“It exploded”, “We are clearly winning” … Our readers dissect their food budget during confinement

• France has entered its fourth week of containment in an attempt to contain the coronavirus epidemic.
• No more outings, canteen, company restaurants … French people who are partially unemployed or telecommuting spend their days at home with the children. Consequence: more meals to be provided, and for more people.
• Did the food budget increase then? Readers of 20 minutes tell their story.

–

The announcement of confinement had accentuated a movement already underway: a rush in the supermarkets, for fear of a shortage linked to the
coronavirus epidemic. Rice, pasta, canned food, toilet paper… The shelves had been emptied, and the carts filled at high speed. Evidence from these figures from the Nielsen firm during the first week of confinement:

First week of #confinement for the French, with spending rising sharply again… convenience stores and e-commerce in the lead #retail # COVID19 pic.twitter.com/XZLGqFI3K7

– Nielsen France (@NielsenFrance) March 26, 2020

Almost a month later, the “routine” of containment took hold. And among the habits that have changed, we find (theoretically) having to eat three meals a day, for all members of the household. No more canteen for children, company restaurant, outdoor dining: food logistics had to be redesigned. Has the food budget gone? 20 minutes asked its readers the question.

“To be exposed because of a steak, it’s still unfortunate”

For Nathalie, who responded to our call for testimony, the situation is clear. And very precise. “We are five, two adults and three children,” she writes. I did my shopping last week: 291 euros while I haven’t changed our habits. Before, a beautiful cart cost me 200 euros. ” Gaëlle, at home with her husband and their two children, also did her accounts: “(Usually), our children eat at the nanny’s and in the canteen. I work a lot and rarely eat for lunch. And my husband eats a little sandwich. (…) From 70 euros per week, or 300 per month, we increased to 150 every 10 days, or 450 per month! ” And Julie regrets: “Being exposed because of a steak, it’s still unfortunate”.

The increased number of people at the table is not the only factor. “There is the problem of out-of-stock products. We take those available and often more expensive, ”says Erwan. Aurélie followed suit: “Private labels leave faster than the rest”.

Goodbye promotions, hello anxiety

Problem of products, but also of stores. Aurélie, mother of 5, normally does her shopping in a supermarket 10 km from her home, “where the price of products is reasonable,” she says. There, I have to do them in two brands that are deemed expensive and really are, it literally explodes my budget. “Same problem for Karine:” I go to a small local store so as not to queue in large supermarkets, and the note is salty! “

Then there is the issue of promotions. Faïza, mother of two small children and who touches the RSA, notes sadly: “Before, I bought only articles in promotion or first price, I also used a lot of reduction coupons. This is no longer possible. My first races cost me 167 euros, whereas in normal times, I would have paid fifty. ” An anguish that is found in Angel: “Unemployed, I can not afford any deviation since our company told us not to have cash, and that we should wait for the state to compensate it so that our wages are paid ”.

Soaring prices?

As for Emmanuelle, she denounces “a surge in prices on certain products”. A finding shared by many readers, especially regarding fruits and vegetables. But what about it really? On March 20, the Nielsen cabinet, again, noted price stability on the shelves compared to February:

Distribution: if sales are much higher than usual, prices remain stable in this new context. pic.twitter.com/i5aPrqtLdK

– Nielsen France (@NielsenFrance) March 20, 2020

But the confinement had barely begun. This Tuesday, Interfel, interprofessional of the fruit and vegetable sector, indicated by press release to “make every effort to (…) have a range of prices and diversified products”. Both recognizing that “the prices of fresh fruits and vegetables may be slightly impacted (…) by the evolution of certain costs, in particular those of transport or impacts linked to the lack of manpower”.

Bruno Le Maire spoke directly about the price hike on Wednesday. “There is, on certain fresh fruits and vegetables, a sharp increase (in tariffs) due to a very simple thing,” recognized the Minister of Economy. (We had) products that came from European countries, not necessarily of the same quality, and now they are French products ”. Illustration, still according to Bruno Le Maire: “The French gariguette strawberry is much more expensive than the Spanish strawberry. French cucumber is two to three times more expensive than Dutch cucumber. Same thing for the tomato ”. Large stores claim to have taken measures: Intermarché has blocked “
until May 15 the prices of 10,000 products of national brands or private labels. ” At Carrefour, 500 products from the “unbeatable price” operation are frozen. And E.Leclerc made the decision to ”
block the prices of more than 4,000 Brand Mark products. ”

Tensions and energy

In the end, this budget has enough to annoy, says Lisa: “It creates tension in our relationship, because I find that the man eats a lot”. Especially since it is not only food that swells the bill, school supplies too. Nelly has two children, one of whom is 4 years old. And for him, “you have to equip yourself (paint, stickers, paper …)”.

And for Eric, having everyone at home permanently pumps up energy (in every sense of the term): “Between the loss of income for short-time working, this increase in the food budget and that of the inevitable energy budget, we’re not going to see anything go by… ”

A question of balance

But not everyone sees it that way. Because if they have also seen an increase in their food expenses, others do not complain. “To console myself for confinement, I sometimes buy more high-end products, just to give me a little culinary pleasure,” says Joël. My last two: a foie gras and a leg of local lamb, the remains of which will make a delicious moussaka! ” “If the budget has increased, it is only because we are trying to eat properly, (…) because our only pleasure is to vary our diet,” says Mylène.

Others consider that, all things considered, things are balanced. “Financially, that hasn’t changed too much since cooking often costs less than eating outside or in the canteen,” said Rachida. Clement, on the other hand, “pays less attention to prices” than usual. But these purchases are “offset by the usual expenses (restaurant, bar, weekend, cinema)” which no longer takes place.

“We are clearly winning”

And then there are those for whom containment is synonymous with savings. This is the case of Morgane: “We are a home of 2 working people and two children, one at school and one with a nanny, who have to stay at home. Our food budget has gone down well. ” The question of children is also raised by Christophe, with whom there are five mouths to feed: “When we take away the” canteen “part of children, we largely manage to feed them better for at least the same price. And when we take the daycare centers and daycare centers away, we are clearly winning. ”

Coralie, she, positive about these menus in addition: “I have more time to cook, we eat better, better and more breast! And even we will spend less ”. A strategy different from that of Mariva, which saves money … By eating less. “I went to 2 meals a day: breakfast and full meal between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.,” she explains. (…) It was important to reduce my food since I have less activity. And I realize that I sleep better. “

Finally for Bertrand, the calculation is simple: “The restaurant for lunch, the sandwich, the canteen are much more expensive in total than a good little homemade dish. Some seasonal vegetables, pasta, a little meat, a fruit and a yogurt. We save at least 5 euros per day for 3 people. Over the month, that makes us 100 euros. ” A gain that will be united: “We promised to pay them locally in shops and restaurants that have been forced to close”.

–