So you say you spend under $500 a mo on groceries?

[PurpleSnowflake]

But what are you actually buying and eating for that amount?


Alot of people say they spend waaaay less but what are they actually buying and eating? I always wonder that everytime I see a, "I spend $300 a month for the 8 of us" type posts. And then people will also say, "I have a large garden", "I don't count my side of beef in that amount", "I don't count my CSA in my monthly amount", or "I eat alot out of my already stocked pantry", etc...


Not being snarky in any way to be clear! But sometimes I wonder if people are getting "competitive" with their numbers like a bunch of fishermen exclaiming how their 10 inch fish was actually 40 feet long?

[HappyMama]

I never brag about what I spend or don't spend. I have a post ditching the grocery store. That will answer what I do.

We eat lots of organic, ( eg, organic oats, rice, wheat I grind, fruits when I can find in season). We do eat lots of veggies, fruits, grains, but do have organic beef and farm raised chicken, eggs organic milk.

We have some preservatives we can't eat due to allergies, etc so we cook fresh food from scratch. I do have a garden, freeze and can. I am buying food just like everyone else just taking my time and energy into preserving it for taste, no preservatives and money savings. In doing this I can afford to use the savings towards bulk, organic, and splurges. This doesn't work for everyone, as every family is different with different needs , budgets and time. I can't afford health wise not to do it this way so I make the time. Works for me. Most people complain or pass out when they see I usually spend less then them and eat better, but like I said works for us.

I count all purchases in my food budget which is one set amount per month. That beef, those veggies anything and everything I buy in bulk all get counted to give me a annual savings of thousands.

[HappyMama]

To clarify in case any questions I buy the beef, chicken eggs etc and don't raise my own Someday hopefully but not now.

[leighcat]

My situation is very complicated to figure out how much I spend a month on everything.

Some nights my boyfriend stays over a day or two and will bring stuff for himself or for all of us. Some nights I have only one of the kids because the other one is with my ex at a sport. We take turns with the kids' activities.

I do know that I can spend $200-$250 a month on groceries and feed 3-4 people healthy. It would definitely be easier if my schedule wasn't so crazy!

When I was married and a sahm, I was able to meal plan and did very well at the grocery store on very little.

[lisaflex]

my grocery bill is nowhere in the range that i see on this board, that being said, yes, we eat healthy and we do buy prepared foods at times. to each their own. if your budget dictates less, than so be it...

[Libby]

To be honest....I haven't really tracked 'how much' groceries are for this house in a long while. Between stockpiling, buying in bulk and weekly fresh produce - its hard to track. But I do know we tend to eat home cooked more often then not.

[bunnys]

I have a rather snarky acquaintance at work that when I told her I spend between $200-300 per month she said "are you kidding? What are you blowing it all on. I spend $60. per week for two of us."

I asked her what she spent it on. "Well, we eat a lot of cereal for dinner. Also, I buy frozen veggies and Morningstar Farms Chik'n Strips and do stir fry a lot."

Come to find out, later she confessed that she eats out like 8 meals per week that she didn't count.

Seriously? And you're playing holier-than-thou with me? I NEVER eat out, never stop at the convenience store and never buy anything at a vending machine. Pretty much every single thing I ingest ultimately came through my kitchen. So yes, I do spend $200-300 per month on my groceries. But I'm honest about it.

Lisa--what do you consider the "range" on this board?

[ladykemma2]

i'm single and i spend 400 a month for groceries, household supplies, and pet needs.

[annymoll]

I gave up on the grocery game. I have seen postings where a family of 5 ate on 50.00 a month. A two liter of soda was included in that everyday.I guess it's like an imaginary friend. I can't see it, but if you say he's there.... well.... okay.I do the best I can, with what I have, within my circumstances and then I quit beating myself up over it.

[Momto5RN]

if you search for the thread of trying to make dinner for under 5$ that was for 2 people you can see what we eat at least for dinner. and we have 6.

IMO if you have a garden raise your own food in any way you need to count what it costs to raise those things ( seeds - feed for animals - etc into the equation or you arent being totally honest with yourself.

if you are a super couponer then you need to count what you pay out extra for those extra coupons if you print them out you need to figure in a monthly figure for ink and paper.

as far as soda as part of someones meal - or processed foods
there is always going to be something that someone does differently - IE i have seen people freak out about buying only organic who i later in another post i see may also smoke or drink . two things that IMO are bad for you ( the drinking it depends which study yo read and how much ) and neither are a need .

for everything one person can point at and say hmm there is something that person can point back at them and say hmmm.

so unless someone is saying i cant afford my mortgage but drink alcohol smoke- drink soda etc i dont say hmmmm unless they ask my opinion .

[Momto5RN]

BTW there are alot of ways to end up with free soda if you coupon ... we really dont drink it much so i dont- but i know they are out there .

[annymoll]

Pop here is around a dollar a two liter. So about thirty dollars a month.Leaving 20 dollars for monthly groceries for a family of five.Maybe they have a months worth of soda paid for in coupons. Maybe she lied. Who knows?I never could figure it out, but if families are getting fed for 50 bucks a month .......sweet.

[monkeywrangler71]

I remember the $50 a month posts, and those always made me scratch my head - but that's a far cry from $500. I could easily stay under $500 without a garden or a cow or extreme couponing, and I'm in a high cost of living area. I've certainly gone way over that at times when I was disorganized (especially right after we moved), or entertaining, or barbequing a lot of steak, etc. but I could average around $400 if I needed to, without sacrificing anything except convenience and luxuries.

I have a rather snarky acquaintance at work that when I told her I spend between $200-300 per month she said "are you kidding? What are you blowing it all on. I spend $60. per week for two of us."

$60 a week = $260 a month. What was her point? She's spending as much as you are.

[frugalwarrior2]

Well I used to but I have no idea now. We eat out and spend $500 a month on groceries and have a decent stockpile.
If you spend that on groceries to me you must
not eat much processed food unless it's couponed for
-eat dry beans,rice,go meatless at least 1 day a week,live in a cheaper area like we do,make casseroles,not eat hunks of meat.
Use bread and noodles and clearance a lot.

For instance bread at the bread store is .59 unless it the special and it .49. Tortillas there are $1.79/10 pk.. a tub of choc. donuts $1.89, and h.dog and hamb also .59. Also senior days.
They are aunt millies and get jewish rye,indian grain,chinese rolls,etc. So a cart full there cost $13. the same as about 5-6 loaves at the store. So huge saving if you freeze

Loaf of H.M. french toast w/ $1.69 doz. eggs=$2.28 plus jelly.syrup go for 4 people easily

Spaghetti
Sauce w/ meat sauce and noodles (Aldis) $2.29ish

tuna casserole
pea soup
rice w/ mushroom soup
all around the same cost.

Search the bakery for deals-freeze
go to the mark off counters
discount meats-freeze

Drink water and milk sometimes. Forget the pop.
Broccoli soup-$1.89 aldis,1 C. milk,8oz cheese $1.67,maybe mushrooms 4.50/4 people.

You gotta cook,plan, and grab stuff while its on sale,eat whats on sale. It can be done.

[bunnys]

mw--hers was for 2 people. I'm one.

But, if I include what Lady Kemma does (pets and hh supplies as well) I'm also probably closer to $400. But a little bit under.

I just wish I could get it lower. But I really can't coupon bc my diet is so weird there aren't a lot of coupons available to me.

I want it lower bc it's the one thing I've got left that I can cut--if I'm smart. I'd just like to figure out a way to do so.

But, I don't see the point in doing stuff that's inconvenient and time consuming just for a few pennies. Like homemade laundry soap, for instance. I don't have a family of 8. I only do about 3 loads per week and I use an inexpensive brand and only about 30% of what the manufacturer recommends. I don't see the point in making a vat of laundry soap that will take me an a year or more to use and then try and store it (and not spill it) in a laundry closet! To me, I'm just not willing to go there for laundry soap.

So maybe I've already hit rock bottom with my food/household/pet spending...