Grocery Shopping

[Paul S]

My family of five is in the $200 per week range for food.

I am not doubting some of the costs that have been stated by others, but I find them hard to believe with the cost of food, especially the under $25 per week for a family of three? It is awesome that you only spend that much. Food prices have to be different in various parts of the country. For me, just a gallon of milk, loaf of bread, a pound of American cheese and say turkey breast, and a bottle of fruit juice and a box of cereal is easily $20.

 

[Chucktown PE]

My family of five is in the $200 per week range for food.
I am not doubting some of the costs that have been stated by others, but I find them hard to believe with the cost of food, especially the under $25 per week for a family of three? It is awesome that you only spend that much. Food prices have to be different in various parts of the country. For me, just a gallon of milk, loaf of bread, a pound of American cheese and say turkey breast, and a bottle of fruit juice and a box of cereal is easily $20.

I agree. Mrs. Chucktown is crazy with the couponing and we might be able to get down to $150 a week but deli meat alone runs us $20 a week. Fresh produce is another $30. There aren't coupons for those items and they rarely go on sale. We only buy meat that is on sale and when it does (like when whole chickens are on sale for $0.89 per lb) we stock pile and freeze a bunch. Same with roasts, etc. Just those items have us at $60 a week.

We're not willing to give up fresh produce or Boar's Head deli meat.

 

[snickerd3]

My family of five is in the $200 per week range for food.
I am not doubting some of the costs that have been stated by others, but I find them hard to believe with the cost of food, especially the under $25 per week for a family of three? It is awesome that you only spend that much. Food prices have to be different in various parts of the country. For me, just a gallon of milk, loaf of bread, a pound of American cheese and say turkey breast, and a bottle of fruit juice and a box of cereal is easily $20.

That exact list of items would cost me $18 at our walmart.

 

[RIP - VTEnviro]

We're not willing to give up fresh produce or Boar's Head deli meat.

Fresh produce is a killer. I spend most of my time and money in aisle 1. This is where the produce and deli are. The Stop & Shop line of deli food is fine, but their basic chicken or turkey breast is $6.99-$7.99 on sale, roast beef or pastrami is more. Even American cheese store brand is $5.99/lb.

Sure beats Hamburger Helper.

 

[Supe]

I never really noticed how much meat cost nowadays compared to what it was just a few years ago. Inflation's a bitch.

 

[Chucktown PE]

Every week we get 1/2 lb of either Boar's Head roasted chicken breast or roasted turkey breast which are $8.99 per lb. Then we get 1/2 lb of Boar's Head deli style ham or roast beef which are also $8.99 per lb. We also get about a lb of baby swiss cheese which is usually $6.99 per lb.

 

[cdcengineer]

We spend roughly $100 per week for (2) adults and a 1 year old eating breakfast, lunch and dinner. This includes meats for lunch, chicken and bacon (if needed), but for the most part we eat elk and/or deer so we're not buying ground beef or steaks. This does not include paper towels, bath tissue or other toiletries as they are usually purchased separately.

 

[mizzoueng]

My family of five is in the $200 per week range for food.
I am not doubting some of the costs that have been stated by others, but I find them hard to believe with the cost of food, especially the under $25 per week for a family of three? It is awesome that you only spend that much. Food prices have to be different in various parts of the country. For me, just a gallon of milk, loaf of bread, a pound of American cheese and say turkey breast, and a bottle of fruit juice and a box of cereal is easily $20.

I agree. Mrs. Chucktown is crazy with the couponing and we might be able to get down to $150 a week but deli meat alone runs us $20 a week. Fresh produce is another $30. There aren't coupons for those items and they rarely go on sale. We only buy meat that is on sale and when it does (like when whole chickens are on sale for $0.89 per lb) we stock pile and freeze a bunch. Same with roasts, etc. Just those items have us at $60 a week.

We're not willing to give up fresh produce or Boar's Head deli meat.

One of Wifeys tricks for fresh meat is to check the beer isle. Usually Miller or someone is offering a rebate on "picnic" items. So you get like $10 back on some purchase which can include fresh meat, deli meat, etc.

Under $25/week can be done, we buy milk at Sam's Club and meat there as well. Wifeys gets everything else near free with coupons. I have enough shampoo, toothpaste, and pasta sauce to last a year.

 

[cdcengineer]

Who here is spending their hard earned $ on organic milk, produce, etc.? Do these dollar amounts include such an expense?

 

[Dexman PE]

Who here is spending their hard earned $ on organic milk, produce, etc.? Do these dollar amounts include such an expense?

During the summer we'll get a fair amount of produce at the local farmer's market. And yes, my $100/wk budget includes this.

 

[cdcengineer]

Dex - are you buying organic though

 

[NCcarguy]

I've gotten to the point that every time I go it seems to be in the $200 range...and I don't really get anything it seems, so I can sure see how you spend that much. Heck, I was thinking I needed to hire a personal shopper for me, to SAVE money.

 

[Ble_PE]

I just checked on Yodlee, and it looks like we average about $300/month, but there are huge swings in that. Mrs. Ble has become a coupon master since becoming a SAHM and she spends a lot of time figuring out which stores are having the best sales. Also, most of our meat comes from BJs or Costco and we have a large freezer that we keep in the garage that's full. In addition to the $300, we spend around $100-$150 per month eating out, so that's around $450/month for food stuff.

 

[Chucktown PE]

most of our meat comes from BJs

Some things are better left unsaid.

 

[chaosiscash]

I looked at 2009, and we spent around $85 / week at the supermarket, which includes both food and stuff like detergent and paper towels. That's for 2 adults. I'd say we eat out on average of twice a week for dinner (usually one "cheap" and one "nicer"), and one lunch a week for each of us, but other than that we prepare most of our food. There is only one place to get fresh seafood here (and you pay a premium), so if you add in that cost it probably jumps to $95 a week on average, as we'll go there every couple of weeks and spend $20. My family also has a small farm in SC, so generally when I go down there I come back with some beef or pork for the freezer, so that helps a lot.

 

[Capt Worley PE]

I don't have a clue.

 

[Ble_PE]

most of our meat comes from BJs

Some things are better left unsaid.

What can I say, I like to brag.

 

[kevo_55]

My wife and I spend maybe $90 per week.

We don't buy proccessed foods, so it is mostly fruits, veggi's, and meat or some kind.

 

[Dexman PE]

most of our meat comes from BJs

Some things are better left unsaid.

What can I say, I like to brag.

Wouldn't really call it a "brag" since your sentence indicates that you also get your meat that way...

 

[Chucktown PE]

^^ what he said.