Monthly Food Expenses

2

Replies

  • hexrei
    hexrei Posts: 163
    Im wondering how much everyone else is spending monthly with all your food that you buy at the grocery store plus supplements.

    I try to trim the fat from my spending when it comes to food but it's not easy when you go to WF's and Trader Joes.

    Please share.

    I know with protein I am spending about 600 bucks a month on food and thats not including beer, alcohol or dining out(which I RARELY do).

    Can you guys please share?

    !?!?!? Wow. I spend more like 150-200/mo for just me, but I rarely buy prepared foods. I eat a lot of steak, chicken, veggies for dinner. Some dairy, mostly cottage cheese and yogurt. Fruit, eggs, bacon, granola as breakfasts.

    But I don't take supplements outside the occasional vitamin.
  • Jennloella
    Jennloella Posts: 2,286 Member
    not including any toiletries or pet food, but including everyone's vitamins - we run about 1000 a month for the four of us. =)
  • skywa
    skywa Posts: 901 Member
    I spend maybe 150-200 bux a month on food. Usually 100 on meats, dairy, and things like cereal, oats, ect.

    I buy my veggies by the week. Try to stick to the farmers markets (really cheap). I buy fish at a local shop as i need it(fresh and cheaper). And if i need anything spontaneously for a recipe i just run by the store. So i'd say 200 is a safe estimate.
  • Cosmic_Unicorn
    Cosmic_Unicorn Posts: 150 Member
    Oh wow, you guys have me a little jealous here. I'm a student, so mine is about $40-$60/month, including coffee and an occasional meal out. I buy food in bulk when possible, and eat as cheaply as I can for the rest- rice, beans, the cheapest apples frozen veggies (fresh when I can, but I don't get to the grocery store often without a car), and sometimes granola bars if they're on sale. I eat a lot of eggs, which are very expensive here, but I get them from a local farmer for a little cheaper.
  • angel79202
    angel79202 Posts: 1,012 Member
    i spend a lot..prob 120 a week for two of us plus 2 fur babies..that i also cook for every night..they don't like dog food :)
  • stormieweather
    stormieweather Posts: 2,549 Member
    You do not even want to know what I spend on groceries every week. Let's just say it is outrageous.
  • Katie3784
    Katie3784 Posts: 543
    I don't use supplements, but my monthly groccery bill is around $1000 for four people. All the fresh produce costs a ton.
  • Katie3784
    Katie3784 Posts: 543
    We spent $175 per month in 2011, which I am upping to $200 per month this year for our family of 4. That includes all food and toiletries and household things like light bulbs, batteries, paper towel, etc.

    A couple ways I am able to make it this low is 1) I am a dedicated (although not extreme) couponer. 2) My father-in-law is a hunter and we are able to supplement with venison we sometimes get from him. 3) My father is a farmer, and I have access to really inexpensive and sometimes free produce . So I spend a lot of time and energy canning, drying, freezing, jamming, juicing etc.
    OMG, my husband would love you.
  • EroseT23
    EroseT23 Posts: 74 Member
    I'd say my husband and I spend an average of $150-$200 a month on groceries (not including cat food -- and I'm such a sucker, buying them the "really good stuff," that I swear they eat better than we do some nights!) Sometimes a smidge more, but probably never more than $250. We usually do just one major grocery trip a month, which helps keeps costs down (less chance for impulse buys), and it tends to alternate high month and low month -- sometimes the bill will break $100, sometimes it'll only be $65. I pick up things like fresh produce, eggs, and yogurt about once a week.

    We're able to keep costs low by making as much from scratch as possible and taking advantage of sales. I buy bags of dried beans instead of canned, cook the whole thing at once, and freeze individual containers. Cuts cost AND sodium. My favorite is when whole chickens go on sale. I'll buy two or three at a time. I'll roast one, and the meat will easily last 3-4 meals (which each last a couple days' worth of leftovers!), and use the bones + the "garbage ends" of veggies to make delicious chicken stock, which I also freeze into 2c portions.

    It helps that I love to cook and I'm BFFs with my slow cooker. <3
  • robot_potato
    robot_potato Posts: 1,535 Member
    We spend about $550/month for 2 adults and 2 kids, aged 3 and 7. This includes toiletries and cleaning supplies, they are bought at the same place. This does not include eating out, which we do twice monthly. We buy lots of fruit and veg, we buy chicken in bulk(frozen) and we cut/grind our own beef. I don't supplement.
  • HendersonDavid
    HendersonDavid Posts: 25
    Around $120 per month. Feeding two Students: 1F & 1M. we only buy whey & fish oil as our supplements, We pretty much have it made cause we price match everything we buy. If something isn't on sale or cheaper for that week we just don't purchase it. This helps to provide variety and change up our foods. Sometimes we stock up on things likes blueberries and blackberries and spinach, and almost every time we price-match for chicken breasts or turkey. KD isn't an option for us.
  • BecksFit88
    BecksFit88 Posts: 36
    Roughly $300/month in the winter, $150 in the summer (huge garden and CSA share). 2 adults, not a ton of meat
  • neo200120018
    neo200120018 Posts: 106 Member
    $400 a month nz dollars (so about $200 month in US) but I do do alot of baking for work and am picky and incldes toiletries etc also a stock up person as buy fortnightly
  • almonds1
    almonds1 Posts: 642 Member
    I spend about $100 a week on myself on just food... thats with things such a chicken etc being on sale.
    plus the cost of protein etc

    Its expensive to eat healthy!!
  • figurekat
    figurekat Posts: 16 Member
    I spend between 400 and 500 a month for a family of six including my specialized diet. My husband and children also eat very clean. We just plan ahead well.
  • kmm7309
    kmm7309 Posts: 802 Member
    We were spending about $170 a month for low quality meats and canned veggies and the like for 3 (5 on the weekends) people. Our food budget has increased to $300 this month so I am enjoying the extra cash for better foods!
  • marcenepea
    marcenepea Posts: 364 Member
    I am still totally lost how some of you have a family and can eat on what I eat alone in a month. I am with Josh and Taso when I say it's about the quality of food.

    I am going to become the Food Diary Creeper now....


    I'm already the food diary creeper and I don't get it. I need to learn to be thrifty I guess.
  • amoeba15
    amoeba15 Posts: 38 Member
    My food expenses (not counting toiletries or sales tax on food but including eating out) range from $100 - $200 a month for my daughter and myself. It's been less since I went vegan and stopped eating out. I've only spent $50 so far this month.
  • theprettyone1010
    theprettyone1010 Posts: 408 Member
    I spend $80 to $100 a month on groceries, depending on what coupons I can get.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,993 Member
    Im wondering how much everyone else is spending monthly with all your food that you buy at the grocery store plus supplements.

    I try to trim the fat from my spending when it comes to food but it's not easy when you go to WF's and Trader Joes.

    Please share.

    I know with protein I am spending about 600 bucks a month on food and thats not including beer, alcohol or dining out(which I RARELY do).

    Can you guys please share?
    About $400-$450 a month for a family of 3.


    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • TamsinEllis
    TamsinEllis Posts: 293
    £200 a month for four of us, but if we buy treats or beer or anything we limit that by £50 so max £250.
  • ajburroughs
    ajburroughs Posts: 16 Member
    Wow, interesting to see how much people spend. We spend right around $700 a month for our family of 6--4 girls aged 2-11 but they are all very big eaters. And that includes probably a gallon or so of soy milk a week for the baby and 3-4 gallons of milk each week for the others, plus toiletries, cleaning stuff, meat every night and diapers. We usually get our produce from a produce stand-type place but that's included in that. Doesn't include our eating out though, which is around 300 a month. I guess we aren't doing as bad as I thought, lol
  • jkdarby
    jkdarby Posts: 53 Member
    I spend about $150 a month for just myself. We don't have any health food or whole food stores around where I live as it is a very rural area. My grocery store choices here in town are Walmart and Save-a-Lot. The good thing is I have a very big back yard and garden most of my vegetables/fruits in the spring/summer, so that helps with the grocery bill. I love growing my own tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, broccoli, and watermelon.
  • Kymwho
    Kymwho Posts: 183 Member
    I spend about $400-500 per month for a family of 4. Kids still living at home are ages 21 son and 16yr old daughter.. and they can eat! It would be around $800 if not for my coupons and comp ad, lol! I'm addicted and refuse to go grocery shopping with my list, ads and coupons in hand. On average grocery shopping trip I save anywhere from $30-60 on coupons and about $50-70 on competitors ads.
  • inr0myr
    inr0myr Posts: 17 Member
    6000inr (120usd) per month for food and household stuffs (detergent, toilet papers etc). It's just my husband and I. We buy raw, organic vegetables and fresh seafoods on weekly basis. We seldom buy beef/red meat. Thank God everything is cheaper at this part of the world (India). I cook everyday for dinner and lunch will be sandwich using leftover chicken/prawn from previous dinner which I packed in lunchbox. Since I am trying to get rid of 35lbs, junk food is no longer on the shopping list. Double yeay!
  • NoAdditives
    NoAdditives Posts: 4,251 Member
    Im wondering how much everyone else is spending monthly with all your food that you buy at the grocery store plus supplements.

    I try to trim the fat from my spending when it comes to food but it's not easy when you go to WF's and Trader Joes.

    Please share.

    I know with protein I am spending about 600 bucks a month on food and thats not including beer, alcohol or dining out(which I RARELY do).

    Can you guys please share?

    I do about 95% of my shopping at Trader Joe's and I spend $475 on food for a family of 5 (2 adults, two young kids and a baby).
  • Dtho5159
    Dtho5159 Posts: 1,054 Member
    Family of four. We usually spend $500-$600 a month. Some months less, some more, depends on the sales.
  • hdlb123
    hdlb123 Posts: 112 Member
    Family of 5 - we spend at least $800 a month. Probably more, we have never added it up. My son has food allergies, and just buying him a box of granola bars is $7.00. It adds up.
  • psychopiglet
    psychopiglet Posts: 130 Member
    For my sister and myself I spend around £300-£400 ($470 - $626) a month on groceries.
  • AEC50
    AEC50 Posts: 124 Member
    My family of three has a food budget of $350. I am able to make it by only shopping sales, buying meat in bulk when on sale, and wasting nothing. Leftovers are usually lunches that week. I use my crock pot a lot. Still get fresh fruits and vegetables. I sometimes use coupons, but not religiously. I don't have a Trader Joe's or Whole Foods near me. My shopping consists mainly of Marsh (local to Indiana) and Kroger.

    This is my strategy, too! I get meat and bulk items (cereal, canned tomatoes to make pasta sauce, frozen veggies, paper/cleaning products) at Costco and fresh veggies and my favorite protein powder at HyVee. There are a few specialty things I get from Trader Joe's, but mostly my savings comes from meal planning, bulk buying and having leftovers for lunch. My husband and I spend about $250 every month, which includes all grocery store items (food and non-food) and homebrew supplies :)
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