What's your monthy grocery budget? - Page 2

[wife&mommy]

Our budget is $400 but we don't usually spend it all. 2 adults and 1 toddler.

[nicolelynn]

For just dh and I we spend about $450-$500/mo. This is 80% organic produce, grass-fed meat, free-range chicken and eggs, organic raw dairy, etc.

We only spent $200/mo 2 years ago. Mainly because I was going to school full-time and not working and my grocery philosophy was "save money" not "promote health". I didn't buy much organic then, factory farmed animal products, and lived on lots of carbs. Real food has cost us real money.

But we also eat a much greater variety of things. I used to just buy broccoli, salad and apples. Now I buy at least 10 different produce items each week. I could cut down the budget if we had to. Mainly cutting out drinks (organic fair-trade coffee, and dh and i are addicted to Pellegrino and Gerolsteiner) and getting only grass-fed ground beef as we have steak once a week or so now which is more pricey.

[karne]

I would say 5-600/month, but higher in the summer as I can't resist all of the delicious fresh organic produce, etc. at our local farmstand. We also buy organic meat by the animal, so there is a bigger outlay initially, ie buying a lot of pork or chickens at once. In lean times we have made it on less than 50$ per week, inclusive.

[KaraBoo]

Around 500 dollars a month for two adults, an 8yr old and pets. It could be less but I like a lot of variety. I enjoy cooking. It pleases me.

We spend about 80 dollars a month on local meats. We buy veggies locally. There aren't a lot of choices in organics but we buy organic when it's available.

[425lisamarie]

I am completely ashamed at how much I spend, and how much we waste. I spend over $1000 and I cook from scratch. that is for 2 adults, preschooler who eats well, and a toddler who mashes/spits out food

I am coming here to try to meal plan and budget. We shouldn't need to eat the absolute most expensive dinner imaginable every night of the week

[spring978]

We spend $400 s month for food only. We eat 80% Organic ( I do let this slide when I now the farmer and know its pestacide free) All meat is Organic.
We feed 2 adult 3 teens and a toddler.

I would spend less during the summer because of our garden but I put the savings towards extra fruits for canning and jam

[MeganW]

2 adults a toddler and a newborn we're at about $600 we could spend less that does not include eating out but we do eat all natural free range meats from a local farm and that is factored in this includes all household and personal items as well

[female18-]

$200 a month maximum for myself and ds. You guys spend so much wow! I buy organic fruit when its available (apple and bananas), brand names usually too. Maybe its because there's only 2 of us.

[karen1968]

I've been worried about money, so I went back and added up all of our grocery receipts for May, June & July. I was shocked to see that we averaged $572 a month!! That's for 2 adults and a nursling. Granted, we had an extra adult for ~10 days in May, and for most of June & July I was on anti-Candida diet - eating only meat, beans and veggies (so, meat or eggs at almost every meal). I don't buy as much organic as I would like but I do buy free-range chicken at the local HFS since I realized its the same price as the "regular stuff" at the supermarket. (we eat mostly chicken & turkey at home, only occ. beef or fish)

I really want to trim our grocery budget. I'm just trying to spend less this month without much planning, but I am budgeting $450 for Sept - cash in an envelope! This will include farmer's market, but not eating out. (we averaged almost $200 eating out over those same three months )

[MaddieMay]

I'd say we spend about $400/month for two adults. That includes lots of fresh produce and some organics.

[KaraBoo]

Originally Posted by female18-

$200 a month maximum for myself and ds. You guys spend so much wow! I buy organic fruit when its available (apple and bananas), brand names usually too. Maybe its because there's only 2 of us.

Could be. Also, people eat differently and have different priorities foodwise. Also, food costs differ from place to place.

[momuveight2B]

I spend about $700 for our family, that includes everything like TP and laundry soap. We don't have any pets. My two oldest kids are on their own so don't count but I have five at home including two teenagers. New baby will only breastfeed so no expense there.

We are able to get seasonal organic produce from a nearby farm very cheaply and that helps. I do almost all meal preparation at home using simple ingrediants.

[curlymom]

$1000 for our family of six. Three of my four kids are boys and eat a LOT and my husband buys protein powder for shakes, so I have to work hard at it to keep it within the $1000. It helps that we do an organic co-op. (This includes toiletries.)

[kittywitty]

At least $600 a month. We try to cut it down, and I think this month we will hit $400 from eating a lot of mac & cheese and pancakes b/c money is incredibly tight.

Groceries here are expensive, I have 3 kids who eat like they are starving to death, a diabetic dh who eats us all under the table, and I'm pg.

I try to buy mostly fresh fruits & veggies and organic when possible. I have absolutely no room for storage (under 600 sq ft for all of us and a kitchen the size of my washer and dryer), so I can *not* buy bulk. That is a concern. We have WIC which helps now with milk and eggs. But they won't give us soymilk in IL on it, so we do that out of pocket (most of us are lactose intolerant).

We don't eat out a lot, but when we do we get it super cheap-$10 to $20 tops.

Even though we spend so much, it's still what the USDA says is average, we very rarely buy junk food (I splurged on some natural Cheetos and dh gets stuff for work-he has to have lots of food on hand with his diabetes).

I try desperately to cut it down each month, but I always fail.