Post by mandapanda18 on Mar 4, 2015 11:20:10 GMT -5
We spend between $700-800 per month, 2 adults and 1 toddler in CA. I buy what I can that is a good deal at costco (organic produce, organic almond or soy for C, organic meats, etc). The bread, veggies and most fruits I buy at the local grocery store just because we can't eat costco portions before it goes bad. I also use coupons (to my husbands horror and embarrassment) when ever I can
Post by iheartbanjos on Mar 4, 2015 11:24:35 GMT -5
We spend $1200/month on groceries too. Like you, we eat out very little. At first, I thought it was a lot, but $38/day to feed a family of 4 isn't totally out of line for us. We track our expenses carefully, and this does not include paper products, cleaning supplies, or alcohol.
Unlike you guys, we eat A LOT of meat. H and I are Paleo. We eat 35 eggs a week, and my homemade coconut coffee creamer runs $20/week. We also do a lot of crock pot meals, but pretty much everything is a fresh, whole food, and we're over 50% organic. Also, H and I work out most days, so we (especially he) eats a lot in general.
We used to spend about $750/month dining out, and now we hardly spend anything unless we're OOT or on a date night.
Healthy eating is a pretty big priority for us, so if we had to cut back, we'd probably choose another place in our budget.
ETA: we do mostly Costco, Kroger, and WF (MCOL) and do weekly meal plans.
We spend between $900-1000 per month in MCOL. Family of 4, soon to be 5. We eat at home for almost ever meal, DH takes leftovers to work. That includes Costco/household products. It also includes meat. We eat lots of organic/natural things, which definitely adds up. I can see how in HCOL you could get to what you're spending. With eating out (about 1x per week) we probably average $1150 per month total on all food. I will say I have seen a noticeable uptick in food prices. Like, I don't buy much differently than I was 8 months ago, but my average food bill has gone up almost $50 per week. It blows.
That's my budget for 2 adults and two kids. But it also includes diapers, paper products, and random things like shampoo and tampons. I budget one big Costco trip per month ($250), four $150 trips to the store a month, and about $80/week in supplemental shops....... I meal plan and shop sales, but having a gluten free kiddo probably doesn't help our cause.
Uhm, I'm scared to look at my food budget. I would not be surprised if we spent more than this on groceries alone (not including dining out).
Eta: Yup, in February we spent $1178.08. I might puke. 2 adults, 3 kids. I do buy a lot of organic veggies/fruits, grass fed beef, and none antibiotic treated chicken, as well as specialty items to accomodate allergies like coconut milk yogurt etc. But still, I need to get control of the situation!!! This didn't include the take out or the other $100 or so I spent on amazon subscribe and save for pouches, coconut milk, and some other items.
We spend about $1100/month in a MCOL area for a family of 4. Mostly Harris Teeter but all meat/fish and milk comes from EarthFare (organic, grass fed, etc).
We used to spend a fair amount less, probably more like $700/monthly before we started eating healthier and laying off the processed cheap foods.
Uhm, I'm scared to look at my food budget. I would not be surprised if we spent more than this on groceries alone (not including dining out).
Yup. Except we don't have a budget. (blush)
us either and I think therein lies the problem! I haven't had a budget since I had 3 kids in 21 mos and lost all time. But, uhm, that's all the more reason to get one.
I was also thinking ShopRite. It might be worth going out of your way and trying to get the bulk of your shopping done there.
We are in NYC and go out to PA for weekends so we hit a ShopRite and Costco in NNJ on our trips and try to get everything there since it is waaaay cheaper than NYC and even less than where we are in PA. ShopRite has a good selection of store brand items (I get frozen veggies a lot, canned beans). The shoprite app has an easy way to load coupons to their loyalty card so that helps a little as well.
If you can order in advance and do store pickup it is even easier. You do pay a convenience fee, but it is worth it IMO. You can do manufacturers coupons when you pick up. In addition, you can save your most purchased items and look at contents of prior orders to build new orders quickly and easily.
American Express tells me that I've averaged $800 per month at "grocery stores" for 2014. So this doesn't include Amazon S&S or Target household stuff. We are two adults and two kids in HCOL but DS isn't a huge table food eater yet. I shop mainly at Stop & Shop, with a some Whole Foods and some Trader Joes.
I feel like I was closer to $600 for a long time and then BAM it shot up to what it is now. I've definitely changed my purchasing habits since kids. I now buy organic dairy and most produce, Nature's Promise or similar meats, and it really adds up.
I think in your case, the dairy alternatives push the bill higher for sure. The coconut creamer, ice cream, and yogurt are significantly pricier than their dairy counterparts. I've been off the MSPI diet for 2 months and I already have a noticeable decrease in my grocery bills not having to buy those kinds of things. In general, I think dairy and unprocessed foods are comparable at Stop and Shop and Whole Foods. A gallon of organic milk or an organic red pepper are going to cost the same at each. Many of the nonperishables in the middle of the store do seem to cost more at WF and the prepared food will bankrupt you. Do you have a Trader Joe's nearby? I'm not a huge fan of their meat or produce but you can save a bit on organic milk, yogurt, cheese, etc there.
Post by asoctoberfalls on Mar 4, 2015 12:18:03 GMT -5
I budget $160 per week and have done well sticking with that. But DS eats breakfast and lunch at daycare. I have to shop at the less expensive store to stay in budget.
Ours is similar, teatimefor2, so it doesn't sound insane to me. We could definitely decrease it if we needed to, but we don't really need to. I use coupons and buy on sale, but we buy organic whenever possible, lots of produce, grass-fed/pastured meats, organic omega-3 eggs, grass-fed dairy, avocado and olive oils, minimal grains... so that's kind of just what it costs. We waste very little.
This is shopping at Trader Joe's, local co-op chain, Costco, and Whole Foods by proxy (a delivery service that shops for me, as we won't have a WF in my 'hood for a couple years yet).
Edit: My actual "grocery store" spending is ~$800/month. But I estimate total spending at ~$1000 because Mint doesn't catch the one-off purchases I make in cash at the market, or the coconut flakes I add to my Amazon order because they're a steal, etc., and I don't care enough to micro-manage that part of the budget. So I estimate that's $100-200 more monthly.
We spend $1200/month on groceries too. Like you, we eat out very little. At first, I thought it was a lot, but $38/day to feed a family of 4 isn't totally out of line for us. We track our expenses carefully, and this does not include paper products, cleaning supplies, or alcohol.
Unlike you guys, we eat A LOT of meat. H and I are Paleo. We eat 35 eggs a week, and my homemade coconut coffee creamer runs $20/week. We also do a lot of crock pot meals, but pretty much everything is a fresh, whole food, and we're over 50% organic. Also, H and I work out most days, so we (especially he) eats a lot in general.
We used to spend about $750/month dining out, and now we hardly spend anything unless we're OOT or on a date night.
Healthy eating is a pretty big priority for us, so if we had to cut back, we'd probably choose another place in our budget.
ETA: we do mostly Costco, Kroger, and WF (MCOL) and do weekly meal plans.
I could have basically dittoed you. LOL. We don't go through quite as many eggs, but 18-24 weekly is about right.
Post by Queen Mamadala on Mar 4, 2015 12:34:47 GMT -5
That's high. Even when I have shopped at TJ's and WF for the bulk of groceries for one adult and three kids I was spending $700 a month when I was living in Atlanta. Even in So Cal I was spending $600 since there wasn't a WF or TJ nearby.
I live in Nor Cal, and we spend around $800 between TJ, Costco, Safeway and some items I get from Amazon. That includes paper items, cat litter and cat food. Two adults and three kids, baby is mostly breastfed.
I mostly eat Primal, but I don't purchase a lot of meat, it's mostly chicken and seafood, and eggs. I sometimes eat 4-5 eggs a day.
Post by teatimefor2 on Mar 4, 2015 15:27:44 GMT -5
Thanks all... I am going to watch what we spend and just to shop around more, maybe use Amazon. That list wasn't $250... I think $160. And I buy a lot of fresh fruit and veg.
The steak was frozen and about $10.00, I think.
Honestly, I don't like Trader Joes. Thank goodness there is a Wegmans being built somewhat close to here, that will help. Their prices are lower and when I go to my hometown, I stock-up on staples, etc.
I spend about $1000 a month, I would guess. $200 or so a week at the grocery and then another $200 once a month at Sam's. My kids eat A LOT of food though, it's kind of out of control. I have about 95 lbs of toddler.
I stretch meat, meal plan, use seasonal vegetables but really, at the end of the day, it's the sheer quantity over here.
I want to know what ingredients are in the $20 coffee creamer. iheartbanjos.
Lol, it's actually $10/week (must have mistyped on my phone).
It's just culinary coconut milk, coconut oil, and vanilla mixed with an immersion blender. H is super particular about the coconut milk and only likes the So Delicious box ones that are smaller than regular canned coconut milk. They are $2.79/each and we go through 3-4/week.
Nothing super exciting, but since a latte at Starbucks runs me $5.50, still pretty MM.
teatimefor2 I do find Wegmans to be reasonably priced, especially for their brand. They do carry a nice selection of cheeses and have a large health food section. My one complaint is that sometimes I feel they don't carry as many brands as other grocery stores.
Have you considered joining a CSA? That might help you save on produce during the summer.
ETA - I buy my spices from online from penzeys (no organics) or savory spice shop...even bay leaves LOL. Much better quality than the grocery store and less expensive.
That's high, but not absurd. We spend ~$600-800 a month for the 4 of us, and I cook 5 nights a week (healthy meals, meat and produce), pack lunch every day for both girls and make breakfast for me and the girls every day.
Stop going to Whole Foods if you're trying to cut back. It's super expensive.
"Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies-"God damn it, you've got to be kind.”
teatimefor2 I do find Wegmans to be reasonably priced, especially for their brand. They do carry a nice selection of cheeses and have a large health food section. My one complaint is that sometimes I feel they don't carry as many brands as other grocery stores.
Have you considered joining a CSA? That might help you save on produce during the summer.
ETA - I buy my spices from online from penzeys (no organics) or savory spice shop...even bay leaves LOL. Much better quality than the grocery store and less expensive.
I love Wegmans, they are my hometown store and actually prefer a lot of their products. I love their trail mix bar!! I'll look at the spices on-line. Thanks!
I'm in HCOL also and our budget is for $1k/month on groceries not including paper products, baby supplies or alcohol.
I checked mint and my average spend is $750/month.
I shop at whole foods, trader joes and the farmers market, and sometimes hit Target or Safeway for staples. We also use our corner store to fill in as needed.
WF can be costly but not always. My goal is to spend less than $100 there most weeks. Then I hit trader joes every other week for cheese, cereal, and fruit/veg odds and ends. I go to the farmers market every week but I'm in CA so there are more options for seasonal produce. I spent $20-30 there most weeks. We have very little waste.
With WF, you just have to pay attention when you shop and learn. Some things are every bit as inexpensive as elsewhere and other things are expensive. In my experience, their cheese, meat, and specialty goods are really costly. They overprice some baking goods, even the same brands as other stores carry. Pay attention to veggies and fruits that are costly and reduce their quantities and replace with cheaper ones. Sometimes there's a $2/lb difference in types of apple for example, or red potatoes are $3 more than Yukon potatoes which are more than russet potatoes. They have vanilla extract starting at $2 and going up to $14.99. So you need to really watch and make smart choices.
Sometimes I'm willing to pay extra, especially to eliminate ingredients that shouldn't be there (no corn syrup in my bread, thanks). But other times I can shop smarter and be just as happy.
I am in NNJ. I shop at Shop Rite and Trader Joes equally and then at Whole Foods mostly for DD. We occasionally go to Costco but it's hard to get over there and it's such a zoo there that it's not worth fighting the line to buy 1 bag of lettuce and a pack of lamb chops. I almost never go to Stop and Shop unless I have a reason, like they recently sent me a really good coupon in the mail but I can't actually find the coupon right now, so much for going there
I don't budget our groceries but I don't think we are spending $1000 either. Maybe $600? And that includes buying lots of prepackaged stuff at Trader Joes. We aren't big meat eaters, but we do buy fish which can be expensive.
We average about $300/mo at the moment. I've been tracking it since 1/1 and we're coming in right at $300 for groceries/toiletries/household cleaning items. I do do some pretty extensive couponing/sales shopping. Meals are planned around sales and even with the 3 of us-I can make a casserole (9x13), freeze half, and have enough for us to eat dinner and have 2 lunch portions left.
Have you tried Fairway? I think there's one by you and I've found it much cheaper than WF. Also, isn't the Wegman's being built in Montvale? Or is there another one that's closer?
We used to spend easily $1000 on food (only half was groceries) before I reigned in the budget.
For about a year we were at $600 but I knew we could do a bit better, so I'm reaching for $500 for all food. We eat quite a bit of meat (probably 5-6 out of 7 nights) and lots of fresh fruits and veggies. We do most of our produce and meat shopping at Costco, which costs us around $150 a month (we only need to buy meat every other month usually, but when we do it's like $50-75). The rest is pastas or tortillas and assorted things we don't need bulk of. That generally runs around $50-70 per week. The remainder goes to eating out a couple times per month.