$150 strictly for things not sold elsewhere.

For my family, the amount we spend really depends. We eat mostly organic foods but we are not strict. We buy organic milk, eggs, chicken breast, ground beef and some yogurt at Costco. We don't buy them but I know Costco sells the Horizon milk boxes. We also buy frozen wild salmon in bags at Costco. Buying some staples at Costco can save a lot and you can freeze meat so the large quantities are ok. We buy most of our produce at Whole Foods but not all of their produce is actually organic so you have to look at the signs. I always look for the least expensive organic apples and I buy those. I buy big bags of organic carrots (whole) when on sale and keep them. I buy bags of organic potatoes. I look for sales and specials. We always try to get the "case" discount (6 bottles of wine, 6 4-packs of yogurt, 12 regular yogurts, etc.). It is expensive. We also keep a garden in our yard and try to hit the farmer's markets when we can--ours start in May. I think Giant's organic selections are weak. We have a walmart nearby and they have more organics than my local giant. They sell organic milk but I have not tried it yet. Also, if the overall price is too high, you could focus on only buying the
"dirty dozen" veggies/fruit in organics and then go with conventional for the other stuff.

Anonymous wrote:You want me to actually face that figure??? Noooooo!!!!

Ditto. Sunday's trip alone was over $300... I shudder to think of the monthly bill.

Anonymous wrote:Where are groceries significantly cheaper? We shop at Giant and Safeway and still spend a comparable amount. Groceries have gone up a ton during the past year.

Han Ah Reum, H-Mart - Asian grocery stores!

Anonymous wrote:$100. I only buy things there that I can't get elsewhere.

this...although my number is probably about $150-200.

Where are groceries significantly cheaper? We shop at Giant and Safeway and still spend a comparable amount. Groceries have gone up a ton during the past year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$0

Why do you shop there? I ask honestly. We live just blocks from one and I have been in there maybe 10 times in the last 10 years. You can definitelly "eat well" for a heck of a lot cheaper.

For the kind of food I eat (i.e. soymilk), Whole Foods is comparable or sometimes cheaper than the regular grocery store. I think the produce (even non-organic) is of better quality (lasts longer) and is really not that much more expensive than produce at Giant or Safeway. Now, if you're buying organic raspberries for $5 a container, it is going to get expensive.

Their milk always goes bad before the expiration date (regular). It does tend to be cheaper but I only buy it if I know we are going to use it quickly. I don't find the produce any better (non-organic) just displayed nicer. I do like to buy fish there and the Horizon Chocolate milk boxes because they are cheaper than Safeway but really everything else is Safeway.

Anonymous wrote:$0

Why do you shop there? I ask honestly. We live just blocks from one and I have been in there maybe 10 times in the last 10 years. You can definitelly "eat well" for a heck of a lot cheaper.

Depends on how you eat but buying what I do at Giant or Safeway would cost more. I don't buy conventional "dirty dozen" produce--and the organic versions cost more at conventional stores than at WF usually. Furthermore, I go in shopping with a pretty open-minded list, especially for fresh items. So when I see things that are on sale, I got for large amounts. The produce is top-quality freshness usually, better than other stores.

Finally, I don't want to support factory farming so all my family's meat comes from WF; I don't buy organic-only meat, but it's still less hormoned and full of antibiotics. The "natural" versions at Safeway or Giant are factory farmed. Same for their organic milk under their generic brands--factory farmed.

$100. I only buy things there that I can't get elsewhere.

Anonymous wrote:$0

Why do you shop there? I ask honestly. We live just blocks from one and I have been in there maybe 10 times in the last 10 years. You can definitelly "eat well" for a heck of a lot cheaper.

For the kind of food I eat (i.e. soymilk), Whole Foods is comparable or sometimes cheaper than the regular grocery store. I think the produce (even non-organic) is of better quality (lasts longer) and is really not that much more expensive than produce at Giant or Safeway. Now, if you're buying organic raspberries for $5 a container, it is going to get expensive.

You want me to actually face that figure??? Noooooo!!!!

$0

Why do you shop there? I ask honestly. We live just blocks from one and I have been in there maybe 10 times in the last 10 years. You can definitelly "eat well" for a heck of a lot cheaper.

Us too. Sometimes our amount is closer to 800 (but that is usually because we spent grocery money elsewhere or ate out a ton/was on vacation). If you figure out how, let me know, because I have been trying to tackle this issue for a year, and haven't been able to change it. I have begun to made peace with the fact that eating well is one of our priorities, and that food is really expensive these days.

$60 a week, just for Saturday dinner!!! Ugh.

Us: Family of 3 (child under 3)
Monthly: $900

Something has to change.