Wednesday, August 6, 2008

How much do you spend on groceries?



I was feeling a bit defeated this week as the "cash" in my grocery money was nearly gone. What in the world am I doing wrong?...I felt bad until I stumbled on this post from Choosing Voluntary Simplicity.

I had budgeted approximately $200.00 a week for 4 adults and 2 children (albeit older children), and I was running short. But, according to the government guidelines, I should be spending $251.00 a week (and that is the low-cost budget plan). There is a "thrifty plan", but that is what I'm spending now (miserably, I might add).

So, I will continue to budget $200.00 a week, as both my older daughters are going back to school after we return from the lake, and I may be able to do it for a family of four.....

We'll see, but now I feel a bit better about it!

What does your family spend on groceries???

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm a single guy and I live in South Africa, so this probably won't help you at all!!

But I spend about $200 to $300 per month on groceries.

I eat mostly fruit, bread, pasta, muesli, and cheap proteins (eggs, beans, tuna), and treat myself with a steak or something like that about once a week.

Meg said...

I'm thinking I spend around $45 for groceries every two weeks... Of course, it's just me, so I can be cheap! :) The only thing I can't seem to buy enough of when I go to the store twice a month is drinks... I usually end up having to make another grocery run for those.

Sharon said...

It's been so long since I had to only worry about feeding myself...I remember when I first got out of college and was living in an apartment. I would not cook dinner every night...cereal and/or bagels suited me just fine...groceries didn't cost me very much back then (about 25 years ago! Wow!).

letterstoelijah said...

My budget is very similier to yours.. However, I also include eating out in that. If we cut out the eating out then it would be less. I spend about $140 per week for 2 adults, 2 small children ages 8 and 3.
I do well when I menu plan. What do you have planned for this week? I do terrible when I buy too much soda and processed snacks.

Hope this helps.

My goal is to be $100 per week.

Sharon said...

Dana!

$140.00 actually sounds great! We are getting ready to go to the lake, so I went to BJ's Wholesale Club to pick up meats to bring with me...we will be having mostly barbeques...chicken, ribs, steak, etc. This is a bit more pricey than usual, because we try to have at least two meatless meals a week.

And, yes, soda and snacks can wreck a budget...I hope someday to be free of soda...but right now I'm hooked! :)

Anonymous said...

It's just me, so probably not very helpful, but I budget $80 per month for groceries. The same for gas!! That seems off that I budget the same amount to feed myself as I do to feed my car!!! Oh, that just seems so WRONG!!

Sharon said...

Change,
$80 a month for food is amazing....I hope you are not scrimping too much on yourself :) especially since your car is getting fed for the same amount! :)

jamie said...

i spend for a family of five. one being a highschool football player, so you can imagine the food that is consumed. i spend anywhere from 80 to 120 dollars a week on food depending if it is a shampoo, soap, and detergent week.

some weeks we come up short and i was thinking i wasn't spending enough. thanks for this post. now i have seen that yes i need to spend more.

Trinette said...
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Annie Jones said...
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Anonymous said...

I spend about $75 a week for two adults. Right now I'm spending a little more as I just ordered a side of freezer beef.

Miss Mandy said...

I spend $225 every 2 weeks for 2 adults & 3 children. That includes food, cleaning supplies, & all toiletries.

I feel like I can't cut back anymore, but w/ my hubs losing 40% of his paycheck...I must.