Grocery cosst on average...

[Mynyel]

I know there have been a lot of these posts :) but I want the poll to see a snapshot.

 

Grocery includes things like toilet paper, shampoo, toothpaste, cleaning supplies and the like. These are for things absolutely needed. For instance paper plates aren't needed.

 

We are a family of 5 and I am *trying* to eat better. No processed food and more organic. I want to try and get into a more vegetarian diet, I would like to eat meat only once or twice a week.

 

So how much do you think, realistically, you would spend weekly on needed things? Not including unforeseen things like a burnt out mixer (yea happened to me once) or other such things. :D

[thescrappyhomeschooler]

I voted $200-$250 range per week. Sometimes more, sometimes less than that. We have 4 (5 with my sister, but she buys some of the stuff herself) people living here.

[jewellsmommy]

We spend about $100 a week, sometimes a little less, sometimes a little more. We are a family of 2 adults, 2 smallish children, 3 cats, and 1 small dog.

[Jenny in Florida]

We have four people in the house, including two teens (one of whom eats more than either of the adults). I've been aiming to spend under $150 per week and doing just fine.

 

We have three vegans and one vegetarian, and we use only cruelty-free/natural household cleaners and personal care items. I do buy some junk food like chips and frozen potato products and soda.

[jenL]

I voted $100-150. My grocery budget is $400/month for 2 adults, 2 boys (8.5 & 4.5), and a cat. We eat mostly whole/organic foods all the time, and I use a lot of natural, homemade cleaners. We don't use paper plates, napkins, or paper towels, and we don't buy bottled water or soda. Occasionally, I will buy organic juice for the boys. I do coupon/stockpile for toothpaste, shampoo, and soap when I can.

[sgo95]

So sorry, I totally goofed. Thought I was voting for $500+/month. So I really should have voted $100-$150/week. This is for a family of 6 with younger kids.

[caedmyn]

We're trying to stick to a budget of $450/mo for food and $50/mo for household stuff (ie cleaning stuff, toilet paper, etc). So that'd be in the $100-$150/week range. We eat a mostly whole foods diet (except for DH who eats a lot of processed foods). We do eat a lot of cheap stuff like potatoes and beans, but we also eat a lot of meat, expensive gluten-free grains, and lots and lots of butter so those drive the costs up. Oh and my family eats a TON. The kids and I all have really high metabolisms and I think each of us eats half again what the average person of our age would eat. And DH is a big guy so he eats a lot too.

Edited January 10, 2012 by caedmyn

[jillian]

Depends big time on if I need meat/bread supplies/oil/etc. Usually between 100-200.

[Shellydon]

We spend about $200 per week for family of 6. Includes pet food and all toiletries.

[Daisy]

I spend $600 a month (comes out to about $150 per week). That covers organic produce (CSA type thing), organic dairy, other food stuffs, household cleaning supplies, toiletries, pet food, etc.

 

Family of four in California.

[sassenach]

We have 5 eaters, ds11 is medical formula fed (not part of our grocery budget). We spend between $175 and $225 a week. More often on the higher end. We live in a high COL area. Maybe the highest in the country.

[melissel]

Our grocery budget is $700 a month (four people), and we generally stay under it. This does include primarily grass-fed, locally sourced meats and around 50% organic veggies/fruit. However, I also buy almost no paper/cleaning products (we use cloth and bulk vinegar/Dr. Bronner's, which go a long way), and when I do buy them, I do so using coupons and get great deals. Right now I have a few months worth of free toilet paper downstairs, for example.

 

I do think I could lower my budget a bit, but right now, given our current habits, this is what we spend.

[kathymuggle]

We are a family of 5, and eat very little meat. We do eat dairy and eggs. I would say we spend about 150 per week. I voted 150-200 but I hemmed and hawed over 100-150 (which I think I could do if I had to, without sacrificing nutrition or flavour - by shopping carefully)

[Princess Peach]

I try to keep it to $200 and under per week. It usually hits somewhere around $180-$200. Family of 5, no pets.

[txmom23]

About $175/wk includes pet food and toiletries. Family of 5, 3 dogs and 3 cats.

[TammyinTN]

I'm spending 150 a week for 4 adults, 1 teenager and 1 grand-baby. I shop at Costco a lot for produce and purchase formula and diapers through Amazon. This is getting ready to increase due to a new grandson getting ready to make his arrival next month. :D

[Jen in PA]

At $100 per week we eat really well and have lots of treats in the house. At $75 a week we eat a balanced diet but miss some of our favorites. $600 per month is what I average for groceries/toiletries/weekly breakfast out/2-3 dinners out or takeout, plus some wine/beer/Starbucks/treats grabbed for the kids. We are usually 2 adults and 2 children (plus teenage stepson some weekends). We live in a very low COL area, I make almost everything from scratch, I pack DH's lunch, and I am starting from a well-stocked pantry.

[DesertDweller]

We spend about $150 a week. Sometimes it can be a bit higher, but not much. There are three of us plus two cats and a dog. Basically, three adults since dd is a teen.

 

We are all watching our weight and trying to eat healthier. We tend to buy a mix of frozen diet meals, lean protein (usually chicken and fish), veggies/fruit and low fat snacks. Also buy diet soda and coffee, which gets expensive. The $150 includes everything else as well such as toiletries and pet food.

 

I use to use coupons and shop sales. When I did that, we spent about $100 a week. It was a lot of processed foods though, and we just don't eat that way now.

[DawnM]

I was keeping it at $150 per week diligently. I was couponing and cutting costs as much as I could.

 

We have now opted to get almost all processed foods out of the house and it is upping our grocery bill significantly.

 

I started with $200 we got for Christmas gifts and spent that on a jump start for food.

 

At Costco I have already spent $400 this month. ($200 of Christmas money plus $200 of our $$) Now, we are set for a while on several things due to that, so that isn't just a 1 week splurge, but it was more than I thought it would be. That includes a big toilet paper and paper towel purchase as well as dog food.

 

Other than that, I bought:

 

Hummus

organic salsa

Lettuce

Spinach

Cucumber

loads of other produce

 

10 pounds of frozen chicken

4 pounds of ground turkey

 

bread

tortillas

15 gallons of milk

5 pounds of cheese

Butter

Cream Cheese (several New Year's parties to make dip for!)

brown rice

 

dried figs

dates

raisins

craisins (yes, I know they have sugar)

 

Organic PB

almonds

cashews

flax seed

peacans

almond butter

organic jam

 

and the list goes on, but you get the idea.....lots of INGREDIENTS rather than prepped foods. I am trying. I really am.....it just gets hard when you have to spend so much time in the kitchen!

 

Dawn

[SKL]

I must be weird, because I spend under $100 per week. Probably around $50 for myself and two 5-year-olds. This is without scrimping (mostly organic foods), but we don't buy meat or snack food/drinks. And it doesn't count the kids' school lunches (which are included in their tuition).

[theYoungerMrsWarde]

I put $100-150, but it's more like $350/month for a family of 4.

[OnTheBrink]

I spend about $300 a month for me and dd13. This amount has actually gone up because I quit eating at fast food places (but overall, it's cheaper to buy groceries than eat out, I just mean my grocery bill has gone up). This includes all food, paper products, pet foods, cleaning items, toiletries. I do buy some processed foods (Lean Cuisines and canned soups for work) but for the most part, our food is just regular food.

[Ottakee]

I average about $80/week but we do buy our beef in bulk which adds $10-15/week additional. Then I have about $20 for extras--little things that Walmart sells that we need.

 

23ds is disabled so he gets a small amount of food stamps which helps but doesn't cover the cost of his food.

[QuirkyKapers]

I spend about 175 a week. This includes dog food, groceries, any medicine, cleaning supplies, and hair products.

[Pretty in Pink]

I voted 150-200 per week. Some months we're in the 200-250 price range though.

[Parrothead]

On average I spend $600 a month for a family of 3 who eats mostly produce and dairy. That isn't even all organic produce. I have a difficult time finding frozen veg that isn't either peas, corn and green beans or it is coated in come kind of sauce.

[Carrie12345]

I'm hovering between $130 and $150 these days with 4 full time kids and one occasional teenager (plus dh and myself.)

 

That sometimes includes pet foods, though I try to get dh to pick it up elsewhere. It does include 7th Generation diapers (relatively pricey) now that our dryer is on the fritz, as well as a little bit of prepared baby/toddler foods to supplement his regular diet.

 

We don't do cold cuts other than some cheese (I'd rather slice up leftovers), I make our bread, I do stock up on GM cereals when they're on sale, and I've cut back on my kids' milk consumption.

 

The bulk of our total goes towards produce, since our garden isn't matching our needs just yet. (Not a single speck to preserve this past year! :001_huh:)

[jennsmile]

We try to stick to $500 a month sometimes we go over. But I buy in Bulk from azure so that reduces the price of some things that are $$$ in the stores. I can get organic rice, apples and flour for much less than from the grocery store. We stock up on beef about twice a year and I got chicken at a cheap price as well.

[CourtneyBrooke]

$100 a week for 2 adults, 4.5 children (my niece is here part-time). That does count toiletries (I get ours free with coupons) and does NOT count eating out.

[Mommee & Baba]

We are a family of 5. Gluten free. We spend about $125/wk. We don't eat out due to all our gluten allergies.

[DawnM]

No, not weird. We have 4 of us who eat like adults plus a 7 year old who can come close!

 

So, my $150/wk is probably less per person than your $100/wk.

 

Dave Ramsey says a general rule of thumb is $25/wk per person. Now, that was a few years ago that he said that, but we *can* stick to that if we need to.

 

Dawn

 

I must be weird, because I spend under $100 per week. Probably around $50 for myself and two 5-year-olds. This is without scrimping (mostly organic foods), but we don't buy meat or snack food/drinks. And it doesn't count the kids' school lunches (which are included in their tuition).

[MrsMommy]

I budget $150 a week. Most weeks, I'm a bit under that, but every once in a while, I go over, so I guess it averages out pretty well.

 

There are six (soon to be seven) of us.

[Snickerdoodle]

Dave Ramsey says a general rule of thumb is $25/wk per person.

 

We'd starve.

[Ali in OR]

I kept track of all receipts in 2011 (including picking berries at berry farms, farmers market purchases, plus toiletries and paper products--anything I get at the grocery store). I met my goal of averaging $650 per month. Some months are a lot higher when I am stocking up (berries in July, baking products in Nov/Dec). Some are lower. But anyway, $650 per month puts me at exactly $150 per week ($650x12/52) which falls into two categories in your poll. I voted the lower one ($100-$150).

Edited January 10, 2012 by Ali in OR

[NicAnn]

We spend less than 100 a week, including all other grocery items (walmart items). Of course, I make all of our cleaning supplies, most of the beauty supplies, and have very few paper products in the house (cloth everything, nearly). But we are gluten free, mostly whole food vegans, so i think it all evens out in the end.

[Lisa in the UP of MI]

I voted $150-$200 for our family of 6, soon to be 7. We spend toward the lower end of this range. We make most of our food from scratch and do have some food intolerances.

[Runningmom80]

$150-$200 a week. We are vegan except for DS 5, who has lots of food allergies. Rice pasta and substitute flowers and milks are the most expensive and what usually keeps my grocery bill high.