$125.00 a month (trying to get that to 100)
2 of us
eat out twice a month

Include because you consume your groceries

Amazing!!! If you have a minute could you share some of your most common recipies?
Thanks!

*$250
*3
*three times/month

$240-280, this varies, it's usually on the low end $240
4 people (none in diapers) and 1 cat
1-2 a month

__________________
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

$350-400
5 people (one in pull-ups) plus 2 cats and 2 small dogs
We eat out about once or twice a week

$400-$450 a month

4 of us - none in diapers

eat out (not the entire family) 4-5 times a month
gotta love wendy's $0.99 chicken nuggets
the whole family eats out maybe 2-3 times a year

We are a family of six. We have two dogs, one guenia pig, three frogs, two turtles and fish (though the frogs, turtles and fish don't require near as much as the dogs and guenia pig).

For all food, cleaning, and personal care we spend $500 per month. One roll of paper towels lasts a month as we use cloth mostly. I also use cloth for cleaning.

We eat out once a week and that is an additional $80 a month.

ETA: We do not have any little ones in diapers, but when we did that was an additional $80 a month.

__________________
Jenifer
Proud wife to one amazing man
Proud mom to four awesome kids

Fall is my favorite season!
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

It works out to ~$500.00 (Canadian) for 6 people , 2 are adults, 3 are teenagers and my youngest is 11 (and eats like an adult)

We also have a Lab, but this does not include her food as I buy it in bulk about twice a year, she would cost about $45.00 in food per month.

We are very limited in our coupons.

I (or the teenagers)do the majority of our cooking from scratch.For a variety of reasons we just don't eat out.

We can look at other people's figure (to get a ballpark idea. But depending on the ages of our families, whether they pack lunches or eat at home, special dietary concerns etc. this will influence our spending.

I remember reading about Amy Dacyzyn (Tightwad Gazette) and how dissappointed she was when she figured out the "national average" and then compared it to her family for grocery purchasing/consumption. She thought "Wow, I'm in line but I thought I was doing so much better." Turns out she was comparing her monthly average to the national weekly average. (I've felt like that at times)

I just know from my shopping habits, lack of processed foods, ability to provide varied nutritious dishes consistently that for the rest of the population with similar size and aged families that I'm doing okay.

I think that the numbers reflected here are so much lower than national averages. I think the people on this board do think/act differently.

I just started couponing & really watching what we are spending. Also, just started CVSing so I've spent a lot of the past month stocking up my house so I know this is probably inflated. But my goal for this spring (family of 5, one in diapers & a cat) is $125 per WEEK or $500 per month. This includes everything. Last summer we had a small garden & didn't keep any of it (just enjoyed it over the summer) and this year we intend on making it bigger and canning and freezing. We also want to get a half a cow, but haven't started the process yet.

Anyhow, once that is all taken care of, I certainly intend on my bills going WAY down. My goal is to be around $70 per WEEK ($280.)

We all eat all 3 meals (& snacks) from our house except for 1 lunch per week. We probably have a dinner out every other week (pizza, etc.)

I'm excited to have found cool websites like this, but I must admit I don't intend on skipping out on all convenience foods. I'm not a complete stay at home mom & like my life outside the house, but it does mean that despite my best laid plans, sometimes boxed mashed potatoes are in my future.

It's like dieting, right? Going cold turkey doesn't work. Changing little habits slowly and making lifestyle changes does work.