Budget Help!

[JBinKC]

I average about $4 a day which includes one meal out a week. That meal out usually is about half of the whole budget.

2 adults, one toddler: $40 per week for everything including diapers & pet food (1 cat, one dog) with the exception that we get 2 gallons of milk and 2lbs. ground beef "free" in exchange for labor at a family dairy farm. $40 for all of us, not PER person.

Almost no prepared foods and all baked goods (breads, rolls, cookies, cakes, etc.) are from scratch including granola. No chips, soda, or crackers. I occassionally like to get fish sticks and jenny-o turkey burgers.

We grow a lot of peas and eat one meatless meal per week. We can corn when it's in season and cheap.

Our staple luxuries: Sam's club shredded cheese & disposable diapers.

The biggest key here is that we have more time than money. I enjoy cooking & baking, so I do not resent it. I do not suggest that anyone attempt this budget unless they really like spending time in the kitchen. At times I feel overwhelmed, but mostly it is a source of peace and joy for me.

Also: we only use baking soda and vinegar as household cleansers. Try a google search: "baking soda and vinegar". I switched when I was pregnant and I'm never going back again to dangerous fumes!

Health tip: Use baking soda or oatmeal as exfolliants. While skin is still wet, moisturize with mineral oil and pat dry. Mineral oil is super cheap and it's in just about every skin care product anyway, but minus the drying alcohol they put in "moisturizers". Drink plenty of water to moisturize skin from the inside out. This works for my skin type, at any rate. I've heard almond oil instead of mineral oil works well, too.

[starving_student]

Originally Posted by gotdairy

What would be the average amount to budget for groceries for each adult in the household?

40$ (but its mostly organic) does not include alcohol

[starving_student]

Originally Posted by mom-from-missouri

ouch! I shop at Aldi's, Dollar General & Walgreens and spend $200 a month on food to feed my entire house--1 adult, 3 children, 2 cats, 2 rabbits, 1 dog, 3 fish and 2 hamsters. What I get at Walgreens I usually limit to items that I can rebate. I find with my coupons, I can get a lot of free items at Dollar General--for example, last week pringles--they are $1 a can at Dollar General. I got 3 cans and used 3 coupons for $1 off-thus, 3 free cans of pringles.
Rarely do I use paper plates and such. I pack my kids lunches daily, but use reusable containers (and I am proud to say I am a baggie washer!!). I clean usually with just bleach and vinegar, and we use cloth napkins. That cuts down a lot on the food bill.
At Walgreens, I wait till the laundry soap is on sale or rebated, then use my coupons and stock up on it--getting it for next to free. Same with shampoo. Right now I have 9 large containers of laundry soap, and close to 100 bottles of shampoo and conditioner I got this way.-also toothpaste. Just can not be brand loyal this way.
I also cook from scratch.

Just found out that rabbit love beet, radish and carrot tops. I used to throw these away. For them its premium food

[starving_student]

Originally Posted by beebop25blue25

Food is our biggest expense, other than our house payment. We are a family of 7 and all our kids eat like horses!! I'd say we spend near $700.00 a month on food. That includes grocery store purchases and going out to eat. All my boys, (there are 4 of them) and my daughter play sports, so we are on the road sometimes more than we are at home. I find that going to McDonalds and using the dollar menu is cheaper for us than packing a lunch for them all. I make them drink water and they share fries. Everyone comes out full and we only spend around 15.00 dollars. I don't think that is too bad for a large family of 7....it averages out to a little over $2.00 a piece. I think that fair.

they get full but do not get any nutrition at all!

[ruthie]

We're at about $400/month for 2 adults eating about 99% organic in an expensive place (San Francisco), so that's about $50/week apiece.

[kork13]

I'm working on ironing out the bugs in my budget, but I use the general rule of $75/person + $100 as my monthly grocery costs. That also takes into account non-food stuff, like toiletries/laundry/cleaning items. I do alot of my own cooking, but also use pre-packaged stuff on occasion.

Judging from what others have said here, that actually seems to fit what most people report pretty well. Some are higher or lower, but I think for planning purposes, $75/person + $100 is a pretty good figure for a month.

I spend on myself, probably $50-$60 a week on grocery items and fresh fruit and veg. My boyfriend probably spends about $15 more as he gets some extra things for his lunches, plus mixers for his spirits (i don't drink). We buy mostly organic produce. I don't eat meat but my BF does. We don't use coupons (don't get them here) and I hardly ever buy prepackaged food - I make most things from scratch, or nearly at least.

[jamiefic]

I strive to spend $200 total each month for 3 of us...that includes food (breakfast, lunch, dinner), toiletries, diapers, etc. It is do-able, you just have to work at it. Keeping a budget really helps and planning it out. I have some free info on my blog about budget grocery shopping/meal planning if anyone wants to take a look.