How Much Do You Spend On Groceries?

[Amy&Dan]

Family of four, two kids who are 12 and 14, and we spend between $500 and $600 per month. It varies, some months we need more in the way of toiletries and cleaning products and if we have family dinners (which I ALWAYS seem to be hosting, I think my sister forgot how to cook somewhere along the way) that really barks it up. Sams Club really helps. And coupons. When I get a coupon for something that is also on a store special, its like winning the mini lotto!

 

[suzimar57]

for DH and myself: $$800/month (including cleaning products, paper products, as well as food)

yeah - it's embarassing how much we spend....

(especially after watching that woman on Oprah the other day, buying $125 worth of groceries, yet paying only $37 after the coupons come off....)

 

[Camicar]

Family of three, none of us are big eaters. We spend about $450-500/month. Which is nearly twice what we spent a year ago.

Some local variations: No place around here offers double coupons, let alone triple. Although we live surrounded by farms, the cost of food at the farmer's market is more than the grocery stores by a minimum of 100%. The same apples you can buy from a local orchard at the grocery store cost TWICE as much to pick them yourself at the orchard! We were talking at work the other day that we have all tried to support local farmers by buying directly from them and we feel we're getting screwed by those farmers bec it's more money to buy from them than from the grocery stores.

 

[lovemygoofy]

First you do have to realize that prices vary around the country so that's difficult to budget that way. You also have to be realistic about how much cooking you plan to do versus eating out. If you really don't like to cook or work long hours or heck just a social butterfly you may eat out more and should budget for such.

I live alone alot but still cook. More than habit and I enjoy cooking more than eating out alot.

Freez portions. If you make a big pot of chili, spaghetti sauce, soup or whatever, divide it into portion and freeze it. You can pull one out of the freezer for a lunch or take out the morning before work for dinner that night. I will buy skinless boneless chicken breasts and portion them out to two a freezer bag. That is more than plenty and I always cook to have leftovers.

I also have been known to take my lb of ground turkey and half it. I don't need the whole package when it's just me. I'll take the half lb and pre make patties and freeze them that way. Just pull out one or two and you have dinner half way ready.

I also freeze bread, cheese and sandwhich meat. Some other things I did(do) was buy fresh fruit and veggies 2x a month and then enjoy can or frozen 2x a month. I still do a big grocery shop for meat once a month and then stock up on everything else afterward. It really helps me that way.

All in all I probably still spend close to $250 a month but that does include everything and extras for goody boxes and I never run out of groceries.

 

[momtomatthew]

Family of 3: about $600/month

Ditto here- about $125-150/wk. I try to watch meat sales and often do the "buy-one get-one free". That seems to help

 

[pleefy]

To prove to me that you can spend less than $800-$1000/month on groceries for four people, DH went to one of these off-off-brand stores and came home with things called "Golden Cremes" (instead of Twinkies), etc. Everything was generic.

He asked what I'd have spent buying roughly the same crap and I guessed around $150. Then he proudly shows me that it was $88.00 and change.

I was sure it would all suck, but I actually prefer "Golden Cremes" to Twinkies. Most of the other stuff is equally as good. Some of it sucks.

 

[Olaf]

$500-$600 for three people, including cleaning supplies, but I shop at the commissary.

 

[lillybug]

Family of five, we spend around $600 a month.

 

[SC Minnie]

Get into the habit now looking for sales and clipping coupons. Most of our grocery stores offer double coupons and at least once/month triple coupons. Just last night DH picked up a few things- original total was $38. After coupons he walked out paying $19.

We typical spend about $200/month for a family of three. That is with watching sale and couponing. We have 5 grocery stores in a 5 mile radius.

 

[HelenePA]

about 500$ a month for a family of 6. We dont shop at grocery stores. We shop at our farmers market where everything is at least 50% cheaper (and MUCH better quality!!) Baby isn't costing us anything yet either. When he does start solids I might try making my own baby food this time around.

 

[FormrCastMbr]

I spend about $700 - 800 a month for me, my husband, 10 year old son and 2 cats and a dog. This money does not include what we spend on going out.

 

[barkley]

To prove to me that you can spend less than $800-$1000/month on groceries for four people, DH went to one of these off-off-brand stores and came home with things called "Golden Cremes" (instead of Twinkies), etc. Everything was generic.

He asked what I'd have spent buying roughly the same crap and I guessed around $150. Then he proudly shows me that it was $88.00 and change.

I was sure it would all suck, but I actually prefer "Golden Cremes" to Twinkies. Most of the other stuff is equally as good. Some of it sucks.

i can go with the non brand names on some items but there are some products that try as i might-i just can't do. in particular pasta. i've tried a couple of the store brand dry pastas offered around here and they are terrible (not so much taste-consistency, and i've tried adjusting the cooking time/water to oil ratio-nothing works). same with non kraft mac n cheese-the cheese powder tastes funky and the macaroni is all gummy

i've been saving by purchasing more store brands or generic on canned goods (a veggie is a veggies is a veggie, same for fruits and plain beans and tomato sauce) but i just wait until the items i absolutly can't do without the brand name on are having sales and then stock up.

 

[java]

about 500$ a month for a family of 6. We dont shop at grocery stores. We shop at our farmers market where everything is at least 50% cheaper (and MUCH better quality!!) Baby isn't costing us anything yet either. When he does start solids I might try making my own baby food this time around.

Oh yeah make it! Baby food is so easy to make! You just steam most everything and then grind it up. The easiest of all were bananas. Just let them get ripe and mash away.

Our farm stands around here are the same if not more than the local stores- but the quality is better. So we do buy there for some things. Are you guys Vegetarian? Or can you get meat at your farmers market?
There is an Amish Market open only on Saturday that has all that kind of stuff- (oh and those pretzelsmmmm)

 

[froglady]

I spend about $700 - 800 a month for me, my husband, 10 year old son and 2 cats and a dog. This money does not include what we spend on going out.

Change the son's age to 15, and lose the dog but add a cat and crayfish (who needs 5 gals of distilled water every two weeks, plus new filters) and that's our budget.

However, my husband will not eat leftovers, casseroles, or generics. I am a SAHM, he studied a long time and puts in long hours for us to be financially comfortable (at least until we retire, it seems, thanks to our retirement funds disappearing) so I buy him his Charmin if that's what he wants.

 

[ckay87]

Hey, this may be a sort of odd question, but as a student just striking out on her own I'm beginning the wonderful adventure that is budgeting (yay). Anyhoo, I was just wondering, how much (roughly) do you spend on groceries in a month, for how many people?

I'm confused, I thought Ramen Noodles were 4 for a dollar? What is the problem again? I remember as a stuent there was only that one food group.

Good luck to you. I have to budget for 2 teenage boys and a grown man, along with the fact that I - on my own - am trying to eat healthier. So my budget is triple or more than what you would need.

 

[HelenePA]

Oh yeah make it! Baby food is so easy to make! You just steam most everything and then grind it up. The easiest of all were bananas. Just let them get ripe and mash away.

Our farm stands around here are the same if not more than the local stores- but the quality is better. So we do buy there for some things. Are you guys Vegetarian? Or can you get meat at your farmers market?
There is an Amish Market open only on Saturday that has all that kind of stuff- (oh and those pretzelsmmmm)

Yeah we can get meat at the farmers market SOOOOOO much cheaper! I can walk out of there with meat for 2 weeks for under 125$ I'm going on Sunday (they are only open on the weekend) I'll post what I get and how much everything was. It's amazing how much cheaper everything is there. I cringe when I HAVE to buy meat at a grocery store. The quality is sucky and the prices are 2 times what I could get it for at the FM. I urge everyone to PLEASE look into farmers markets. I like supporting my local farmers! Gotta go baby is crying... he's a very needy child already

 

[Luv2Scrap]

I budget $500 a month for all food, including eating out, for a family of 3. This doesn't include toiletries, cleaning supplies, paper products, etc. I have a separate category for all that. I don't always stay under the $500, but I've been pretty close.

 

[java]

Yeah we can get meat at the farmers market SOOOOOO much cheaper! I can walk out of there with meat for 2 weeks for under 125$ I'm going on Sunday (they are only open on the weekend) I'll post what I get and how much everything was. It's amazing how much cheaper everything is there. I cringe when I HAVE to buy meat at a grocery store. The quality is sucky and the prices are 2 times what I could get it for at the FM. I urge everyone to PLEASE look into farmers markets. I like supporting my local farmers! Gotta go baby is crying... he's a very needy child already

Aw little baby!

So if you can share which one is it? I am a tad south of you in NJ but if it's that cheap it may be worth a ride.

 

[Nomi]

Thanks everyone for the replies and the tips!

 

[Kathi OD]

In the summer and early fall, there are just two of most nights, but on the weekend I generally feed 5, 6, or 7. I spend about $600/month on food.

In the winter, we don't usually have the extra people on the weekends. It will be interesting to see what our grocery bill is this winter. Last year I was usually able to get by on about $200.