Anyone else guilty of over spending on food?

[Maxoman]

I live in NY State and feed a family of 4 for around $400/month. That includes not only groceries but also anythign bought at the food store, i.e., TP, cleaning supplies, etc. I am proud of keeping our food budget down while not sacrificing quality (as a SAHM/part timer I consider it my job to keep within budget). I do this by couponing (i've been doing it long before it came into "fashion"), loss leaders, and planning our meals around the circulars. I cook and bake from scratch, which saves a ton and is also healthier/tastier. We only eat out for special occasions such as birthdays.

Groceries are the one budget item that is so flexible. Yes, you have to eat. No, you don't have to eat expensive to eat well. We eat steak, chicken, pasta, etc. and my family generally does not want for anything. If they are craving something specific, my answer is always "I'll pick that up when I can get a good price on it".

The secret to not spending alot on cleaning supplies at the store is to make your own. Vinegar/water goes an awful long way and cleans well. We need to follow what our grandparents did, not what the commercials tell us we have to clean with.

[DeniseNTexas]

Count me in as another one guilty of spending too much on food. I feed just myself and a cat (and occasional co-workers at our job) and rarely eat out but I definitely have issues with impulse spending at the grocery. Most of it gets used, sure, but occasionally I throw stuff out and that really irks me.

I have a blog here at SA and have been writing about my struggles with this very thing. I do meal planning, try to eat the leftovers (but recently had quite the epiphany about cooking and eating what I cook) take lunch, snacks and sometimes breakfast to work but I still spend too much at the grocery! I try to use cash only at the grocery but do cave and use my debit card and that's going to have to stop since I think it's a major culprit for me.

It's just a struggle but the last few days I've focused on simply not spending and on cooking small amounts of food so I don't have leftovers to waste.

I can relate, for sure!

[PetMom]

Food is just more expensive.

We automatically take from the top fruits and vegetables and organic eggs, coconut milk, nuts. Chicken breasts to make my dogs' food. Whole grain when possible. Dark chocolate for dessert/candy. But when you add in tp and laundry soap the bill gets ridiculous.

Actually cut out coffee - that has gone way up - but did not make a dent in our bill.

And make my own cleaning products.

I think 'date night' is something that helps the marriage so that would be in the 'avoid an expensive divorce' section.

But, when emergency fund is sinking that is the first thing we cut out.

Best cheap food combos: Home cooked beans and cornbread. Pasta is cheap with some tomato sauce (no meat). Cheese sandwiches on whole wheat bun. Those will bring the food bill down.

Easily we spend $600.00 per month for us and the dogs' food.

[Bades]

I just averaged my last three months together. This is all for me, except when I got out with my gf I probably pay 80% of the time, so that's why restuarnts is a bit high.

Groceries - 225
Restuarants - 180
Fast Food (pizza, arby's, etc) - 96
Lunches (Buy from work cafe) - 80
Bars (drinks & apps) - 96

Total: 676

I think the lessons learned here are how fast those little McDonalds' drive thrus or late night pizzas can add up to! The lunch average covers at least 15/20 business days, so around $5.25 isn't too bad for lunch and the convience of it. Problem is when I've been making dinners at home I dont make enough for left overs to take to lunch. I think I need to start making more to take the next day to cut down on the lunches I pay for.

Obviously the Bars tab is getting high. My gf and I just graduated college a year ago so we still have a little party in us But now that Thanksgiving and Xmas have come and gone, that average will hopefully be decreasing by at least half

[dojo]

We don't eat out (maybe 3-4 times/year, when we're traveling), since the food is bad. What we can cook at home is way better and healthier, not to mention less expensive. On the other hand though we do tend to buy a lot of food and some of it will spoil. So we need to work on this aspect

[NetSkyBlue]

I'm worse than I thought.

For this year, my food budget is $300/month. Last year, I spent that or less on food 2 months out of the year: January and November. Though interestingly enough, I averaged $299.45 a month over 12 months.

I averaged 3.1 restaurant meals a month, and 4.75 fast food meals a month. My average "eating out" ticket was $11.67. Seems cheap enough, but I ate 95 meals out in 2011.

My worst month, I'm ashamed to admit, was June. I spent $571.08 on groceries and $180.80 eating out. How could I possibly have spent so much on groceries when I ate out 12 times??

This year's goal: eat out one time or less per month. I've made it 1/3 through January without eating out, and having spent just under 1/3 my food budget!

[DeniseNTexas]

NetSkyBlue, the grocery budget is so easy to go crazy with, I know! Do you use cash for your grocery spending? I've gone back to meal planning, cash for groceries, and making sure the leftovers are eaten or planned for before preparing a new meal or eating out.

I got excited earlier because there were NO leftovers in my fridge! For me, that's a pretty good achievement.

[NetSkyBlue]

NetSkyBlue, the grocery budget is so easy to go crazy with, I know! Do you use cash for your grocery spending? I've gone back to meal planning, cash for groceries, and making sure the leftovers are eaten or planned for before preparing a new meal or eating out.

I got excited earlier because there were NO leftovers in my fridge! For me, that's a pretty good achievement.

No, if it weren't for my side job waitressing, I'd never see a paper bill. I did save over $150 last year by using my target RedCard debit card. Saves 5% off your bill, and that's where I do most grocery shopping.

The trouble I have right now is working 7 days a week between 3 jobs, most days 15 hours a day, all I want to do is stuff food in my mouth and fall asleep when I get home. And the last thing I want to do on one of my two evenings off per week is cook - there's too much housework to catch up on.

I've done pretty well with buying lunch stuff to keep at work, I try to stay under $2/lunch. Dinners are harder. Then I feel like I should splurge because "I work so hard, I deserve it." It's a vicious cycle.

[toysmall]

no

I always to cook at home, both delicious and inexpensive

[DeniseNTexas]

NetSkyBlue, that's a very busy schedule you have! It seems to me that setting a dollar limit for food (eating out and groceries) and using cash only works well. For me it does, anyway. I have a red card, too, and use it, but I save more than 5% when I use cash because I simply don't buy as much. lol If you're one who can set a dollar limit, and keep to it using a debit card, that would work. I won't stick to the dollar limit, though. I'll end up buying more because I'm using the card! Arrgh!

I understand about not wanting to cook when you're off. Sort of. But I love to cook and choose to do that when I'm off. Do you have a slow cooker? A pressure cooker? Both of those would be helpful to you, I'd think.

[MoneyMogul]

I hate cooking so I eat out a lot more than I should. I pick up something on my way home from work or call up friends to go out to eat with me.

[ms06880]

Yep me too

For starters, I am not a big fan of leftovers and I try everything possible to avoid eating them. One thing that has helped me (and perhaps help others as well?) is that when my husband or I are done cooking and about to plate it, I also dish a portion into a handy tupperware that goes straight to the fridge for lunch the next day. That way, I don't have to psych myself to make lunch the next day...it's all ready to go. In NYC, where lunch can easily cost $8-10, that's quite a savings...money I'd rather spend in a nice meal (and a couple of glasses of wine!)out on the weekend.

[toysmall]

hey，man

I think maybe you haven't enjoyed the fun of cooking, cooking can bring you a lot of relaxation, let you relieve their pressure, of course, the situation would be bad, if you really have a very bad mood. if not ，try cooking, you will find that it is really fun