slo’s WEDNESDAY 5/6 poll - Monthly Grocery Total

[slo]

I’m sure this topic will strike a few nerves today and I apologize ahead of time. This poll isn’t meant to cause any debates, so please don’t go off topic with your replies.

On Saturday I was paying our bills and when I do this, I also go through our credit card statement to make sure all charges are legit and correct (I get an email every time a purchase is made and I save them. I then compare my emails to the statement purchases and check them off as I go when they match). Since we use only one credit card, I can see everything we did in a month. As I’m checking off the purchases I see the 3 grocery stores, and local owned meat market, over and over, which makes sense because on Tuesdays I go to the meat market and Aldi, and on Thursdays I go to one of the local big grocery stores. On Saturday I decided to add up how much I spent on groceries for March 21 - April 21 and the total was $688. This does not include restaurants or take out, which wouldn’t matter that much - there was one restaurant for $72 and no take out places (we do eat out much). When I added it up, I was shocked, because I didn’t expect it to be this much. But then when I think that this amount is for breakfast, lunch and dinner for two people, the amount isn’t to awful. It breaks down to $22 a day for two people or $11 a day for each of us. I mostly only buy what we need unless there’s a fantastic sale on something, especially meat that I can freeze.

Before we proceed with finding out about your grocery totals, let’s gets some info…..


Now it’s time to find out how much you all spend groceries. So grab your grocery receipts and tell us today……


What is the average amount you spend on groceries a month?
If your total is low - is it because you eat out or get a lot of take out?
If your total is high - is it because you rarely eat out or get take out?
(multiple choice)

*Again, I kindly ask you to NOT turn this into a political debate thread - thank you!



For Me……As I mentioned above, the total spent March 21 - April 21 was $688. There was one Sam’s Club trip on that statement, but it wasn’t for groceries with the exception of peanut butter that was under $10. We don’t eat out much, so we had only restaurant we went to on that statement, which I’m pretty proud of. There are some months that this amount will be a little higher, when I’m making some recipes that may cost a little more to make, but that’s ok, because I love these meals and I love the leftovers.

 

[kanerf]

Single, so don't spend too much. Eat mostly in my unit (I stay in timeshares most of the month). Do have a kitchen so I can prepare food.

 

[Genie+]

Shopping for 3ppl and definitely in that $1k-$1,500 range. That includes alot of inexpensive meals too!

 

[PollyannaMom]

I voted "other."

I'm not sure exactly what I spent on groceries last month. - I know I should run the numbers, but I'm very grateful that it hasn't been as strictly necessary lately as it used to be when we were just starting out.

I'm also not as organized with my shopping days as you are (or as organized as I was during the Covid restrictions). - I just stop here and there when I need to rather than doing a big weekly trip. (We keep a list on fridge everyone adds to, and I will often take a snapshot of it on my phone, so I have a pretty updated list with me).

I might not come back and post the number, but I think you've inspired me to do some homework later!

 

[Kitty 34]

My DH does our weekly shopping now. I don't dare ask him as he usually throws a trip to Menards and Lowes in on his trips.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

My total is low because I am a single adult (my roommate buys his own groceries although there is some intermingling) but a lot of times it's as cheap or nearly as cheap to eat out / take out.

 

[BrianL]

Mine is low - like insanely low for most poeple, but it's just me. I do tend to eat out a bit ont he wekeends, but usually only once or twice. It's really just what I buy - cereal and milk, sandwich stuff, and usually some kind of pasta or rice dish for dinner, or sometimes salad stuff. I toss in the ocassional can of soup or ramen noodles too. I seriously spend like 25 bucks a week! That doesn't coun't when I stock up on sodas, nor does it count cat food. Still, I really get by cheap - but I eat what I like.

 

[Meriweather]

It varies on when family is coming for a meal or 2. It is now pool time, so it will go up.
Usually it is around $500-600 for the 2 of us, but it isn't all groceries.
I go to Costco every two weeks and Sam's once a month and those trips aren't always just food.
We don't go out to eat much (maybe once a month). There is just the 2 of us usually. I shop sales and buy in bulk.

 

[WDWEPCOT]

Single I don’t buy a lot of food mostly milk and vegetables and fruit they’re expensive I have a lot of meat that I bought so I don’t usually have to buy meat I’m stocked on that
It’s all the other things that are killing my budget household supplies and toiletries that’s where the expense comes in it’s really not food that’s killing my budget it’s cleaning supplies and toiletries bought toilet paper lately it’s not cheap
Laundry soap I just tried going to Costco that’s where my expense comes in thankfully I only have to do that about every three months I would just hate if I had to feed teenagers these days!! you all have my sympathy in that department it’s just so expensive

 

[bobbiwoz]

I really don’t know. It often seems the amount of food seems small for the price, but we haven’t ever added up grocery bills for the month. We do pay credit cards monthly.

 

[ronandannette]

Shopping for 3ppl and definitely in that $1k-$1,500 range. That includes alot of inexpensive meals too!

This is us too. Grocery shopping has become surreal and sad. I paid $2.29 for a can of Campbell’s mushroom soup the other day and $1.79 for a single lime. That quick trip into the store for a few miscellaneous goods cost $73.00 and I carried the stuff out in one small bag. Meal planning has become way more about what I feel like paying for than what I feel like eating.

 

[MIGrandma]

I have no idea how much I spend on groceries per month. Thankfully we don’t have to have a budget for that like we did when our kids were growing up. We buy what we want now. We tend to go out to eat at least once a week, sometimes more. We pay our credit cards off each month, but I rarely use a card for groceries. I pay by check.

 

[Micca]

I guess we're moderately low but we're at the lower end of the range for that. We seldom dine out unless we're on a trip

 

[Mizzoufan]

There 2 of us probably between 500.00 and 1000

 

[TwoMisfits]

The poll should probably be per person and per meal (monthly bill divided by household and then divided by meals at home vs out) to get something comparable to someone else.

 

[Debbie Jean]

I’m a solo senior and do virtually all cooking at home. So my budget is low… about $250 a month.

I do watch the sales closely and considering I have some health conditions, I try to shop strategically. I am retired, though, so have time for this… I like to say I have no where to go and all day to get there LOL Harder to do with work and family to care for!

 

[Genie+]

I’m a solo senior and do virtually all cooking at home. So my budget is low… about $250 a month.

I do watch the sales closely and considering I have some health conditions, I try to shop strategically. I am retired, though, so have time for this… I like to say I have no where to go and all day to get there LOL Harder to do with work and family to care for!

I think that could work for myself. I enjoy being efficient and wouldn’t have much trouble running my own food/kitchen costs under $10/day.

The guys are another story lol. They’re spoiled on variety and specialty items. Sometimes I’m tempted to give out a smack when they make like there is nothing to eat and there’s actually enough to survive a harsh winter

 

[LilyWDW]

My grocery budget is $400 a month for one person. I often will spend less than that, but I like to keep the budget higher so I can take advantage of deals. However, that isn't just all food because I also get some OTC meds, personal care items, and household stuff in the same trips.

This month may be a bit higher because I am going to be doing a big freezer meal prep using my Souper Cubes. But by doing that, I will keep costs lower in the future so it all comes out even.

 

[LoveSpringsteen]

I chose the $1K-$1.5K range. It’s me and my husband most of the time and when our son is home from college, our bill does go up, of course. On a weekly basis, I spend about $175 - $200 at the grocery store and go to Costco or Sam’s Club every few months. I also buy some staples/household goods on Amazon which is why I think our monthly average spend is over $1K. We have most meals at home and do not often eat out.

 

[GAN]

One person and I spend roughly $75-100/week on groceries($3-400/mo). I'd say that's up about $50-100 per month... I tend to buy the same items every week so it's fairly accurate.