I shop a lot at the local Dollar Tree for things like toiletries and food basics. I've been surprised most weeks at what I find there for under a total bill of $20.00.
Meat is a rare treat anymore, even lunch meat or cheese is a ‘gift’ to myself once a month. I honestly can't even stand the thought of walking into a grocery store! It is too upsetting. Last time I was in one hoping to get an after holiday turkey cheap...let's just say it was emotionally difficult. I was happy to get out of there.
I still have zucchini, corn, and strawberries from last summer in the freezer and plan to pull a garden together again this year.
I am working hard, my business is growing...but I am not keeping up with the cost of things. I pray every day, but last week my prayers had a few tears with it.
Wow I remember under President Bush I would spend like at least $30.00 a week and that is veggies, meat, and bread. Now under ODumbo the very same items is now like at least $45.00.
This week Food Maxx had Bathroom Tissue for a roll of 24 for 3.98 normally they are like 5.99 so I brought 3. I don’t know how, but these morons here in California are raising taxe.
$600/ month for us includes diapers, booze, cleaning supplies and paper products. We pay a premium for grass fed bed, deep bedded pork and eggs from field roaming chickens. We get this from a local farmer. We also pay a premium for organic products when the weather prevents us from growing our own (but I’m asking for a cold frame for my birthday). We cook, I bake our bread (even our own tortillas) and pack our lunchs. Although we pay more for certain items, I think we spend less by simply not buying processed and convenience foods. It’s also simple to avoid MSG, HFCS, pink slime, and hydrogenated oils when you cook from scratch. Making my own lard is darn near free, and we haven’t purchased chicken and beef stocks in years. Those only cost me the energy to simmer and pressure can because I use all kitchen scraps.
So around $2500 a month on average for food.
Cooking a nutritious, full diet from scratch, an individual can be healthy and more active than most Americans on about $3 per day in our USA (others requiring higher calorie intakes—infantry soldiers, athletes requiring much endurance, and the like). Much less for those with livestock and gardens in arable areas with temperate climates. Study nutrition thoroughly, though (especially for extra calcium and protein for those who work hard).
About $650 a month and that includes TP and paper towels.
Two people , my wife and myself, but we feed the kids and Grandkids most every Sunday, that adds up fast.
We seldom eat out, we went out last Friday and spent $70 bucks on a meal, I almost crapped when I saw the menu, but we were there so we decided to stay.
The Food Lion is 15 miles away and we go to the local store that closer, for bread and milk when we have to, we get a royal screwing there.
Here’s a more specific tip for those who want to cut costs. Cook rice the day before breakfast. For breakfast, stir quite a bit of pre-cooked rice and a little cheese in with eggs to scramble. Maybe add a little black pepper. [I like red pepper, but most folks—especially kids—regard that as being way too hot and spicy.] Goes good with home-baked or biscuits or biscuits fried on a touch of butter.
There’s rice-cooking advice around the net for those who can’t get the stuff to be soft and non-sticky. Have fun. Enjoy the slide.
Mrs. Dawgg informs me about around 300 bucks a month (using coupons) at the grocery store. About 100 bucks a month at Sam’s Club. Then we get half a beef which lasts us about a year and costs around 1100 bucks.
There are three adults in our household. We live in a small town with two grocery stores. Our grocery bill is about $100 a week and going up. I never thought bread would cost almost $3/loaf and milk $4/ gal.
About $400 a month for 3 (2 adults and one 5-year-old).
I’m an Atkins adherent (I keep it at about 45 carbs maximum a day) and my wife is a South Beach adherent. We’ve been that way for about five years. Our daughter is loosely South Beach.
Naturally, we eat very few carbs and starches, so we can’t get away with buying cereal or Ramen noodles to save money.
Most of the money goes out for meat, dairy (LOTS of milk!), and greens. LOTS of coffee, too. Maybe $75 a month goes out for coffee, heavy whipping cream (it has 0 carbs and makes a great creamer for coffee), and Splenda. About $30 a month goes out for CarbSmart ice cream as our after-dinner dessert of choice.
Hope this helps.
Cheers