Posted on 03/10/2013 10:04:56 AM PDT by sfimom
How much do you spend on food in an average month? Please include eating out. How many people are you feeding and what is your typical diet? What do you do to supplement your diet?
My biggest change is to inspect the labeling of the package to ensure that I don’t buy anything that comes from a blue state if I can help it. I damned sure don’t buy any vegetables from California, for instance.
I’m getting stronger in my advancing years. I can remember a time when I couldn’t lift $100 worth of groceries. These days I have no problem carrying out $100 worth of food.
i don’t know about monthly but Friday i went to the local Shop Rite- i usually stick to sale items...2 Cantalopes ($1.49/each), 5 lbs oranges ($3.99), 2/16oz containers of strawberries ($1.99/each), 5lbs of chicken thighs ($6/ on sale $1.19/lbs), one large box of cornflakes ($4.50), one 33 oz container of plain greek yogurt ($3), 5 bottles of gatorade ($5, 16 oz Cream Cheese ($3.00) + tax....no milk or eggs or beef....almost $40 with my price plus card!!!!
$600 / month grocery
$200 / month eating out
household expenses like toiletries are separate
This is for a family of 4 people, no pets
Family of a Dad, a Mom and a 16 year old daughter about $250 p/w. We don’t eat crap. We never eat out. My wife is a great cook and cooks homemade every night.
$200 a month —
I stopped keeping track a long time ago. Too much. We both try to eat rather healthy most of the time. My wife is a vegetarian who buys a lot of specialty foods (goes nuts for Amy’s and Kashi meals).
That’s approximately $12/day/person. I figure $15/day/person.
But it’s gas, taxes and insurance that have been going up; much more so than foo.
“I’m getting stronger in my advancing years. I can remember a time when I couldn’t lift $100 worth of groceries. These days I have no problem carrying out $100 worth of food.”
Very,very funny!
I spent over $400 yesterday. Primarily beans rice and pasts. No meat. No vegetables. No fruits. No dairy. I did get oils and seasonings. This will just barely feed my family of eight for the month. Ill spend another 150+ next week for fruits and veggies. Cant afford meat but I have a few chickens for eggs and two milk goats.
to tell the truth, i have never looked at the price of the stuff i buy that said, my weekly bill runs from $20 to $100 for food and consumables(TP, bowl cleaner, detergent, etc included) but it all depends on what i am out of at the time which sometimes is nothing, so all i'm buying is milk, yogurt, bread and maybe a couple other things, but on average i'd say my weekly average cost has risen at least $10...
Three observations on food:
It is WAY more expensive.
It should be WAY less expensive because technology has advanced.
It only has a shadow of the quality it used to have.
And someone please explain why it is as expensive to buy food in the supermarket as it is to buy it in restaurants?
$400 - 500 per month.
Buy bulk from Costco.
Break down large roast for stews and soups, chicken for a myriad of dishes. and turkey. Wife does not like seafood (except shrimp) so we will buy a bag of 16-20 shrimp and use in an occasional shrimp cocktail for a treat.
Buy tomato products by the case.
Pasta, beans and rice in large bags.
Eat out once in a while. but not much more than $30 for two since it is usually breakfast or lunch (being seniors helps get discounts).
We freeze what we have not eaten and time and date it all so we know what is still edible after a period of time. So many dished freeze well.
Between regular foodstuffs at Fred Meyer, specialty items at Whole Foods, and the farmers market, probably around $125 per week just for me. It’s not cheap to support your local farmers and ranchers, but it sure is delicious!
I spend $300-350 a month to feed two adults and a toddler ~ and that eating organic. The boy gets supplements, DHA, probiotic, iodine, D3, a multivitamin, and a few drops of colloidal silver. I don’t buy many prepared foods. I mostly cook from whole foods. I even make our own chinese food, but that’s about $40 extra when we do that. We end up with 50 egg rolls and 50 crab rangoon for that price so it’s worth it.
About $50/week for 1 person. That includes a $5 sandwich made at the deli once a week as a special treat, but when I do that I also skip a meal that day.
https://www.mayoclinic.com/health/colloidal-silver/AN01682
Colloidal silver: Is it safe or effective?
My dad takes colloidal silver for his health, but is it safe?
Answer
from Brent A. Bauer, M.D.
Colloidal silver isn’t considered safe or effective for any of the health claims manufacturers make. Silver has no known purpose in the body. Nor is it an essential mineral, as some sellers of silver products claim.
Colloidal silver products are made of tiny silver particles suspended in a liquid — the same type of precious metal used in jewelry, dental fillings, silverware and other consumer goods. Colloidal silver products are usually marketed as dietary supplements that are taken by mouth. Colloidal silver products also come in forms to be injected or applied to the skin.
Manufacturers of colloidal silver products often claim that they are cure-alls, boosting your immune system, fighting bacteria and viruses, and treating cancer, HIV/AIDS, shingles, herpes, eye ailments and prostatitis. However, no sound scientific studies to evaluate these health claims have been published in reputable medical journals. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration has taken action against some manufacturers of colloidal silver products for making unproven health claims.
It’s not clear how much colloidal silver may be harmful, but it can build up in your body’s tissues over months or years. Most commonly, this results in argyria (ahr-JIR-e-uh), a blue-gray discoloration of your skin, eyes, internal organs, nails and gums. While argyria doesn’t pose a serious health problem, it can be a cosmetic concern because it doesn’t go away when you stop taking silver products.
Rarely, excessive doses of colloidal silver can cause possibly irreversible serious health problems, including kidney damage and neurological problems such as seizures. Colloidal silver products may also interact with medications, including penicillamine, quinolone, tetracycline and thyroxine medications.
And prices for toiletries and cleaning products are exhorbitantly high and going up as we speak.
And “they” pretend (lie) tht there is no inflation.
That is, much like everything else government bleats, bullcrap.
$50/mo /eat out
$250. mo /groceries only
single person, not including doggie food & treats (yeesh!) She gets the best...Blue Buffalo, no chinese treats.
I buy chicken and meats and dairy ...but not much meat...from whole Foods cause I don’t want the chemicals and hormones. I also buy calcium and magnesium supplements from the health store. fresh produce and hummus and kettle chips and raw nuts from Sam’s Club..though now I hear the real and safest canned tuna comes from Costco. Starbucks coffe and I brew it myself every morning.
Food and ALL prices have fone UP AND UP AND UP.
I have NO idea how I am going to make it in retirement..which is why I haven’t retired yet.ha.
And that MD has no idea what he’s talking about. I posted the supplements because the OP asked, not because I wanted a debate or lecture on those I or my family choose to take. I have personal experience with the remarkable power of colloidal silver.
“How much do you spend on food in an average month?”
~$500 per month.
“How many people are you feeding and what is your typical diet?”
Two and sometimes unavoidable, unwamted visits from the stepson and step-grandson. The additional food does not bother me but when they are here I cannot be a slob in my own home. I have to be ‘nice’ and always smile. ;-)
Normal, good ol’ American meals. Nothing extravagant except filet mignon every Sunday.
“What do you do to supplement your diet?”
Theragram M Premier 50+ - 2 per day, Vitamin E - 400 USP Units per day, Potassium Gluconate - 99 mg per day. Various and sundry ‘comfort foods’.
Anything else?
We spend $100 to $120 a week, including tissues, paper towels, soaps, etc., for a family of four. It’s the same amount we’ve spent for the last five years or so. But now, my wife spends a lot more time with coupons and looking for deals, and buying mostly from a discount store. We eat good, healthy food, but a little less meat now, and more “store brand” stuff.
I have noticed a distinct increase in recent months. My typical grocery shopping (for just me) is every week to 10 days and was averaging about $30 per trip. Now, it is running about $50 per trip.
I used to see more subtle price increases — a few cents on items per trip. Now, I typically see increases of 50-cents or more.
Eggs were 50-cents/doz for a year. Recently, the prices shot up to $1.75.
Milk, $2.00/gal. Now, $2.75.
Large bottle of store brand antacid was $3.27 for years. Now, it is $3.98.
Pork rinds jumped from $1.28 to $1.78 for the same size bag.
—
But, thank goodness our FED tells us inflation is running at minus 5% or some such non-sense. [/s]
Oh, I forgot. Multivitamin supplements.
“I have noticed a distinct increase in recent months.”
The other little trick that food processors use is to decrease the amount in any given product and keep the price the same.
They really do think that we ‘commoners’ are stupid.
True.
I laugh about one store that changed out their shopping carts recently. I say the reason is that so many products got downsized they needed newer carts with lesser distances between the slats to keep packages from slipping out of the old carts onto the floor.
I’m one of those nuts that keeps track of everything I spend. In 2012 my dining out averaged $65 a month which includes monthly business meetings with clients. Groceries average $140 a month. In November I found a great on-line company that was giving a huge discount and free shipping so ordered a years supply of Cheer, Cascade, toilet tissue and paper towels.
There are lots of things I no longer buy at the store because they just cost too much. I look for those items which are buy 1, get 1 free. Have lots of coupons I ended up not using because the brand available by a coupon cost more with the coupon than other brands without a coupon. Also started frequenting the Dollar Tree more.
Before 2012 I used to spend up to $400 a month and a whole lot more eating out. Not easy or fun to cook for just one. Gas, insurance and taxes all keep going up so that money had to come out of the grocery budget.
Yep, our food expense is about the same, for 4 people and 4 pets.
Thanks for posting this, it’s interesting to see the various responses. I have no idea what I spend on food but it’s a lot because we eat lots of organic and go out about 10x a month for dinner and lunch out every day. Now I feel like I should look into it.
You’re so lucky. Milk is $5.59 a gallon here and eggs are about $2.79/doz.
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.
I do not buy what this doctor says about colloidal silver at all! I have personal experience taking this and it works. I can not take prescription medication. Silver biotics has worked every time for a sinus or ear infection without fail. I have let others in my family try it for sinus, ear, tooth infections. It worked for them and now my Sister, Sister In Law/Brother, and Brother In Law would not be without it. It has been very effective for all of us. Even my Son reaches for it if he gets sick. Why? Because he knows it works.I will take my chances with this any day over pharmacy drugs with their side effects.
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.
You are absolutely right! You can read my reply to it, but the short of it is I can’t take presription drugs, and without silver biotics I would be in trouble. Works every time for a sinus infection, etc. I and others in my family have used it for 6 years when we have a problem. Works every time!
$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.
And the way they do that (no inflation)?
They don't count food, gas and other products such as those when they decide the inflation rate.
The things that effect people and inflation the most.
This also helps them when they issue the social security checks.
Because there is "no" inflation, there are not any annual increases because of inflation.
It' like unemployment, when the benefits run out and you are no longer able to get them, they consider you not "unemployed" even though most still all.
Makes their phoney numbers even phonier.
Why be cheap. I go for the gold.
Goldschläger
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldschl%C3%A4ger
I used to track household costs like this when I was off from work and my friend was going through a divorce... I was coming over to let his dogs out mid day... and eventually he just asked me to move in.
Our arrangement had me buying fuel oil, groceries and doing stuff around the property like cutting the lawn, cooking, cleaning, installing a custom designed HVAC control for moving hot air from the pelletstove in the basement den to the rest of the house... servicing the oil burner on the water heater... all sorta stuff.
Well I remember tracking costs and I had the groceries and dry goods provisioning down to about $11 per day for both of us... plus, we did a shitload of entertaining at the farmhouse... and my groceries covered that too.
Granted, sometimes he would not show up for dinner... but I was making good healthy homecooked meals (other than chili cheese fry night... hahahaha!)... but it was a lot of work. I was constantly checking all the circulars for the sale items... constantly cutting USEABLE coupons for staple items... and being extra frugal buying stuff like cheese ends from the deli department (perfect for Mac-N-Cheese), produce that had tiny imperfections... or the bagels in the bulk bins went from 89 cents each to $1.99/dozen at 8:30pm... I made good use of the 1967 chest freezer that cost him $60 to run until I defrosted it... which hadn’t been done in 20 years.
Anyways... $11/day for 2 guys plus weekend entertainment of a houseful of lady friends.
“Buy bulk from Costco.”
How can you shop at that commie outfit and call yourself a conservative?
j/k but that’s the attitude too often that if you buy/watch/listen to any enterprise with a lefty you should hang your head in shame and you have forfeited your conservative bona fides.
That fact is, we can’t avoid them altogether. Kills me to shop at Costco, but I do it to the same $400-500/mo. tune as you.
that prepackaged stuff is what my old roommate would get when he went all ADHD and self medicated himself by going to the snooty Wegmans. Why buy Amy’s premade soup when you can have homemade I mean completely from scratch including homemade chicken stock... every week.
My specialty was cream of asparagus... when asparagus went on sale... I would think nothing of buying 5 lbs at a clip to make a HUGE batch. Amy’s? Pftt!
if milk were not price fixed by the gubmint it would be $7+/gsllon for grocery store milk.
Up until a month ago we had four additional grandkids with us plus the two usual ones (the extras were here for 7-8 months). My wife is from a poorer Asian country and knows how to economize. So I’d say she was doing it for around $350-$400/month for all of them, although school lunches for some of them distort it as do my $3.45 breakfasts at BK every day and other occasional fast food meals. My wife goes heavy on the vegetables and fruits although sliced turkey is one of the big items also. We buy gallons of 2% milk for about $2.49 here. The meals for the extra kids couldn’t have been too bad, since the kids all gained weight from their former scrawny selves. Now that they have gone back we expect the healthful eating to cease and the ribcages to emerge again :<( Best wishes to your family.
I wouldn’t give it to a child either, or an adult, except for external application where it is known to work against skin infections (or at least a proper preparation can). No science-based peer-reviewed experimental evidence exists that it can work internally against infections. Yeah, I guess it’s all a big conspiracy against home medicine and it really does work LOL.
Wait until they're teenagers. $600 will seem cheap.
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.
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