how much do you spend on groceries?

kgb1411

I just came across this post on the SAHM board. 

 https://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/21017713.aspx

There are some pretty good suggestions on there, but I can't imagine getting away spending less than $400/mo on food.  Usually it's more like $450-500/mo.  I was wondering if other WM spend more (buying more prepared food, etc), or if I am way overspending.

ilovescottd

I'm right there with you.

momquixote

I'm sure it can be done, but you probably have to be much savvier than I am. We spend about $150 a week, it seems sometimes, and there are only three of us (and a dog). But we've been relying way too much on prepared food since the baby was born, I think.

I also personally hate freezing my proteins, so I won't buy them in bulk. And I have a weakness for expensive sodas like Izzes.

But I'm sure if you had to, really wanted to, it could happen. I need to start being smarter about this myself!

Ally_S

We spend about $400/month on groceries.  I'm going back to work tomorrow, but I honestly don't think that it will make a difference as far as grocery budget.  During the day, I have made taking care of DD my job, so I still have the same chores and cooking to do at night.  We take our lunches most every day.  I suppose we could cut costs and use more coupons, plan meals around sales, etc...but we just go to Trader Joe's and buy what will entice us to eat at home instead of going out or getting takeout.

Cyrbia

We spend about $400-$450 a month including diapers.

I find that eating eggs and yogurt for proteins helps the budget a lot. So we'll only it meat about once a day. I also do at least one meat free dinner a week. We don't buy soda unless it's a treat when we go out. Also, I only buy the cereals that are on sale. And when it is, I bulk up.

I do know that once baby #2 starts eating with us that the number will go up.

kamcfarlane

i watch dealseekingmom.com, moneysavingmom.com, and use thegrocerygame.com. the first 2 are super helpful with pairing coupons and getting good deals (like almost free good deals!) and the grocery game allows you to choose your store and then it gives you a list of all the good pairings for the week (although it costs $15 every couple of months for a grocery and walgreens list).

i find i usually save 50% on my bills. and we have most household/baby items stockpiled so that we could probably go a couple of months without buying any.

Halo79RN

awww.. haaaaiiillll... we spend $600-800/ month on groceries (that's including detergents and cleaning supplies and soaps and such).  I used cloth dipes for much of my little ones diaper days. ds is in disposables when we go out now only b/c he's pantsless at home.  we're starting potty training.  now, I will say when we lived in IL and ds was ebf (so shopping for 3), I could get away with $125 or less a week....  now we live in nyc and ds eats regular foods... and my kids drink a lot of milk....  so for four.. $150-200/wk.  I call my mom and complain every time I leave the grocery store.  so depressing.  we do beans and rice once a week... I do use a lot of eggs a week.. eggs and pb are great proteins for lunches...  we do a breakfast night here and there and we make our own pizza more than order out now.  We do go through 3 gallons of milk a week.... and that's about $60 a month here.  blah.  oh well.  gotta feed the kids.  my mom and mil think that this is about avg... but I read on here of the super grocery shoppers who get by with $400/month budgets... yet I wonder how many are feeding four on that???  and where they live???

mrsbookworm

We easily spend at least $500/month on groceries, including diapers and household goods.

krub

I spend about $300-$400/month for a family of 4, 2 of which have food allergies and need special food.  Four of my favorite stores (Target, Walmart and 2 grocery stores) are within 2 miles of each other.  So, I will usually hit 2 of them a weekend, depending on who has the best sales.  I get my produce, items that I can only get at that store and sale items first and then I go to Walmart for dairy, deli, dry goods, canned goods, cleaning products, etc.  Walmart always seems to be the cheapest for certain things like canned goods, even when other stores have sales.  We have 2 easy/cheap meals a week (soup/salad or sandwhich and breakfast for dinner), which helps with the budget a lot.  I supersize everything so that I have leftovers to freeze, too.  So, some weeks I spend more and other weeks less b/c we reheat things I've already made.  I try to strech meals out with extra sauce and veggies, too. 

AmyDrinkie

I spend about $225 per pay period, so approx $450/mo.  I have tried and tried to get below $400 but just can't do it.  We drink organic milk, buy free range poultry and eggs, and used to eat grass fed beef until we cut out beef altogether.  The only pre-prepped item I buy is washed and bagged salad greens b/c I never can seem to get all the grit out of lettuce and spinach.  But we bring lunches and only go out to eat once every couple of weeks, and that figure also includes paper products, pet food and supplies, diapers and formula so I guess it's not really that bad.

duchess0727

If I stayed home, I'd be able to spend the four hours it probably took to find the coupons and the sales, plan my meals, prepare a list and do the shopping.  But I don't and therefore, I've accepted that no matter how many coupons I use and sale items I buy (a lot!), I will always spend at least $500 a month on groceries.  And I'm ok w/ that (: