I think if we bought "regular" groceries, I could spend around $300 for groceries. But we choose to be more healthy and eat mostly organic so it is much more costly. We spend about $150 a week for food and vitamins/supplements for two adults and a toddler. Then probably another $60 a month for diapers, pull ups and wipes. And that's using coupons and deals.

I can totally see how others who eat non organic groceries can spend much less buying $1 a box mac and cheese, beans, etc. But our choice is to buy healthier food now in hopes of avoiding spending a lot of money later on health issues.

I think it comes down to what is important to your family, where you live, and what you like to eat.

Sandra

wow happymom - is that amount for everything?? Meat and Produce and Milk??

I can't see it possible to spend less than 100.00 per week on a Family of 4 - ( I have 6 ... But two small eaters, and oldest not here much for meals)
I do spend about 150.00 per week on Everything , cleaning supplies , diapers , etc.

And that is only Because my DH goes in with his friends and Buys a Cow twice a year ( we have a freezer full of red meat at all times) Also I do a Huge shopping trip to costco and Our discount grocery store every few months.. I Stock up then .

If I divide my total yearly bill by 52 - it'd equal out to about 150.00-
some weeks its just 50 bucks - depends on what I need.

This is how I don't Get how to spend less ....
This weekend - I ran to the store for fresh produce and Milk / drinks

I spent 25.00 on fruits and Veggies( eggplant, brocolli, tomatos , grapes, tangerines, apples and salad mix )
15.00 - milk , OJ , mozz cheese and half and half
12.00 on Bottled fruit juice , sunny D and HI- C ( all on sale)

There on an off day - a quick run in of things my kids go through like crazy.... I even serve lots of tap water trying to save on the drinks. They still like their sunny d, milk and They need their kiwi, grapes carrots and tomatoes

I would love to know how someone eats healthy , on such a low budget. I really don't get it. And We arent health freaks either.... My kids love all kinds of fruits and Veggies- and they are HUGE milk drinkers

We average $150 a week - some weeks its more, some weeks its less. On the more weeks is usually a good sale week on meats and fish. I also pack DH lunch every day - which is usually lunch meat or tuna - he brings a cooler and eats out of his work van so no place with a microwave, has to be sandwich or salad of some kind. I pack the kids lunches as well. The kids eat LOTs of fruit and drink LOTs of milk. I would like to see a monthly menu of what someone feeds their family of 4 or more on less than $100 a week.

I don't think it's just what food people buy, it's HOW they buy it. My MIL and me for example... if we buy tuna, I buyit in te cans, 2/$1. Shs buys it in the pouches, $1.50 each. I buy apples, $2/1lb, she buys organic apples, $4/1 lb. I bought applejuice, $1.34 for 64 ounces, store brand, she buys apple juice, $3.69 for 64 ounces, organic, natural premium brand. She had to take me grocery shopping every week last year, so I was awlays askingmyself how she could spend so much, on so little. Some weeks our lists were almost identical, yet my bill was always less than half of hers.

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"And the state of his bathroom -- I'm not one to gossip, but there are things crusted on his sink that have not simply developed intelligent life but have in all probability by now evolved their own political systems." Cain describes Abel in in SANDMAN #70

This is where we save the money. We don't buy juice, pop, water etc. We buy all the same fruits and veggies and milk but save quite a bit by drinking water or milk with our meals.

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That is why ours is higher than yours. We also buy a lot of seafood.

You would not want to see our grocery bill...lol I spend about $180ish every week. I very rarely buy any junk food or juice box type things. I don't buy meat. I am extremely picky about what I buy. I read every label and won't put something in my cart if it is genetically altered, contains dyes or corn syrup. Most of what I buy is organic. It's expensive! But, I feel that a little prevention now will hopefully save us money later at the doctors office. We eat very healthy, to me, it's worth it.

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The mighty oak started out as a nut that held its ground.

This is an area I need to focus on -- again. I was doing well for awhile, but being pregnant and tired and busy, I've been buying lots of groceries! We buy a lot of organic and go out of our way to buy specific items at specific stores. Each week I hit: Costco, Trader Joe's, Bashas' (local grocer) and Sprouts. Just off the top of my head, so far this week I have spent:

Costco: $160
Trader Joe's: $66 (usually $95 - $100)
Bashas': $35 (that was using a free milk coupon, too)
Sprouts: $25

Total: $286 for the week. That's pretty typical for our family of 5. I have noticed the cost of EVERYTHING has gone up recently, at all the stores I shop at.

As a side note, we don't eat out AT ALL. Also, we buy organic fruits/veg/eggs/bread and even organic ground beef, which gets pricey at Costco. I bought my chicken at Costco this week ($20 bucks!), which I don't normally do, but it was convenient. So, I paid $2.99/lb. DH questioned me on this and I had to defend my position of convenience!!! Normally I buy at the local grocer for less. Also, we have to buy Rice Milk for our littlest one, which is not cheap!

I could certainly do better if I set my mind to it.

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"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." ~ Dr. Seuss

We spend a lot of money $400-600/month on groceries for 3. Ds just switched from soy formula (YAY!), to whole milk (we buy the Horizon Organic DHA milk @$3/half gallon) and we go through 2-3 gallons of milk a week. Also diapers, cleaning supplies, paper goods. Most of what we buy is organic. Ds is starting to transistion to table foods, but we are still paying at least $1/jar of baby food for two meals every day. I think some of it is convience foods, but some of it is also because we buy organic and are both picky eaters.

I think I could spend a whole lot less if I bought mac and cheese and white rice, etc., but I feel that good nutrition is important. All the oils and processed foods and added colors, are so bad for growing children. I have already spent $500 this month and still have two more shopping weeks to go. I am determined to cut back in other areas like eating out, and gasoline, but I don't think I will ever get my grocery bill any lower.