Food shops can really vary in price nowadays(Image: Getty Images)
Life as a student is far from straightforward, with deadlines and living away from home, navigating pre-adulthood can be challenging, particularly without a reliable source of money coming in.
It's also well-known that many students don't maintain a balanced diet and frequently choose convenient meals to satisfy their hunger. Now one individual has shared what their food shop looks like and many others were quite surprised by what the final price came to. There was also a diverse selection of items - from quick-to-prepare sachets to multipack crisps.
Posting on Reddit, the individual disclosed: "£20 of processed junk as a uni student lol."
Space Raiders Nik Naks
In the photograph, it displays a collection of food, including some quick-to-prepare sachets from Aldi's exclusive brand Bramwells. There's also a six-pack of Space Raiders, Nik Naks, jelly, an assortment of cereal bars, some juices and ramen.
And in the comments section, the student confirmed the shop was completed across four different stores, including Aldi. They then disclosed it cost £26 after forgetting to calculate one item.
Since it was posted, it received 310 upvotes and numerous comments. One said: "Least you're getting your fibre." Another added: "That's actually solid for 20 quid."
Beyond the headline
A third posted: "I miss being young sometimes - I could happily eat all of that in one evening!"
Others were more intrigued by the absence of "food" in their haul, to which they replied: "I eat out most days. This stuff is just for the weekends." They also added: "I should've mentioned this is exclusively for weekends and snacking - not for everyday meals. I wouldn't survive off of this everyday."
Another person queried: "How is that only £20? Please post receipt pls."
How it all adds up
As of early 2026, the average UK household spends approximately £119 per week on food shopping, with annual costs approaching the £6,000 mark.
The cost of living crisis has also resulted in a basic basket of 30 items at budget supermarkets like Aldi or Lidl costing around £45-£46, while families in the UK can easily spend £150 per week on food.
And since 2022, prices have risen a staggering 30%. Aldi and Lidl remain the most affordable options. It's worth noting that purchasing branded products can significantly increase costs compared to buying store-brand or cooking from scratch.
£20 of processed junk as a uni student lol.
Putting it in context
It is easy to treat each new announcement as an isolated headline. The interesting part is almost always what it implies for everyone else operating in the same space.
The short version
- Life as a student is far from straightforward, with deadlines and living away from home, navigating pre-adulthood can be challenging, particularly without a reliable source of money coming in
- In the comments section, the student confirmed the shop was completed across four different stores, including Aldi
- Since it was posted, it received 310 upvotes and numerous comments
- A third posted: "I miss being young sometimes - I could happily eat all of that in one evening!"
- Others were more intrigued by the absence of "food" in their haul, to which they replied: "I eat out most days
Figures worth noting
- As of early 2026, the average UK household spends approximately £119 per week on food shopping, with annual costs approaching the £6,000 mark
- Since 2022, prices have risen a staggering 30%
All told
Whether this marks the start of something larger or simply reflects the moment, it is a fair indication of the direction things are heading.