Feeding teenagers is a 'bottomless pit' costing parents a staggering amount

Daily Mirror

4 days ago

Parents in the UK with kids aged 13-18 say the big weekly shop adds up to £189 per week, with a quarter saying it is the biggest expense after the mortgage or rent.
Teenagers are truly causing their parents to break the bank - with the average cost of feeding them reaching a staggering £23,000 a year, reveals a new report.
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Parents with children aged 13-18 claim that the weekly supermarket shop now totals up to £189. A massive 89% of parents confess their kids are perpetually peckish, with a punnet of grapes barely lasting two days in the typical household.
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A multipack of crisps survives just four days, while a four-pinter of milk is consumed within merely three days. It's no longer about one big shop a week as it used to be; on top of that hefty expenditure, we're also doing two weekly "top up" food shops, costing £64 each - adding up to over £400 every week. It comes after Supernanny star Jo Frost issued advice to all parents.
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Experts surveyed the nation and discovered that in an average year it costs £22,932 to feed each teenager – and the summer holidays are even worse – as 29% state that their weekly shop vanishes twice as quickly over the six-week break.
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The data was gathered by Asda Income Tracker, who questioned 2,000 parents about their food spending, reports the Daily Star. Bristol-based mum-of-two boys, Elizabeth Nichols, 40, said: "It's only the start of the summer holidays and already the kids are eating me out of house and home.
"It feels like I'm constantly topping up the fridge and cupboards. Any parent of a teen will know, feeding them is like throwing food into a bottomless pit, especially when they're active like mine, constantly riding their bikes or kicking a ball around in the park. They are literally always hungry."
An Asda spokesperson chimed in: "We know families are feeling the pressure – especially during the school holidays when the pace pick up.
"That's why we're committed to helping parents stretch their budgets without compromising on quality. Through our Asda Price promise on the products which matter to families the most, alongside hints and tips from our family experts, we're here to make summer that bit easier for families - from the big weekly shop to everyday snacks."