How much do you spend on groceries?

[Lindahfx]

I have a blog on reducing our debt. I've recently posted a few months of our expenses. I've had a number of comments from people who have stated that our grocery expenses are very high. Based on May and June's expenses, we spent an average of almost $900 each month. There is my husband, my 1 1/2 year old daughter and myself. We typically buy diapers, wipes, toilettries, etc. all at the grocery store so I just include it in the groceries category.

Does this seem high to you? How much do you spend?

NOTE: I live in Canada and can't wonder if that's part of the difference but maybe I'm wrong.

[My English Castle]

When I really crank it up with coupons and only buying the loss leaders, I can get us (and there's only the three of us) out in under $100 a week. But, for me, that's hard. That usually includes a couple bottles of cheap wine to ease the pain!

[momof1in150]

Comparing grocery numbers is apples & oranges is because there are so many factors - location, what types of food you eat, what you include in your shopping, where you shop.

I shop at the commissary on base each week. I spend $100-110 for a family of 4 each week. I include food, cleaning supplies, paper goods and HABAs. I also buy dog food there but I don't include the pet's food. We buy a lot of produce, rarely any red meat and some "kid" food.

If I was to shop on the economy and buy the same items I would spend $150-175 a week.

I do think that you pay a lot more for products in Canada.

1 gal milk - $2.70 (Commissary), $4.30 (Grocery Store)
whole wheat bread - $1.99 (commissary), $2.59-$3.00 (Grocery Store)

[DebbieL]

I'm also in Canada (outrageously priced Vancouver Island at that) and your grocery spending sounds insane to me. I have a family of three (DH, myself and DD14). I'm sure we don't spend more than $400 a month at most. My daughter is a teenager now, but even when she was in diapers, I bought the cheap Zellers or Shoppers Drug Mart no name brand ones. We didn't even have a Walmart in Victoria yet at that point or I'm sure they would have been even cheaper than what I paid. I would have to see in more detail what you are buying to offer any real advice on where you might be able to cut back. Good luck!

[Aleta]

I have different categories when I shop at the grocery store. I have food, toiletries, pet food, household supplies, and beverages. Each one has their own allocations.

For food for 2 people, we spend $60. or less per week. We have allocated per month for pet food - $11. for toiletries $15., for household supplies - $20. and for beverages - $26. Now, we don't always spend that much on any one category. That, averages out to about $78.00 for all of those categories, and very seldomly do we spend those amount.

[PrincessPerky]

around 500 a month for 5 people..and that is 'cutting loose' the purse strings..but I have no idea the food costs in Canada

[pearlieq]

I don't know how it would compare to Canada, but DH and I spend $80 per week on food, paper goods, and pet food/supplies. That does not include DH's lunch during the week or meals out.

[getforfree]

We spend $60/week for 3 adults and 2 toddlers. That includes laundry supplies, toiletries, tp, and food of course.

I spend almost nothing on toiletries because I get it mostly free after rebate from Riteaid or Walgreens. I even sell some extra free makeup or haircolor that I don't need on ebay.

I use lots of coupons and stockpile, so some weeks I go over, but then some weeks I spend only about $20, just for milk and some produce.

We bring our lunches to work most of the time, Dh only eats out if all the other guys at work go somewhere for lunch together, but that doesn't happen more often than 2x/month.

From all this, I think, stockpiling helps me the most, because when you have enough stuff at home, you can control how much you spend. If I spent too much last week, this week I can try not to buy anything. I do have some "no spend" weeks too.

[MonkeyMama]

Around $450 for 2 adults, 2 kids & a cat - pretty much includes everything we buy for the household (toiletries and whatever too - oh yeah - and diapers, etc.). We try to coupon and buy on sale on one hand, on the other hand we aren't crazy tight with the budget. We pretty much never eat out so that is 3 meals a day every day.

$900 does sound pretty high, but it does depend. Could be the location.

[GoodBuyGirl]

$900 a month does sound really high to me. You are obviously in a place where you can afford to spend that much. Our budget wouldn't allow it.
Unless spending that much is straining your finances I wouldn't let it bother you. If you are wanting to save money on your living expenses Groceries are the easiest area to reduce. There is a lot of information out there on how to do it.

[Ima saver]

We usually spend about $30 a week on groceries. That includes cleaning materials, paper products, pet food. I buy food for breakfast and lunch but we eat most dinners out. There are 2 adults in the family.

[Exile]

Before moving abroad, my wife and I lived in Southern California. Our grocery bill was about $50-70 per week. True. we had no kids but still $900 per month sounds way out of line. I suggest that you reassess your needs, eliminate impulse buying if any, confine your trips to the store to 2x per week at most, utilize coupons, and buy diapers and other such needs at Costco or other bulk purchase stores.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I married a candian, and currently a second canadian buddy is living with us so for 3 adults we're spending on food $250/month and $250 eating out. That's in a HCOLA where food is definitely more expensive than most places in Canada. I've shopped in Canada with DH's parents and when they've come they've commented on how much we pay.

Where we live now, we have gone and stayed weekends in Montreal and Toronto and I've seen supermarkets. And I can easily compare prices. Definitely cheaper so you're getting a lot of food for $900.

If you can handle the expense don't bother. I used to spend and still do occasionally $400 month eating out. I've changed to maintain weight loss. So cooking is healthier alternative.

[shelbylovesmelby]

I usually spend $35-50/wk for a family of 4 typically, though I know that will go up as the kids get bigger & eat more.

Though I do spend more than that a week if there's a good meat sale then I'll stock up on that & then stick w/ the above to pick up odd's & ends til there's another good meat sale again.

[Fern]

About $225 for 1 person.

Yours seems high.

I never buy fresh produce out of season and i always watch the STop N Shop sales. I also shop at a discount supermarket only sometimes, as it's not convenient to where i live. My expenses could be much lower if i didn't buy as much organic as i do. I don't buy much meat. I rarely eat out. That figure includes personal toiletries and cat food.

[getforfree]

for our cat, we don't buy cat food. We just give her our leftovers, or bread soaked in tuna juice, kids eat the tuna.

[snafu]

Wow! We are currently living in Calgary with it's outrageous inflation 2 adults & 2 teens are around $100. per week. I find the convenience too expensive so non-food items are bought at a discount store. I don't care if the kleenex box is dented or the label on the cleanser is only printed in French.

Nearly all our food is purchased from the perimeter of the store where they keep the 'real' food. I don't buy the pre-processed stuff because it is too full of salt, sugar, chemicals and possible ingredients from China which can be dangerous. The Chinese government fined firms for adding BLEACH to powdered milk to make it appear whiter!

I use powdered milk for cooking/baking and the simple cereals for breakfast. Our bread machine goes on nearly every night mostly because
the teens get out of bed on their own when they smell fresh bread! [too funny].

the most frugal thing I ever did was make a simple meal plan which is tweaked based on loss leaders from the food ads + coupons.

[zee8]

About 350$ for two.. I think I need to work on to reduce it

[project15]

Originally Posted by zee8

About 350$ for two.. I think I need to work on to reduce it

That's what we're at as well (two of us for $350/month). Sometimes we spend over, other times we spend under, but it evens out to that. We also throw some non-grocery/necessity items on there as well sometimes

[JasonEngler]

Our household consists of two adults and one infant (16 months old). We spend on average between $600-500 per month, but I have seen it jump a bit higher from time to time. We are currently in the process of taming that down to the $400 range. We typically buy diapers and baby items at Wal-Mart, some food items and detergents in bulk at Sam's Club, and the remaining groceries at the local Kroger or Giant Eagle.

Note: This does not include going out to eat, fast food, or other purchases outside the grocery store.