Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
New profile posts
Latest activity
Internet Search
Members
Current visitors
New profile posts
Search profile posts
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
General Discussions
The Watercooler
Trying to find what family of three spends on groceries per week or month...anybody?
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Signorina" data-source="post: 498509"><p>Thanks for the USDA chart too!! I agree that it seems awfully generous... I have 3 SKINNY teenage boys who are big eaters -H works from home and everyone packs a lunch and I don't spend anywhere near what they suggest for even a family of 4 with- 2 young kids (1229 generously-wth?) PC17 is a really picky eater who could care less about food and a runner who is underweight so I buy things I know he will grab on the go (hot pockets, pop tarts) bc otherwise he may skip meals if running late to school or work. I budget 1018 per month (largest grocery tab for the last year x 52 divided by 12 as a safety net but I rarely spend that much) and usually spend between 145 and 200 per week. When things are tight, I can usually whittle it down to a max of $150 per week.</p><p></p><p>I think my biggest savings is that I only go to the grocery store once a week. No running in to pick up something else for dinner. I make do with what we have or will send a kid to pick up the occassional missing ingredient I forgot. Running into the store always means $20-$30 IME and by refusing to do so, I control our costs. (I do the same with target/wal mart. I go once every month max and use coupons to stock up on hygeine, cleaning supplies & paper goods) Every once in a while I challenge myself to buy the "cheapest" version of a product and have found quite a few favorites that way. I can't tell the difference between Morton's salt and the store brand. </p><p></p><p>We eat pretty well -rarely eat out as a whole family. H & I go out for dinner about 2x a month. I buy whatever meat is on sale - I try to keep our average "meat" price around $10 per meal for the 4-5 of us, we eat leftovers 1-2 nights a week (or the kids have frozen pizza-"open kitchen" nights) and I probably make a meatless meal like lentils or a spanish tortilla or bisquick quiche 1x per week. We eat pasta at least once (usually twice) a week. (bet that doesn't surprise you --->signorina) I also buy 1lb of deli roast beef for sandwiches, breakfast sausage, bacon and usually a pkg of hot dogs.</p><p></p><p>I buy a big bag of apples & oranges each week, 1-2 bunches of bananas, plus 2 types of "other" fruit like berries, melon or grapes depending what is on sale. I also love "Simply Potatoes" and buy the quartered or hash brown potatoes and the mashed potatoes. I always have bell pepper strips, chopped onions and a few types of frozen vegetables in the freezer. I usually buy 2-3 nights of fresh vegetables (green beans, broccoli, zucchini or eggplant) head of romaine, a tomato, avocado, a bag of baby carrots and a bunch of parsley. </p><p></p><p>For groceries - usually 2 boxes of cereal + a pkg of microwave, flavored oatmeal (for H) 2 loaves of bread, 1 good baguette or pk of dinner rolls, PB & jelly, bagels or eng muffins, pop tarts, 2 boxes of "school snacks" (granola bars, fruit snacks, pb crackers,) 2 big cans of san manzano tomatoes, 3-4 lbs of dried pasta, few cans of soup and broth, some beans, a jar of pickles or peppers, single serving applesauce, 2 bottles of apple juice, a 24 pk of water, a bag of pretzels, 1 bag of chips, pkg of tortillas, box of crackers (wheat thins for me!), pkg of cookies. (oreos for pc14), needed baking staples or spices, rice or egg noodles and 1-2 bottles of wine and/or an occassional 6pk! </p><p></p><p>Dairy - 4 gallons of skim milk, 1 bottle of coffemate, butter as needed, 2 pkgs shredded cheese, 1 pkg sliced cheese, 18 eggs, 2 pkgs of gogurt, pkg of string cheese. Frozen - 3 bags of veggies, 1 bag french fries, 2 lean cuisines, 2 pizza, 1 box of Eggos, 1-2 ice creams, maybe some hot pockets or frozen conveniece type foods during sports season. </p><p></p><p>Monthly splurges are a 2lb bag of coffee beans, 1 big bottle of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, 12-24 pk of diet soda (for me) a 50pk of individually bagged chips for lunches, salsa, hummus, a wedge of nice cheese, and a hunk of imported parmesan. My cart usually contains a few extra things too like paper goods or magazines, a greeting card, a bunch of flowers etc.</p><p></p><p>I am definitely saving that USDA link though. H doesn't mind the grocery expenses - he loves to eat and really appreciates my cooking and knows I watch the dollars.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Signorina, post: 498509"] Thanks for the USDA chart too!! I agree that it seems awfully generous... I have 3 SKINNY teenage boys who are big eaters -H works from home and everyone packs a lunch and I don't spend anywhere near what they suggest for even a family of 4 with- 2 young kids (1229 generously-wth?) PC17 is a really picky eater who could care less about food and a runner who is underweight so I buy things I know he will grab on the go (hot pockets, pop tarts) bc otherwise he may skip meals if running late to school or work. I budget 1018 per month (largest grocery tab for the last year x 52 divided by 12 as a safety net but I rarely spend that much) and usually spend between 145 and 200 per week. When things are tight, I can usually whittle it down to a max of $150 per week. I think my biggest savings is that I only go to the grocery store once a week. No running in to pick up something else for dinner. I make do with what we have or will send a kid to pick up the occassional missing ingredient I forgot. Running into the store always means $20-$30 IME and by refusing to do so, I control our costs. (I do the same with target/wal mart. I go once every month max and use coupons to stock up on hygeine, cleaning supplies & paper goods) Every once in a while I challenge myself to buy the "cheapest" version of a product and have found quite a few favorites that way. I can't tell the difference between Morton's salt and the store brand. We eat pretty well -rarely eat out as a whole family. H & I go out for dinner about 2x a month. I buy whatever meat is on sale - I try to keep our average "meat" price around $10 per meal for the 4-5 of us, we eat leftovers 1-2 nights a week (or the kids have frozen pizza-"open kitchen" nights) and I probably make a meatless meal like lentils or a spanish tortilla or bisquick quiche 1x per week. We eat pasta at least once (usually twice) a week. (bet that doesn't surprise you --->signorina) I also buy 1lb of deli roast beef for sandwiches, breakfast sausage, bacon and usually a pkg of hot dogs. I buy a big bag of apples & oranges each week, 1-2 bunches of bananas, plus 2 types of "other" fruit like berries, melon or grapes depending what is on sale. I also love "Simply Potatoes" and buy the quartered or hash brown potatoes and the mashed potatoes. I always have bell pepper strips, chopped onions and a few types of frozen vegetables in the freezer. I usually buy 2-3 nights of fresh vegetables (green beans, broccoli, zucchini or eggplant) head of romaine, a tomato, avocado, a bag of baby carrots and a bunch of parsley. For groceries - usually 2 boxes of cereal + a pkg of microwave, flavored oatmeal (for H) 2 loaves of bread, 1 good baguette or pk of dinner rolls, PB & jelly, bagels or eng muffins, pop tarts, 2 boxes of "school snacks" (granola bars, fruit snacks, pb crackers,) 2 big cans of san manzano tomatoes, 3-4 lbs of dried pasta, few cans of soup and broth, some beans, a jar of pickles or peppers, single serving applesauce, 2 bottles of apple juice, a 24 pk of water, a bag of pretzels, 1 bag of chips, pkg of tortillas, box of crackers (wheat thins for me!), pkg of cookies. (oreos for pc14), needed baking staples or spices, rice or egg noodles and 1-2 bottles of wine and/or an occassional 6pk! Dairy - 4 gallons of skim milk, 1 bottle of coffemate, butter as needed, 2 pkgs shredded cheese, 1 pkg sliced cheese, 18 eggs, 2 pkgs of gogurt, pkg of string cheese. Frozen - 3 bags of veggies, 1 bag french fries, 2 lean cuisines, 2 pizza, 1 box of Eggos, 1-2 ice creams, maybe some hot pockets or frozen conveniece type foods during sports season. Monthly splurges are a 2lb bag of coffee beans, 1 big bottle of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, 12-24 pk of diet soda (for me) a 50pk of individually bagged chips for lunches, salsa, hummus, a wedge of nice cheese, and a hunk of imported parmesan. My cart usually contains a few extra things too like paper goods or magazines, a greeting card, a bunch of flowers etc. I am definitely saving that USDA link though. H doesn't mind the grocery expenses - he loves to eat and really appreciates my cooking and knows I watch the dollars. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
General Discussions
The Watercooler
Trying to find what family of three spends on groceries per week or month...anybody?
Top