How much do you spend on food?

[freeflybella 0]

Per month? And for how many?

I spend about $600/ for 1 adult and 1 child.

Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

[1969912 0]

Less than $150 for me, not including my cat. That doesn't include the occasional restaurant meal.

"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG

[wolfriverjoe 1,523]

$200 or less. Just me (and my dog, but he eats purina so maybe an extra $10 for him)

I watch sales, and eat out maybe once a week.

"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy

"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

[silent_pumpkin 0]

We try for a maximum food budget of $75/wk or $300/mo for me and my my husband. Usually are under that by $15-20/wk.

[BillyVance 35]

We definitely spend more than we should. Lots of pre-packaged foods, sodas, beer and the odd steak here or there. I think if we cooked more potatoes and rice, we'd save a bunch. I would estimate about $500 a month for two adults, a 3 yr old and a 5 mo old, and 3 cats.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[SpeedRacer 1]

you can always eat your cats.

Speed Racer
--------------------------------------------------

[Krip 2]

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Per month? And for how many?

I spend about $600/ for 1 adult and 1 child.

We spend $300/month for 2 adults, but don't do starbucks, eat out etc, When we were working outside the home,Brown bag at work etc.

One Jump Wonder

[kallend 2,148]

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Per month? And for how many?

About $300/month, for wife and self, + occasional restaurant meals.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[freeflybella 0]

Geez - I'm 5'2" (115lbs) and my child is 4. (It's not like we're eating more than average.)

I shop at Whole Foods (I know, Whole Paycheck) and buy as much organic produce as possible. I do buy from the prepared food case. But we're veg so there is no cost for meat.

I despise food shopping and bargain food shopping even more (not that I enjoy forking over a large chunk of my salary either) - so I just go to one place. But I really had no idea how much more I'm spending.

For those of you with lower bills, do you live in cities? Where do you shop?

Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

[PLFXpert 0]

Two adults. Two cats. One dog.

Including wine & staples: $1k/month.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[silent_pumpkin 0]

A little more info, if it helps:
-Live in SF east bay area
-We DO shop at discount stores. My method is to purchase produce at the local produce stand, frozen/canned/bagged/boxed items at Target or on sale at Safeway/Luckys/Nob Hill. Milk/ground turkey/chicken from Costco.
-Not into organic, too expensive for our budget right now.
-We brown bag it for lunch. We also make large batches of dinner for the two of us - so we have dinner for the next few nights and some lunches covered.
-There is the occasional takeout or restaurant meal.

Whole Foods does have good quality products, but for normal staples you would probably find that even Safeway carries them for a few dollars less. And prepared food is going to kill your budget with crazy markups.

[wolfriverjoe 1,523]

Big town/small city.

I shop 2 major chains (Piggly Wiggly and Pick'n'Save) and one discount (Always Save - similar to Aldi)

Different items are cheaper at each store (sometimes 20% for the exact same thing). And not automatically cheaper at the deep discount store.
I will pay a bit more for better quality, especially fresh produce, but I don't bother with the organic stuff.

I usually get one or two "dinner" meals from the meat department, but I usually pick whatever is on sale. I'm not super picky, and there is usually something I like on pretty good sale. It can be fish, beef or poultry.

For canned and frozen, I keep an eye open and stock up when stuff goes on sale.
My 2 weaknesses are Gatorade and frozen pizza. But I won't pay more than $2 for a pizza (down from $3.50 or so) or more than $1 for a 32oz Gatorade (down from $1.50-$1.75)
Since there was a sale recently, I have about 15 frozen pizzas and about 2 cases of Gatorade

That'll keep me until the next sale.
I don't "watch" for sales, online or in the paper, I just check out the sale flier when I walk into the store.

"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy

"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

[PLFXpert 0]

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Geez - I'm 5'2" (115lbs) and my child is 4. (It's not like we're eating more than average.)

We are thin and in shape and still spend quite a bit more than families we know.

It has to do with diet, more than anything. The healthier and more consciously you eat, the more you pay. My hope is it will not always be that way. But, a sack of potatoes and and an econmy-sized package of factory-farmed ground beef as one's main dietary staples is a helluva lot cheaper than fresh produce as such.

A savvy, conscious shopper can find ways to bridge the gap considerably. Like you, however, I would rather pay for the luxury of convenience and spend the rest of my day ocean kayaking.

We shop at Costco, Whole Foods, Publix, Fresh Market, CVS & Petco depending. We opt to give our pets water from a Brita pitcher and Blue Buffalo food. While I buy cheap, red wine, we drink a lot of it and purchase about four to six 1.5L bottles/week.

I cut coupons, compare prices between the stores we shop, etc. but there are many other things I could do to reduce my bottomline. For me, it is the last thing on my budget I am willing to cut back on. I get my hair cut for $12 at the local barber shop. I have had one mani/pedi in my entire life. We all make choices about where our money goes, and what we are willing to spend on the things that are most important to us.

I read a great article in the November/December issue of Eating Well magazine, Sharing Farm Shares, that I found inspiring.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[warpedskydiver 0]

We buy Murray Gray Angus on the hoof for $1 per pound (dry aged then 21 days) and have it processed for $0.43 for whatever gets wrapped.

We shop at costco, and also use all of what we can from the garden.

I also hunt.

We spend quite a bit but live very well, and have enough to share.

[warpedskydiver 0]

The dog food from Costco ranks up there with Pro Pac and Nutro

[DFWAJG 4]

Wow, what am I eating then? I spend anywhere from $250 to $300 per week for myself at Whole Foods. And, I only stay in the produce section as a raw foodist. The dogs food is ordered on line and now that I only have one, will cost about $150 per month for Love Bug. I pretty much use exclusively organic produce and the dog's food is organic, raw, dehydrated from California. While my food bill has certainly gone up since going to a vegan diet, my health bills have gone down significantly. I know longer have to buy advil, citrucel, glucosamine or other supplements. So, even though my bill is expensive, I feel I'm investing wisely in my health.

[freeflybella 0]

My 4 year old son eats a 16oz smoothie of organic strawberries, blueberries, banana, orange juice, organic peanut butter, organic yogurt and flax oil - and a bowl of cheerios with almond milk - for breakfast EVERYDAY.

I buy my clothes at Target. And have NO extra-curricular activities.

I'd rather skimp on other things, too, than food. But I'm stunned at the real difference. I guess I never questioned prices before.

Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

[rhaig 0]

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Per month? And for how many?

I spend about $600/ for 1 adult and 1 child.

2 adults, 2 kids, one still in diapers.

I can do it for $400/month, but chicken, pasta, meatloaf, and rice get boring. we average about $520/month.

--
Rob

[PLFXpert 0]

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My 4 year old son eats a 16oz smoothie of organic strawberries, blueberries, banana, orange juice, organic peanut butter, organic yogurt and flax oil - and a bowl of cheerios with almond milk - for breakfast EVERYDAY

Not everyday, but we eat something very similar once/week or so.

BTW, almond milk rocks!
We do not always stick to organic. It is my opinion that is a more environmental choice than biological. If it is something I eat daily (like raw garlic) or is leafy (spinach) I buy organic. Otherwise, I stick to regular broccoli, avocados, bananas etc.

Organic is also another reason your food bill might seem inflated.

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I'd rather skimp on other things, too, than food. But I'm stunned at the real difference. I guess I never questioned prices before.

Oh, I always question prices. My favorite thing is negotiating a steal or googling codes and removing an automatic one and entering a new one.

For a short time in college I worked in sales for a direct-mailing company (like Valpack). The owner actually told me he is embarrased to ever use anything like that and throws them away when he receives them! Seriously? The car-wash coupons alone are worth opening the envelope and taking a peak (much more environmentally friendly and believe-it-or-not cheaper to spend $5 and get an exterior at a car wash vs. washing at home).

I just went to a 5-star restaurant with a $50 certificate offer from my AMEX.

I seriously do not mind haggling, shopping around, submitting coupons and finding steals. I love it.

But if we spent as little as other people we know, eating the shit they eat, we would live in a much bigger house with a much better ocean view.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[vortexring 0]

I'm surprised at how little people are spending on their food in the states. You don't want to know my average bill for 2 adults, 2 children, 2 budgies, and a murdering greedy bastard of a cat that'll only eat what he decides to eat and drive ya batshit until you've squared him away with his favourite, and surprisingly expensive, meal. The bastard.

'for it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "chuck 'im out, the brute!" But it's "saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot.'

[PLFXpert 0]

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I'm surprised at how little people are spending on their food in the states. You don't want to know my average bill for 2 adults, 2 children, 2 budgies, and a murdering greedy bastard of a cat that'll only eat what he decides to eat and drive ya batshit until you've squared him away with his favourite, and surprisingly expensive, meal. The bastard.

BTW, 'bella, I gave a quick, rough estimate before. Figured annually, divided by 12 we spend more like $1,125/month--if that makes you feel any better. (Not including Starbucks or eating out.)

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[NWFlyer 2]

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For those of you with lower bills, do you live in cities? Where do you shop?

Sounds like the prepared foods are adding a chunk to your cost.

I honestly am not sure how much I spend on average, but I would have to guess it's somewhere in the neighborhood of $50-80 week for one person (though my s.o. is usually over for a few meals a week).

I very rarely buy prepared foods, and buy very little processed/convenience food. I make my own - in fact right now I have two crock pots going making soup/stew that'll get packaged up in my freezer to make probably 15 meals (mostly lunches or paired with salads for dinner).

As for fruits and veggies, I'm trying really hard to buy mostly local and in-season (though my weakness for bananas makes it so that I haven't gone 100% in that direction). I sometimes stop at Whole Foods (it's on my walk home from work) but buy very carefully there as I find the quality high but the prices disproportionately high. I shop a lot at Trader Joe's and Costco, and occasionally at great local stores like Berkeley Bowl.

I have a weekly farmer's market and a great local produce store within walking distance, both of which have great quality stuff at a lower price than Whole Foods. I also just signed up for a CSA box - regular delivery of locally-grown veggies. Not that I can't get that stuff easily around town, I'm hoping it'll encourage me to try lots of different stuff, and I can directly support a local grower. Here's the place I'm ordering from - you may be able to find a local one here. The prices are usually quite good and it could save you time (since that seems to be a concern).

Edited to add one more thing: I've found that the local ethnic food stores often have better prices on (generally) local produce and a more interesting and exotic variety (of both produce and other foods!).

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[kallend 2,148]

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My 4 year old son eats a 16oz smoothie of organic strawberries, blueberries, banana, orange juice, organic peanut butter, organic yogurt and flax oil - and a bowl of cheerios with almond milk - for breakfast EVERYDAY.

Well, there's your answer. I have a bowl of oatmeal and a cup of tea, and my wife just has a cup of tea.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[vortexring 0]

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My 4 year old son eats a 16oz smoothie of organic strawberries, blueberries, banana, orange juice, organic peanut butter, organic yogurt and flax oil - and a bowl of cheerios with almond milk - for breakfast EVERYDAY.

Well, there's your answer. I have a bowl of oatmeal and a cup of tea, and my wife just has a cup of tea.

What on earth is wrong with cheap Double Coated Chocolate Sugar Death Infinite E Number cereal? Jesus - no wonder the kids are going mental . . .

'for it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "chuck 'im out, the brute!" But it's "saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot.'

[warpedskydiver 0]

Sounds like someone subscribed to oatmeal enthusiast magazine.

When you get that old taking a shit excites you!