Do You Have a Weekly Grocery Budget?

[Chattyaholic]

I don't, now that it's just DH and myself in the house. It had been a couple of weeks (or more) since I'd gotten groceries and this morning I went and bought $80 worth. When the kids were home I went every week, but now it seems like every couple of weeks is enough.

 

[newmousecateer]

No budget. DH and I (the only two in the house also) just stop at the store for whatever we need whenever we need it.

 

[helenabear]

No I don't... I have a monthly budget that I like to try to stick to for groceries and a few other things, but since there is only the two of us, I don't have a budget for groceries.

 

[Cindy B]

Yes, I do and I DONT go over.

We have four in the house. We have gone as low as $27 for a week but the budgeted amount is $75.

That includes everything.

I coupon, rebate, stock up when something is on sale....

 

[MosMom]

Cindy, do you include household items like cleaners, detergent, toilet paper, etc. in your grocery budget or is that from a separate budget?

 

[lvs_eeyore]

I dont have a budget but I just did a shop for the month and it ended up costing 256.00 for food and cleaning supplies etc.... so not bad for a family of four. I even bought a few little extras that I dont normally buy like a cake for dessert tonight...but the boys were being so good in the store I couldnt resist when they asked and they rarely ever ask for treats.

 

[snowwhitemom]

We need a budget so bad food cost us more than any bill I have. We really should try to do this....I have the same problem at WDW, the meals cost more than the resort or the same....really, we need to cut back....but it something about having GOOD food that really works for me.

 

[Kermit]

I try to stick within a certain range, but sometimes we go over. I don't let it bother me if it's for a legitimate reason, like if we have company or if I'm too sick to cook.

I find that I don't have to jump through any hoops to stick to my budget as long as I don't buy too many things that are out of the ordinary. Every once in a while I'll try something new, but not if it's expensive, unless I have a coupon and it's on sale. I try to buy very little processed food and cook from scratch, so that helps. Fresh produce and other fresh ingredients may seem expensive at first, but they're really not when you look at all the things I don't buy. I routinely skip entire aisles at the grocery store. (That cuts down on impromptu purchases as well.)

 

[danacara]

"Food, Frolic and Fun" is a subaccount on my cheapskatemonthly.com financial manager. I love that application, it's easier to use than Quicken, and you can bank some major cash by tracking your expenses. I spend about $70/week on food.

 

[KimRaye]

It's a bi-weekly budget but, that would amount to $120/week.

 

[tiggerlover]

Not really a budget, but a "targeted amount". I usually shop every two weeks and my target amount is $150, sometimes I spend less, sometimes $150 and then on ocassions we are having a special event I spend more.

 

[snowwhitemom]

Danacara, Thanks for the link. I am going to give it a try. We are a family of three and I am sure we could probally cut it in half if I tried, so I think I will!

 

[snoopy]

Geez, you folks with the low food budgets obviously don't shop at the organic market!

We do, and spend about $150 per week on food. I try to stick to less than $800 per month on food.

(what can I say, I'm picky about my food)

 

[Lars624]

I have a family of 5 & DH & I just shopped for groceries on Friday. I spent $35.00 at the meat market & then $143.00 at the Super Walmart. I actually forgot a few things too. DH budgets about $200.00 a week for food. My kids also have to have $ in their lunch accounts at school. I gave the 2 oldest each $25.00 & the 1st grader $15.00. They don't buy every day so it should last them each about 3 weeks.
snowwhitemom-The meals at WDW are always the most expensive thing for us too.

 

[Cindy B]

Originally posted by Cindy B
Yes, I do and I DONT go over.

We have four in the house. We have gone as low as $27 for a week but the budgeted amount is $75.

That includes everything.

I coupon, rebate, stock up when something is on sale....

That does include everything.. from cereal to toilet paper, to deoderant, and everything in between. I do things like if deoderant is on sale with triple coupons I buy like 6 or 8 of them and that lasts us a while.
(my target price for deoderant with this method is 49 cents or less for name brand)

Yogurts, same thing..yogurts go like anybodys business in this house.

Meats, same thing. Well actually I like to go when the store opens, and they are changing the items around. I usually always get meat on sale that way as well.

 

[snowwhitemom]

CindyB...My dh would love you!!!

 

[Kitty 34]

Each week, I usually spend about $50 at our Super Walmart and between $40-60 at Meijers. Of course, I'm feeding two teen-age sons!!!

 

[Jeafl]

I try to spend between $100-125 a week.

The scary part is when I clean out the refrigerator and throw away about $30-40 worth of food because it's gone bad before I use it. I feel horrible every time, but I can't quite stop it from happening.

 

[Kermit]

The best way to avoid throwing away food is to just put it in the freezer if you know you won't eat it the next day. Of course, you still have to eat within a certain amount of time, but it buys you more time.

I keep a white board on the side of my fridge, and I keep a running list of everything that's in the freezer. When I take something out, I cross it off the list.

 

[Jeafl]

Kermit, the board sounds like a good idea for meat and such.

My problem is usually the produce, unfortunately.