In an effort to organize my finances and not spend excessively - I'm wondering how much you all spend on groceries? Do you shop weekly, bi-weekly, monthly??

I will usually spend about 150 a week feeding 3 people with a few stop ins during the week to pick up things I feel like I need (which isn't always true - I have more than enough to make do at my house). BTW - This is an example of my not caring about cost and spending more than I need to

Anyway, between breakfasts, dinners and making lunch for my son and boyfriend to take to school and work.....What is a reasonable amount to spend (because I honestly have no concept of what is reasonable) ?

Food is one place we do not skimp. They I do try to save where I can. I make our bread, our yogurt and home cook everything.

HOWEVER, we still spend about 200 a week for a family of 5. We buy organic dairy, eggs, meat. And fresh veggies and fruit. That stuff adds up.

I don't spend money on packaged meals, cereals, chips, etc - at least not much. But just apples for the week is over $12. Grapefruit for the week last week was $14. But we feel it's important.

If I were to give up something, it would be fresh veggies and fruit and would get more frozen veggies and fruit.

ETA: where you live also figures into cost of food. I live in the East. Food is expensive here - even at farmer's markets. It can be cheaper in other regions, so what you can buy for the dollar really does vary.

Here, where I live - a half gallon of organic milk is between $4.19-$4.49 depending on the store. Apples in winter on sale are between $1.49 to $1.99 a pound, etc.

I'm in Virginia, so sounds like I'm looking at the same prices as you (?).

I do tend to buy organic and whole foods. Based on what you say, 150 a week doesn't sound terrible. I do know what you mean about fruits and veggies adding up....and like you, I'd rather not skimp in that area.

For my DH and myself, I eating mostly fresh/frozen veggies, shopping sales at regular grocery stores, going to Sam's Club and Aldi, I spend about $80 a week for the two of us. That includes cat food once a month and dog food once a month.. so, $320 a month for us. I do shop at specialty stores, for special ingriedients.. And I shop at "health" stores too, sometimes, for sales and health nut stuff I eat, lol. I cook dinner 4 nights a week and we keep a freezer stocked in the basement with meat and veggies that I buy at sales, that factors into the total too.

2 adults, one kid. Something like $75-$100 a week.

(This does NOT include dinner out on weekends or non-weekly buys. Just weekly edible groceries. Some people count house products (ex: toilet paper) in with groceries but I don't. That's a separate line for me. I also buy extras at Whole Foods and whatnot as they run out and do not track those on my weekly budget. Dry stuff like organic grains or organic beans. That factors in too.)

Here's the US table over the years at various levels.
http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/usdafoodcost-home.htm

A.

We end up spending about $150 a week for just us two. But that includes household and pet items as well. I'd like to scrimp on that but it seems when I do, I end up running back to the store at least once and spending way more than I intend. Ugh. Not a good budgeter.

We're in the midwest and I'm from the east coast, and I honestly don't see much of a difference in price (which was disappointing when I moved here, lol)

Hmm it really depends for me, I am a food hoarder by nature...like squirrels getting ready for winter! I usually buy more than I need because I HATE going grocery shopping. This town is a zoo, and I have to wait in line forever. So when I go I stock up. I actually haven't been out to get groceries for 3 weeks now. I had to stop and get milk and juice...but If I were to guess without looking I spend between 2-300 on groceries.......Hard to say when you throw in other crap like toothpaste or random crap from walmart.

And I do Sams around once a month which is around 80 for food items..(shot in the dark guessing)

I don't budget really, I am blessed not to have to...but rarely does food go to waste here. I got a foodsaver now and that helps a bunch!

Thats a good point! Mine does, lol. I'm a coupon clipper too, but not to the point of being-on-tv.

Oh, my $200 a week counts everything - I don't go to Target or Wal-Mart for things like toothpaste, shampoo, cat litter. All of that is stuff I buy at the grocery store. And we NEVER go out to eat. And this is for all meals - breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Ages in our family are: 3 adults (as my mother in law lives with us), a teen boy and a 6 year old boy.

And again $200 a week (and sometimes it's more)

We (between 2 adults) spend $60 a week. So $30 each.
I plan our meals out ahead of time and that usually saves us a LOT of money when shopping.
I used to clip coupons, but our newspaper has been sucking with good ones lately. Need to get a printer.

DH and I probably spend about 300 a month, not counting pet food and cat litter. We live in the Bay Area and eat almost entirely fresh foods- dairy, produce, meat. Sometimes we'll add in canned beans or something of that nature, but for the most part, that's it. We're fortunate enough that we don't have to force our budget down much, though I'm certainly sure we could.


I have to echo the joys of the Foodsaver. I only buy meat on sale and have a freezer stocked with a pretty good variety of meats. I also use it to make my own frozen meals.

Way too much and I am trying to reign it in, it's almost embarassing to say about $800-1000 for 2 adults and 1 toddler. No restaurants either. My husband eats a lot of food and expects a lot of meat each night which is very $$$ especially here! Groceries are also very expensive here, a lot more than in the US (even compared to places like bay area or NYC!)

Atleast $1200 per month. 2 kids, mom, dad and usually at least one extra kid for dinner -- We eat salmon and beef tenderloin once per week, and those two are expensive. Lots of fruits and veggies. We eat out maybe once per month.

I spend about $900 to $1000 per month for a family of 6. That includes our household cleaning supplies and toiletries.

Oh that's shameful, I spend the same and have 1 kid. Tips please!!?