/week budget and $18 for the gym.0
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Mine is fairly cheap : I spend about $50.00 in Vegetables for 2 weeks, I have Special K breakfast sandwiches 2 weeks is $8.50 a box of Special K cereal is $3.80 1/2 Gallon milk 3.15 I own an elliptical, bowflex extreme, free weights, and my gym membership is free right now because I volunteer there and waking is free unless you count wearing out tennis shoes LOL.0
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I consume between 21-30 eggs per week on average and pay around 1.70 per box 6 ( Budgens happy eggs).
I have forgot to add coffee ( Carte Noir) to it and i drink at least a pot of it a week ( that does not including starbucks and costa)
I think as I am paying almost double what some pay for a weeks family shop, I do buy from farm shops and they always seem expensive too..
My wife buys for the family< I purchase mine separate. Lol. Her budget is far less than mine.
I do cook for us both out of my meal budget on occasion too!
Many thanks for the reply's, I am definitely going to take some inherent steps to reduce my costs over the next week..0 -
Are "porridge oats" just oatmeal.. or is it something different.. sorry to not add anything.. but I always wondered what "porridge" is. haha
It's the stuff the 3 little bears ate lol...other than that and this place I have never heard anyone say "porridge".
Hehe Love it!0 -
I agree! My food bill has gone up too, as my partner and I are now eating a lot more fresh fruit and veg - which is pricey wherever you buy it from! We do tend to buy a lot of frozen veg as cheaper and lasts longer, but substituting fruit for my usual snacks of chocolate and crisps is proving to be a LOT more expensive! It will all be worth it though! :-)0
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Odd. I've always called it porridge and never oatmeal.
OPer, I just checked your diary. You're eating on average 500 calories less than me. How the hell can you be spending more than 8 times what I'm spending?? :bigsmile: Do you just throw money at passing buses or something?0 -
You could cut your food bill massively by shopping at Aldi. Their fresh veggies are cheap (as low as 39p for the "fresh five" of the week) their dairy is ridiculously cheap too. Buy frozen fish fillets from them too, and frozen chicken breast from Iceland or Asda (5kg for less than £10 is a LOT of protein) and buying pasta etc in bulk to make your own snack pots.
It's cheap to eat well if you're willing to buy in bulk or buy frozen. I wish to hell and back I was in the UK right now because my average shopping bill here in Japan is equalling about £80 a week which is UNTHINKABLE to me.0 -
$150-225 per week depending if i have to buy vitamins.
i also drink a lot of tea which costs $2.99-$3.99 per box0 -
As a single person, I have to get very creative with eating healthy and not wasting produce/meats/food in general. My weekly grocery budget comes out to roughly $50 a week. This includes protein powder, meats, veggies, lunch items, & other toiletries. This is a bit more than what I used to spend living with a roommate in a different city. Cost of living in the new city is much higher so I don't really think it is the healthy eating that is increasing the bill. The most expensive part of my new healthy lifestyle is what I spend I the gym/personal training. My membership comes out to $5 per week and my trainer $30 bucks per week. Total weekly cost- $85 bucks.0
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I don't know how much I spend per week, but one thing I would do is cut out purchased water. Unless the water where you're from is not drinkable, don't buy it. Also, buy generic (private label) whenever you can. If you're buying anything organic, do research on it. Some items don't matter if they're organic. Like bananas, oranges, etc. Things with a peel. There are definitely ways to save money, just takes practice and careful shopping.
That being said, consider the money you spend as an investment--in yourself. You're worth it. 0 -
$150-225 per week depending if i have to buy vitamins.
i also drink a lot of tea which costs $2.99-$3.99 per box
Whats an Aldi?
Quoted wrong I appologise..0 -
Odd. I've always called it porridge and never oatmeal.
OPer, I just checked your diary. You're eating on average 500 calories less than me. How the hell can you be spending more than 8 times what I'm spending?? :bigsmile: Do you just throw money at passing buses or something?
Probably!0 -
Well given that I'm sitting here waiting for ASDA to deliver a weekly shop (too much bulky stuff for me to take on the bus this week) I'll give my count. I won't eat all of this in a week, some of it will be bulk cooked and some of my snacks will keep me stocked for 2 weeks-ish so I'll count my weekly spend as 66% of the below.
Eggs: £3.50 total
2x 6 pack Happy eggs £3.50
Meat: £8 total
Chicken thighs 1 kg (6 servings) £4
Beef mince 500 g (5 servings) £2
Carver ham 200 g (5 slices) £2
Food cupboard: £3 total
Chopped tomatoes 4x400g £2
Wholewheat lasagne 250g (5 servings) 50p
Wholewheat conchigele pasta 500 g (5 servings) 50p
Oatmeal: £1.98 total
Quaker oats 1kg (20 servings) £1.98
Snacks: £9.60 total
Kallo wholegrain ricecakes 1 cylinder 90p
Snack a jack caramel/chocolate chip ricecakes 2 cylinders £3
Caramelised onion hummus £1
Milk chocolate cookies (in-store bakery) 5 cookies 90p
Apple/mango juice £1.50
Sesame bagels (4 bagels) £1
Garlic bread £1.30
Dairy: £12.80 total
Skimmed milk, usually 4 pints per week so 2x 89p (could bulk buy 4 pints/£1)
Babybel cheese (8 cheeses) £2
Activia yoghurts 2x4-pack £3
Brie 200g £1
Reduced fat Creme fraiche 300 ml 90p
Parmesan cheese 200g £3.20
Ricotta £1
Fruit + veg: £13.04 total
Pears £1
Oranges £2.25
Potaotes (2.5 kg) £2.20
Spring onions 75p
Broccoli £2
Leeks 41p
Carrots 89p
Mangetout £1
Mushrooms 85p
Fresh basil 69p
+ extra random fruit in a few days eg. apples £1
Water: £0
I always bring my water bottle from home and refill.
TOTAL FOOD COST/week: ~£35
VITAMINS: multivitamin + omega 3/6/9 supplement from ASDA: £10 for 3 months (85 p per week)
WORKOUT COST: Yoga studio £75 per month, £18.75 per week
LIFESTYLE COST/week: £54.60
Note to the OP: I've always found ASDA to be the best value. I either shop at a massive one on my way home or if I need to buy lots of things (this week I also got TP, laundry detergent & fabric softener) I pay for home delivery (roughly £3 during the week, £5 on weekends).0 -
Luper, nuts are so expensive when or where I buy them... don't know why..and holly, I think your right about seasons, I did not think about that. I am also not a very 'seasoned shopper'.
My supplements are multivitamins, and protein drinks I have allowed £70.00 per month for protein and £30.00 for the multivits = £25.00 per week. My protein drink is expensive probably because I buy it off the shelf as opposed to on-line and I prefer the taste of the drink compared use to other brands
Nuts are far more expensive here in the UK than what I was buying them for in the US, which makes no sense--Spain with all their almonds ain't that far away! Then again, most food is more expensive here, it seems. But really, nuts are outrageous! If I was eating nuts, I'd be looking to buy online in bulk quantities....perhaps one can get a better deal that way.
Yeah, your protein drink seems incredibly expensive. I buy 4.5 kilos of great quality whey (Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey) for £85 (shipping cost included). I use two scoops/day of that, so it lasts me a good while. You might want to look around for a comparable protein to whatever you're using to see if you could find something more economical which is also still agreeable to drink. I know they can be really nasty, so that might be easier said than done. Perhaps you could buy greater quantities and get it at a better cost? There was a good thread going in the UK group about protein, with lots of links included--you might check that out if you missed it.0
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