How much do you spend on groceries each week?

ninerbuff
ninerbuff Posts: 49,028 Member
edited October 2 in Food and Nutrition
This came up in a thread last night and a guy called BS on me spending less than $122 per week on a family of 3. I can EASILY do that and in fact spend no more than $100 per week.
Another guy thought I was full of BS too saying he spent $60 on some veggies and a tub of dip. Not organic. But when I compared the cost of the same items where I shop, it was $26.
I shop at Safeway and don't bother buying "name" or "popular" brands. I always look at club card savings and refer to weekly coupons and use that as my decisions to purchase what I need that week. Meat stays the same week in and week out.

So how much do you spend and do you think you could do better?
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Replies

  • bry_all01
    bry_all01 Posts: 3,100 Member
    I roughly spend almost $100 a week and do not buy extra "fluff" and rarely any name brands, but I do purchase lots of chicken, eggs, bread and milk.
  • foremant86
    foremant86 Posts: 1,115 Member
    bout $50 a week feeds me and my brother.
  • Cakepiebeer
    Cakepiebeer Posts: 392
    Most that ive ever spent on groceries was around $80

    But on average its around $60-$70 a week
  • roblow65
    roblow65 Posts: 156 Member
    There are 2 in my household and I spend an average of about $40.00 a week, but I'm an avid couponer and sales shopper. Most of that money goes to meat and produce.:wink:
  • dayzeerock
    dayzeerock Posts: 918 Member
    I shopped last night actually. 2 people, 1 cat who gets homemade food, and 2 lizards who eat produce...for $45 we got enough to last almost 2 weeks.
  • eating4balance
    eating4balance Posts: 743 Member
    200 dollars a week for a family of four. It's hard though, because I eat a lot of fresh produce, and my brother is all processed :smile: Oh, and we have 2 dogs and 2 cats...
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,028 Member
    See! I knew that $100 dollars was about the average! One of the guys said I must live in a small town with a lot of mom and pop stores that sell generic food.
    Oh BTW, these 2 were Shakeology proponents. One was a distributor. The debate was how a $3-$4 shake was cheaper than many meals.
  • cdstadt
    cdstadt Posts: 311 Member
    I spend way too much money and seriously need to scale it down

    But I think a lot of people opt for the pre-cut veggies, bagged lettuce, frozen "healthy" meals... A lot of that kind of stuff IS over-priced and those complainers are just enabling that
  • carriem29
    carriem29 Posts: 28
    I average $100 a week for a family of four (although my two kids are pretty young). I do a big grocery shopping one week and then the next I just pick up odds and ends.
  • cm2two
    cm2two Posts: 194
    on average it's 165 to 180 here for a family of four - we live in RI ... which im noticing is a lot higher than down south, mid west...??
  • Awkward30
    Awkward30 Posts: 1,927 Member
    I don't drive, so I have only one overpriced option for food. They have started having weekly specials, so I use that to cheapen things... So about $50/week give or take. I eat $8 in carrots, celery, and broccoli every 3 days alone... So I def couldn't do what you do!
  • UrbanRunner81
    UrbanRunner81 Posts: 1,207 Member
    Between 80-100 a week for a family of four. I shop at our local food co-op, trader joes, farmer's market and sometimes whole foods. We are vegetarian family. I make all our meals from scratch.
  • _GlaDOS_
    _GlaDOS_ Posts: 1,520 Member
    I spend probably $100-$150 per week, just on myself. I'm a food snob, I'll admit it. Brand and quality are important to me, and I rarely even look at the price of my food. And that doesn't even include the fact that I pretty much buy my lunch every day at work...

    And just food for thought: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4U097wiZGk4
  • Awkward30
    Awkward30 Posts: 1,927 Member
    See! I knew that $100 dollars was about the average! One of the guys said I must live in a small town with a lot of mom and pop stores that sell generic food.
    Oh BTW, these 2 were Shakeology proponents. One was a distributor. The debate was how a $3-$4 shake was cheaper than many meals.

    I used to use that logic as to why a $5 footlong a day was okay (half for lunch half for dinner) but now I have caved and think I spend less on higher quality foods now... Although my protein bars are almost $1 each!
  • penrbrown
    penrbrown Posts: 2,685 Member
    I would think this will vary greatly depending A: On where you live, B: on what you're eating, C: how many family members are being fed.

    I spend around 250-300 a month (just for myself) BUT I have a great deal of allergies and special dietary needs (and I live in Northern Canada where supposedly the cost of shipping the food makes the food much more expensive).
  • Goal_Seeker_1988
    Goal_Seeker_1988 Posts: 1,619 Member
    Usually $125/week.
  • otr12
    otr12 Posts: 632 Member
    About $200 - $250 a week for a family of 4. That includes everything I buy at grocery stores like toiletries and cleaning supplies, as well as food. I stock up on things when there's a good deal. If nothing is reasonably priced it can drop to below $100 for that week.

    I spend more feeding my car than I do my whole family.
  • leanneceleste
    leanneceleste Posts: 2 Member
    I live in San Francisco where EVERYTHING is expensive. Probably like $35-75 a week - and that's just me.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,028 Member
    I live in San Francisco where EVERYTHING is expensive. Probably like $35-75 a week - and that's just me.
    I live in the TRI VALLEY area (San Ramon, Dublin, Pleasanton, Livermore) and it's not cheap to live out here either!
  • writtenINthestars
    writtenINthestars Posts: 1,933 Member
    Hmm...when I get just what we need and no extras or stocking up, I can spend around 60. And that with lean meats and veggies. It's just us two so i can see how you could buy for 3 for about 120 bucks easily.
  • writtenINthestars
    writtenINthestars Posts: 1,933 Member
    See! I knew that $100 dollars was about the average! One of the guys said I must live in a small town with a lot of mom and pop stores that sell generic food.
    Oh BTW, these 2 were Shakeology proponents. One was a distributor. The debate was how a $3-$4 shake was cheaper than many meals.

    Haha riiight. Yep, we should all live off of shakes. Oy.
  • CharlieBarleyMom
    CharlieBarleyMom Posts: 727 Member
    I spend over $120 a week on just me... and the dog and 4 cats... but I include EVERYTHING in that cost... paper goods, cleaning supplies, litter, treats for the dog, etc.

    I shop at Wal-Mart, Weis, farmers market and Big Lots trying to get the lowest price possible without running to one place special to buy one thing a little cheaper than at the previous store.

    I use coupons that are $1 or more face value only at Wal-Mart and coupons that are under $1 at Weis or another grocery chain that doubles coupons to get the most out of my money but I still can't walk out of the store for less than $80. And I end up going every 4th or 5th day.

    Last night I bought salad makings (lettuce, carrots, mushrooms, celery, etc. - nothing fancy), not even peppers! Two 6-oz packages of portabella mushrooms, two types of deli meat (1/4 pound each), one snack product, almond milk, frozen blueberries, fresh strawberries and two each of apples, pears, nectarines and plums... 3 cans of dog food (cheap) and walked out paying $60+.

    $$ way too much!
  • kmcrey87
    kmcrey87 Posts: 422 Member
    a little over $200 every two weeks for me and my husband. This includes all cleaning supplies (I am a clean freak, so about $20-25 is devoted to that). This also includes dog food, cat food, and cat litter.
  • Spitfirex007
    Spitfirex007 Posts: 749 Member
    See! I knew that $100 dollars was about the average! One of the guys said I must live in a small town with a lot of mom and pop stores that sell generic food.
    Oh BTW, these 2 were Shakeology proponents. One was a distributor. The debate was how a $3-$4 shake was cheaper than many meals.

    If you are going to spit BS please make sure you have your facts correct. The only comment I made on Shakeology was my answer to the OP. In which I said " I love Shakeology" I drink 4-5 a week.

    And like I said, I am glad you somehow manage to feed your family of 3 for $122. I and many others however can not. We don't have a sub whatever around this area.
  • mikeyml
    mikeyml Posts: 568 Member
    We spend $150 a week for 2 people (including toiletries / cleaning supplies). It does not include our lunches during the week or on the weekend or the dog food. Roughly $250 a week for absolutely everything.
  • dayzeerock
    dayzeerock Posts: 918 Member
    See! I knew that $100 dollars was about the average! One of the guys said I must live in a small town with a lot of mom and pop stores that sell generic food.
    Oh BTW, these 2 were Shakeology proponents. One was a distributor. The debate was how a $3-$4 shake was cheaper than many meals.

    If you are going to spit BS please make sure you have your facts correct. The only comment I made on Shakeology was my answer to the OP. In which I said " I love Shakeology" I drink 4-5 a week.

    And like I said, I am glad you somehow manage to feed your family of 3 for $122. I and many others however can not. We don't have a sub whatever around this area.

    *passes you some cheese to go with your whine*
  • FearAnLoathing
    FearAnLoathing Posts: 4,852 Member
    I dont go once a week i go every 2 or 3 weeks and spend between $200 and $250 for 5 people and one dog
  • Spitfirex007
    Spitfirex007 Posts: 749 Member
    See! I knew that $100 dollars was about the average! One of the guys said I must live in a small town with a lot of mom and pop stores that sell generic food.
    Oh BTW, these 2 were Shakeology proponents. One was a distributor. The debate was how a $3-$4 shake was cheaper than many meals.

    If you are going to spit BS please make sure you have your facts correct. The only comment I made on Shakeology was my answer to the OP. In which I said " I love Shakeology" I drink 4-5 a week.

    And like I said, I am glad you somehow manage to feed your family of 3 for $122. I and many others however can not. We don't have a sub whatever around this area.

    *passes you some cheese to go with your whine*

    LOL I dislike cheese and I can't stand "whine"

    And I am not at all crying. I'd just appreciate it, that if someone is going to direct me somewhere to try and prove me "wrong" that they don't lie and make crap up. :laugh:
  • christine24t
    christine24t Posts: 6,063 Member
    About 50 bucks a week!
  • sc1572
    sc1572 Posts: 2,309 Member
    As a college student with no meal plan...anywhere from 40-70 to last 1 to 1 1/2 weeks!
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