how much money do you spend on groceries per week

I hope this isn't too personal of a question for some, but it's driving my DH crazy. He thinks i spend too much money on food. I'll give you a background . We have two boys one girl. The boys especially like to eat snacks. I cook every night. We rarely go out to eat. I'd say maybe once every 4 months. ( terrible isn't it?)
So i go to shoprite, i cut coupons and our food bills are anywhere from 150-170 per week. I don't think its THAT crazy, but my DH thinks it's absurd. Keep in mind that this includes everything, toiletries detergent, dryer sheets, fabric softner, soaps. Sometimes it's less but never less than 140.00 and never more than 170.00 per week. Please let me know what about your food bill is so i can see what I'm doing wrong if your food bill is lower than mine. The only thing i can think of is that i must be buying the kids too many snacks? I really don't even think i buy them THAT many, just mainly the snacks they need for school.
TIA.

Message edited 9/19/2008 7:56:15 PM.

Re: how much money do you spend on groceries per week

news flash - everyone is spending too much on food these days. gorceries have increased 20-30% in some cases

to answer your Q, I really can't b/c I buy certain things at BJ's 1x a month like meat and chicken and then also go to S&S once a week for produce, deli, milk, bread, eggs, etc.

Message edited 9/19/2008 7:59:12 PM.

Re: how much money do you spend on groceries per week

I spent 282 2 days ago. I am good for about 2 weeks with that maybe a week and 1/2. I also have 3 kids.

Re: how much money do you spend on groceries per week

another factor for me is that I buy detergents and drug store items at stores like Target.

so when you add all that together, I am sure I am dropping at least $100 a week on essentials for just DH and I. but it's probably more than that.

Message edited 9/19/2008 8:01:29 PM.

Re: how much money do you spend on groceries per week

It's just DH and I. I spend minimum $140 a week, which is min. $100 at the grocery store and min. $40 at the butcher. We buy no snacks or 'junk food' at all.

ETA: Our bill went up noticeably this summer, about 20%

Message edited 9/19/2008 8:07:16 PM.

Re: how much money do you spend on groceries per week

I think that sounds about right for your family size.

I spend about $115-$130/wk and that is just for DH, me and our 17 mo. old DS who basically eats what we eat. I also cut coupons and buy as much sale stuff as I can.

The cost of groceries is crazy...sometimes I leave there after spending $130 and feel like I got nothing

Re: how much money do you spend on groceries per week

I just spend about $160 at BJ's for stuff that will last us about a month and about $100 a week on groceries and it is just me and DH. Although DH eats a lot, enough for 2-3 people.

Re: how much money do you spend on groceries per week

For DH and me, about $90 a week but I don't go every week, so that's what it averages out to be. Toiletries and what nots like TP PT wipes, tissues are probably another $30 every other month or so.

Re: how much money do you spend on groceries per week

Its just me and DH and we are rarely home to eat so its only about $40 a week. DH's schedule is changing from night to day we we'll be cooking more so of course it will go up then.

Re: how much money do you spend on groceries per week

That sounds extremely reasonable to me for 5 people. I spend about 90 a week on food and that's not including detergents, paper towels, toiletries, for two adults and one toddler.

Re: how much money do you spend on groceries per week

ok, here's the confession

we don't economize... nor do we eat out. I go to fairway and buy whatever we want... including every week getting a lot of tasty imported cheeses, organic bacon, good meat, exotic juices....

we also go to target for cleaning agents, so that's NOT in this estimate.

so, for the 2 of us, we plunk down about $200 a week. Before the summer, it was closer to $170... I think due to the increase in food prices.....

oh, but is our food good

Re: how much money do you spend on groceries per week

For Joe and I we spend $100-$150 biweekly for groceries and extras.....soap, shampoo, laundry soap and so on...I think you're about average with what you spend. Groceries have gone WAY up....This summer was a bit nicer only because we went to the farmers market A LOT and bought meat in bulk when on sale.

Re: how much money do you spend on groceries per week

For 4 of us I spend 220+ per week.

I buy mostly organic foods and meats.

Re: how much money do you spend on groceries per week

I go grocery shopping every Friday for two people, and spend approximately $80, including S&S card savings & coupons. However, I usually spend an extra $30 at LEAST, running to the local place to pick up extras during the week. I applaud myself every Thurs., for keeping the grocery budget relatively low, but by the following Wednesday, I realize I've spent an additonal 50% on extras.

I think for 5 people, you're doing pretty good. It's still a ton of money, but I just think it's unavoidable.

Re: how much money do you spend on groceries per week

That sounds pretty good to me. DH and I don't have any kids...it's just us. I don't go shopping every week, but pretty much every other week and we spend anywhere between $150 and $180. I too cook pretty much every night and we rarely eat out. Occasionally we'll order take-in, but that's it.

Re: how much money do you spend on groceries per week

For me & DH groceries cost anywhere from 85-105 bucks per week--sometimes more...

Food is sooooooooo expensive now, it's killing me.

Re: how much money do you spend on groceries per week

For DH, DS and I we spend about $130-150 per week not including DHs lunches at work ($20 per week) on all food, toiletries and household goods. We used to spend about $90-110 per week - i.e. back in May). Everything is so much more expensive and what is worse is that companies are shrinking package sizes so you need more of something and it ends up costing so much more.

Re: how much money do you spend on groceries per week

its hard to say... because we buy meats at sams club, and stock up every few months. that bill usually ends up being about $125. detergent, cleaners, toothpaste, etc i buy at target whenever we need them so that varies.
BUT every week at the grocery store for just DH and i i spend about $50-60. not bad, BUT thats also considering DH eats out for lunch everyday ( so thats another $50 a week right there at least) AND we eat out on friday and saturday nights, so thats probably another $100 ($50 a night). so all total, we spend at least $200 on food a week.. its just not all at the grocery store- LOL

Re: how much money do you spend on groceries per week

We spend about $75 a week, sometimes more, sometimes less...depending mostly on if I missed a week or if I am stocking up on meat or something else that is on sale. But, it's just DH and I. Your bill seems reasonable for 5 people.

In terms of snacks....what are you buying? I find that the little snack bags of stuff (chips, crackers with PB in those little packets etc) can be so expensive. It's a lot cheaper to buy say a bag of pretzels and give them a little snack bag of them rather than the individual pack. Probably would last longer too! Just a suggestion.

Really though, doesn't sound totally crazy with what you are spending, especially that it is all your household items too. A couple of months ago I was probably spending about $60-65 a week, but prices are getting crazy. The apples I used to buy were $1.29/lb, now I'm lucky I can get them for $1.69/lb....all those little increases are adding up big time.

Re: how much money do you spend on groceries per week

I spend roughly $100 at BJs per month and then prob $100-$120 per week at the food store. It's just DH and I. So I'd say your bill sounds reasonable for your size family. As your boys get older, I'm sure the bill will continue to climb.

Re: how much money do you spend on groceries per week

About $90-$100 per week. But DH and I bring in lunch every day to work (except Fridays for DH) and we eat dinner at home most nights. It's not too bad. It reaches $130 if we have a lot of cleaning products or shampoo/soap to buy.

Re: how much money do you spend on groceries per week

Posted by KittyTheStray

It's just DH and I. I spend minimum $140 a week, which is min. $100 at the grocery store and min. $40 at the butcher. We buy no snacks or 'junk food' at all.

ETA: Our bill went up noticeably this summer, about 20%

Re: how much money do you spend on groceries per week

omg!??!!? i think you are you doing a great job for feeding 5 people!??! what is your dh complaining about?!?!!?


i spend about $100 a week and that is for just me and my dh!
have him go shopping one day and lets see if he can get the numbers down below $150 for a family of five

he needs to give you way more credit!

i think you are doing a great job!

Message edited 9/20/2008 8:18:53 AM.

Re: how much money do you spend on groceries per week

Every 2 weeks we spend about $300. And really that is just for DH and I. Andrew doesn't eat much

Re: how much money do you spend on groceries per week

Just for DH and I, I usually spend between $50-$70 per week, but about one week a month it will be more ($90 this week!). I try to shop the sales as much as I can!