Family food shopping
- The UK Parents & Cost of Living Report reveals a fifth of parents are buying less food to tackle rising food prices – rising to 28 per cent in the South East.
- A fifth of parents are forced to buy less food as they can’t afford the rising cost.
- Children’s Expert, Corrine Sweet, says parents will be as savvy as possible to make sure they always provide for their children.
Two thirds of UK parents say they are spending more on food for their children than 12 months ago due to rising food prices.
The latest findings from VoucherCodes.co.uk’s UK Parents & Cost of Living Report reveal the majority of parents in the UK are already scrambling to keep up just with the rising cost of food.
Cutting back on food
The new report, which examines the day to day state of parents finances, discovered that despite food being an absolute essential, its soaring expense has left many UK households struggling.
A fifth of parents admits they are forced to buy less food than needed in order to budget for the increasing costs. Parents in the South East are the worst hit, with this worrying figure increasing to 28 per cent.
Buying cheaper basics
With a fifth of UK parents saying the rising cost of living has been exacerbated by having children, more than half say they have tried to tackle the rising food problem by downgrading to cheaper products.
Although the rocketing price of essentials, such as food, rent and energy bills, has affected everyone, UK parents have the added strain of juggling their children’s needs on top of their own.
Three quarters of savvy mothers and fathers say they have switched to using money off vouchers to save cash when buying food for their kids.
Corinne Sweet, psychologist and parent, said: “A parents' primary role is to nourish and protect their child, so it's not surprising that today's parents are striving to be as savvy as they possibly can be in tough economic times.
“Parents also are hard-wired to put their children first, so stretching the family budget is essential to meet everyone's needs at home.
“Women, in particular, like to feel they are making the most of their resources as family responsibilities still lay firmly on their shoulders.
“So it makes sense for them to shop around and use voucher codes cleverly to ease the stress of providing for a family on a tight budget. Also, with our busy 24/7 lives, shopping online also make sense, allowing for time spent together relaxing at home."
And food is just the start, as the Markit Household Finances Index reported 42 per cent of households expect their finances will worsen over the next 12 months.
Duncan Jennings, co-founder of VoucherCodes.co.uk said: “Although the rocketing price of essentials, such as food, rent and energy bills, has affected everyone, UK parents have the added strain of juggling their children’s needs on top of their own.
“While cutting back on purchases is often part and parcel of budgeting, it is startling to see that a fifth of parents have been forced to cut back on the basic of food for the family. Especially as it is not the only option.
“Parents should make a habit of always looking online for any useful discounts or voucher codes as it ensures that costs are kept at bay without compromising on quality.
“The UK’s favourite retailers, including the most popular supermarkets, offer an exhaustive range of excellent deals and parents can even sign up to the sites’ newsletters to make sure they are first to know about them as many of the best codes are around for a limited time only.
“By making their money go further, parents will not only make ends meet but hopefully be in a position to treat their children and themselves once in a while too,” he said.
Have you hdto cut back on food for your family? Tell us your story in the comments below or tweet us @FemaleFirst_UK
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