Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

Posted by LeShellem

Posted by MrsRivera

Well, you can't say I didn't try.

You did great. Some people will get it and some just wont.

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

We probably spend around $100 a week in groceries for a family of 4. Two are toddlers who don't eat a ton, so the bill may go up as they eat more.

We eat fairly healthy, but not as healthy as others.

We do not do a protein every night. We buy some organic, some none. We buy some processed foods, but not a ton.

We do a couple nights of pasta with sauce-that's a cheap meal for a family of 4, even buying whole wheat pastas, etc. I often make and freeze different sauces and defrost for those nights. We use jar sauce too.

We buy meats, I cook something and freeze some of whatever I cook (chicken parm, meatballs, turkey meatballs, lasagna, stuffed shells, etc).

We use up whatever I cook. We have a couple left over nights a week where I pull everything out of the fridge that is left over of what we cooked during the week and we fill a plate with a hodge podge and heat it up.

And, I agree with others. We bulk up on stuff that we use often whenever it goes on sale-rice, pasta, beans, cereal, etc). Yes, for that week the grocery bill is more than normal BUT the weeks that I use that stuff the bill is less so it averages out.


Probably the single most important aspect of us staying under $100 is the fact that DH does all the food shopping. I can't be trusted.

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

I'm amazed that this thread is already 6 pages with over 3500 hits

I'm just going to answer your original question. I buy mainly all natural/organic food for a family of 2 adults and 2 toddlers (who combined eat 1 adult portion) and spend roughly $125 - $150/week. I've never been able to bring it down to $100 though.

Some of my strategies to keep the bills down:
1. I belong to a CSA and split a share with another lovely LIFer. We get fresh organic veggies and locally grown fruit (not certified organic but many of their fruits fit organic standards) from here. Other times I buy store-brand organic fruit, such as from Stop & Shop.

2. Certain organic products come from Amazon that I buy with subscribe and save.

3. I clip and download coupons. DH laughs at me, but I do the rewards program on Stoneyfield's web site. (DD is obsessed with YoBaby Meals.) Organic Valley sometimes has good coupons online as well.

4. Once a month I'll buy items at BJs. Their organic low sodium chicken broth is way cheaper than any other place I've seen. I also get many of my paper products from here.

5. One of the all natural/organic stores, Wild by Nature, sends a coupon out quarterly good towards your entire purchase depending upon how much you spend the previous quarter. I'm about to use one this week good towards 15% off my total purchase (not including other coupons I use there as well). The regular priced items at this store are quite high, but some of their sale items are priced well.

6. I shop in 2 grocery stores, and the stores change week-to-week depending upon who has what on sale. It's a pain, but the few hours of planning each week makes the difference for me.

7. I cook in bulk and freeze extra meals, so some weeks I don't have to buy as much and I don't have to cook as much.

Message edited 8/3/2011 12:19:08 PM.

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

I guesstimate that we spend probably $250 every 2 weeks- including eating out and food shopping. Not including things like diapers, wipes, toiletries, cleaning supplies.

I went to Stop and Shop today and for $135 got:

-Napkins
-Toothbrush for DD
-frozen pancakes
-waffles
-french toast
-5 yogurts for me
- quart of oganic yourt for DD
- roasting chicken (can make into several meals)
- chicken tenders (1 meal w/ leftovers)
- 2.6 lbs ground beef (2 meals and leftovers)
- 3 boxes rice-a-roni
- lettuce
-tomato
-broccoli
-squash
-cherries
-nectarines
-corn
-frozen hash brown potatoes
-frozen peppers and onions
-orange juice
- 1 gal whole milk
-1/2 gallon skim
- 1lb boars head ham
- 1/2lb jarlsburg cheese
-american cheese slices
- buffalo dip
- sugar wafer cookies
- potato chips
- pretzel crackers
- 1/2 gal ice cream
- 2 boxes ice pops
- ravioli
- snack packs for DD and niece
- 2 boxes nutri-grain bars
- a candy bar (prego craving)

I have bread and eggs at home and forgot to buy hamburger rolls and onions

This should hold me over for at least the next 2+ weeks for breakfasts and snacks, a week of lunches and a week and a half of dinners (assuming we eat out at restaurants or family/friend bbqs a few times)

Next week I'll just have to get some more fresh fruit and veggies and possibly milk.

My biggest issue is that DH is a late night eater. He'll have dinner, watch tv and fall asleep on the couch then get up and eat my leftovers before he goes to bed.

I'm going to start packing things directly in the freezer so it's harder for him to eat it at night.

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

We do about $125 for a family of 4 (although it seems DS#1 is a bottomless pit)

We don't eat much meat at all, which probably helps. But I will say that I have a hard time leaving Trader Joe's with spending more than $100.

We don't go to costco every week/month, but I would say it probably averages to $75-100 a month there...so I guess that does put me at the $150/week mark.


I feel like I want to challenge myself to spend less than $100 for the week, but I have SO much in the house, that it wouldn't really be a true representation. Sometimes DH and I play "survivor" where we have to eat what we have already (with exception of dairy/produce runs)

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

teach your kids to eat beans!
they are organic and cheap. if we are in "poor week" it is lentil soup and 3 bean chili
black beans and rice burritos

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

Posted by Janice

teach your kids to eat beans!
they are organic and cheap. if we are in "poor week" it is lentil soup and 3 bean chili
black beans and rice burritos

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

I just want to say that splitting one chicken cutlet is something we do while they are still cooking! I can eat at least 4 by myself. Just saying. I'd be starving. Even my 4 year old eats 2.

I spend so much at the grocery store. I was spending about $200 but then we just couldn't afford it anymore so I cut out ALL treats - no Entenmanns, no special drinks, no pricey steaks. Now I buy the bare essentials and still it's $140 per week. We are a family of 4 and I shop on SUndays and by Friday we are CLEANED OUT!

Message edited 8/3/2011 5:52:26 PM.

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

I think some people might be talking about different kinds of chicken cutlets. I cannot imagine eating 4 chicken cutlets, and my children would never eat 2. I buy a box of them at BJ's that come individually packaged for $9.99. Some organic brand (which isn't why I buy them). I think there are 8 of them. They are gigantic. My kids often split one, and I can never eat the entire thing.

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

Well I only go food shopping every two weeks but when I do we spend at least $200.00 on food and it's only me and DH eating.

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

Posted by monkeybride

Posted by LeShellem

Posted by MrsRivera

Well, you can't say I didn't try.

You did great. Some people will get it and some just wont.

It was helpful Beth and pointed out to me why I probably can't cut down in certain areas (big on...the frozen veggie thing)

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

Posted by acm1899

Posted by Christine

Eating out once a week like this would go into my entertainment budget, not my grocery budget.

I totally get what you're saying, but for me food is food whether I bought it at the grocery store or I went out to a restaurant. If we didn't go to the restaurant we'd still have to eat somewhere, right? I just consider it all to be the same.

What I would consider my entertainment budget is for things like wine and beer or the movies or museums. Extra non-essential items. Though I might consider wine an essential item!

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

as far as the cutlets go...start buying bone in....we save tons.
it is the only organic meat I can afford.

even if you can't eat off the bone, I do believe it is a good habit to get the kids into.
Cheap, not as processed

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

1. If you're buying organic for a family of four expect to pay more than $100 a week.

2. Since when are paper products included in groceries? That's odd to me. We only buy napkins, toilet paper and paper towels and I am not feeding my family with those. I am not feeding them cleaning products either.

3. Some people need to stop finding an argument in EVERYTHING. People shop differently. Giving someone the second degree isn't going to help others just because you have a zillion years experience shopping and cannot conceive of someone feeding their kids frozen pancakes with *gasp* no fruits or veggies once in a blue moon. Must be nice to be so perfect.