How much do you spend on groceries?

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-07-2005
How much do you spend on groceries?
8
Thu, 11-03-2005 - 8:21am

Just wondering how much everyone spends on groceries? I am trying to re-evaluate my food budget. What do you spend your money on at the stores?

Thanks

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2004
Thu, 11-03-2005 - 8:46am
I have been spending $200-$300 per month for my dd and I (she lives with me 1/2 time, her dad the other 1/2).

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-12-2005
Thu, 11-03-2005 - 10:01am
We were spending over 800 a month on groceries. We talked to a credit counselor before we decided to refinance and he mentioned that a family of four (us) should only be spending 400 a month on groceries. So, I decided to plan ahead, make out cheap meals, buy the store brand as much as possible and make some things from scratch...like pancakes and muffins. I've been spending 110 a week at the store....a little more than the counselors budget but a lot less than I was spending.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 11-03-2005 - 11:27am

I think we spend waaaay too much at the grocery store as well. There are five of us, one teenage DD, two toddlers, DH and me. I don't think we buy a lot of junk food as I really don't like to have a lot of that in the house (or I will eat it!). We go through a ton of milk, so I try to buy it all at once when I do my big shopping to resist having to back later in the week, because that always gets me in trouble, too (go for milk and end up spending $40). One of our markets discounts the milk when you buy two of the same kind, so I get 2% for the kids and 1% for me. Our bill was running us about $165 lately for my big weekly trip, and about $40 mid-week for the little things (and I always bought extras). I switched grocery stores and now it runs about $125 or so. But I am still buying diapers, wipes, etc for DS. Once he's potty-trained that will save me $15 a week on diapers.

I also try to buy store brands when I can. I found that the store-brand ice cream, which is often buy one get one free, actually tastes better than Dreyers (hard to believe!). And recently I ran out of dishwasher detg, and due to limited funds I bought the store brand which was $2.50 compared to Cascade at $6.50 (ridiculous!), and it worked really well.

I know we spend more than we should, especially when DH goes with me because he tells me things we need after we get to the store rather than before (so like maybe I can find a coupon for it before I leave the house!). I am putting my foot down with him on that!

Kathy

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-05-2004
Thu, 11-03-2005 - 11:59am

We used to be able to spend around $50 a week for just the three of us and a dog :-D But now we spend a little more (around $65) per week because I'm trying out a doctor-approved vegan diet in an effort to lose weight and lower my blood pressure, triglycerides, and cholesterol. :-D So I'm now buying and cooking seperate meals for myself, which costs a little more. :-D

Pat :-D

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-21-2003
Thu, 11-03-2005 - 12:01pm

H ithere,

actually, I admit to being not entirely sure how much I spend on groceries. I take out 50 € from the atm every week, and usually I buy mostly groceries withthat. I stopped using my cards for such things. Since I also pay eating out at lunch and getting a magazines every once and then from those fifty, and on the other hand do a monthly 'stocking up' trip to a bigger supermarket, I guess I spend appx. 200 and a bit each month. In §§, that would be around 250, roughly calculated. That is for two people, my husband and me, and does include everything from greenery, bread, butter, milk, coffee, toiletries, pasta, to wine and sweets.

Most of that is organic food. It takes some shopping around to find good prices, and some time to cook from scratch, but I am used to it.

Greetings, Jordis

ivy_jordis

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-07-2005
Thu, 11-03-2005 - 12:22pm

I spend and average of $70 a week for me, dh, dd (10) and ds (1). We make a weekly dinner menu and my dd makes a weekly lunch menu. I shop strictly from that! Sometimes meat is on sale and I stock up. I always buy fresh fruit and veggies for snacks. I've been very careful about the grocery bill lately and I'm trying to downsize it, but it hasn't worked yet. I'm going to try to start going once every 2 weeks and see if I can lower my bill!

Michelle

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-06-2003
Thu, 11-03-2005 - 4:40pm

We are two people (dh & I) and we spend about $60/week. We increased it from $50 because we don't eat out much anymore so as to compensate for more cooking at home.

Kassandra

Kassandra

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 11-03-2005 - 5:47pm
We spend $150.00 per week for DH and I plus a DS who is away at college but who comes home periodically (plus we get him stuff for his apt. to take back with him). This includes everything from cleaning, paper products, etc. to liquor at home and eating out (which we don't do very often). We eat very healthy---fresh salads, fruits, whole grains, fish, etc. and little junk food. We figure it will save us in the long run with health costs and it has so far. DH and I are both 50, not overweight and haven't been sick in years!