Monthly Grocery Budget

Pooka · 05-10-2010, 01:52 PM

The grocery portion of our budget is the hardest for me to stick with. Historically I've just spent what I wanted, but we have a goal to pay off our van and this can easily be accomplished by setting a reasonable grocery budget.... so... I'm wondering what folks pay per month for groceries per person.

Spexxvet · 05-10-2010, 01:55 PM

Budget? What's that?

Clodfobble · 05-10-2010, 02:01 PM

"Per person" isn't really a fair measurement for us, because we've got two little ones who don't eat as much, and two part-timers.

In general we spend about $650 a month right now, but that includes a pretty decent outlay for diapers. In the past I've found that it was far easier to cut the overall food budget by cooking slightly larger dinners and always eating leftovers for lunch.

Pooka · 05-10-2010, 02:12 PM

I have a similar issue... although, I just got rid of diapers forever this past week... whooo hooo. I just wasn't sure how else to quantify things here.

Cloud · 05-10-2010, 02:22 PM

I voted!

For your reference, here is another thread along these lines:

http://cellar.org/showthread.php?t=2...t=grocery+bill

Sundae · 05-10-2010, 02:25 PM

My personal grocery budget is mostly just for me and the Diz-cat, although I do contribute to family meals.
And I know prices are higher over here.
Approx $150 keeps him in food and litter and me in ingredients, my share of the household purchases (washing stuff etc), lunches and staples like fizzy water. What? It's 10p for 2 litres!

I'd spend about the same if I wasn't living here, but I wouldn't eat as much or as varied a diet. I'd probably eat more healthily, but it wouldn't be anywhere near as interestingly. So I often chip in to buy bits and pieces of evening meals, but generally Dad does not like my style of cooking, and Mum defers to him. So instead of making vegetable casserole, Mum will buy a meat pie and I'll supply potatoes and veg for it. Or Dad will want shop-bought curry and I'll supply naan breads and bhajis (for the same price as I'd have paid to whip up a lovely vegetarian Balti).

I probably throw out the demographic though, given my unusual circumstances.

Pooka · 05-10-2010, 02:27 PM

Thanks Cloud!

DangerouslySimple · 05-10-2010, 03:00 PM

I voted for $100/person... but I'm kinda skewed as well. We spend about $750 a month on food items. Maybe some months it's more like $800? A couple months back it was waaaay more (infant in the house who didn't eat solids- no teeth, so she was solely on formula). I didn't calculate diapers or household items like soap and toilet paper.

My husband's diet just changed drastically, and he cut all soda from his diet. That saves us a lot of money... he used to go thru a 12-pack in a couple days.

I also recommend getting a small deep freeze if you are looking to save money. Every month or so my meat dept at the store I shop at has a HUGE meat sale- and meat is usually 50%-60% off. I usually clear out all of their hamburger, and some of their steak. Occasionally I'll buy salmon to freeze as well. Those high dollar items would be harder to purchase if I didn't watch for sales. I do the same thing for frozen pizzas when they go on sale 4/$10 or whatever. I could never do this if I didn't have my deep freeze. I absolutely LOVE it.

classicman · 05-10-2010, 03:03 PM

3 men in the house. I refuse to buy garbage food anymore. We are now around $100 each. That is WAY down from where we were. We pop our own popcorn now and only get soda if/when its on sale.

Pooka · 05-10-2010, 03:25 PM

We have a full size upright deep freeze and what I like to refer to as our "Mormon Pantry". I coupon clip like crazy and match with sales... I generally cut my grocery bill in half or more that way... I think stocking up helps for sure.

I'm just wondering what most folks spend... We were spending between $600 and $1200 a month which is really kinda crazy for two adults and two littles. Lately I've had us down to $50- $100 per week... roughly $200-$400 per month. It is really easy to go over and I don't want to be too restrictive, but I want a realistic budget... I think we've spent way too much in the past.

jinx · 05-10-2010, 04:05 PM

I can't seem to get it done for less than $250 week plus whatever Jim spends eating at Wawa.

Cloud · 05-10-2010, 04:25 PM

so, your budget is $1,000 a month? wow, and I thought mine was bad . . .

jinx · 05-10-2010, 04:32 PM

There are 4 of us though, and I could easily spend more...

Aliantha · 05-10-2010, 06:01 PM

Australia is apparently the most expensive place for groceries in the western world. We rarely get out of the groceries for under $400/week. Often it's more. They did a study recently that turned up the fact that it's much more expensive to eat healthy than it is to eat junk (processed) food.

squirell nutkin · 05-10-2010, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aliantha

Australia is apparently the most expensive place for groceries in the western world. We rarely get out of the groceries for under $400/week. Often it's more. They did a study recently that turned up the fact that it's much more expensive to eat healthy than it is to eat junk (processed) food.

Expensive in the short run. In the long run I bet you'll be doing better. Not to mention that old chestnut, quality of life.

We spend about $250. a week. 2 grups and 2 metabolic infernos

View Poll Results: How much is your monthly grocery budget per person?
$25	0	0%
$50	0	0%
$100	3	18.75%
$150	4	25.00%
$200	4	25.00%
$250	2	12.50%
$300	2	12.50%
$350	1	6.25%
Voters: 16. You may not vote on this poll

05-10-2010, 01:52 PM	#1
Pooka Your Invisible Rabbit Friend Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Betwixt and Between Posts: 528	Monthly Grocery Budget The grocery portion of our budget is the hardest for me to stick with. Historically I've just spent what I wanted, but we have a goal to pay off our van and this can easily be accomplished by setting a reasonable grocery budget.... so... I'm wondering what folks pay per month for groceries per person.

05-10-2010, 01:55 PM	#2
Spexxvet Makes some feel uncomfortable Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 10,346	Budget? What's that? __________________ "I'm certainly free, nay compelled, to spread the gospel of Spex. " - xoxoxoBruce

05-10-2010, 02:01 PM	#3
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	"Per person" isn't really a fair measurement for us, because we've got two little ones who don't eat as much, and two part-timers. In general we spend about $650 a month right now, but that includes a pretty decent outlay for diapers. In the past I've found that it was far easier to cut the overall food budget by cooking slightly larger dinners and always eating leftovers for lunch. __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

05-10-2010, 02:22 PM	#5
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	I voted! For your reference, here is another thread along these lines: http://cellar.org/showthread.php?t=2...t=grocery+bill __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

05-10-2010, 02:12 PM	#4
Pooka Your Invisible Rabbit Friend Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Betwixt and Between Posts: 528	I have a similar issue... although, I just got rid of diapers forever this past week... whooo hooo. I just wasn't sure how else to quantify things here.

05-10-2010, 02:25 PM	#6
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	My personal grocery budget is mostly just for me and the Diz-cat, although I do contribute to family meals. And I know prices are higher over here. Approx $150 keeps him in food and litter and me in ingredients, my share of the household purchases (washing stuff etc), lunches and staples like fizzy water. What? It's 10p for 2 litres! I'd spend about the same if I wasn't living here, but I wouldn't eat as much or as varied a diet. I'd probably eat more healthily, but it wouldn't be anywhere near as interestingly. So I often chip in to buy bits and pieces of evening meals, but generally Dad does not like my style of cooking, and Mum defers to him. So instead of making vegetable casserole, Mum will buy a meat pie and I'll supply potatoes and veg for it. Or Dad will want shop-bought curry and I'll supply naan breads and bhajis (for the same price as I'd have paid to whip up a lovely vegetarian Balti). I probably throw out the demographic though, given my unusual circumstances.

05-10-2010, 02:27 PM	#7
Pooka Your Invisible Rabbit Friend Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Betwixt and Between Posts: 528	Thanks Cloud!

05-10-2010, 03:00 PM	#8
DangerouslySimple Resident Denizen Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 63	I voted for $100/person... but I'm kinda skewed as well. We spend about $750 a month on food items. Maybe some months it's more like $800? A couple months back it was waaaay more (infant in the house who didn't eat solids- no teeth, so she was solely on formula). I didn't calculate diapers or household items like soap and toilet paper. My husband's diet just changed drastically, and he cut all soda from his diet. That saves us a lot of money... he used to go thru a 12-pack in a couple days. I also recommend getting a small deep freeze if you are looking to save money. Every month or so my meat dept at the store I shop at has a HUGE meat sale- and meat is usually 50%-60% off. I usually clear out all of their hamburger, and some of their steak. Occasionally I'll buy salmon to freeze as well. Those high dollar items would be harder to purchase if I didn't watch for sales. I do the same thing for frozen pizzas when they go on sale 4/$10 or whatever. I could never do this if I didn't have my deep freeze. I absolutely LOVE it.

05-10-2010, 03:03 PM	#9
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	3 men in the house. I refuse to buy garbage food anymore. We are now around $100 each. That is WAY down from where we were. We pop our own popcorn now and only get soda if/when its on sale. __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

05-10-2010, 03:25 PM	#10
Pooka Your Invisible Rabbit Friend Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Betwixt and Between Posts: 528	We have a full size upright deep freeze and what I like to refer to as our "Mormon Pantry". I coupon clip like crazy and match with sales... I generally cut my grocery bill in half or more that way... I think stocking up helps for sure. I'm just wondering what most folks spend... We were spending between $600 and $1200 a month which is really kinda crazy for two adults and two littles. Lately I've had us down to $50- $100 per week... roughly $200-$400 per month. It is really easy to go over and I don't want to be too restrictive, but I want a realistic budget... I think we've spent way too much in the past.

05-10-2010, 04:05 PM	#11
jinx Come on, cat. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: general vicinity of Philadelphia area Posts: 7,013	I can't seem to get it done for less than $250 week plus whatever Jim spends eating at Wawa. __________________ Crying won't help you, praying won't do you no good.

05-10-2010, 04:25 PM	#12
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	so, your budget is $1,000 a month? wow, and I thought mine was bad . . . __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

05-10-2010, 04:32 PM	#13
jinx Come on, cat. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: general vicinity of Philadelphia area Posts: 7,013	There are 4 of us though, and I could easily spend more... __________________ Crying won't help you, praying won't do you no good.

05-10-2010, 06:01 PM	#14
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	Australia is apparently the most expensive place for groceries in the western world. We rarely get out of the groceries for under $400/week. Often it's more. They did a study recently that turned up the fact that it's much more expensive to eat healthy than it is to eat junk (processed) food. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

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