Groceries

It's just the two of us- we spend 250-300 a week on groceries, not including the occasional lunch 2-3 times a week at work (dh)

I made a huge effort to pack breakfast, lunch and snacks for both of us. I still feel we are spending too much. Are we?? I watch pricing and go to stews, fairway, and trader joes. im just annoyed!

Re: Groceries

Whoa!! I spend about #130/wk and we're a family of 4!!

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i spend about $400 a month for a family of 3 (and a cat)

Are you buying specialty foods? all organic? that all adds up

Groceries

Food isn't cheap these days. It sounds like you're eating/packing most meals, so I wouldn't think you are spending too much. :(

Do you find you're throwing food out or not eating everything before it expires? Then I would think you're buying/spending too much.

Message edited 8/11/2016 11:26:57 AM.

Groceries

About $125 a week on groceries family of 4 but one baby..BUT we grab food out quite a bit..that's probably another $75 or so a week.Yikes. so more like $200 for 2 adults and one kid not including baby formula.

We really need to shop better.

Message edited 8/11/2016 11:30:45 AM.

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We average about $60-80 a week, depending on what sales are going on. I base our meal plan based on the sales for that week, then look for coupons online for the items that I plan on buying.

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We spend like $125 for 3.

Groceries

Yes, that does sound high to me for just 2 people. Are you buying mostly organic items (produce, meat)? If so, that will definitely add up. Are you buying prepared items from the deli or a salad bar that are weighed and you pay by the pound?

For me, DH, and DD (15 months) we usually spend $100-$130/week, but this includes buying items for our pantry which last us beyond that week. I've really started to be more aware of sale items and stocking up on them to store in the pantry (fruit snacks, granola bars, cereals, macaroni and cheese boxes, rice, etc.) I used to shop at Stop 'N Shop but recently switched to a new Shop Rite that opened up locally. I feel that I do better there price wise and I think the quality of meat and produce is significantly better.

Message edited 8/11/2016 11:37:30 AM.

Re: Groceries

We have big appetites. I don't buy all organic. I realllly watch meat prices. I felt like a pos one day in the market when he suggested we buy steak. I said at "$17.99/lb, We better be at a steak house being served and having someone do the dishes". Maybe my delivery was harsh?

We both like variety. I made chicken 2 nights last week and he said "chicken again?"

Maybe I should TRY to meal plan. Takes discipline, which I lack.

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Is it bad that i have no idea what we spend?
We just go to the store when we need stuff and buy whatever we need.
I dont' even think we shop every week. Just at random.
I haven't a clue what we spend a week, a month, a year on groceries
And I would imagine it would be different all the time depending on what we are in the mood for that week.

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Even with meal planning, our usual is $200+ going out weekends. And it's just the two of us. Sometimes it's less. Sometimes it's more.

and I buy a lot of bulk meat and separate into dinner servings. For us, my DH doesn't eat a serving of dinner. Neither do I really. An example - if I make 6 pork chops, I'll eat 1.5 and he'll start with 2, then eat the other half of mine. And maybe decide to have some salad and throw another on top for good measure lol

I always make a veggie and starch (it's just something we had growing up so I continue that ) usually couscous or sweet potatoes and a green veggie

I eat all meals home. DH either doesn't eat or has snacks thru the day (which I buy and is part of the $200 per week)

I buy some organic things. Not all. And i shop sales and cut coupons.

It ain't easy lol

Groceries

after my husband and i got married, i couldnt figure out how we were spending $100-120 per week. I started couponing, stocking up and watching sales for the things we use. I alternate between stop and shop and shoprite - fairway and trader joes are more expensive just in general than the other supermarkets, but it depends on the type of food youre buying. i may go to fairway for a few things but i wouldn't do my regular shopping there.

also, i started stocking up on toiletries and household products when theyre at a good price. so my grocery bills no longer have those extra items in it.

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We easily spent 500 a week on eating out when we didn't live together. As soon as he moved in and we got a routine, I started cooking again (thank God) I always do a side with protein. We eat a lot of shrimp (yay cholesterol!) but a lb of shrimp ($8 avg) will be dinner and a small lunch for me the next day. Maybe it's the snacks I toss in the cart that add up?? I gave up my coconut water would have one in the am and one before bed. Each bottle was $4. Don't know what else to do. We aren't struggling financially but we should be saving more than we are.

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Yeah, I feel like that's high. I used to spend about $100-$120 a week for two & sometimes ended up throwing things out. Now I spend like.. $60 a week and eat up everything. I do eat out about 1-2x a week though (usually weekends). Are you buying a lot of things precut/prepared? I kept buying fruit that was already cut up until I realized how much it was butttt I will still occasionally do it bc I'd rather pay a little more and eat it then forget to cut it up and let it rot. LOL. Also, I buy lots of ground turkey and fish! Have you always cooked all the meals at home? In the beginning, it cost me a small fortune at the grocery store because I was buying everything on the recipe lists for things I wanted to make but then I started building up my pantry and am more able to just throw things together.

Groceries

It's just DH and me also. We spend about $100 a week in actual groceries (and wine haha). But we also order takeout a lot, and we both buy breakfast and lunch every work day. So basically that amount is only a fraction of our true spending.

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Snacks add up - for sure. I try to stick to the perimeters of the grocery store. It's amazing how expensive that crap is. LOL.

Groceries

I really need help in this area. We are a family of four (with two teenagers) and I am spending $250 a week, sometimes as much as $300. I know I can do better. My problem is that I don't have time to coupon, and I don't want to shop at multiple stores. I usually go to Stop & Shop, sometimes Best Market.

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It's me and 2 DDs and I spend about $150 a week. Some weeks are less and some more. I bring all meals to work. We eat out 1x a week.

I try to buy family packs of meat and shop by unit price and meal plan. But I also buy whole grain items, nuts, fish and lots of produce so it adds up. Eating healthy isn't cheap.

I do buy some snacks and frozen convenience foods but try to limit it.

Coupons never apply to my shopping list.

Message edited 8/11/2016 12:08:57 PM.

Re: Groceries

I bring breakfast, lunch and water to work, so that contributes to the amount of money we spend at the grocery store.
Don't necessarily buy organic, but we do buy a lot of produce and at least 2 dozen eggs (cage free) a week which can add up quickly.
We buy meat, chicken on sale, fresh fish when it is on sale - but only wild caught, so it is still kind of pricey. I'm with you on the price of steak.
I gave up on Fairway because it just got too expensive and the quality is meh.
Love Stews and that is where we buy the bulk of our produce and some prepared foods. I try to stick to the sale items.
I don't use coupons that much, only because I get next to nothing in the flyers and don't really have the patience to troll the internet for coupons.

Have you tried the new Shop Rite in Lake Success ? Great store, clean and good prices when stuff is on sale.

Groceries

I think you are spending a lot on food. I find Fairway to be expensive lately- Shop rite seems to have the best prices for pantry staples--meal planning based on sales has helped me to cut our food budget--I also like some of the 365 products at Whole foods and find they are often priced well. The food prices are just high especially if you eat healthy.

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I like stews when they have lobsters on sale for 4.99 and their produce. I have been shopping at best market in great neck a lot. They have awesome deals but the best steak is at fairway. I also live across the street from
Fairway which makes my shopping trips more frequent. Stopped in last night for sushi, a bag of pretzels and a pound of shrimp and it was approx $60. I noticed 5 more charges on my cc from grocery stores since July 28. Not normal!

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We spend about $500 per month at the grocery store for two people; we go to Stop & Shop.

Before we go, I write down exactly how many snacks, lunches, and dinners we need, and I don't buy any more. We care about brand names with a few select items, but most we don't, so that helps us too. We also like variety, and we rarely repeat meals within the month. We do not eat organic.

This total doesn't include going out, just our groceries.

Message edited 8/11/2016 1:11:25 PM.

Groceries

We are a family of 3 and I spend around $80 a week on groceries.

Re: Groceries

I budget $125/ week for a family of 3 plus a dog who gets cooked for

Dh buys lunch daily in the city, but I buy him weekly snacks for work to take in each week.

And we eat 90% organic!