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870 a Month for Groceries(Family of 4)

7 Responses to “870 a Month for Groceries(Family of 4)”

1. Anonymous Says:
   April 25th, 2005 at 08:00 pm
   Would your wife be willing to try coupons? Or, if not coupons, at least be willing to read various sites which help you cut your food bill quite a bit? What all is being inclueded in the $870?? Is that eating out, health and beauty, tp, pet supplies, etc etc? Or is it just food? I'm feeding two adults and a cat, and have a budget of ~$125/month for food (including eating out - though whenever we eat out, that comes out of my dads money, not mine.) My pantry, fridge and freezer(s) are stuffed. If I stopped shopping for the next month (except milk/fresh fruit) it wouldn't make that big of a dent in my food supplies. (I'd just be kind of bored with my food choices!)
   If she'd be willing to try coupons, have her check out these two websites: cutouthunger.org (or maybe .com) and grocerygame.com (the forum is free to join and read). Also, find out what stores take coupons, and if any of them do doubles/triples (use those stores!) Watch the weekly sales ads for loss leaders (products that the stores sell for WAY less than normal to get people into their store). Oh, another website to check out, so you know what coupons are most likely going to be in the next paper - taylortowncoupons.com . Check it on Thursdays for the coming Sunday's coupons. You also can get some coupons on Ebay.
   
   If she's not willing to do coupons, then see if she'd be willing to sit down and make out a weekly menu, and develop your shopping list from that. Check the sales papers for good deals and loss leaders as your planning your menu.
   
   I'm sure you'll get more ideas from some of the married ladies with families, but hopefully this will give you a start.
   
   Keeping It Frugal in Texas,
   Laura

2. Anonymous Says:
   April 25th, 2005 at 08:02 pm
   That does seem a bit high for just groceries, but if you each do the latte, eat lunch out everyday, do take out the takeout dinners, and basically don't cook at all that's kinda in line. Remember that's about 30$/day. If you haven't already, you probably should track this, as your May project.

3. Anonymous Says:
   April 25th, 2005 at 08:07 pm
   Ouch! That sounds like an all convenience-food diet??? That's really a huge amount of money for monthly groceries for a family of four.....

4. Anonymous Says:
   April 29th, 2005 at 11:38 am
   A reasonable amount to spend for a family of four - provided you shop once a week - is $125 a week. Though it could easily be at around $100 if you go easy on the sweets. So roughly $400-$500 a month is reasonable. By reasonable I mean not depriving yourselves of favorites, sweets, etc. $870 in my opinion is criminal. That extra $370 a month your "wasting" on food could go towards something more tangible. Remember at the end of the day once you eat food it's gone, you'll never see it again (except on your hips). I'd rather "waste" that $370 extra a month on food your spending on something tangible (i.e. fix the house, yard, replace washer/dryer, whatever). You have every right to be tearing your hair out, even if you meet her half way and agree to spend $600, that's still $270 savings. That could go toward her misc. budget amount of $600. Though what anyone could spend $600 on EACH AND EVERY month is besides me. Coupons are fine provided you were going to buy the product anyway, but I really haven't saved that much with coupons, a dollar or two isn't going to puit much of a dent in an $870 a month food budget. You all need to start by buying the generics and layong off foods that are heavily packaged. You're paying for more of the packaging than the food itself in some cases. I'd stand firm on $500 a month. Good Luck.

5. Anonymous Says:
   May 3rd, 2005 at 11:07 pm
   Thanks for the input folks. I have just convinced my wife to write down everything she and I spend money on. We will keep a log for three months. The advice you folks have given me is very encouraging. I intend to share it with my wife. Hopefully, she will see the light.

6. Anonymous Says:
   May 4th, 2005 at 08:16 pm
   I think it's great that you two are going to record where the money goes. That is one of the most eye-opening things we can do, I think, as we try to come to terms with our spending habits.

7. Anonymous Says:
   July 10th, 2005 at 03:34 pm
   i feed myself, a 8 year old and 2 7 year olds for $200 a month. We shop at aldi's for the most part and have a small garden. I buy my beef from a friend every year when he butchers (I get a 1/2). I get my eggs and butchered chickens from a local amish woman-her eggs are 50 cents a dozen, and her chickens she sells for $2.50-fresh- (she advertises when she will be butchering, and you have to pick them up that same day-first come first serve). During the school year, that $200 also includes my childrens school lunches, which I fix and home and send with them. we buy no soda, chips or junkfood--although, i do keep a generic sprite on hand for tummy aches. I do spend an additional $30 a month for eating out--on tues my kids can eat for 99 cents each at country kitchen--so-i call the order in, and also order myself a kids meal--then i pick them up and we eat them at the park-for $4. every few weeks we eat at ryans-if we get the buffet before 4pm, it counts as our supper, but we get it for the cheaper lunch price-so, we get there around 10 till 4.

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