How much money do you spend a month on groceries?

1. 67

   ambersagenposted 14 years ago

   I'm about to move out on my own and was just wondering what other singles spend each month on groceries. It seems like what I've worked out so far for my buget has a huge chunk needed for food so I'm curious.

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2. 75

   Richieb799posted 14 years ago

   It depends how much your earning, you may find you have to go to the cheap grocery store, I survive by spending only 20 pounds a week.. life is tough!
   It also depends on if you have a car?

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3. 71

   Cagsilposted 14 years ago

   There are lots of variables in living on your own. Each must be accounted for. I'm not in the position to give you advice about it, because I presently live with someone.
   
   When you make the decision to live on your own, taking food into account is a smart thing, and to be honest, I'm not sure if your a domestic type person. If you are, then you might like to cook for yourself, because you'll have no problem with cleaning up the mess. If you like to cook for yourself, then you will be spending about $150 per month on food. That's estimated or a guess.
   
   I presently spend $250 on food for two, every two months. So, I'm not exactly sure if I have helped. Also, it will depend on where you live as well, because there are different markets in different places. Some things are cheaper in certain areas than they might be where you live. It could be only a 10 or 15 minute ride from you, but worth the savings.
   
   Just my thoughts on it.

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4. 73

   LeanManposted 14 years ago

   Not sure where you are, but I spend about 200 - 300 dollars per month for 2 of us...

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   1. 66

      edguiderposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Same here, I spend about 250 a month and we are 3 only, including one dog Dog food is not cheap..

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         Home Girlposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         If you have a dog, you count 4, not 3!
         In Toronto Canada you need $30-50 a week  for one person just for food. It's hard to spend less, and no dining out if you are tight. Right now I am blessed. I live close to some Asian Market with extreemly good prices for ground beef, fruits and vegetables. Even fresh fish!

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5. 80

   starme77posted 14 years ago

   kinda depends on what ya like to eat - do ya eat steaks? Are you a vegetarian? And where you live - like in Florida a loaf of bread is 2 bucks , but here in Oregon its like 88 cents - a ten pound bag of potatoes in florida will cost ya four bucks but here they are 1.38 so what you eat and where you live will weigh heavily on your food budget ... eat well, live happy , love much Have a happy day

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6. 63

   Lisa HWposted 14 years ago

   Groceries, for me, doesn't just include food (and sometimes food is almost the least of the expenses).  Right now, it's me, my daughter (and her two cats).  My daughter buys some of her own food and all her other stuff.  I buy the "house stuff" and "main" food in the house. 
   
   I think I spend about $100 a week on groceries (including non-food groceries like trash bags, detergents, cleaning stuff, paper products, Ibuprofen, bandaids, soaps for the bathroom and kitchen, my own stuff like shampoo, toothpaste, etc.  Recently, I tend to spend $60 or $70 in "the one, main, shopping thing" and then another $30 or $40 over the course of a week.  It's not that someone has to buy, say, shampoo or detergent on every shopping trip; but there's always something in one of those "non-food" categories that is needed.  (We don't eat meat, so that isn't a factor in my groceries; and I don't buy very many frozen entrees.  I buy no packaged meals at all.  I could cut way back if I'd just use basic plain bleach, Comet cleanser, and ammonia for cleaning and stop buying a lot of the extra cleaning things people really can live without.  Buying a smaller bottle of detergent at a dollar store would mean less spending at any one time too.
   
   Having said that, there was a time when I left my marriage and was left without any way to work and I was feeding myself on $14 a week.  I was somewhat "uncomfortable", but it wasn't all that bad.  I think one person who watched what s/he spends could live reasonably comfortably on, maybe, $30/$40 a week for food.  (Of course, I'm basing this on Massachusetts prices.)

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7. 61

   weeyoposted 14 years ago

   We budget $500/month for a groceries for a family of four.  But right now with the garden giving us fresh veggies we spend about $75/week at the grocery store.

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8. 77

   Uninvited Writerposted 14 years ago

   I'm single and I spend about $250 a month on groceries, which includes household items like paper towels, toilet paper, shampoo, cat treats, litter, etc. I have gotten by on less in a pinch.
   
   I also spend about $50 a month on food deliveries, but I'm cutting that out for the summer. Actually, I'm cutting out processed foods completely so my food bill will probably go down. I'll be cooking from scratch from now on.

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9. 77

   mythbusterposted 14 years ago

   Sometimes I can afford $25-$40 for food per month

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10. 66

    Flightkeeperposted 14 years ago

    My grocery bill is about $25 a week.

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11. 60

    Originposted 14 years ago

    I spend about $25 per week. Life has me by the balls, I can't afford more like I used to. I remember the days when.. 'price was no object' and I would get anything that tickled my fancy, these days with how much the recession kicked my butt I'm lucky to even scrape up enough to give myself enough to live on.

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12. 66

    Flightkeeperposted 14 years ago

    Where I live you can get a lot for $25 a week.  Especially now that it's summer there's a lot of fruits and veggies on sale. Delish! There's more than enough to make a lot of good salads, omelets, sandwiches, smoothies.  I don't cook a lot and I just eat a lot of simple stuff.

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    Chloe Comfortposted 14 years ago

    We are a family of 4 in NY- 2 adults, 1 teenage boy and a tween girl. We spend approx. $75 a week on groceries. I shop at multiple stores - check each store flyer for specials/sales and use coupons when I can.

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14. 63

    Ben Evansposted 14 years ago

    I don't know exactly where you reside as this will make a difference in the cost of buying groceries.  I am basing the following on the several places I have lived in the US.
    
    I think between $150 to about $200 sounds about right for basic groceries.  If you aren't so brand conscious there are outlet stores as well as "dented can stores".  At these places you can buy a $2.00 can soup for maybe $.50.  The one problem with these types of stores is that some items they carry are really more expensive than a non-outlet stores.  The deals, however, can be substantial but you have to work to find deals.
    
    The next thing is to find a good farmers market. Vegetables and fruits are less expensive at these places than your normal grocery. 
    
    You can also go to the Costcos, Sams Clubs, etc. but when there is only one person the large quantities can spoil and at that point don't become a good deal anymore.
    
    If you scrimp and are frugal, you might be able to live on around $100 bucks a month.  I would suggest that you eat healthy and spend a little more for your well being.

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15. 90

    gracenotesposted 14 years ago

    I could almost get defensive about grocery expenses.
    But I don't live where prices are cheap.  We've just had an ALDI store open within the last 2 months that I need to check out.
    
    I suspect that, if I try to subtract the non-food items I buy each month, I easily spend $350 per month on groceries.  And that's just for me, a single person, who eats 3 meals a day.
    
    I very much care about my health and spend a lot on fresh produce. Lots of variety and high quality is a must. None of it goes to waste.  I do a wee bit of gardening.
    
    I look at it this way:  The extra money spent each month or the money spent on setting up gardening plots is really not expensive if it's for your long-term good.  Based on statistics I've seen, health care costs will be seven-fold at some future date, as compared to spending for your health right now.  I'm a long-range planner.
    
    You can save some money going to farmers' markets.  I find, though, that if they are really good markets, they've got tempting items like special coffees, teas, fresh goat cheese, etc.  So I don't visit these a lot.

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