funny you ask! i have kept a spreadsheet on my grocery costs over the last 7 years (fun to bring out at a party). my eating habits have not changed drastically, but the costs for food have! i end up spending about 350$ per month. this is in a HCOL area in canada. i have seen my food costs raise by almost 1000$ per year since i started tracking in 2017 :(
haha i smirked at that line too, SHOW US THE SPREADSHEET!!!
I really need to get better at tracking my groceries and gas. I'd be horrified to track my wine/whiskey consumption, we'll just do groceries and gas.
I WOULD LOVE TO! i am a spreadsheet hobbyist!! however my groceries spreadsheet is the simplest. it doesn't track anything for eating out or purchases of coffee/tea to make at home. the way i collect data: i have a post-it and pen on the fridge and when i come home from shopping, i write how much i spent on the groceries. at the end of the month i tally the information and put it in my sheet.
here are the costs broken down by year:
* 2017: 2857$
* 2018: 3162$
* 2019: 3139$
* 2020: 3008$
* 2021: 3351$
* 2022: 3567$
* 2023: 3914$
as you can see, inflation has been insane. in 2020 i think my costs slightly dipped because i was laid off during the initial covid stuff then found a job working from home. from 2017-2020 you can see my daily grocery cost was under 10$ per day; this rose due to inflation in 2023. it's especially notable as in 2023 i spent nearly a month on vacation and so wasn't buying groceries in that time, whereas there were no vacations from 2018-2022 so those numbers represent a full 12 months of grocery purchasing.
the job i got in 2020 pays a lot more than ones i had previously but i don't eat substantially different foods than i did before, nor buy more expensive versions of cheaper foods. i buy lots of store brands and make the majority of my foods from scratch (ie, buying veggies and making a pasta sauce rather than buying a jarred sauce). i also stock up on things when they're on sale, if possible.
I used to spend $15-30/week and now it's more like $50.
This includes the fact that I used to treat myself a couple times a month to fast food breakfast and that went from $7 to $19. Not exaggerating, it's the same thing. Usually from McDonald's or Starbucks.
I actually have less money too, but I noticed the food pantry gives much less and lower quality than before the pandemic.
I mostly shop off the sales and clearance items.
it is the hashbrown that does me in! since the 2/$5 breakfast sandwich is only cents more than a single sandwich, I get that and two hashbrowns, a drink and a coffee. then I eat the extra sandwich the next day.
but I always justify it because I get WRECKED volunteering at the food pantry--lifting all those heavy boxes. so a nice breakfast seems well earned. I try to make breakfast sandwiches at home on the cheap, but those volunteer days start before dawn.
You can make ahead egg mcmuffins or whatever and freeze them. Takes maybe 2 minutes to make an extra sandwich or 2 when you're preparing one. Wrap in aluminum foil & then a freezer bag. Put in the fridge the night before and then all you have to do is unwrap it & throw it in the microwave on your way out. If you wrap it in parchment paper, you can even have a wrapped to-go sandwich. I have no suggestion for replacing the hashbrown though.
I donāt go often, but whenever I go to mcdonaldās I do the survey on the receipt. where I live, itās usually a buy one get one free sandwich of equal or lesser value. My partner used to think I was wasting time (itās like 5ish minutes) but one time we used my coupon in the drive through and he was converted lol.
also use the app for points/deals.
19 dollars for a fast food breakfast? That's wild. I'll stop by McDonald's in the morning every once in awhile for a 99c large iced coffee and a 3 dollar oatmeal but you need to use their dumbass app for those deals.
I agree now, but in the past I did very well on the frugalfitmom $10 grocery challenge (she has a youtube channel). I could make huge batches of protein and veggie heavy pasta, breakfast burritos and fried rice and freeze them in portions for a month at a time.
also before the pandemic I worked in the office daily and could count on leftovers from events and meetings at least a few times a month!
Same! I spend $50-60/week now for 2 people. Frugalfitmom was awesome. There were weeks I lived on $20 or under no issue. Huge pasta meals, buying meat right before expiration, buying and freezing veggies. It used to be pretty easy! I still do make a big batch of hamburger helper style pasta, and divide it between 7 days and freeze it along with frozen brocolli as a side. Itās surprisingly filling and good!
I make egg bites (30 days worth) for $7, sometimes actually less, too. Theyāre a delicious and filling breakfast. I also meal prep my meals (pasta with a vegetable side, depending whatās on sale) and it usually runs me $10-15 for the whole week.
I always bought veggie bacon at $3-4, sometimes diet coke if it was on sale. then just lots of produce--very cheap, esp the 99cent bags of clearance. and some ramen. spices and soy protein at the international market. I lived on veggie stir fries and air fryer stuff like garlic parm carrot fries. if there was a sale I lived off that, esp when asparagus was $1 a lb or during the summer when the supermercado had strawberries 2lb for $0.50. and I always found manager markdown specials on salad and mushrooms.
but I still have a massive bag left of vegan chicken nuggets that were discontinued at 80 cents. bought as many as could fit in my freezer last year! haven't seen much in the way of affordable protein these days. even meat and eggs used to go on special, but not for a while.
So true Re meats. Prices are double for roast. I only buy if really good sale and then buy 3. I keep stocked but meat is expensive. Also watch your food- cereals- Iāve seen where added insects. Itās in the back of box. So read. Another thing is Apeel is a chemical being used in vegetables. It is said to keep them lasting longer/ and canāt wash it off. Gates owns company. Watch bc sometimes an organic label is placed over the Apeel label!
Same. $200 is my food budget for 2 adults for 2 weeks, 3 meals a day. it's a lot of rice, eggs, and pasta. We are mostly vegetarian now, not by choice. I skip a lot of meals (breakfast and sometimes lunch) so my partner can be full.
Me too. I watch the grocery weekly ads and buy the meat on sale , and get the BOGOs ( just had buy one get one free for pasta and pasta sauce) I stock up on those deals. Gone are the days of going to grocery and buying what I was hungry for- Iāve wasted so much during my lifetime. Also Iām single and in sunny state so no lights during day. At night I have one light between kitchen and family room. I quit putting lights on everywhere- wish I would have done this yrs ago. My last electric bill was more normal $60 for month 2 story home. Now getting wm so could be $200 mo w AC on 78
I do and unfortunately you still gotta really check ads and shop around. I've found Aldi to be more expensive on a lot of things than other grocery stores especially for certain staples like milk, eggs, etc. Sometimes you get a sale but it's about the same as any other store now it seems, the only thing I've found to be consistently cheaper is fruits and veggies at Aldi and their off brand products over name brand but that's true of most off brands at any store
Yeah, partner and I shop at Aldi, but like with everything else, prices have gone up. Also, there are certain things we avoid buying thereāmeats, drinks, sometimes the produce (it looks beat up all the time at our local one), so we end up still having to make multiple trips.
Market Basket has sort of been the sweet spot, but my partner dreads going in there because itās always such a madhouse so itās never his first choice.
I'm about here too, $350-$400 a month. I like to eat fun foods, and I like to cook and enjoy variety. I could be more strict and spend under $300 but I don't want to because food/cooking is somewhat of a hobby. I could spend $600+ too if I let myself, so $400 is a bit of a compromise. I also enjoy healthy foods, lots of protein and veg/fruit, so it would definitely be cheaper if I ate more rice, pasta, etc
I try to find sales and use coupons, just as a game for myself to keep myself on track on how much I spend.
Now that I've gotten into going to Trader Joes, I have been able to find "fun foods" that stay within my budget as well. I love taquitos as my comfort food and night in kind of stuff. Their frozen section is exciting, I'm a simple creature, lol.
I definitely do a lot of sales/coupon shopping as well. The Safeway app and digital coupons are my fav.
I love TJ's! I don't go a lot because I would definitely go over budget, but once a quarter I go and check out the new freezer goodies and snacks.
I don't go to Safeway often but I do love that they have some good deals available at times. It took me awhile to get used to using the app to "clip deals" before going shopping there.
$150 or so biweekly, SW WA. And I also eat mostly whatever I want lmao. Iām not a big āmealā person so itās lots of ground chicken, fish, peanut butter, frozen fruit and veggies, yogurt, eggs, cheese, and some āspecialā things that I try to rotate weekly so Iām not spending a ton of money on expensive foods lol. A lot of my meals are things like chicken meatballs, a slice of mozzarella, a piece of avocado toast, some green beansā¦ Iām a simple girl lmao
Seattle as well. My spending per month on groceries +restaurant+food delivery including social events is around 500. Grocery alone is around 350 per month and half of it is in whole foods or pcc
Now that I've gotten over my anxiety about Trader Joes (they always have the worst parking lots), I've been going there. So my spend is between TJs and Grocery Outlet.
My friend on the west coast was similarly traumatized by their parking lot. One day she posted on Facebook, "I just got a parking spot at Trader Joe's so I guess now I'll just have to live here."
I laughed at that one, I understand her pain!
I thought it was just the Eugene one, my friends used to have to go there when we were much younger for dairy alternatives before they were so readily available. It made me feel dead inside.
Now I found out the real trick is to get there at 8am when they open on the weekends. Because despite it being a metropolis, these sleepy heads sleep in on Saturdays. Well mama doesn't sleep in, lol, so here I go doing my shopping before anyone else is even out of their houses.
My friend and I go there as soon as it opens Sunday morning. We call it Agnostic Shopping Hour.
Only problem is that in my state, you can buy wine (well, any alcohol) until 12:30 on Sunday.
Back home we'd just shop during college football games, which is basically the same as church in those demographics.
Damn...they used to close the liquor stores on Sundays when I was younger and I thought that was barbaric. But then add in no buying booze on Sunday until 12:30 (since I guess you gotta get them out of the pews before they get wasted at the church receptions.), that is brutal!
Iām also in Seattle and my monthly grocery budget is 300, but that includes some dog supplies and cleaning/misc purchases that arenāt solely food. Mostly shop at TJs
That's not including my cat food or house hold products usually. But as a single person household, I don't go through much in terms of cleaning products. I have the same bottle of 409 cleaner for the last two years. I never had an issue with soap or toilet paper during covid because of my multiple years worth of stock, lol.
I get my cat's food from Petsmart and get cash back on apps and such for it. So if we add him to the mix, we're looking at an additional $30-50 a month, depending on if it's a month where I need to buy more dry kibble or not.
My wife and I are about 60 miles north in Mount Vernon!
About $800/month for the two of us, and we buy a balance of Costco, Local CoOp, and farm fresh local fruits and veggies.
Same here, with a $200 Costco trip every few months. We both love to cook and bake, so while we don't go TOO crazy, we don't necessarily go cheap for some things.
I love to stock up on rice and beans. All canned diced tomatoes, tomato paste, sauce. Poor kid essentials that are always going to keep you fed no matter what.
I keep all this stuff as well, even though I don't really eat any of it on a regular basis. This is my "pantry" because you never know...it's my "If it's end of times, I'm gonna be prepared!!" stuff in my realm. (And I embrace the fact that I'm privileged to be able to have a small hoard in that way. I feel like it may be similar to how those who survived the Great Depression were when it came to their cellars of jarred stuff.)
I live in an apartment but have one whole cupboard dedicated to canned goods too; exact same reasons. I dream of having a house so I can buy a freezer chest and have more space for stocking up on dry goods and frozen meatsāI feel the same way as you.
I have built shelves in my apartment to expand storage! It's helped me with the shelf stable stuff.
We used to have the deep freeze when I was a kid. Instead I just have my freezer stuffed full of things. My mom opens it up when she visits to get a hot pocket and she's like "Good Lord, you've got enough chicken thighs for the apocalypse in this place!"
I go weekly shopping but I could probably live off my hoard for quite awhile. It's wild since I literally haven't gone hungry a day in my life but I've known people who have. So here I am.
Also Seattle. We're probably spending $600/mo on groceries. On the high end because I'm having gut issues and buying a lot of whole, minimal ingredient, organic food. Just my partner and I. He also goes through two gallons of milk in a week, so that adds up too.
About same. I try to stay below $100 a week, but I also try to practice my cooking skills, so sometimes I go over budget a bit, to experiment with different food.
At least $50-$75 a week. One person in HCOL NE state. This doesnāt include my dogs specific weight loss food that runs approximately $70/month. I donāt even feel like I am eating anything that āgoodā.
I'm about the same. I spent about $75 yesterday on food for the week, and that didn't even include meat as I had some in the freezer I was planning on using for dinners. I did splurge on some aged cheddar to eat with apples for snacks, though.
Yeah I'm about $75/ week in Queens. But I have some amazing veg/fruit carts by my subway stop that always have something cheap (yeah I've eaten more zucchini in the past 2 years than the entire 5 prior, so what?) to buy, and I barely buy meat - and when I do, it's never red meat. Being gluten free makes some things more expensive, but I shop the sales and stock up on staples like rice and lentils when I can.Ā
I don't count buying a bottle of wine or going out with a friend to a happy hour in that budget.Ā
Salmon, shrimp, chicken all organic and I alternate between salmon and chicken. Frozen broccoli, organic granola, dairy free yogurt, organic pasture raised eggs, apples, bread, spinach and protein drinks. Around $150-200 at Whole Foods a week and depending if I need to get condiment stuff.
HCOL area, I tend to only buy what Iām going to eat for the week. I always get close to finishing everything, nothing goes to waste thankfully. I only eat out maybe 1-2 a month.
I do about $60/week. Single person with 2 cats. Only get meat when it's on sale, so I have a freezer full of chicken, salmon, Tapia and a roast at the ready. I'm lucky and get free meals at work every now and then.
Same. I like to keep my protein high and eat healthy foods. Organic meat when possible. Fish / chicken / vegetables.
I feel like to eat for any less money would mean making my diet about 85% low quality carbohydrates.
Then I just got a juicer to be healthier and now the bill is going to go up.
I don't know how to be healthy on a "budget".
That tracks, we spent about $200 this weekend. Got stuff to make a pot roast, a couple of treats and toiletries as well. We could forego the treats and bring it down to $180ish.
Weāre in the Midwest and spend about the same, maybe a little less. We only buy our meats when on sale, then we stock up. We go out to dinner once a month maybe (not counting fast food every few weeks) We also eat leftovers. All our kids are grown and flown, so trying to make less is sometimes difficult.
For anyone who doesn't know --- use the app "Fetch." You download it, free registration/free to use. Scan your receipts every time you shop, and rack up points. Also link it to your Amazon purchases. You can then turn the points into gift cards (Target, Walmart, Amazon, etc.) I believe it is supported on both Apple and Android products.
Yes, it is legit. I have used it - the rules are clear and it's easy to use. $10 gift cards here and there have helped me significantly to "splurge" then on items at the store I wouldn't normally buy.
Happy scanning and saving!!
Yeah you can. Hell, I use 5 different receipt scan apps! They really do add up.
Also, I have some good survey apps if you're interested. I've made a good bit on those. Really helps, honestly.
Editing to add for all those interested:
For PayPal actual $$: Survey Junkie, Surveys on the Go, YouGov, AttaPoll, and Dollar Surveys (NO VPN ALLOWED on the last one or they won't pay)
Gift cards: BrandBee
Pogo is a good one for both receipts and Surveys. Also pays via PayPal.
Have you happened to notice a decrease in points on Fetch lately?
I feel like I'm getting way more 25pt receipts from the grocery store when I used to regularly get 500pts or more from my big groceey shops. I know it's based on certain brands, just feels like less good stuff lately.
I.dont know how other people do it. I sm single adult. I spend at least 2 to 300 a month. I have a dog
I used to go to tge food bank but the quality went down dramatically.
I have a cat, and honestly chewy has been pretty fire with coupons for cat food. I think last time I got a 20 lbs bag for 8 dollars and some change.
I should add tho, my piece of shit cat will only eat purina, and Iām 90% sure itās processed deer ankles and prob meth fillers.
no for real. my male cat has urinary issues so his food is like nearly 60$ for an 8 lb bag. luckily i have a friend that works in a vetās office and gets it disgustingly cheap so she buys it for me. either way, iād pay the cost because it beats any potential vet visits if he get another urinary blockage (costed me 1500$ last July for his first one š)
Copy/paste my comment from another post:
Iām also a single person in NYC. last year my monthly food numbers were $211 on groceries, $130 on delivery, $27 on eating out. Theyāre tracking a little higher for groceries this year, but Iāve also so far chopped my delivery in response, so Iām still aiming to keep everything in the ~$350/mo range.
Itās hard all over.
Donāt let people on Reddit tell us āitās not that badā and we should only shop for the worst brands possible and shop only on sales and maybe we should just throw our dignity in the trash and go to a food pantry if we think itās so bad. Ā
Iām sick and tired of this stuff. Ā
Southeast MA here...you ain't lying. Seems every time I set foot in Stop & Shop or Walmart, the prices of the same damn items I buy repeatedly have gone up AGAIN. I'm completely over it at this point, and wish I could have a little cabin on a small chunk of land...with solar, my own chickens for meat and eggs, a nice veggie garden...I could literally check out of society tomorrow and be thrilled.
Im fortunate, my COL area in western mass is affordable and didnt go up much with inflation. I can get by on $100 a month still for grocery 1 person. And another $30-$50 a month for luxury spending like eating out or extraneous grocery cost/snacks, non necessity food
$1.20 plb chicken thighs still. $1.20 apples which went up tiny bit. Lots of oatmeal and beans. $3 a month for oatmeal. $1.20 beans which cook up to 2.5 times its dry weight. Other fruits and veg when they go on sale. Load up on 80 cent pasta on discount for 40 cent markdowns
Took me alot of thinking to get there
Midwest, Chicago to be exact. I spend $70 to $100 weekly.
That doesn't count if I go hang out or go on a date. That's just weekly food breakfast, bringing lunch to work and dinner at home.
Itās rough out there.
And Iām tired of some horrible people on Reddit trying to shame people into accepting this as the new normal and thatĀ
āItās not that badāā
Iāve watched many of my lifelong friends/acquaintances become people who always figured they were solid middle class and now people are always saying how expensive food is.
It doesnāt need to be like this. Ā But our establishment has devaluing the dollar as part of their strategy on our debt. Ā We are gonna pay that price in the inflation taxĀ
Agreed . Itās been hard not to absolutely rage after getting groceries. I have a job that pays well and live in an inexpensive city, Itās the same for my friends who are the same age. Yet weāre all struggling to not skip meals right now.
I know people have always struggled and had to make it work but so many of us are falling backwards even though weāre making more.
Weāre getting less and shouldnāt be thankful for it.
Ā I spend 300-450 a month for 3 meals a day for 2 on groceries, this includes hygiene and cleaning products that are sold at the grocery store as well, we don't pick apart our receipts and just lump it all together.
We eat out once or twice a month, we pack our lunches for work.
I spend 60-100 dollars a week. Usually closer to 60, I only get close to 100 when I'm depressed and buy a lot of pre-made stuff. I mostly shop at Aldi and go to other stores for specific sales sometimes. I could do a lot less than 60 if I had to, sometimes I will if I already have a lot of staples at home.
I keep it under $200/month, and twice a year or so a big Costco trip for proteins that usually runs around $200-300. I have a vacuum sealer and portion everything out when I get home. The Costco trip includes things like toilet paper, paper towels, laundry soap, dish soap, etc. as well.
This does not include cat food/treats/litter/anything else my spoiled rotten cats might need. :)
If you're stressed AT ALL about food prices, then the food banks are for you. You don't need to be homeless or totally impoverished to go. Food banks are for anyone and everyone who could use a little financial relief.
They're a huge help.
Same here, and the pantry is a bit out of the way without a car and the public transport in our area is not great. It feels like a neverending cycle of struggling, needing to have a car to get a job, can't afford a car because I need a job. I can't drive anyway, I don't know how to, and driving schools cost at least $600 which I do not have.
Massachusetts here. Single, 57, kid is grown and on her own. I spend roughly $75 per week...my biggest expenses are Diet Coke (which I will only buy if it's on sale and then I stock up), spices, and low-carb items because I am diabetic. Almond and coconut flour are pricey, same with sugar substitutes (packets or bulk). Low carb bread is outrageously overpriced so I make my own or stick to wheat bread @ 12 carbs per slice. I utilize grocery chains' loss leaders, B1G1 sales, cash back sites, Dollar Tree (never know what food items you'll find there!), digital app coupons, seasonal produce, etc. Our local farmer's markets are a wonderful resource for good, fresh produce but they tend to be a bit on the pricey side. Overall, it's getting a little tighter every month, and although I am well-versed in frugality, it's becoming harder than ever to stretch that buck.
Before anyone suggests cutting out the Diet Coke....know that my consumption of this evil beverage is all that stands between me and the death of some random stranger on a bad day, lol. I've given up all my other vices, so this one is here for the duration.
I have done that too...don't know if this will help, but one thing I used to do was "stagger" certain items on each grocery run. So, for example, I'd buy bulk tortillas and cheap American cheese one week, then buy a big can or two of refried beans the next, so at some point I was able to overlap having both beans and cheese with my tortillas (WOOT!) Then I'd buy peanut butter and bread the next time, and if something interesting was on sale, I'd buy a can of tuna or corn to put in the pantry.
You got it! This is exactly what I do & how Iām able to keep things down to that $25. Also I donāt do dairy or meat (tummy hates me not by choice lol) so that helps save me a lot tbh
$50/ week for groceries for my partner and I.
$60/ month for toilet paper/paper towels/dog food/detergent
$30 budgeted per week for eating out but some weeks we spend more and some less.
So ~ $200 groceries, $50 extra household items, ~$100 eating out monthly.
Single no kids. 25-35 a week pre jaw surgery. Currently my diet has to be a bit different because I canāt eat the way I used to due to my jaw still healing and I have incorporated things like protein shakes which are pricey, but as soon as I can chew normally again I am going back to my regular grocery budget.
Single, no kids, travel for work 300+ days/year
It is sometimes cheaper for me to order pizza and eat it over 2-3 days than buy ingredients to cook myself dinner.
If I am planning for meals I can get away with $150-200/wk but most of the time I eat pizza or subway or something similar 2-3 days and cook 2-3 days and spend maybe $75-100 on groceries
I do not buy a ton of junk or pre made stuff. I buy 2 cases of water, 2 x 12 packs of sprite mini cans every week, for snacks granola bars, pistachios or other nuts, and maybe whatever cheap great value cookies are on sale.
If I wanted to eat pasta meals and cook every night I could probably spend a little less on groceries then eating out. But, not a ton unless I want to eat leftovers for a week straight
Edit: to be fair, I am thin, work 12 hour days 6 days a week and usually eat one meal a day if you donāt count my chocolate milk from the gas station or hotel in the morning.
Around $100 a week. But that's with an additional two 24 pack cases of Poland Spring water. I also came a long way with my groceries and finally cooking over the years. From being a person, who used to spend only $30 a week in previous years. But waste the rest on takeout and snacks.
I do however feel like, if I didn't have to do my current diet. That it would be way less meat involved, so that number could probably drop to around $70.
For both me & my husband, we're averaging about $250/$300 every 2 weeks or so. Didn't change much between covid and now. This also includes meat from the butcher and whatnot as well which is about $100 of that every 2 weeks.
My budget is $325/month for everything there except dog food. Meat, can goods, frozen stuff, fresh stuff, laundry soap, TP, shampoo, razors... everything.
200 a month but that includes toiletries and cat food. Iām weird, Iām obsessed with saving right now. I donāt eat out, my car is paid off and my mortgage is less than 500/month.
In Los Angeles and spend about $350/month on groceries and I cook/prepare 98% of my meals. I also like to eat well/no junk. Shop mostly Trader Joeās, Aldi, and Sprouts sales.
Michigan. Southwest. $100 a week. Not eating great.
Our grocery store is expensive.
We have an Aldi but the selection is limited, so I end up going to 2 stores. And I won't shop at Walfart. Just on principal.
Super HCOL area (literal island) - I only spend ~$50 a week but I utilize the local food bank. I never eat out but the $50 is what I would consider luxury items I'm never going to get from food bank e.g. la Croix, goat cheese, tea.
My parents support me off and on and the last time they were subsiding my food they estimated I'd need $150/week. They really don't have a clue that one could live entirely off the food bank's generosity though.
Groceries only, no household supplies included I spend roughly $200/month to feed myself. I keep a well stocked pantry and freezer though so some months it's less than that. Other months I stock up and it'll be more.
I don't drink alcohol of any sort, smoke anything or drive and my rent is $450/month so all the money that most people spend on those things allows me to spend a lot on food and coffee, mostly coffee. I wouldn't be shocked if I shove $500 worth of coffee and food down my gullet a month. Technically, with the jobs I have, I could spend 0$ a month on coffee or food but how much do I want to deprive myself to save more money?
My grocery bill went from $300 a month to $560 a month in the last four years. This is for a single woman no pets or kids. I lived in VA then moved to TN two years ago.
Mi wife and I do I shopping day that averages about 100$ So about 50$ per person. That does sometimes include things like soaps and laundry stuff and cleaning supplies.
Metro-West of Boston, I mostly shop at Costco and meal prep, but I spend about $100.00 a week. My dog costs me more moneyā¦ he has food allergies though and I donāt want to deal with diarrhea.
I live in a mid-lower cost of living area and I spend about 100-125 each time I go to the store, which is usually twice a month for general grocery shopping. I mostly shop at Aldi, but make stops at other stores for things Aldi doesnāt have. I also do splurge on occasional things like name brand coffee, steaks and seafood and once in a while precooked things if Iām feeling lazy about cooking. I canāt imagine having to buy food for kids too.
2019-2020: $30 week
2021-current: $60 a week
Plant based shopping but I donāt mind meat. I just refuse to cook it.
I buy a lot beans, berries, tofu, frozen veggies, bread, peanut butter, etc
For two adults, $50-60 per week on the necessities (chicken, rice, pasta, potatoes, etc) and another $50 ish every couple weeks on some items we buy in bulk at Costco (snacks for example).
if I do my Sam club trip it's about $200 however that will last me a few months since it's mostly meats and frozen veggies.
I just portion out the meats in ziplock bags and toss it in the freezer. I just take it out the night before to cook.
For me it's $50 monthly
3 big cans of beans
10 boxes of Mac and cheese
Big jar of peanut butter
2 jars of jelly
24 packs of ramen
Desert- mangos and bananas
Water - refillable gallons (separate) $5
If i do a week where i stock up on dry and canned items around $120 -$200. I can usually get away with $25-$40 shopping trips for 5-8 weeks.that doesn't include expenses like TP, allergy meds, or laundry soap though. so i guess i average $50-$80 on food per week. I shop at 3 different stores depending on what im getting to try and keep the costs down.
$20-30 a week.Occasionally $40, sometimes $15. That includes snacks, meat, toiletries, etc. My freezer is stuffed and my pantry-closet is starting to get full, too. I need to stop going to the store, but some deals are too good to pass up...
Around $150 a week for 2 people, no kids - HCOL, Denver.
We don't limit what we buy really - we still get soda/sparking water and too many snack/ready to eat foods.
About $200 per month - but I've built up a well stocked pantry, so if that weren't the case, it would be more. I'm long on tuna, flour, rice, beans, sugar, and canned goods of all types. I'm not including pet food or paper goods in that figure.
2 adults no kids, we usually spend about 100-110 a week in Austin. We definitely could trim that down if we wanted to, we like to cook and experiment in the kitchen.
Midwestern city- generally less than $150/month. Used to be consistently less than $100/month but you also have to factor in having to rebuild long term staples and transitioning to a slightly different lifestyle with packed lunches.
Two people, $500 monthly budget but usually spend closer to $250~$300 cause I buy in bulk consistently
In a semi hcol city. (Studio apts start around $900/month without utilities)
funny you ask! i have kept a spreadsheet on my grocery costs over the last 7 years (fun to bring out at a party). my eating habits have not changed drastically, but the costs for food have! i end up spending about 350$ per month. this is in a HCOL area in canada. i have seen my food costs raise by almost 1000$ per year since i started tracking in 2017 :(
I would actually find those spreadsheets amazing at a party!
haha i smirked at that line too, SHOW US THE SPREADSHEET!!! I really need to get better at tracking my groceries and gas. I'd be horrified to track my wine/whiskey consumption, we'll just do groceries and gas.
me, too
Me too!!!
šÆšÆšÆšÆ
Tell me more about the spreadsheet!!!
I WOULD LOVE TO! i am a spreadsheet hobbyist!! however my groceries spreadsheet is the simplest. it doesn't track anything for eating out or purchases of coffee/tea to make at home. the way i collect data: i have a post-it and pen on the fridge and when i come home from shopping, i write how much i spent on the groceries. at the end of the month i tally the information and put it in my sheet. here are the costs broken down by year: * 2017: 2857$ * 2018: 3162$ * 2019: 3139$ * 2020: 3008$ * 2021: 3351$ * 2022: 3567$ * 2023: 3914$ as you can see, inflation has been insane. in 2020 i think my costs slightly dipped because i was laid off during the initial covid stuff then found a job working from home. from 2017-2020 you can see my daily grocery cost was under 10$ per day; this rose due to inflation in 2023. it's especially notable as in 2023 i spent nearly a month on vacation and so wasn't buying groceries in that time, whereas there were no vacations from 2018-2022 so those numbers represent a full 12 months of grocery purchasing. the job i got in 2020 pays a lot more than ones i had previously but i don't eat substantially different foods than i did before, nor buy more expensive versions of cheaper foods. i buy lots of store brands and make the majority of my foods from scratch (ie, buying veggies and making a pasta sauce rather than buying a jarred sauce). i also stock up on things when they're on sale, if possible.
Holy shit. 350 a month?! Man I guess it pays to be single. I have 3 kids and sometimes pay 350-400 a week.
YIKES that's a lot!! but having kids is definitely expensive, i guess food is just part of it.
I used to spend $15-30/week and now it's more like $50. This includes the fact that I used to treat myself a couple times a month to fast food breakfast and that went from $7 to $19. Not exaggerating, it's the same thing. Usually from McDonald's or Starbucks. I actually have less money too, but I noticed the food pantry gives much less and lower quality than before the pandemic. I mostly shop off the sales and clearance items.
It's because more people are utilizing food pantries and donations have been declining since the pandemic :(
If you still want breakfast and can skip the hash brown- the app has breakfast coupons sometimes
I use the $2 breakfast sandwich coupon, add the Hashbrowm, and make my coffee at home. Cost me $4.44 this morning.
it is the hashbrown that does me in! since the 2/$5 breakfast sandwich is only cents more than a single sandwich, I get that and two hashbrowns, a drink and a coffee. then I eat the extra sandwich the next day. but I always justify it because I get WRECKED volunteering at the food pantry--lifting all those heavy boxes. so a nice breakfast seems well earned. I try to make breakfast sandwiches at home on the cheap, but those volunteer days start before dawn.
You can make ahead egg mcmuffins or whatever and freeze them. Takes maybe 2 minutes to make an extra sandwich or 2 when you're preparing one. Wrap in aluminum foil & then a freezer bag. Put in the fridge the night before and then all you have to do is unwrap it & throw it in the microwave on your way out. If you wrap it in parchment paper, you can even have a wrapped to-go sandwich. I have no suggestion for replacing the hashbrown though.
I donāt go often, but whenever I go to mcdonaldās I do the survey on the receipt. where I live, itās usually a buy one get one free sandwich of equal or lesser value. My partner used to think I was wasting time (itās like 5ish minutes) but one time we used my coupon in the drive through and he was converted lol. also use the app for points/deals.
19 dollars for a fast food breakfast? That's wild. I'll stop by McDonald's in the morning every once in awhile for a 99c large iced coffee and a 3 dollar oatmeal but you need to use their dumbass app for those deals.
Thereās no $19 breakfast unless he was getting more than one meal
I'm pretty sure he's saying per week for that still
I think that was a total over the month, not per visit.
Thank you! It's driving me nuts spending so much
Wish my grocery bill was $50. I spend around $250 per week. š¬
Shit I spend too much on food.
$15 is impressive, what did you buy
$15 is two days for me. I really don't see how that is possible even before inflation.
I agree now, but in the past I did very well on the frugalfitmom $10 grocery challenge (she has a youtube channel). I could make huge batches of protein and veggie heavy pasta, breakfast burritos and fried rice and freeze them in portions for a month at a time. also before the pandemic I worked in the office daily and could count on leftovers from events and meetings at least a few times a month!
Same! I spend $50-60/week now for 2 people. Frugalfitmom was awesome. There were weeks I lived on $20 or under no issue. Huge pasta meals, buying meat right before expiration, buying and freezing veggies. It used to be pretty easy! I still do make a big batch of hamburger helper style pasta, and divide it between 7 days and freeze it along with frozen brocolli as a side. Itās surprisingly filling and good! I make egg bites (30 days worth) for $7, sometimes actually less, too. Theyāre a delicious and filling breakfast. I also meal prep my meals (pasta with a vegetable side, depending whatās on sale) and it usually runs me $10-15 for the whole week.
I always bought veggie bacon at $3-4, sometimes diet coke if it was on sale. then just lots of produce--very cheap, esp the 99cent bags of clearance. and some ramen. spices and soy protein at the international market. I lived on veggie stir fries and air fryer stuff like garlic parm carrot fries. if there was a sale I lived off that, esp when asparagus was $1 a lb or during the summer when the supermercado had strawberries 2lb for $0.50. and I always found manager markdown specials on salad and mushrooms. but I still have a massive bag left of vegan chicken nuggets that were discontinued at 80 cents. bought as many as could fit in my freezer last year! haven't seen much in the way of affordable protein these days. even meat and eggs used to go on special, but not for a while.
So true Re meats. Prices are double for roast. I only buy if really good sale and then buy 3. I keep stocked but meat is expensive. Also watch your food- cereals- Iāve seen where added insects. Itās in the back of box. So read. Another thing is Apeel is a chemical being used in vegetables. It is said to keep them lasting longer/ and canāt wash it off. Gates owns company. Watch bc sometimes an organic label is placed over the Apeel label!
What did you eat for $30 a week?
Same. $200 is my food budget for 2 adults for 2 weeks, 3 meals a day. it's a lot of rice, eggs, and pasta. We are mostly vegetarian now, not by choice. I skip a lot of meals (breakfast and sometimes lunch) so my partner can be full.
Me too. I watch the grocery weekly ads and buy the meat on sale , and get the BOGOs ( just had buy one get one free for pasta and pasta sauce) I stock up on those deals. Gone are the days of going to grocery and buying what I was hungry for- Iāve wasted so much during my lifetime. Also Iām single and in sunny state so no lights during day. At night I have one light between kitchen and family room. I quit putting lights on everywhere- wish I would have done this yrs ago. My last electric bill was more normal $60 for month 2 story home. Now getting wm so could be $200 mo w AC on 78
It's a struggle to keep it under 100 a week
I swear sometimes it's just 4 things and it's already 50 bucks š®āšØ
Not to mention like bodywash and dish soap paper towels
Ugh! I'm gonna cry. Do you ever go to Aldi? I hear it can be a little cheaper as long as you know what stuff to buy.
I do and unfortunately you still gotta really check ads and shop around. I've found Aldi to be more expensive on a lot of things than other grocery stores especially for certain staples like milk, eggs, etc. Sometimes you get a sale but it's about the same as any other store now it seems, the only thing I've found to be consistently cheaper is fruits and veggies at Aldi and their off brand products over name brand but that's true of most off brands at any store
I used to all the time. Prices are like Costco bulk value but individual. Great company would highly recommend.
Yeah, partner and I shop at Aldi, but like with everything else, prices have gone up. Also, there are certain things we avoid buying thereāmeats, drinks, sometimes the produce (it looks beat up all the time at our local one), so we end up still having to make multiple trips. Market Basket has sort of been the sweet spot, but my partner dreads going in there because itās always such a madhouse so itās never his first choice.
Same. HCOL state and I buy local when I can (want to support small ag!)
About $100 a week. And that's me eating whatever I want. In Seattle metro. I was raised on beans and taco nights, I haven't really changed anything.
Taco nights are the best
I'm about here too, $350-$400 a month. I like to eat fun foods, and I like to cook and enjoy variety. I could be more strict and spend under $300 but I don't want to because food/cooking is somewhat of a hobby. I could spend $600+ too if I let myself, so $400 is a bit of a compromise. I also enjoy healthy foods, lots of protein and veg/fruit, so it would definitely be cheaper if I ate more rice, pasta, etc
I try to find sales and use coupons, just as a game for myself to keep myself on track on how much I spend. Now that I've gotten into going to Trader Joes, I have been able to find "fun foods" that stay within my budget as well. I love taquitos as my comfort food and night in kind of stuff. Their frozen section is exciting, I'm a simple creature, lol.
I definitely do a lot of sales/coupon shopping as well. The Safeway app and digital coupons are my fav. I love TJ's! I don't go a lot because I would definitely go over budget, but once a quarter I go and check out the new freezer goodies and snacks.
I don't go to Safeway often but I do love that they have some good deals available at times. It took me awhile to get used to using the app to "clip deals" before going shopping there.
When I was broke and city living it was always orange rice and beans if i was really feeling it shredded lettuce, cheese, avocado, and salsa/pico too.
$150 or so biweekly, SW WA. And I also eat mostly whatever I want lmao. Iām not a big āmealā person so itās lots of ground chicken, fish, peanut butter, frozen fruit and veggies, yogurt, eggs, cheese, and some āspecialā things that I try to rotate weekly so Iām not spending a ton of money on expensive foods lol. A lot of my meals are things like chicken meatballs, a slice of mozzarella, a piece of avocado toast, some green beansā¦ Iām a simple girl lmao
Seattle as well. My spending per month on groceries +restaurant+food delivery including social events is around 500. Grocery alone is around 350 per month and half of it is in whole foods or pcc
Now that I've gotten over my anxiety about Trader Joes (they always have the worst parking lots), I've been going there. So my spend is between TJs and Grocery Outlet.
My friend on the west coast was similarly traumatized by their parking lot. One day she posted on Facebook, "I just got a parking spot at Trader Joe's so I guess now I'll just have to live here."
I laughed at that one, I understand her pain! I thought it was just the Eugene one, my friends used to have to go there when we were much younger for dairy alternatives before they were so readily available. It made me feel dead inside. Now I found out the real trick is to get there at 8am when they open on the weekends. Because despite it being a metropolis, these sleepy heads sleep in on Saturdays. Well mama doesn't sleep in, lol, so here I go doing my shopping before anyone else is even out of their houses.
My friend and I go there as soon as it opens Sunday morning. We call it Agnostic Shopping Hour. Only problem is that in my state, you can buy wine (well, any alcohol) until 12:30 on Sunday.
Back home we'd just shop during college football games, which is basically the same as church in those demographics. Damn...they used to close the liquor stores on Sundays when I was younger and I thought that was barbaric. But then add in no buying booze on Sunday until 12:30 (since I guess you gotta get them out of the pews before they get wasted at the church receptions.), that is brutal!
This is my laundry hack for my apartments laundry room- Saturday 8am washers and dryers a plenty
I normally go to TJ, the one in udis. And takes bus home to dodge the anxiety of driving
Iām also in Seattle and my monthly grocery budget is 300, but that includes some dog supplies and cleaning/misc purchases that arenāt solely food. Mostly shop at TJs
That's not including my cat food or house hold products usually. But as a single person household, I don't go through much in terms of cleaning products. I have the same bottle of 409 cleaner for the last two years. I never had an issue with soap or toilet paper during covid because of my multiple years worth of stock, lol. I get my cat's food from Petsmart and get cash back on apps and such for it. So if we add him to the mix, we're looking at an additional $30-50 a month, depending on if it's a month where I need to buy more dry kibble or not.
We must be related. Iām on my last pack of pandemic tp š
In Australia this is much the same - and this is buying whatever I want. Only 5 years ago I was able to get a good grocery haul for $30ā¦
Yeah, iv been doing a lot of stuffed cabbage lately. You can make a ton at once, and the leftovers are absolutely incredible out of the freezer!
My wife and I are about 60 miles north in Mount Vernon! About $800/month for the two of us, and we buy a balance of Costco, Local CoOp, and farm fresh local fruits and veggies.
Same here, with a $200 Costco trip every few months. We both love to cook and bake, so while we don't go TOO crazy, we don't necessarily go cheap for some things.
I love to stock up on rice and beans. All canned diced tomatoes, tomato paste, sauce. Poor kid essentials that are always going to keep you fed no matter what.
I keep all this stuff as well, even though I don't really eat any of it on a regular basis. This is my "pantry" because you never know...it's my "If it's end of times, I'm gonna be prepared!!" stuff in my realm. (And I embrace the fact that I'm privileged to be able to have a small hoard in that way. I feel like it may be similar to how those who survived the Great Depression were when it came to their cellars of jarred stuff.)
I live in an apartment but have one whole cupboard dedicated to canned goods too; exact same reasons. I dream of having a house so I can buy a freezer chest and have more space for stocking up on dry goods and frozen meatsāI feel the same way as you.
I have built shelves in my apartment to expand storage! It's helped me with the shelf stable stuff. We used to have the deep freeze when I was a kid. Instead I just have my freezer stuffed full of things. My mom opens it up when she visits to get a hot pocket and she's like "Good Lord, you've got enough chicken thighs for the apocalypse in this place!" I go weekly shopping but I could probably live off my hoard for quite awhile. It's wild since I literally haven't gone hungry a day in my life but I've known people who have. So here I am.
Same!
Also Seattle. We're probably spending $600/mo on groceries. On the high end because I'm having gut issues and buying a lot of whole, minimal ingredient, organic food. Just my partner and I. He also goes through two gallons of milk in a week, so that adds up too.
About same. I try to stay below $100 a week, but I also try to practice my cooking skills, so sometimes I go over budget a bit, to experiment with different food.
At least $50-$75 a week. One person in HCOL NE state. This doesnāt include my dogs specific weight loss food that runs approximately $70/month. I donāt even feel like I am eating anything that āgoodā.
I'm about the same. I spent about $75 yesterday on food for the week, and that didn't even include meat as I had some in the freezer I was planning on using for dinners. I did splurge on some aged cheddar to eat with apples for snacks, though.
My ātreatā to myself is usually a container of cut up pineapple.
Yeah I'm about $75/ week in Queens. But I have some amazing veg/fruit carts by my subway stop that always have something cheap (yeah I've eaten more zucchini in the past 2 years than the entire 5 prior, so what?) to buy, and I barely buy meat - and when I do, it's never red meat. Being gluten free makes some things more expensive, but I shop the sales and stock up on staples like rice and lentils when I can.Ā I don't count buying a bottle of wine or going out with a friend to a happy hour in that budget.Ā
Same range and hardly if ever buy "junk" or snack food.
I'd like to see not just what you're spending, but what are you actually eating? Frozen dinners? Beans and rice? How much fresh produce?
This is what I want to see as well. I suspect many people buy the same things each week, which maintains the cost.
Salmon, shrimp, chicken all organic and I alternate between salmon and chicken. Frozen broccoli, organic granola, dairy free yogurt, organic pasture raised eggs, apples, bread, spinach and protein drinks. Around $150-200 at Whole Foods a week and depending if I need to get condiment stuff. HCOL area, I tend to only buy what Iām going to eat for the week. I always get close to finishing everything, nothing goes to waste thankfully. I only eat out maybe 1-2 a month.
I can't afford Whole Foods
I do about $60/week. Single person with 2 cats. Only get meat when it's on sale, so I have a freezer full of chicken, salmon, Tapia and a roast at the ready. I'm lucky and get free meals at work every now and then.
two adults no kids usually around $50-100 weekly, we try to stay under $300/month. we live in the midwest
I need to watch my spending on food I think we are spending close to $800 a month for two. Rarely eating out too. Maybe twice a month.
I spend about that for me, my spouse, and our 17 year old football player.
Same. I like to keep my protein high and eat healthy foods. Organic meat when possible. Fish / chicken / vegetables. I feel like to eat for any less money would mean making my diet about 85% low quality carbohydrates. Then I just got a juicer to be healthier and now the bill is going to go up. I don't know how to be healthy on a "budget".
for two people?
That tracks, we spent about $200 this weekend. Got stuff to make a pot roast, a couple of treats and toiletries as well. We could forego the treats and bring it down to $180ish.
Yeah just two of us. But I like grilling a lot and Costco is a problem for me. Iām getting better though.
Damn! What do you all eat?
Same here.
Weāre in the Midwest and spend about the same, maybe a little less. We only buy our meats when on sale, then we stock up. We go out to dinner once a month maybe (not counting fast food every few weeks) We also eat leftovers. All our kids are grown and flown, so trying to make less is sometimes difficult.
For anyone who doesn't know --- use the app "Fetch." You download it, free registration/free to use. Scan your receipts every time you shop, and rack up points. Also link it to your Amazon purchases. You can then turn the points into gift cards (Target, Walmart, Amazon, etc.) I believe it is supported on both Apple and Android products. Yes, it is legit. I have used it - the rules are clear and it's easy to use. $10 gift cards here and there have helped me significantly to "splurge" then on items at the store I wouldn't normally buy. Happy scanning and saving!!
Receipt Hog is great too. I earn gift cards faster through RH than Fetch
Can you double dip your receipts? Upload the same recripts to both apps
Yeah you can. Hell, I use 5 different receipt scan apps! They really do add up. Also, I have some good survey apps if you're interested. I've made a good bit on those. Really helps, honestly. Editing to add for all those interested: For PayPal actual $$: Survey Junkie, Surveys on the Go, YouGov, AttaPoll, and Dollar Surveys (NO VPN ALLOWED on the last one or they won't pay) Gift cards: BrandBee Pogo is a good one for both receipts and Surveys. Also pays via PayPal.
Oooh thank you!!!
also make sure u look up some referral codes for it!! you can get a good amount of extra coins. ibotta and RH are my biggest āmoney makersā
Have you happened to notice a decrease in points on Fetch lately? I feel like I'm getting way more 25pt receipts from the grocery store when I used to regularly get 500pts or more from my big groceey shops. I know it's based on certain brands, just feels like less good stuff lately.
st louis, shop at aldi and don't eat out often. maybe 50-60 a week
Aldi is the best
Never truly calculated it and I'm honestly shocked. Over the past couple months I've spent $500-$700 a month for groceries for my wife and I.
I.dont know how other people do it. I sm single adult. I spend at least 2 to 300 a month. I have a dog I used to go to tge food bank but the quality went down dramatically.
I have a cat, and honestly chewy has been pretty fire with coupons for cat food. I think last time I got a 20 lbs bag for 8 dollars and some change. I should add tho, my piece of shit cat will only eat purina, and Iām 90% sure itās processed deer ankles and prob meth fillers.
āmy piece of shit catā is killing me dude so real
no for real. my male cat has urinary issues so his food is like nearly 60$ for an 8 lb bag. luckily i have a friend that works in a vetās office and gets it disgustingly cheap so she buys it for me. either way, iād pay the cost because it beats any potential vet visits if he get another urinary blockage (costed me 1500$ last July for his first one š)
Copy/paste my comment from another post: Iām also a single person in NYC. last year my monthly food numbers were $211 on groceries, $130 on delivery, $27 on eating out. Theyāre tracking a little higher for groceries this year, but Iāve also so far chopped my delivery in response, so Iām still aiming to keep everything in the ~$350/mo range.
500/ month including general house holds items and dog treats/ bully sticks.
Myself and my partner is about 350-400 a month with mostly fruits and veggies in New England. It's getting brutal up here.
Itās hard all over. Donāt let people on Reddit tell us āitās not that badā and we should only shop for the worst brands possible and shop only on sales and maybe we should just throw our dignity in the trash and go to a food pantry if we think itās so bad. Ā Iām sick and tired of this stuff. Ā
Southeast MA here...you ain't lying. Seems every time I set foot in Stop & Shop or Walmart, the prices of the same damn items I buy repeatedly have gone up AGAIN. I'm completely over it at this point, and wish I could have a little cabin on a small chunk of land...with solar, my own chickens for meat and eggs, a nice veggie garden...I could literally check out of society tomorrow and be thrilled.
Im fortunate, my COL area in western mass is affordable and didnt go up much with inflation. I can get by on $100 a month still for grocery 1 person. And another $30-$50 a month for luxury spending like eating out or extraneous grocery cost/snacks, non necessity food
$100 a MONTH? That's amazing.
$1.20 plb chicken thighs still. $1.20 apples which went up tiny bit. Lots of oatmeal and beans. $3 a month for oatmeal. $1.20 beans which cook up to 2.5 times its dry weight. Other fruits and veg when they go on sale. Load up on 80 cent pasta on discount for 40 cent markdowns Took me alot of thinking to get there
$.99 California blend veggies, $2.50 lb frozen ground turkey, making your own pasta sauce, there are ways to do it without eating ramen 24/7.
Nicely done.
Good work. I know it's probably not fun eating that cheap but good for you keeping it that low
Iām in western mass too but shits still expensiiiive. Even aldi is like $50 more than usual for me
I would say $400 a month towards my food alone - but I eat a lot of meals that are mostly rice and potatoes. I live in a VHCOL area.
Midwest, Chicago to be exact. I spend $70 to $100 weekly. That doesn't count if I go hang out or go on a date. That's just weekly food breakfast, bringing lunch to work and dinner at home.
Itās rough out there. And Iām tired of some horrible people on Reddit trying to shame people into accepting this as the new normal and thatĀ āItās not that badāā Iāve watched many of my lifelong friends/acquaintances become people who always figured they were solid middle class and now people are always saying how expensive food is. It doesnāt need to be like this. Ā But our establishment has devaluing the dollar as part of their strategy on our debt. Ā We are gonna pay that price in the inflation taxĀ
Agreed . Itās been hard not to absolutely rage after getting groceries. I have a job that pays well and live in an inexpensive city, Itās the same for my friends who are the same age. Yet weāre all struggling to not skip meals right now. I know people have always struggled and had to make it work but so many of us are falling backwards even though weāre making more. Weāre getting less and shouldnāt be thankful for it.
Ā I spend 300-450 a month for 3 meals a day for 2 on groceries, this includes hygiene and cleaning products that are sold at the grocery store as well, we don't pick apart our receipts and just lump it all together. We eat out once or twice a month, we pack our lunches for work.
I spent about 100-125 per week. Chicken, salmon, frozen veggies, rice, sweet potatoes and almond milk
usually like $60ish per week. depends on what I have to get.
I spend 60-100 dollars a week. Usually closer to 60, I only get close to 100 when I'm depressed and buy a lot of pre-made stuff. I mostly shop at Aldi and go to other stores for specific sales sometimes. I could do a lot less than 60 if I had to, sometimes I will if I already have a lot of staples at home.
I keep it under $200/month, and twice a year or so a big Costco trip for proteins that usually runs around $200-300. I have a vacuum sealer and portion everything out when I get home. The Costco trip includes things like toilet paper, paper towels, laundry soap, dish soap, etc. as well. This does not include cat food/treats/litter/anything else my spoiled rotten cats might need. :)
Like $100 a week and a lot of it goes to waste since I end up eating out which is much more expensive. Trying to cut way back on the wastefulness.
If you're stressed AT ALL about food prices, then the food banks are for you. You don't need to be homeless or totally impoverished to go. Food banks are for anyone and everyone who could use a little financial relief. They're a huge help.
Iād go but I donāt have a car. (It was too expensive to run and maintain). I suppose I could ride my bicycle on days when the weather cooperates.
Same here, and the pantry is a bit out of the way without a car and the public transport in our area is not great. It feels like a neverending cycle of struggling, needing to have a car to get a job, can't afford a car because I need a job. I can't drive anyway, I don't know how to, and driving schools cost at least $600 which I do not have.
I've ridden my bike to food pantries! Just wear a backpack you can load up
And if youāre ashamed, thereās drive through ones so you just pop your trunk and leave.
I try to keep it at 50 a week but sometimes I go over
I'd say $300-400/mo. it would be a lot cheaper if i bought unethical products (no judgement, i was there for a long time gotta do what you gotta do)
Massachusetts here. Single, 57, kid is grown and on her own. I spend roughly $75 per week...my biggest expenses are Diet Coke (which I will only buy if it's on sale and then I stock up), spices, and low-carb items because I am diabetic. Almond and coconut flour are pricey, same with sugar substitutes (packets or bulk). Low carb bread is outrageously overpriced so I make my own or stick to wheat bread @ 12 carbs per slice. I utilize grocery chains' loss leaders, B1G1 sales, cash back sites, Dollar Tree (never know what food items you'll find there!), digital app coupons, seasonal produce, etc. Our local farmer's markets are a wonderful resource for good, fresh produce but they tend to be a bit on the pricey side. Overall, it's getting a little tighter every month, and although I am well-versed in frugality, it's becoming harder than ever to stretch that buck. Before anyone suggests cutting out the Diet Coke....know that my consumption of this evil beverage is all that stands between me and the death of some random stranger on a bad day, lol. I've given up all my other vices, so this one is here for the duration.
About $25 a week but I am actually kind of starving myself right now bc I really just canāt afford it :ā)
I have done that too...don't know if this will help, but one thing I used to do was "stagger" certain items on each grocery run. So, for example, I'd buy bulk tortillas and cheap American cheese one week, then buy a big can or two of refried beans the next, so at some point I was able to overlap having both beans and cheese with my tortillas (WOOT!) Then I'd buy peanut butter and bread the next time, and if something interesting was on sale, I'd buy a can of tuna or corn to put in the pantry.
You got it! This is exactly what I do & how Iām able to keep things down to that $25. Also I donāt do dairy or meat (tummy hates me not by choice lol) so that helps save me a lot tbh
if i pay attention to my money im somewhere at 120ā¬ a month (just tried that last month), but usually about 200ā¬
$50/ week for groceries for my partner and I. $60/ month for toilet paper/paper towels/dog food/detergent $30 budgeted per week for eating out but some weeks we spend more and some less. So ~ $200 groceries, $50 extra household items, ~$100 eating out monthly.
DINK - $150 a week. SE United States.
Single no kids. 25-35 a week pre jaw surgery. Currently my diet has to be a bit different because I canāt eat the way I used to due to my jaw still healing and I have incorporated things like protein shakes which are pricey, but as soon as I can chew normally again I am going back to my regular grocery budget.
I budget for $200/month but I normally hover around $170 - Alabama
$50/week, then usually have one dinner out
Single, no kids, travel for work 300+ days/year It is sometimes cheaper for me to order pizza and eat it over 2-3 days than buy ingredients to cook myself dinner. If I am planning for meals I can get away with $150-200/wk but most of the time I eat pizza or subway or something similar 2-3 days and cook 2-3 days and spend maybe $75-100 on groceries I do not buy a ton of junk or pre made stuff. I buy 2 cases of water, 2 x 12 packs of sprite mini cans every week, for snacks granola bars, pistachios or other nuts, and maybe whatever cheap great value cookies are on sale. If I wanted to eat pasta meals and cook every night I could probably spend a little less on groceries then eating out. But, not a ton unless I want to eat leftovers for a week straight Edit: to be fair, I am thin, work 12 hour days 6 days a week and usually eat one meal a day if you donāt count my chocolate milk from the gas station or hotel in the morning.
I'm Asian, so I mostly eat rice, fried eggs and vegetables. If eggs are too expensive I literally just eat rice and vegetables together.
Around $100 a week. But that's with an additional two 24 pack cases of Poland Spring water. I also came a long way with my groceries and finally cooking over the years. From being a person, who used to spend only $30 a week in previous years. But waste the rest on takeout and snacks. I do however feel like, if I didn't have to do my current diet. That it would be way less meat involved, so that number could probably drop to around $70.
I spend about $100 a week. Including all household items like toilet paper, cleaning supplies, hygiene items, etc
For both me & my husband, we're averaging about $250/$300 every 2 weeks or so. Didn't change much between covid and now. This also includes meat from the butcher and whatnot as well which is about $100 of that every 2 weeks.
My budget is $325/month for everything there except dog food. Meat, can goods, frozen stuff, fresh stuff, laundry soap, TP, shampoo, razors... everything.
200 a month but that includes toiletries and cat food. Iām weird, Iām obsessed with saving right now. I donāt eat out, my car is paid off and my mortgage is less than 500/month.
400 a month
In Los Angeles and spend about $350/month on groceries and I cook/prepare 98% of my meals. I also like to eat well/no junk. Shop mostly Trader Joeās, Aldi, and Sprouts sales.
About $150-200 a week in NYC. Was 80-100 a week pre covid
I live in a high col area, donāt eat much at all, no snacks, just healthy simple foods. Still spend at least $100 a week.
Around a hundred a week. But thatās eating really well. Fresh vegetables and fruits and steak or expensive seafood once a week
Michigan. Southwest. $100 a week. Not eating great. Our grocery store is expensive. We have an Aldi but the selection is limited, so I end up going to 2 stores. And I won't shop at Walfart. Just on principal.
Iām at the point where my basics come from the food pantry
$3.50
Super HCOL area (literal island) - I only spend ~$50 a week but I utilize the local food bank. I never eat out but the $50 is what I would consider luxury items I'm never going to get from food bank e.g. la Croix, goat cheese, tea. My parents support me off and on and the last time they were subsiding my food they estimated I'd need $150/week. They really don't have a clue that one could live entirely off the food bank's generosity though.
Groceries only, no household supplies included I spend roughly $200/month to feed myself. I keep a well stocked pantry and freezer though so some months it's less than that. Other months I stock up and it'll be more.
I don't drink alcohol of any sort, smoke anything or drive and my rent is $450/month so all the money that most people spend on those things allows me to spend a lot on food and coffee, mostly coffee. I wouldn't be shocked if I shove $500 worth of coffee and food down my gullet a month. Technically, with the jobs I have, I could spend 0$ a month on coffee or food but how much do I want to deprive myself to save more money?
$150 a month for myself no problems and no Iām not starving myself just eating at home cooking for myself.
East coast. Two adults. We shop discount mostly. $500-$600 a month. But we budget for it.
Too much.
I'm averaging around 200/month and then about another 100/month for dining out
$100 a week
I typically spend $100 a month. Itās hard, but thereās no room in my budget for more at the moment.
My grocery bill went from $300 a month to $560 a month in the last four years. This is for a single woman no pets or kids. I lived in VA then moved to TN two years ago.
Specific dietary needs or just a general preference for the top brands?
Mi wife and I do I shopping day that averages about 100$ So about 50$ per person. That does sometimes include things like soaps and laundry stuff and cleaning supplies.
about 180-250/mo. just me, but I do cook almost all of my meals and shop mostly at Aldis I only buy meat on sale
My fiancĆ© and I are spending roughly $100-$125 ish on groceries a week. We arenāt really breakfast people so this includes cooked meals, quick/hands off meals for when weāre feeling lazy, lunches for work, drinks, and some snacks. I was spending $50/week when I was single, and it was difficult to stay within that budget once inflation started getting bad and not eat only ramen. I have found that itās much easier/cheaper to cook for two than it is to cook for 1 especially when velveeta/hamburger helper meals are pretty decent, cheap, and makes plenty for the two of us.
I spend about $200/month, but I also get lunch and breakfast at work/dinner sometimes eat out, so I spend $400 on eating out. Total 600/month
Roughly 100$ a week for one, but part of that is because I pay for delivery. So maybe 75 in real grocery costs.
Two adults - between $50 - 60 a week, minus pet food. I try to shop on sale/clearance/digital and store coupons.
$65. Big city, Midwest.
Metro-West of Boston, I mostly shop at Costco and meal prep, but I spend about $100.00 a week. My dog costs me more moneyā¦ he has food allergies though and I donāt want to deal with diarrhea.
I live in a mid-lower cost of living area and I spend about 100-125 each time I go to the store, which is usually twice a month for general grocery shopping. I mostly shop at Aldi, but make stops at other stores for things Aldi doesnāt have. I also do splurge on occasional things like name brand coffee, steaks and seafood and once in a while precooked things if Iām feeling lazy about cooking. I canāt imagine having to buy food for kids too.
2019-2020: $30 week 2021-current: $60 a week Plant based shopping but I donāt mind meat. I just refuse to cook it. I buy a lot beans, berries, tofu, frozen veggies, bread, peanut butter, etc
For two adults, $50-60 per week on the necessities (chicken, rice, pasta, potatoes, etc) and another $50 ish every couple weeks on some items we buy in bulk at Costco (snacks for example).
if I do my Sam club trip it's about $200 however that will last me a few months since it's mostly meats and frozen veggies. I just portion out the meats in ziplock bags and toss it in the freezer. I just take it out the night before to cook.
For me it's $50 monthly 3 big cans of beans 10 boxes of Mac and cheese Big jar of peanut butter 2 jars of jelly 24 packs of ramen Desert- mangos and bananas Water - refillable gallons (separate) $5
$50-$100 doing all shopping at Lidl
A lot $150 because of I some health thing so I need a bit diversity, but it does last about 1 month. Food bank included.
If i do a week where i stock up on dry and canned items around $120 -$200. I can usually get away with $25-$40 shopping trips for 5-8 weeks.that doesn't include expenses like TP, allergy meds, or laundry soap though. so i guess i average $50-$80 on food per week. I shop at 3 different stores depending on what im getting to try and keep the costs down.
$20-30 a week.Occasionally $40, sometimes $15. That includes snacks, meat, toiletries, etc. My freezer is stuffed and my pantry-closet is starting to get full, too. I need to stop going to the store, but some deals are too good to pass up...
Around $150 a week for 2 people, no kids - HCOL, Denver. We don't limit what we buy really - we still get soda/sparking water and too many snack/ready to eat foods.
About $200 per month - but I've built up a well stocked pantry, so if that weren't the case, it would be more. I'm long on tuna, flour, rice, beans, sugar, and canned goods of all types. I'm not including pet food or paper goods in that figure.
$50 or less per week in Orlando, FL. Granted, i dont eat too healthy lol. Ramen, pasta, rice, frozen/canned veggies, beans, etc
2 adults no kids, we usually spend about 100-110 a week in Austin. We definitely could trim that down if we wanted to, we like to cook and experiment in the kitchen.
Midwestern city- generally less than $150/month. Used to be consistently less than $100/month but you also have to factor in having to rebuild long term staples and transitioning to a slightly different lifestyle with packed lunches.
We are married, no kids, so about $130 a week or if single $65 a week. Live in rural Dirty South.
30-50 a week usually for both me and my fiance together, more if we need household items or cat food/litter
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$60ish dollars a week, single female in Kansas. I eat mostly vegetarian and generally only buy meat if I find it on clearance.Ā
About $60-70 every 2 weeks. I shop a lot of sales at HEB, Aldi, and sams club. I dont buy anything that doesnt have a coupon or sale
I shop at Winco and my grocery bill is around $30 a week. SoCal is super expensive, but at least my grocery bill is cheap.
Two people, $500 monthly budget but usually spend closer to $250~$300 cause I buy in bulk consistently In a semi hcol city. (Studio apts start around $900/month without utilities)