Help me with numbers?

[Catwmandu]

We've never been good with setting a budget, but we are contemplating having my husband stay home with the kids and don't have an accurate idea of what we can get by with budgeting for groceries, etc per month.

We don't do meat or dairy (DH does some cheese still), do eat fish still and try to do organic when possible (some fruits and veggies, some snacks, vitamins). We've got 2 kids under 4, and 4 cats and a dog.

Anyone want to throw some numbers at me to give me an idea of what we can get by with spending per month?

[Ragana]

I use the USDA cost of food plans as a rough guideline:

http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/USDAFoodCost-Home.htm

We are a family of 4 (kids are older than yours) living in a fairly high-cost area, and if you look at the June numbers, we fall in the "low-cost-plan." Of course, so much depends on how you eat (we do some organic, mostly organic meat when we eat it, don't skimp on fresh fruit and veg, not too much processed stuff, don't garden, etc.) and where you live.

PS My DH was a stay-at-home dad for 8 years - it was great!

[Catwmandu]

Thanks I will check it out. I am crappy with numbers! :)

[MacroMama]

We eat pretty similarly and we spend between $800-$1000/month on groceries.

A common recommendation for people looking into being stay at home parents is to try to live on the salary that will remain (yours) for a few months and just save the other one (your DH's) and that will give you a glimpse at how your life will be with only one salary.

Good luck!