How much do you spend on groceries?

IrishChik

Family of 2 during the week, 3 on the weekends (his daughter) 2 large dogs, 1 cat, 3 crabs and 3 fish.

We spend about $200-$250 a month on food. We have a large freezer so we freeze a lot and will start canning soon to prepare for the winter. I hate getting out and about in the winter and you never know when bad weather will hit. So, it is always best to get the freezer and canning stocked for those times.

As for personal items and household items thats $50 a month, the animals run about $100 a month, the bulk of it being the dogs food.

One thing to think about when you are reading other peoples spending, food cost different in different parts of the country and world, and some states, like where I am do not have tax on food where others do, so that makes the difference in what we are spending too.

Kalrez

It's just me and my boyfriend (and our two cats) in our house. We spend around $200 every 2 weeks on everything (food, toiletries, cat stuff, etc). Sometimes we'll run out of a certain food item that we really want between shopping trips, and I'll run to the store and spend an extra $20 or so every now and then. But most of the time that one big trip will last us.

We buy organic products when/if they're available, and we buy some specialty items. For example, our milk is $6/gal. We could cut costs by switching to cheaper or lower quality things, but it's not worth it. We've decided that, while we can afford it, we're going to eat the best quality foods that we can.

Same thing with our cat food. We buy Innova & Science Diet for the kitties and mix the bags together. It's not cheap. There may come a point where we can't afford to feed them (and ourselves) as well as we currently can. So we make it a point to give their bodies (and our bodies) the best we can.

I also don't clip coupons or shop at a bunch of different stores for deals. I tried it once or twice, and it's just not for me. Too much hassle and work for a limited benefit. I don't like shopping, so I'd rather stop at one store, get everything, and go home.

casey12105

family of 3 plus a dog and a cat, we spend 3-400 every 2 weeks on groceries, gas, toiletries, etc..everything we need because that's all we have lol

luelue1971

There are 3 adults and one child in my house plus 2 adult cats, 3 kittens and 1 dog and we spend about $550 per month.

skinnywithin

ROUGHLY ABOUT 500 - 600 A MONTH THATS FOR A FAMILY OF 3 AND A DOG...KEEP IN MIND i HAVE A SON ALMOST 18 YEARS OLD WHO loves TO EAT AND HE WANTS MEAT AND POTAOTES EVERYNIGHT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DID i MENTION THAT WHEN WE BUY EGGS i GET THEM AT WALMART THOES BOX THAT HAS 5 DOZEN IN THEM !!! THAT SHOULD TELL YA SOMETHING !!!

BREAKFAST IS A MUST IN MY HOUSE EVERYMORNING !!!!! OH AND THA FACT THAT MY SONS FRIENDS PRACTILY LIVE WITH US MY BILL IS VERY HIGH !!! lol

CARNAT22

Household of two (and a cat!) We spend about £60 per week online shopping (we get all our heavy stufff like cans / tins, cat food / cat litter, laundry and cleaning stuff etc..) plus we spend another £30 on fresh meat, veg, salad etc...

With other bits and pieces like toiletries (and maybe a bottle of wine here!!) it's in the region of £100 per week for two people

We also eat out or go out for a few drinks maybe once a week, and every month I go the the local bargain store and stock up on branded toiletries and cleaning stuff (every item is a £1)

Sherie13

Wow! $800? Do you shop at Costco or Sam's club or BJs? Start buying in Bulk! We spend about $400 a month for two of us but my Honey also likes nice steaks and to go to Whole Foods every so often... He spend $25 on some cheese the other day.... one block of CHEESE! If I didn't go to Costco our bills would be much higher.

Kalrez

wow, Thank you all so much for your replies. I have major issues with shopping.... My pantry is STOCKED yet I still continue to buy. ( the kids and hubs dont want what in there sometimes and I just keep buying) I need to make some changes.... thank you all again ♥♥

Our pantry will feel like that sometimes - a lot of food but seeming nothing to eat. What I do is go through everything and sort out a meal. If I need one or two things to round it out, that's what I'll buy at the store. My boyfriend is amazingly good at just throwing random things together and making it taste delicious, so that's a plus too.

TNGirlyGirl

We're a family of 6 most of the time, including 4 teenagers (3 of 'em boys!!). On weekends when our other two boys come home from college... yeah.... it's a lot!!! We eat out 2-3 times a week (which we're trying to cut down on for both health and budget) but I still spend about $200 a week on groceries and toiletries; add another $150 a week for eating out.

meggers123

Family of Two.
We spend like 400 euro a month (560 US Dollars), but we buy all organic meat/dairy, about 1/2 organic produce, and organic/natural toiletries... don't worry, we pay for our snobbery, as you see. This also includes wine, beer, or eating out once a week, or once every 2 weeks.

Dtho5159

$100 a week for our family of 4.. For everything. Lots I don't have to buy because I have a nice stockpile from couponing.. I typically save close to the $100 I spend if not more with sales and coupons..

Amanda0325

Under 100 a week usually for my boyfriend and I... but we eat out and I'm not home a few dys a week lol

dgirllamius

For my boyfriend and me, plus our cat and snake....around €40 a week.

Sometimes we spend more for things like bathroom stuff but not usually over that. I buy lots of pasta stuff as I love pasta so I save quite a bit there. We don't eat much anyway and don't like expensive fancy stuff so it does us fine.

bmfrazie

We spend about $100 ever 1.5 weeks. Our house is 2 adults and 1 child. I also use coupons and save abuot $20 per trip give or take.

I think our one thing that really helps us is that we plan out our meals before we leave. I look to see what I have to make different meals and build from there. This keeps us from just adding extra stuff for the most part.

california_peach

I would never purchase toiltries or paper products at the grocery store. I usually buy that stuff at Target or Costco. For food alone we spend around 80 a week. My husband does not eat meat, but the rest of us do. I tend to purchase our chicken and fish at costco. I purchase ground turkey as needed at the grocery store. We rarely eat red meat and when I do purchase it I go all out and get something grass fed from a local butcher. We don't coupon shop, but we purchase wisey and watch the sales.

dayzeerock

Wow! Maybe because I'm poor, but my man and me only spend 120-150 a month on groceries...and we get a TON for our money!

baisleac

Family of three, two adults and one toddler, on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington: approximately $200-$300 per month unless I work some overtime and we go nuts stocking up on stuff.

We also eat relatively clean, buying local and/or organic when it's available.

pumpkinmoccasin

My husband and I probably spend $300 a month on groceries... We eat most meals at home, pack lunches, etc., and spend between $100-$120 every two weeks and usually end up having to pick up missed things/bits in the between time

$800 for 5 people DOES sound like a lot, but if you're eating all of your meals at home and you take into account how expensive groceries have become lately it's not all that surprising

etaven

There's just one of me plus a cat, but I managed to spend around $30-$40 and it'll last me for a few weeks. I use coupons/sales and rarely buy anything that isn't discounted from one or both of those.

Lolyballs

I spend about $450 a month on food. BUT... I stock up on items we use a lot when they are on sale. I only buy what is on sale unless I absolutely have to have it. This week my favorite coffee is on sale. With 3 adults in the household we consume 14 cups a day. So this coffee that normally sells for about $7 a bag is bogo... I purchased 8 bags. That will get us through 2 months. I'm in FL and nobody doubles coupons down here, but they still help. Know your prices and check out other stores. Our adds come out on Wednesday for new sales, and the sales run from Thursday to Wednesday. I check the adds then wait for the Sunday paper to get the coupons. I have found that the coupons go along with sale items. I wait until Monday to shop and go early in the morning or around 7pm because this is when you will find mark downs in stores that have fresh meat cases(unwrapped) and delis. I love mark downs! If there was some type of disaster, I have enough back stock to feed us for a month or more.

koukla702

It's just me at home and i budget $50/week on food

LindsayChick

It's only my husband and I (plus 2 birds and 2 dogs), but we spend $100-150 per week total on groceries, supplies, dog meds etc. I only buy stuff to pack for lunches and I plan out all our dinners the weekend before and only buy those ingredients so nothing goes to waste. You can save a lot of time and $ doing that. Good luck!

♥Amy♥

We are a family of 4 (DH, myself, 7 year old and 2 year old-still in diapers). We spend roughly $200-$300 a month on groceries, health and beauty items, cleaners and diapers.

I am a couponer, and although I don't buy as much as I used to, since I am purchasing less foods and more that are healthier, I still buy based on sales and do A LOT of price matching at WalMart for our produce and/or meats.

In fact, I just got back from WalMart and spent $10 on everything I bought (6 bags). I pricematched, used coupons, and then used overage from coupons towards my produce costs. I highly suggest it to everyone!

lajojo

We are a family of three - Myself, Husband and our 10 month old daughter (and one cat & one dog).

All food, household goods and baby needs we spend about $100-$120 a week ($400-500/month). I saw a few other posts on here about couponing, I would HIGHLY recommend it. Also, if you can afford to make a couple bulk buys at your local Sam's (Costco, B.J.'s....etc) its worth it. I once bought enough shampoo and laundry soap to last me a year :laugh: BUT not only did I not have to budget it out for the rest of the year, it was a few less things to run out of or to have to add to the basket at the store. Good luck :happy:

Dtho5159

I spend about $450 a month on food. BUT... I stock up on items we use a lot when they are on sale. I only buy what is on sale unless I absolutely have to have it. This week my favorite coffee is on sale. With 3 adults in the household we consume 14 cups a day. So this coffee that normally sells for about $7 a bag is bogo... I purchased 8 bags. That will get us through 2 months. I'm in FL and nobody doubles coupons down here, but they still help. Know your prices and check out other stores. Our adds come out on Wednesday for new sales, and the sales run from Thursday to Wednesday. I check the adds then wait for the Sunday paper to get the coupons. I have found that the coupons go along with sale items. I wait until Monday to shop and go early in the morning or around 7pm because this is when you will find mark downs in stores that have fresh meat cases(unwrapped) and delis. I love mark downs! If there was some type of disaster, I have enough back stock to feed us for a month or more.

I do this too.. Some weeks if nothing good is on sale, I might spend $30 on basics/perishables and when things are really good on sale I might spend $125+ to stock up.

Shannon7713

wow! I have alot of great ides from everyone now, thank you so much for sharing. I NEED to start looking for coupons, and thats a really good idea to go to a cosco or sam's club. We even have a sam's membership and I never thought to use it. It will def save in the long run for t.paper, paper towels, etc.... I just cant get over the fact we blew thru 800 bucks between Publix and Walmart and one trip to Target. IN LESS than a month!

PandaFit450

My pantry is STOCKED yet I still continue to buy. ( the kids and hubs dont want what in there sometimes and I just keep buying) I need to make some changes

That was me!! Cupboards full of stuff that no-one would eat & ended up getting thrown out!! After blitzing the cupboards - I now just buy what I know I'm going to use during the week. For a family of 4 adults (+ 3 pets), my bill is £60-80 pw.

vdavis_89

We get a lot of stuff at costco like once a month .... about $150 there and then Sunflower Market about $45 every 2-3 weeks and toiletries and such at walmart $40 and then small grocery things at Frys $50 both Walmart and Frys are about every 2 weeks.... There are only 2 of us and a dog.

Qarol

It's just me and my husband. We spend more than some because I'm on a low carb diet. Foods on that diet are more expensive. We spend about $500 a month on groceries.

I cannot stand to grocery shop. I refuse to go more than once a week. I made an excel spreadsheet with all the food items we ever buy, organized by aisle. Nothing peeves me more than having to go down an aisle more than once or going down an aisle where I didn't need anything. Not to mention all the rude customers who think they're the only customer in the store and park their cart diagonally across the aisle. I just loathe to go grocery shopping. So I plan all our meals for the week, mark down how many of what I need to make all those meals. Get in, get out. Breathe. Until the week is up, and I have to go back. ugh.

silkysly

It's me & the (big) dog & we spend about $450 a month...