How do you work out how much to spend on food?

[female18-]

Sounds simple, but I can't seem to budget properly for food...I always end up overspending How do you all do it? Any tips for me?

[asianyoushi]

when u go to the grocery store u coupons if ur store allows, take only a set amount in cash and take a calculator.

also only BUY THINGS U NEED not "just a want"

everytime u add something to ur cart add it to ur calculator and keep a total making sure u dont go over the cash amount u have.

[Natsuki]

Well, the first thing I would say is that if you're consistently overspending in the food category perhaps you need to increase it?

Food prices have gone up in the past year - by a large percentage. So your grocery bill will increase accordingly.

Are you overspending on particular categories (snack foods, cereal, convenience items) that you can cut? Or are you working with a monetary amount that doesn't cover what you need to eat?

[my2girlz]

Figure out what you are spending your money on. If you are spending most of your money on necessaties then I would just increase your budget if you can. If you are spending the bulk of your money on extras I would begin using coupons and only use cash. I spend less when I use cash because I don't want to go over.

[KariM]

For us it was a process that took several months.

We started by looking at past receipts and adding up what we spent in a month. Then we decided to lower it slightly and try to reduce costs.

Over time we finally have it to a very workable budget that lets us eat well and have money left to stock our pantry (we're looking to accumulate a year's supply).

If you're looking to stay within a budget that you already set and find you consistently overspend, then you either need to make different food choices or increase the budget, IMVHO.

[lanamommyphd07]

I recently had to start a budget for groceries, and haven't had one in a long time. I set a limit--100 dollars for one adult and a babe. Although to some it seems unfathomable, it actually works. If the 100 is gone before the month (but usually not--only happened during holiday baking), it's cupboard and freezer time....I've gotten much pickier and become a better planner (trying less new recipes too--I find I toss a lot of them that are expensive to make) but we don't get any pre-made food either--I only shop for groceries on the weekend, and so if there's produce left toward the end of the week I make sure we use it--I used to have a problem with fresh stuff going bad in the fridge because I was getting too much. I was also at the grocery way more than once a week, and I learned to only take a list. We also don't sale-shop (just one store), as I find the running and comparisons and couponing and whatnot to save a couple dollars ends up being more expensive than a couple of dollars in the end...and we never ever "stock-up" anymore.

[Stace]

Use coupons. Even if there are weeks where you don't have a whole lot to use, every little bit helps.

Check out your store's weekly circular before you go shopping. Be mindful of when their specials change - for example, the grocery store I shop at changes their specials on Wednesdays. Try to plan your meals for the week in advance, and buy items that are on sale as much as possible. Even better if you can combine a sale with a coupon. Stock up on items that will keep well during weeks that they're really cheap.

[TattooedMama]

Well honestly it's a portion of how much money is left after paying our "set" bills... mortgage, insurances, utilities, etc.
More money might mean more groceries for one month, or not.

[Piglet68]

We kept track of our receipts and DH made a spreadsheet of items and how much we spent on each every month. It showed us where we were blowing money. For example, I used to buy lots of String Cheese (cheese is a major source of protein for my kids). Now I slice chunks of cheese for them to snack on and carry them in a small tupperware container. It's certainly not as convenient, but buying cheese in blocks is a third of the cost of string cheese.

I've also cut down on fancy produce, like bell peppers. I stick to cabbage (which I simply love stir fried in sweet chili sauce) and carrots. Both these veggies also last for weeks in the fridge so there's less chance of spoilage before I use them.

We're a family of 4 and our budget is $550/month on groceries and includes any eating out (which we try to avoid).

[hopefulfaith]

Originally Posted by TattooedMama

Well honestly it's a portion of how much money is left after paying our "set" bills... mortgage, insurances, utilities, etc.
More money might mean more groceries for one month, or not.

Same here. It's not disciplined, but groceries here always come after our set bills - and if dh works overtime, then we get to eat a little better the next week!

[isosmom]

:
I don't budget my groceries. I only have so much money left after bills, so that goes to gas, groceries, whatever else we need. So I guess the best advice is buy what you need and use. I stopped buying things I would only need for one recipe and started subbing something else. Then I'm not spending $4 for a spice I'll never use again.
I also try to use what I have before getting more. So if we are out of sliced bread, but have tortillas, I'll use those up before hitting the store again.

[Ruthiegirl]

For us, we have really had to change how we shop and eat to stay within our budget. Food prices have increased dramatically, we have a bigger family, and our little people are developing bigger appetites. We need more food, but want to stay with our old budget.

We buy bulk. I buy oatmeal, brown rice, beans, nuts, and flour in 20-50 pound bags. The cost per pound is very low.

We buy less fresh produce and rely more on our freezer. I bought a case of peaches last summer when they were cheap and we are still making smoothies. The same for blueberries.

We mix fresh milk with powdered milk to stretch it.

We eat one organic chicken a week. I stretch it over 3-4 meals. No other meat.

We skip most of the lovely treats we used to eat -- oysters, red meat, wine, olives, capers, delicious little things that can eat up the budget. Now we splurge on these things for birthdays and holidays.

We simplified out diet a lot. It makes cooking easier, costs loss and keeps our weight in check. We also live in the boonies and have little access to really good food. This is a big help. If I still lived in the city, I would be much more tempted to eat wonderful food. As it is, I have to be satisfied with wholesome food bought cheaply.