Grocery shopping

[Csara]

How often do you go and how much do you spend on groceries per month?

[Deana]

I go once a week. This is an area that we are really trying to reduce our spending.
In Feb, I spent almost $900 :eek: :eek: That is for two people. We eat healthy, which I think attributes to the higher food bill (leaner cuts of meat and poultry are $$, I buy a TON of fresh produce, and lowfat/fat free items are more expensive that full-fat), plus I pack our lunches everyday. That figure also accounts for beer and wine, all toiletries and prescriptions.
I figured out one thing that helps...TOTALLY sticking to our grocery list! I used to buy "extra" packs of chicken or turkey sausage... and it would just sit in my freezer. I'd buy a gallon of milk when a quart would do (we don't drink milk). Or I'd buy some neat dip or something that we would take two bites of. I also have an obsession with salad dressing, and I'd buy a new one at every trip.

Have a plan and stick with it, is my new motto. I checked MS Money last night and I've spent a LOT less than what I spent in Feb (several hundred dollars less).

[Life201]

Deana, I think that's great idea. We're very guilty of not doing the list and we buy lots of extras (I think partially due to having a 2 year old!)

We sometimes go 2 to 3 times a week, getting milk, etc than we've run out of, but we only spend, maybe $300 on a really expensive month for all 3 of us.

And we eat meat, poultry or seafood with every meal!

[Margarita]

B does the shopping, and he goes more often than I'd like, but what can I do? He does a major trip once every 5 weeks or so and minor necessity trips about once a week. I have a sneaking suspicion he doesn't price compare the way he should. We spend between $350 and $400 a month for two people, including all toiletries but not prescriptions. I think it should be around $250 but have yet to convince B.

D, OMG! I thought we spent a lot. :eek: I wonder how much different prices are there as opposed to here?

[scully]

We go once a week and spend approx $60 -$70 each time, sometimes it can be as low as $30, seems I run out of the most expensive items at the same time. This includes all toiletries, cleaning supplies and pet food. We don't have any prescriptions that need to be filled on a regular basis. Keep in mind though hubby only eats dinner with me a few nights a week and eats at work the rest of the time so we arent cooking full meals every night.

[Csara]

I go about once a week to every 10 days and spend about $150 (sometimes less, rarely more) per trip so I guess that's about $500 a month for the two of us....and Janice. :cat: (cat food, litter and "treats" do add up) That also includes toiletries, cleaning supplies, medicines, etc. We also hardly spend any money on going out to lunch as we are both home every day (I buy for 3 meals a day) so I have to factor that in when I look at the expense.

[Margarita]

I've been wondering how the differences in cost of living affect our numbers here. I found this neat site that tells you your Cost of Living (http://www.ehome.com/ehome/buyers/neighborhoodprofile.asp?from=buyer) compared with that of the national average. You can just enter your zip code and get a page with various info on it. Towards the bottom, there's a specific number for groceries.

Mine's 112.5

[nicolef888]

We go to the grocery store once/week and spend on average $140. We also go to Costco once/month and spend on average $300. We also like to eat very healthy and we entertain a lot.

[andrea]

i go about ever 2-3 weeks and spend about 180 last time i went shopping was about 2 weeks ago and spend 120

[Forever]

My Dh and I go every week, and spend close to $180.00 each week. that would include shampoo, cat food etc. We also eat healthy and buy fruit and fresh vegetables weekly. We have once really nice meal a week, such as a roast so that usual adds up.

[HeavenLeigh]

I'm starting again on my "budgeting"....:argh: and grocery shopping.
I have 2 seperate lists. One for save a lot (where you really can find good deals) and one for Food City. I predict that I'll spend about $60 a week.
I'm gonna do a lot of coupon cutting!

[Tearianna]

I'm terrible at grocery shopping. We usually take one trip a month and spend up to $200. Then we get all excited about the food in the house and eat everything before the week is out :rolleyes: So the rest of the month, we're living off cereal and salads. We're just so busy, there's no time to really cook!

[girlzrule]

We go every two weeks and spend around $170-$200...but then we also do mini runs to the store every couple of days and spend $20 or so....I would say on average we spend $500 a month.

[suzieq728]

This is the worst area for me. I go once a week, spend around $100-$175, and then go to Costco and spend another $100. This is all for just 2 people. I need to work on this.
Oh, Margs, that site is neat, I checked it out, and for food mine was 125.5. So now what does that mean ? :rolleyes:

[HeavenLeigh]

Mine is 95.6

[Margarita]

Suzie, I don't know exactly what it means, but 100 is the national average, so your food is more expensive than the average...and mine and Krysti's. Girl, you should move. :biglaugh:

[Country1969]

We go for a grocery order every so often.
My wife stops in the store here and there for things as she needs them. But we hit sale items alot and use coupons. Plus we get a lot of free things from her parents and mine too. They give our 4 year old son alot of snacks,cereal,crackers and juice when they come over and visit.
Also we get checks for food for our son - for milk,cereal,juice,peanut butter - since we qualify (income comes in that certain range) --- only until he is 5 years old then it stops.
(Tried for heating,home improvements,and other things but we were told we make to much) Go figure!!!

So that cuts down on costs. We stock up on things that go on sale. Buy 1 /get I free .......Buy 1/ get 2 free....$3 for 1.00.....sauce- $.88 a can/ compare to 1.75 for a jar.
When you live on a budget you shop that way. Many people can;t believe we shop this way. They don't believe in coupons. They don't stock up on sale items.
They say I shop that way and you have nice things. Why don't cut out buying those things and buy better food.

Cheese is cheese to me. I am not fussy about name brand.
Soda is soda. I like Coke,Pepsi,7 Up etc. but I also love Price Chopper's brand of soda.Sam's Choice/Walmart brand.
Flavored soda like that are cheap. $.60-$1.00 for a 2 liter.
I wish my wife would buy rootbeer,birch beer,orange,black cherry,lemon lime flavors more than COKE,PEPSI.
People look at me strange when they come over and I ask them if they want rootbeer. Do you have Pepsi?

[Stuckathomemom]

we spend about 200 a week we have five in the family and i couldnt get that ehome link to work

[~*Tinkerbell*~]

Ok i cant get it to come up either

[elizadeanne]

We buy budget stuff, like generic tylenol ect. I really like the generic 2 for $1 chips. They are the same. We buy alot of on sale stuff, but coupons is not something I have time for. I do budget shop but not with coupons, I just dont have time to deal with that. We usually spend 125-150 a month. We get some stuff from our parents, but even if we do we only get it sometimes, so its not constant.