To posters above with teenage boys. We're about to get one added to our family (nephew is moving in with us). How much more should we expect to budget for food? We're pretty cheap right now because I'm vegetarian, DD is a baby, and DH eats his big meal of the day at his subsidized office cafeteria and often just has something light like eggs/bowl of cereal/rice + veggies for dinner. I'm thinking back to how much food we had in our fridge when I was growing up with a brother and I'm a little afraid...

$1600-2000 per month
DH, me, 2 teenage boys
whole foods
Includes lunches for children

+We eat out 2-3 times a month.

$1400 per month
DH, me, 3 teenage boys, 2 grandparents
All vegan, organic split between wegmans and whole foods
Includes everyone's lunches also

This does not include eating out. We eat out 1-2 times a month.

Actually it's been proven in studies lately that there are a lot of cheaper non-organic brands of produce that are just as safe to eat.

Anonymous wrote:Oh, by the way - I found this VERY helpful for gauging appropriate food costs: http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/USDAFoodPlansCostofFood/reports

Just click on one of the month links and you'll see weekly or monthly high/low costs.

Based on that, you definitely are on the high side, depending on how much eating out that includes.

That's interesting! Thanks for sharing

About $600 including eating out 2-4 times per week family of 3, about 50% organic/natural
We are able to do this because I SAH and go to the store frequently (Costco once a week, trader joes 2-3 times per week, giant or target 1-2 times per week)
Husband gets $100 per month for eating at certain restaurants but I include tip in monthly food costs

11:30 please start a new thread with how you do it!

Anonymous wrote:Family of 4 (2 adults, 2 kids under 5).

We spend no more than $175 per week for groceries. I prefer to keep it closer to $125, but it fluctuates based on if any staples need refilling. This covers daily breakfasts and dinners for everyone, lunches 3-4 weekdays for the adults (leftovers or salads), and weekend lunches *except* we eat out probably 2-3 family meals per week (typically one brunch and one dinner) and that is a separate budget.

We eat only small-farm, pastured meat, dairy, and eggs. Produce I buy mostly organic except on things like bananas or if not available. Grains are always organic. We stick to mostly 'perimeter' shopping -- so minimal convenience foods. We shop at Relay, farmer's markets/CSA, Whole Foods, Mom's, and Harris Teeter, depending on what's convenient or what we need.

Wow, I could learn a lot from you. We eat very similarly but we are spending double...

Family of 4 (2 adults, 2 kids under 5).

We spend no more than $175 per week for groceries. I prefer to keep it closer to $125, but it fluctuates based on if any staples need refilling. This covers daily breakfasts and dinners for everyone, lunches 3-4 weekdays for the adults (leftovers or salads), and weekend lunches *except* we eat out probably 2-3 family meals per week (typically one brunch and one dinner) and that is a separate budget.

We eat only small-farm, pastured meat, dairy, and eggs. Produce I buy mostly organic except on things like bananas or if not available. Grains are always organic. We stick to mostly 'perimeter' shopping -- so minimal convenience foods. We shop at Relay, farmer's markets/CSA, Whole Foods, Mom's, and Harris Teeter, depending on what's convenient or what we need.

$250 on groceries for me and one preschooler, and probably another $150 on meals out.

OP here. Thanks for that link. Wow, we are definitely way over. I wish I had a magic window into what people are eating under those cost plans. We definitely could stand to trim down our spending on food, but will need to get creative in where to cut back since I don't want to rule out organics.

$800ish for four.

Oh, by the way - I found this VERY helpful for gauging appropriate food costs: http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/USDAFoodPlansCostofFood/reports

Just click on one of the month links and you'll see weekly or monthly high/low costs.

Based on that, you definitely are on the high side, depending on how much eating out that includes.

2 adults, DH is a pretty big eater. Mostly eat at home. $500 for groceries & household items (toilet paper, cleaning supplies, etc). I've actually brought that number down since I started doing bulk cooking, as I think we're using a bit less meat. But we budget $500. Menu planning helps a ton in keeping costs reasonable. I telecommute so eat lunch at home and DH takes leftovers.

We probably spend around another $80 - $100/month eating out.

I know this topic has been raised before but its been a while. Also get that everyone's spending ability is different, and need for different types of foods varies. Just curious.

How many people in your household?
Where do you shop?
Is this cost mostly groceries or also dinners out?

We are averaging around $1100 lately. Its just me, hubs, and a toddler. He thinks its waaay to much and far more than anyone he knows. I prefer to buy organic to the extent that we can, and figure, even if divided by two people (as our daughter eats two meals and snacks per day at day care), its about $137 for each of us per week. We rarely eat meals out, so I figure at that rate per week for groceries and home made foods, its not bad for mostly organic. We eat a lot of bulk grains, etc, but what really gets us is produce, and meats and dairy (more for hubs).