Tips for curbing spending on food

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP's actual grocery bills are reasonable and hardly outrageous.

It's that she's including all her vacation dining in the year's food expenditures that's making it seem wildly out of wack. A family of five eating out three times a day over a few weeks of vacations will definitely add up into the thousands.

She's also factoring in the groceries for the nanny. I'd consider that under childcare expenses.

[Anonymous]

I spend $715 a month on groceries for two men (dad, teenage son). That's mostly Harris Teeter and Aldi.

Also spend $331 a month eating out - almost all sushi and Five Guys. Definitely don't eat out regularly, a lot of it is on road trips or vacations. Eating out three times a week with four people as you do would really add up. I have noticed that these days it's hard to eat out for less than $25 a person.

My food spending is $35 a day total or $17 a person a day for two guys who are pretty big eaters, and a big part of our daily diet is red meat.

I have found that you can do a lot with ground beef (usually $2.99/pound at Harris Teeter, sometimes $3.99/pound) - tacos, burgers, meatloaf, shepherd's pie, etc.

[Anonymous]

I think the lowest hanging fruit would be to replace one of the weekly takeout days with a simple home cooked meal. Restaurants have gotten so expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would make frozen pizza instead of ordering. Pizza is just not worth the $$ for delivery anymore IMO. It costs at least $20 for one cheese pizza where I live. I would stick to two nights of take out but order more strategically (can you pick up one night instead of delivery?). Order from places with deals on Tuesday nights or that have family style options. I would try middle eastern food or places like nando's for family style chicken, etc. For breakfasts, you can get really economical with eggs, oatmeal, toast, make your own muffins, banana bread, etc. Make stuff on Sunday to use all week.

IMO, pizza is the one thing that *hasn't* skyrocketed in price over the past few years, as long as you do carryout. IIRC, Domino's does a large cheese for $7.99 or a large specialty for $11.99. Plus, since the social distancing of the pandemic, they bring the pizza out to your car, eliminating the most annoying part of carryout (getting out of your car and waiting in line).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I spend $715 a month on groceries for two men (dad, teenage son). That's mostly Harris Teeter and Aldi.

Also spend $331 a month eating out - almost all sushi and Five Guys. Definitely don't eat out regularly, a lot of it is on road trips or vacations. Eating out three times a week with four people as you do would really add up. I have noticed that these days it's hard to eat out for less than $25 a person.

My food spending is $35 a day total or $17 a person a day for two guys who are pretty big eaters, and a big part of our daily diet is red meat.

I have found that you can do a lot with ground beef (usually $2.99/pound at Harris Teeter, sometimes $3.99/pound) - tacos, burgers, meatloaf, shepherd's pie, etc.

Quintessential man cooking

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would make frozen pizza instead of ordering. Pizza is just not worth the $$ for delivery anymore IMO. It costs at least $20 for one cheese pizza where I live. I would stick to two nights of take out but order more strategically (can you pick up one night instead of delivery?). Order from places with deals on Tuesday nights or that have family style options. I would try middle eastern food or places like nando's for family style chicken, etc. For breakfasts, you can get really economical with eggs, oatmeal, toast, make your own muffins, banana bread, etc. Make stuff on Sunday to use all week.

IMO, pizza is the one thing that *hasn't* skyrocketed in price over the past few years, as long as you do carryout. IIRC, Domino's does a large cheese for $7.99 or a large specialty for $11.99. Plus, since the social distancing of the pandemic, they bring the pizza out to your car, eliminating the most annoying part of carryout (getting out of your car and waiting in line).

Except that Domino’s isn’t pizza.

[Anonymous]

I recently got into this. I've been watching a lot of YouTubers who are into frugal cooking -- it's helped me a lot, and we are eating much healthier as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband informed me that we are currently spending 40k a year on food, drink, takeout and restaurants when all is said and done. Family of 5.

Takeout is probably a big culprit - one night a week is pizza night and another 1-2 are usually Mexican, Chinese or Japanese.

We don’t eat out in restaurants often. Barely get Starbucks. WFH and eat homemade food.

Apart from takeout, how do you become more on top of food expenses and waste? What are some budget friendly meals that aren’t pasta every night? We don’t eat pork, shellfish, and rarely eat red meat.

I do spend a lot on organic fruits and vegetables every week. But we don’t really waste that.

Dh says there’s not really much to cut, apart from waste, because it averages out to 110 dollars a day for the family and that’s not so crazy.

What are you spending on food monthly/annually for a family of 4-5?

We spend about $15 per day per person and we eat well, but not much restaurant food. Maybe once or twice of week we get carryout or eat out. I like to buy what is on sale and let that guide the menu. Also, we have cut back on protein which is healthier and shop at Costco.

[Anonymous]

I just started shopping at Aldi this month. I can't get everything there, but meat, produce, cheese and bread have all been spot on. So far, our grocery bill has been significantly less.

[Anonymous]

OP, I recommend you use an app like YNAB or something else to track your grocery and takeout expenses for a month. Create categories for areas you suspect you may be spending more than you mean to, like "too tired to cook" versus "nice restaurant meals".

Just paying attention to your spending on groceries will make you cut back probably 10% of the expense without even changing much.

As for cutting more back - what's the motivation? Do you just feel you are spending too much overall, or do you wish you could be doing something else with that money?

[Anonymous]

But cheaper produce and cuts of meat. Really look at the price per pound. There are fruits and vegetables that cost under $2/lb and some that are 4x that! Eat more bananas, apples, carrots, cabbage, cucumber and less bell peppers, berries, and lettuce. Look at frozen (Costco has a good variety) and canned options too. Instead of processed meat alternatives, use more eggs and beans. Cereal has gotten really expensive, so I switched to oats (which are expensive too but not as bad). Look for sales and build your menus around them. Buy nonperishable/freezable stuff in bulk if you will actually use it. Also, occasionally do a no shop week. Make a commitment to eat what is in your house, even if the combinations are a little weird. I like doing this before going on vacation...clears out the fridge and saves some money. People have already said how to cut back on takeout so I won't add to that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I spend $715 a month on groceries for two men (dad, teenage son). That's mostly Harris Teeter and Aldi.

Also spend $331 a month eating out - almost all sushi and Five Guys. Definitely don't eat out regularly, a lot of it is on road trips or vacations. Eating out three times a week with four people as you do would really add up. I have noticed that these days it's hard to eat out for less than $25 a person.

My food spending is $35 a day total or $17 a person a day for two guys who are pretty big eaters, and a big part of our daily diet is red meat.

I have found that you can do a lot with ground beef (usually $2.99/pound at Harris Teeter, sometimes $3.99/pound) - tacos, burgers, meatloaf, shepherd's pie, etc.

Quintessential man cooking

It's good... it's cheap... it's healthy... it fills us up... =D

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just started shopping at Aldi this month. I can't get everything there, but meat, produce, cheese and bread have all been spot on. So far, our grocery bill has been significantly less.

Aldi is great for milk, eggs, cheese, cream, yogurt, lunch meat for the kids.

I'm not a big fan of their meat and I don't think it's cheaper than Harris Teeter.

[Anonymous]

We only do takeout twice a month. Yes dh and I both work full time. We have just figured out how to shop and cook. Challenge yourself to cut down to just once a week. Get premade pizza dough from trader joes and your pizza night will be much cheaper. Get poststickers from Costco and your Asian night will be much cheaper. Takeout really really adds up

[Anonymous]

OP how do you realize how much takeout costs? It’s $50 per person now with taxes and delivery charges. 50 x 5 x 3 = 750/WEEK on takeout. That more than some people’s rent, and more than double my property taxes. That’s $39K a year plus at least another $12K (easily) for groceries, plus whatever you spend on restaurants which I’m sure isn’t zero. Your husband’s number is an understatement. This is a sickening indulgence.