I read the USDA food plan for the end of 2007. The amounts have risen for average costs.

I don't feel so bad about the amount I am spending. I checked the average for the moderate plan and our spending is well below it.

 We are way below on all the settings for our family of two.  I wonder who sets these scales up they seem so iffy with their data, in our case it is set high, in a friends case it is set way too low.  They wouldn't even average out.

Anyway we tend to stay below the levels on this table and that makes me feel good in any sense of the word!  : )

Brianschef Michelle 

wow, it says that on the low cost plan that we are suppose to be spending $620 on just food!  I just raised my budget to $600 max for food and household stuff like pet food/pharmacy (kotex aspirin etc) and pullups/tp/laundry soap etc. because we have a student.  even the thrifty plan is alot for just groceries.  non groceries are from $100 - $150 per mth before. depending on sales etc.  adjusting that amount because since we lost one cat, I don't know much lower my cat food bill is.

and the kicker is even though it is all bought on sale I buy lots of prepackaged snacks like cookies, treats etc, cold cereals, juice boxes, single serving yogurts, cheese strings, stuff like pizza pops etc for the guys.  premade sandwiches.

and I have been stocking up too so I have lots of food in the house.

I combine household and groceries because most it is bought together and need it all to run the household so I don't bother separating it out.  I know my average I spend.

MarthaMFI:

I combine household and groceries because most it is bought together and need it all to run the household so I don't bother separating it out.  I know my average I spend.

I budget the same way and for the same reason.

I don't feel bad either.  We are a family of 5 and our spending including school lunch is probably right about where the expenditures are listed for the thirifty plan for a famly of four with the two older children.  If not that low it is definately no higher than where the low income family with the younger children are spending and we have 3 teenagers.  That amount includes everything including toiletries, school lunch, eating out, etc.  So I will feel better and keep on doing what I'm doing.  I've always said though that the amount of money the government says it takes to raise a kid truely isn't the amount it can take to raise a kid.  I'd love to compare the clothing costs- just to see what they say I should be spending vs. the amount I really do spend.

 Lori

I'm single, and I'm somewhere between the low-cost and the moderate plan - but that includes buying food for an 85-pound dog.  I admit to buying high quality dog food, which is more expensive per bag, but in the long run it's cheaper; there's less filler so he eats less (3 cups vs. 5 cups), which more than off-sets the higher cost per pound.

 We are about at half for the thrifty plan for two!

We are below the monthly Thrifty food costs for dh, myself, and almost 18 yr. old dd by approx. $110 monthly.

AND we eat plenty of good quality nutritious foods: fruits, veggies, whole grains, beans, legumes, brown rice, etc. etc.

Very little by way of processed, prepackaged, convenience items-- 

I think the guidelines are good though--addresses what the general population does--NOT us simple living, frugal weirdos!   

As a family of 2, we are way lower than the thrifty plan amount, but as a simple living, frugal weirdo, that would figure!   hahaha 

I also combine grocery and household shopping, then tally up the 2 types of costs on my receipt for month-end numbers.  I'm proud to say that over the last three months, my grocery spending has lowered each month.  Keeping the price book helps, and also I've made a real effort to cut back "the extras" when shopping.  Plus I've utilized tips and ideas I've gotten here, which has cut some costs (like not buying as much milk, body wash, using laundry soap differently, using vinegar and cutting down store-bought cleaners)... Glad that even though costs are rising, I can still lessen expenses if I make wiser choices.

I come in lower than the thrift plan here too which has me wondering what their defitinion of thift is and what area these figures are based on. In my area (CNY) the cost of a gallon of milk is $2.65 for whole and $2.55 for 2% (both @ Aldi's) I've heard that in FL a gallon of milk is $4 (not sure what store). If the USDA based their figures on the more expensive areas then we're all thrifty by govermental default.