How much do you spend on groceries per month?

ladychicago · July 2011

We are trying to take a closer look at our food budget and rework a few things...so I am wondering what typical grocery spending looks like for families with 1-2 kids. Feel free to mention if that also includes household items (paper towels, TP, cleaning products, toilettries, etc.). Thanks!!!

cjsbdl · July 2011

We spend ~$600/month. That sometimes includes household items, but certainly not all of them. I typically buy those at Target but sometimes pick up things at the grocery store as well. I've tried and tried to get our grocery bill down a bit but nothing ever works. I do meal plan. I was just looking at www.e-mealz.com today and considering trying that for a month to see if it helps.

LCB34 · July 2011

We spend a lot. We do all organic for Kate and a lot of organic for Alex and I - especially now that she is eating what we eat.

I go to the grocery every Sunday and spend about $140/ week. That puts at about $550-600 a month. This does not include household items at all.

ladychicago · July 2011

LCB34:
We spend a lot. We do all organic for Kate and a lot of organic for Alex and I - especially now that she is eating what we eat.

I go to the grocery every Sunday and spend about $140/ week. That puts at about $550-600 a month. This does not include household items at all.

Well, if it makes you feel any better we spent $850ish before most household items the last two months. Eeeek! Hence why we need some re-working. LOL! Your spending sounds downright reasonable.

firsttogo · July 2011

Formula aside ( I order through my Bro at the manufacturer) We spend about 80 a week. Not including diapers, but including house hold items. I coupon, but not as well as Skimmy!! so the bulk of our grocery spending is on produce. We buy organic on the major stuff, but not all. So, 250ish a month. We have a high COL area, so we watch for sales!

Also, we buy beef by the side, and DH hunts so our ground beef is really ground deer.... not my first choice, but it actually works in spaghetti, ect.

emmyloustu · July 2011

~$400 right now, more in the winter. I am not doing a ton of cooking right at this moment between the heat and my pregnancy. I do buy organic dairy and some organic produce, organic grass fed beef and snack foods for E. That number does not include household items at all (Target). Our dining out budget, however, is SKY high and really needs to be reigned in. It easily doubles our food bill for the month at the moment. Embarrassed

fallbride110406 · July 2011

Including diapers, wipes, personal care, cleaning and paper products, we're around $500/month, maybe less. We're in a medium COL area and don't do organic (since I know that makes a difference).

AlissaCell701 · July 2011

cjsbdl:
We spend ~$600/month. That sometimes includes household items, but certainly not all of them. I typically buy those at Target but sometimes pick up things at the grocery store as well. I've tried and tried to get our grocery bill down a bit but nothing ever works. I do meal plan. I was just looking at www.e-mealz.com today and considering trying that for a month to see if it helps.

About this! Sometimes more sometimes less..depending on whats going on.

I buy a lot at Whole Foods for Jake which is expensive., lots of fruit, 365 foods for him, waffles, ect. ..we Don't have TRader Joes or lots of Farmers Markets in South Fla. So, to buy orgnaic it's slim pickings..Some of the Publixs are going more organic but I just feel better about buying stuff at WF for some reason.

I probably spend about 120 a week or so at Target (I got the target debit card best thing ever!) between diapers and formula and sometimes extras we have Super Target also..so if I can find a great deal I get it there.

I also include dog food (2 puppies) who eat organic food..is like 50$ a month or so..

And we eat out 1-3 times a week depending on what DH's schedule is! Or right now in the summer and I HATE cooking..

futureMrs.Eanes · July 2011

I have a budget of $80/week for food and $100/month for misc. items including paper products, toiletries, etc. Many months I have money left over as well.

AlissaCell701 · July 2011

cjsbdl:
We spend ~$600/month. That sometimes includes household items, but certainly not all of them. I typically buy those at Target but sometimes pick up things at the grocery store as well. I've tried and tried to get our grocery bill down a bit but nothing ever works. I do meal plan. I was just looking at www.e-mealz.com today and considering trying that for a month to see if it helps.

About this! Sometimes more sometimes less..depending on whats going on.

I buy a lot at Whole Foods for Jake which is expensive., lots of fruit, 365 foods for him, waffles, ect. ..we Don't have TRader Joes or lots of Farmers Markets in South Fla. So, to buy orgnaic it's slim pickings..Some of the Publixs are going more organic but I just feel better about buying stuff at WF for some reason.

I probably spend about 120 a week or so at Target (I got the target debit card best thing ever!) between diapers and formula and sometimes extras we have Super Target also..so if I can find a great deal I get it there.

I also include dog food (2 puppies) who eat organic food..is like 50$ a month or so..

And we eat out 1-3 times a week depending on what DH's schedule is! Or right now in the summer and I HATE cooking..

kimarino13 · July 2011

About $800 a month that also includes Cotsco stuff. This does not include diapers.

kme930 · July 2011

What luck! I was just going through our spending for June!

Looks like we spent around $450. And I'm a huge nerd who keeps her receipts and breaks things like Costco and Target into their component parts (groceries, Will clothes, home stuff, toiletries, etc.), so that's food only.

Looking back, we've been averaging around $400-450 per month.

ETA: Our dining out spend (including lunches and coffee bought during the day at work) is usually more than that, so for us, low grocery bills = high dining out expense!

ladychicago · July 2011

kme930:
What luck! I was just going through our spending for June!
Looks like we spent around $450. And I'm a huge nerd who keeps her receipts and breaks things like Costco and Target into their component parts (groceries, Will clothes, home stuff, toiletries, etc.), so that's food only.
Looking back, we've been averaging around $400-450 per month.

Where do you shop? I think my new goal will be $500, hopefully less... TJs needs to be my number one place, but I end up at WF and Treasure Island too often, I think.

ladychicago · July 2011

kme930:
ETA: Our dining out spend (including lunches and coffee bought during the day at work) is usually more than that, so for us, low grocery bills = high dining out expense!

Yeah, that is a whole other issue...

Especially right now when it is too darn hot to turn the oven on!

artygirl · July 2011

cjsbdl:
We spend ~$600/month. That sometimes includes household items, but certainly not all of them. I typically buy those at Target but sometimes pick up things at the grocery store as well. I've tried and tried to get our grocery bill down a bit but nothing ever works. I do meal plan. .

Same here. Even on a week when I think I don't have much to buy, it still costs $100.

emmyloustu · July 2011

I also wanted to add that using Amazon Subscribe and Save for dipes and wipes has really cut down on my household budget. I used to be in Target weekly, but now that those things are delivered to my door, I only go when I am low on paper products, cleaning, etc...I also love my 5% off target debit!

superned · July 2011

I spend about $450-$500/month at the grocery store. That includes personal items like deodorant, toilet paper, razor blades. Things it does not include: diapers or wipes (we CD), or really any baby products (I BF and we did BLW, so no baby foods at all), or paper products other than toilet paper (we don't use them).

I hardly buy any meat at the grocery store; we hardly eat meat at all, and when we do I try to get it at the farmers' market. Sometimes I can buy local pork at our regular grocery store.

I buy local products that are in season. That's more important to me than buying organic, so that makes things less expensive.

kme930 · July 2011

ladychicago:
kme930:
What luck! I was just going through our spending for June!
Looks like we spent around $450. And I'm a huge nerd who keeps her receipts and breaks things like Costco and Target into their component parts (groceries, Will clothes, home stuff, toiletries, etc.), so that's food only.
Looking back, we've been averaging around $400-450 per month.
Where do you shop? I think my new goal will be $500, hopefully less... TJs needs to be my number one place, but I end up at WF and Treasure Island too often, I think.

Haha! You missed my ETA! We're not that good in the food spend department!! That said, we buy a fair amount from Costco and do our best to commit to eating it before it goes bad. We love getting fruits, milk (they even have organic for Will) and sometimes meat there. I definitely fill in what I need from Dominick's (mainly because it's next door to Costco), Trader Joe's (love their organic whole milk yogurt for Will) and Whole Foods (if we want beef, this is where we get it - I also love their frozen fruits and veggies and used to get all of my purees here when I didn't make them!). Treasure Island is used in case of emergency. I think my monthly spend there usually amounts to $20 over 3-5 trips!

I can share a couple money-saving things we do. I've become a huge fan of roasting two chickens at the same time, eating what we eat of one and shredding the leftover meat and using it for all kinds of stuff (BBQ chicken pizza, quesadillas, chicken lasagna, etc.). I have a great recipe for that if you want! We also sometimes get a crazy 4 pack of ground turkey from Costco and make up a bunch of meals to freeze (usually in the winter) - chili with ground turkey substituted, lasagna made with ground turkey, turkey meatballs, etc.

Mrs.LisaP · July 2011

We spent 600-700 per month. This does not include costco trips. But I do buy a lot of produce and all organic meat, milk, eggs, and dairy.

eriness` · July 2011

We try to spend about 650 for all groceries, eating out, paper products, craft supplies, etc. The only thing that doesn't include is utilities and all set payments (phone/cable/cell/trash/etc). The more I'm under, or at least close to that amount, the closer I come to getting rid of my DH's old car and upgrading to a new Edge/Traverse type vehicle. That feeds 2 adults and 1 toddler breakfast, lunch, dinner. DH eats at work one day a month, for free. We eat out about once a week, but usually have a coupon, or a deal from the restaurant. I use some coupons when grocery shopping, but try to shop the sales and get a lot of our meat from my IL's who buy whole cows and hogs to share the meat to their kids.

ALY1981 · July 2011

LCB34:
We spend a lot. We do all organic for Kate and a lot of organic for Alex and I - especially now that she is eating what we eat.

I go to the grocery every Sunday and spend about $140/ week. That puts at about $550-600 a month. This does not include household items at all.

This is pretty much where we are at! ETA: one way I am able to stick to my budget-I don't step foot in a store! We use Peapod grocery delivery (through stop and shop). It has a $6.95 delivery fee, but I am able to see exactly how much is in my cart before I purchase. I can click on "shop specials" to see what is on sale. Every Wednesday we get an organic produce delivery(suburban organics) of fruits and veggies. The quality of both services are fabulous. The mere fact I am not stepping foot in the store and am not tempted to overspend has been so helpful in watching my spending!

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