Household Spending ?

3lilbeans · June 2012

For those who keep a detailed budget how much do you spend on food monthly? How much do you spend on household items (toiletries, detergent, TP etc...) monthly? How many in your family?

DH & I decided to start budgeting (spending only a certain dollar amount a month on incidentals vs. spending what we want where we want) to see where our money is actually going & to see if we should make any changes. I am thinking the area we can make the most changes is in food. I like a challenge & am some what excited to try & keep our spending below a certain amount (I think I may need to get out more.)

JMC11511 · June 2012

We just have the 3 of us. We budget 400 a month for food and toiletries combined. That includes trips to Sam's Club weekly and trips to the "regular" grocery store too. We buy detergent, TP, shampoo/conditioner, soap, diapers, wipes, PT probably once every 2 months. Most of the time we come in under that. We just had a budget meeting last night and adjusted some things.

alli2672 · June 2012

We usually spend about $950 on groceries (including toiletries, formula, and wipes), and another $140 on DH's work lunches. We may spend another $60-120 on going out to a restaurant once or twice a month, but I consider that more "entertainment" than food.

I don't really try to keep it below a certain amount. That is just what we spend.

We have 5 people in our family and entertain pretty frequently.

celiabwatson · June 2012

Before I stayed home we were trying to keep food under $500/month. Our food category includes toiletries, paper products, dog food etc. Everything we can buy at the grocery store. We use cloth diapers mainly but disposables overnight so there are a few diaper/wipe expenditures in there as well. The food budget also includes eating out. We typically don't eat out, but every once in a while my husband will get lunch out because we run out of food/time in the morning and he can't pack a lunch. We were able to stay under $600 for sure and under $500 most months.

Since I started staying home we've had to adjust the food budget even more. We get WIC currently (until I build up enough of a base of tutoring clients that we don't need it) and that helps. We're now shooting for under $400/month and have been pretty successful. It's a little harder to track now because we've been going to the farmer's market and paying cash, but I never spend more than $20 so I just round it and add $80 to the total at the end of the month.

CallMeLauraJane · June 2012

Wow. A lot of high budgets. Totally jealous.

Our monthly food budget is $300.
Toiletries and household items (we call, Sundries) is only $75.
My son's personal category is $50. (no more diapers, yay!)

Of course, there's some more mixed in there (Haircuts, Medical, Misc, Gas, Pet, etc) but this is just grocery and sundries. There are just three of use eating (and one on the way!)

Andrewsgal · June 2012

Our food budget is $1000 a month it is high but we ear only organic and mostly fresh everything. Our household goods fun around $100 a month and personal hygiene stuff around $100 (this includes pull ups and wipes)

celiabwatson · June 2012

CallMeLauraJane:
Wow. A lot of high budgets. Totally jealous.
Our monthly food budget is $300.
Toiletries and household items (we call, Sundries) is only $75.
My son's personal category is $50. (no more diapers, yay!)
Of course, there's some more mixed in there (Haircuts, Medical, Misc, Gas, Pet, etc) but this is just grocery and sundries. There are just three of use eating (and one on the way!)

I noticed you live in OK. The difference in budgets may be a COL issue more than a "we have this much to spend" issue. Our $400 plus WIC food means that we're eating mostly meatless and conventional produce (not organic). We also do a lot of Tuna and PB&J. I imagine we'd be much closer to $300 (or less) if we lived in a different area.

hellopoppyseed · June 2012

$600/month for food and toiletries/household. This does not include diapers and wipes.

Ktande22 · June 2012

I dont have a detailed list as far as $ amount but I know since I've been Couponing I've literally slashed my grocery bill to nothing. Especially saving tons on household items. Check into a local blog from your area someone who does coupon match ups to your local grocery and pharmacy stores. I buy the sunday papers but you can also save a ton just using printables. I've also learned how to make a lot of my own things ie my own detergent etc so that saves lots and lots too.. I've also started buying refill kits for my ink cartridges and save about 90% on ink that way! We also use cloth diapers which have been amazing!

3lilbeans · June 2012

Thanks for all the info ladies. We hope to establish a starting off point for a budget this weekend & I was hoping to go in with some numbers in mind. I think because w don't have a set budget now we are spending more on things than need be. I would live to bring down our grocery costs & have more to travel & play with.

Nwlywed07 · June 2012

The best way I found was to create a budget after reviewing a months worth of expenses. Grocery prices are on the rise in the PNW so where as this time last year I could spend $70 a week on groceries now it's up to $115 each week. Plus now we have DS and I like to make his purees so we go to the farmers market so that adds an extra $20.The break down looks like this...

Grocery Store-about $450 a month (includes toiletries and household cleaners)

Costco- $200 (includes formula, diapers, wipes and meats)

Farmers Market-$100 (fresh veggies and fruits)

DH is HORRIBLE about eating out a lot and we are working hard on breaking that habit. We always eat out on Sunday with family as well so about $120 a month for that.

CallMeLauraJane · June 2012

celiabwatson:
CallMeLauraJane:
Wow. A lot of high budgets. Totally jealous.
Our monthly food budget is $300.
Toiletries and household items (we call, Sundries) is only $75.
My son's personal category is $50. (no more diapers, yay!)
Of course, there's some more mixed in there (Haircuts, Medical, Misc, Gas, Pet, etc) but this is just grocery and sundries. There are just three of use eating (and one on the way!)
I noticed you live in OK. The difference in budgets may be a COL issue more than a "we have this much to spend" issue. Our $400 plus WIC food means that we're eating mostly meatless and conventional produce (not organic). We also do a lot of Tuna and PB&J. I imagine we'd be much closer to $300 (or less) if we lived in a different area.

I definitely agree. It's hard to remember that sometimes. We eat a lot of veggie meals, buy in bulk and freeze a lot, eat mostly non-organic and split portions (instead of using 1lb of beef we use 1/2lb and a can of beans, etc). I wish we could qualify for WIC... but, unfortunately assistance programs don't take into account the amount of medical, student loan or debt obligations you have when factoring in monthly income. Such bs.

jeffsjayme · June 2012

We're at $300 for the 3 of us, but one of us is an infant and I haven't adjusted for diapers/wipes yet as we had alot of gifts. I'm hoping to be tighter on my budget and that it won't need to increase as I've now built up quite a pantry that I can "shop" from instead of the store. We'll see.

I don't seperate food from household items...if I buy it at the grocery store, it comes from the grocery budget. Eating out is a different budget item though.

kcisthebombdotcom · June 2012

All our bills (minus non negotiables like the mortgage/electric)--

$400/month--savings

$60/week groceries

$120/month-gas (we live in the burbs and DH works 5 minutes from home and rides his bike in work a lot so we keep this low).

$100/week-"fun money"/extras like toiletries

Anything leftover from the fun/extras goes into additional savings.

On an average month, we usually spend $200/month in going out, $20 in tolietries (I use the couponing blogs to get stuff for free/low cost), $25.99 every 3 weeks in diapers, and the rest is additional savings.

PaisleyRuth · June 2012

Our grocery budget is $400/month, which includes dog food (~50/mo) and our Costco membership ($50/yr). I shop mostly at Aldi, Costco & Walmart, and get things at Harris Teeter if they are on a great sale or they're only available there (ex. whole milk yogurt and shelled edamame - I can't find them anywhere else!). That is for 2 adults (my husband being a 6'7" athlete who eats a lot!) and a toddler.

Toiletries, diapers & house supplies like paper towels, tp, etc. are budgeted in a couple separate categories, but they add about $50/month.

Que*Syrah · June 2012

Food is around $350 (this doesn't include eating out).

As far as household items, I don't need to buy stuff every month but I would say about every 2-3 months I spend $50-$60 on cleaning supplies, toiletries, baby wipes, etc.

We are a family of 3

AimeeL85 · June 2012

I usually end up spending about $150/week at the grocery store. My goal is usually $120, but add in the impulse buys, and that doesn't usually happen. That includes things like toiletries, laundry detergent etc. I don't know what it would be if I separated those out. We CD so it doesn't include diapers.

sophie206 · June 2012

Nwlywed07:
The best way I found was to create a budget after reviewing a months worth of expenses. Grocery prices are on the rise in the PNW so where as this time last year I could spend $70 a week on groceries now it's up to $115 each week. Plus now we have DS and I like to make his purees so we go to the farmers market so that adds an extra $20.The break down looks like this...
Grocery Store-about $450 a month (includes toiletries and household cleaners)
Costco- $200 (includes formula, diapers, wipes and meats)
Farmers Market-$100 (fresh veggies and fruits)
DH is HORRIBLE about eating out a lot and we are working hard on breaking that habit. We always eat out on Sunday with family as well so about $120 a month for that.

I am in the PNW also and our budget for groceries/toiletries and Costco for 3 is almost identical. Though, generally produce is included in those budgets for us and we don't buy formula anymore.

And about $50/month between Target and Amazon on snacks and toiletries as well.

We budget about $100 for restaurants and take-out per month.

babypuplove · June 2012

I would like to sit down and come up with an actual budget in the near future, but for now, we spend about $1000/month on groceries. Besides that, DH eats lunch out most days, and the kids and I have lunch out once or twice a week as well. As a family we have dinner out once or twice a week. We do mostly organic and are in a HCOL area, so it adds up.

dulcinea03 · June 2012

Family of 4 and my grocery/toiletry budget is $500/mo. We very rarely eat out unless we're driving back and forth between here and my parents house that is 6 hours away (make the trip 1-2x per mo due to Dr appts of DD). DH has to brown bag his lunches due to security and eats at his desk.

rab41380 · June 2012

I usually spend between 300-400 on food monthly. I tend to spend 40 a week at Target between diapers, formula, and hygiene items. With DH working 40 min away from home, gas is usually 150/month for him, and 100/month for me. We have lots of other bills, and preschool costs 235/month, and gym membership 170/month, but that is the whole family.

Temp6313048411121614 · June 2012

We're a family of 5, rarely eat "out" (we might spend $10/month at Burger King or something) and for food and household items we spend $500-$700/month. I have no idea how it all adds up to that, but we go to the store every 2w and spend between $250-$350, but that covers food, cleaning supplies, personal hygene products, etc (pretty much anything Walmart carries that we need).

regenab · June 2012

I budget $600 a month for food, paper products, dog food, Target trips and eating out. Bascially all spending that is not a fixed amount in my household budget (utilities, lawn service and student loan payment). DH transferrs the household money to my account on the 15th of the month. That day, I draw out $500 cash for the month for my household spending. I like to use cash because it keeps me more accountable seeing the paper money leaving my wallet for spending. I try to keep my spending to just that $500 cash I took out. I always have that $100 cushion in case I run out of money before the end of the month, but I really try not to touch that $100. Any money left over I transfer as extra money to the CC. We are currently in rapid pay down CC debt so every penny extra going towards the CC is a good thing. Most months I am able to stay under the $500, but some months things come up (the girls decided to have growth spurt and none of their shoes fit).

I average about $300-$350 of the $500 on food (including eating out, which doesn't happen that often). I also buy my produce at the local produce stand and this saves me money and I think the produce is better.

Also I don't include gas in the household spending cash. I keep a seperate amount for gas in my checking account. I don't pay cash for gas because it is too difficult to get the twins out of carseats and into the gas station, then back out to the car and then if you don't use all the money you paid, I have to drag them back into the gas station to get my refund. Just easier to pay at the pump.

jw87 · June 2012

We budget $400 for groceries and toiletries/household cleaners. My DS isn't in diapers anymore and we are currently not buying formula, but when DS #2 gets here, we'll have to add around $40- 50 per month for formula (in-less he needs the special kind!) and we'll be cloth diapering this time around.

We never eat fast food, and we budget going out to eat for date/night as a family 2-3 times per month at around $120 total.

Right now, there's only three of us.

Andrewsgal · June 2012

Kimbus22:
I'm insanely impressed by how little you ladies are spending.
Family of 3 plus 2 cats in a MCOL area.
Groceries: $650ish per month (food only)
BJ's: $200/month (This is where I do toiletries, paper products, pet items)
Target: $200/month (Diapers, Wipes, Formula, random baby items)
Random Take Out: $100/month
I'm particularly impressed by whoever has the $60/week grocery budget. I spend that by the time I'm out of the produce aisle most weeks and I only buy the sale stuff!

I agree with you in the produce thing. I spend at least $90 a week on fresh produce alone, and that includes an organic co op. if I was spending $60 a week we would have very little fresh produce and no meat.

luvmyducks · June 2012

There is DH and I and DD who is on solids now so that adds to our grocery bill a little. I budget $400/wk for groceries. I'm not sure how much we spend on household items monthly bc a lot of those items we buy at Costco so I don't purchase them every month. But we have a "household/extras" envelope in our budget and we put about $500/month in there. That includes pretty much everything extra that is not gas, groceries, or regular bills (going out, coffee, entertainment, Target, gifts, etc.)

JenWhite123 · June 2012

We don't really budget. But, i'd say we spend about $650 per month for the 3 of us. That does not include diapers, wipes, household cleanin items or paper products. That's food only. And I do use coupons as much as I can.

stdldb29 · June 2012

Household of 4-no diaper/wipe costs. We spend $75-80/week on groceries/household goods.

I only buy fresh produce and make things from scratch. I don't buy anything boxed.

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