Britons are feeling the pinch at the supermarket checkout as food prices continue to rise, with many reporting that their weekly shop has increased by tens of pounds compared to a few years ago. Readers have shared their experiences of cutting back on branded goods, switching to own-label products, and even dropping items like ready meals and treats to balance the family finances.
Nikki, a mother of two from Aberdeenshire, says her weekly shop now costs over £220, up from £135 before 2020. She has two children with coeliac disease, which means they need gluten-free products that are often more expensive. “My big shop used to cost £100, now it’s £150,” she says, adding that the rising costs are keeping her awake at night.
Karen’s post on X showing four shopping bags from Aldi costing £98 went viral. She noted that six months ago the same shop would have been £70. Similarly, Chris, a stay-at-home father from Manchester, says his weekly shop for a family of five has risen from £90 to £110-£120, and it no longer covers everything they need. He now buys mostly own-brand items but finds essentials like cat food and toiletries unavoidable.
Official figures show that while overall inflation eased to 3.8% in September, food price inflation remains high at 4.5%, though down from 5.1% in August. The Food Foundation charity notes that food prices are still 30% higher than in 2022, with one in seven UK households with children struggling to afford food. Many readers report cutting back on fruit and vegetables, and switching to cheaper alternatives like pork mince instead of beef.
Stacey, a teaching assistant from Norfolk, says it is a “struggle to keep my weekly shop below £100”, an increase of about £40 since lockdown. She has stopped buying branded items and now uses pork mince for dishes like shepherd’s pie. Others say they refuse to pay high prices for brands like Heinz baked beans or soup, with a four-pack of Heinz beans costing £3.90 compared to £1.60 for Tesco’s own brand.
