Moms---What are your food and "spending" budgets?

We are spending wayyyyyyyyy to much money on food and leisurely spending (drugstores, clothing)... what should my food and leisure budgets be?

Message edited 9/28/2008 9:17:47 AM.

Re: Moms---What are your food and "spending" budgets?

Well, I think it depends on so many different things, but I'll just tell you for us. My budget for the supermarket each week (or really just what I strive to spend) is $100. Sometimes it's more if I need to stock up on stuff, but for the most part, that's what I spend. As for other spending money, I try not to spend anything else during the week other than on gas. There's really no need for us to since Ava's home all day with JT and I'm at work all day. All of our money is really going into fixing up our house, so we're trying to keep it to a minimum.

Re: Moms---What are your food and "spending" budgets?

I think everyone has a different budget due to different family sizes, etc. so no one can really tell you what yours should be. I would make a list of necessities and stick with that.

I do find drugstores to be pricier than say Walmart or Target though. Even as far as food goes, you can get just about everything except produce and meat at Target and the price is about half of that at the grocery store.

Re: Moms---What are your food and "spending" budgets?

I don't really have a budget for this b/c I've been buying as I need things (which will probably catch up to me) BUT I stock up when there is a sale and I'm not above buying storebrand (I test out which products are just as good and find Target brand is perfectly OK).

Re: Moms---What are your food and "spending" budgets?

I also want to add that I do stock up when there are sales, and snack foods for Ava, I buy in Target most times because the prices are ridiculously cheaper! Also, I shop according to a menu each week. I'll plan out six dinners and buy what I need for those meals. That saves money beacuse I'm not buying random things that will hopefully come together a meal, ya know?

Re: Moms---What are your food and "spending" budgets?

for some reason DH and I spend a lot of $$ on food, it's only 2 of us and a newborn! but as far as spending $ goes, we don't have a budget for that LOL I can't remember the last time I bought myself something. everyonce in a blue moon I"ll buy DH clothes for work, but that's about it. oh and I never set foot in a drugstore, unless to fill a prescrip. target is really the way to go .

Re: Moms---What are your food and "spending" budgets?

We have an amount we strive to have our CC bill to be at or under each month (we charge everything) so I just keep an eye on that throughout the month. Some months we do really well, other months we go over. We have wiggle room. I just am not one for a set budget because I shop sales, we stock up at Costco every few months and that's a huge bill.

Re: Moms---What are your food and "spending" budgets?

We don't really have a budget when it comes to food, clothing etc.

I can tell you that I buy ALOT at BJs - it is very close to my house and I am a big bulk buyer! We get our organic milk there, detergent, snacks (chips, puffs, etc) apple juice, frozen vegetables, etc. I also get alot from Target too!

Re: Moms---What are your food and "spending" budgets?

We are a family of four and we spend about $165 a week on groceries.

We have separate annual budgets for kids clothing, my clothing, gifts etc etc. We also have a weekly allowance for any incidentals liike eating out, impulse purchases, babysitting etc.

ETA: This is my second week of trying peapod and making sure I stick to that $165 a week. I do meal planning and get all the staples for that. Costco is separate - about $200 a month.

Message edited 9/28/2008 12:48:18 PM.

Re: Moms---What are your food and "spending" budgets?

no real budget...mainly due to the fact ath we never go out to eat.

every friday, we fill up our gas tanks...
I first go to Trader Joes...get what I need there(usually 65.00)

then Target(if I need diapers usually 40.00)

Then Harris Teeter for certain veggies, sushi, cold cuts.

so I would say about 150 a week, if I need diapers that week.

I don't spend much on clothes at all.
Gap outlet...around 150-200 a month for the three of us.

Message edited 9/28/2008 10:16:13 AM.

Re: Moms---What are your food and "spending" budgets?

The best thing to do for your food budget is meal planning. You can probably cut your spending generously if you only buy what you need to cook with for a certain meal. I used to shop aimlessly and can't tell you how many things I've thrown out. So stick to a meal plan and you'll save a ton of $$.

Re: Moms---What are your food and "spending" budgets?

Re: Moms---What are your food and "spending" budgets?

We do a large amount of our shopping at Cotsco. I buy baby food, paper towels, toilet paper, pasta, cereal, soups, and all other non perishible items in bulk there about once a month. We get our meat, fruit, and veggies at Whole Foods, so we spend a little more on that stuff since it is organic. Whatever is left (frozen foods, all dairy products, ice cream, etc.) we get at Waldbaums. We don't really stick to a budget, as some months we need more than others.

Re: Moms---What are your food and "spending" budgets?

We spend about $100/week on groceries for our family of 3.

That includes meat/dinner ingredents for usually 6 nights of dinner (one night we'll go to FIL's or he'll treat us to take-out) --- lunch for DH (he brings soups and stuff), different foods for Emily becuase she doesn't always eat what we eat, and things we need to get for the house like paper towels, toilet paper, soap, etc.

We definately save by making sure that we premeditate what we will need during the week. For example getting eggs, milk, bread, even if we aren't out yet, instead of picking them up at Walgreens (and buying xtras there too) during the week just because it is mre convinient.

I usually eat leftovers from the night before since I'm a SAHM at lunch time. That saves us money also.

Weeks that we don't do a good $100 shoppig, we end up spending more here and there and it is wasteful.

Re: Moms---What are your food and "spending" budgets?

Thanks everyone!!! It's the $40 here, $50 there that's my problem too!!! And I NEVER look to see what's on sale or how much stuff is as far as the supermarket goes... I also don't meal plan, and I end up spending a ton of money at the meat market by our house... (I really need to stop going there the prices are outrageous). I am going to take all of your suggestions and try to implement them. I will let you all know how it goes!!

Re: Moms---What are your food and "spending" budgets?

DH and I TRY to live on $200/week each and this includes EVERYTHING other than bills so food, clothes, baby stuff etc

We try to stay in this amount but it is HARD

Re: Moms---What are your food and "spending" budgets?