Budget $250.00 for 2 people.

My budget is $250.00 a month, but so far, I have not been able to reach it.  But I am a newbie at finding deals and paying attention.

This month, May the food budget is over budget, I came in at $330.00 for two.  But I had a birthday party and a BBQ in there.

I think 250.00 should more than cover us once I learn to do it correctly!  Don't you think so?

Thanks for sharing! 

 

Should work for the two of you.  depends where you live and the deals you get also.   Also how much you have stock piled in the cabinets. Even a few extra basics (couple extra cans of soup etc) add up.  If you do the rebate thing with walgreens/cvs etc too.

Checking out flyers and comparing prices helps a lot. Plus learning the sale cycles of stores. Some stores may be too high for reg groceries but have the best case lots sales.  It takes time.  For example. I am just looking at a shoppers drug mart flyer (not a normal store I go to as much anymore) and they have some great deals cheaper then the grocery store.

I am not sure about my grocery/household/pet budget at the moment. I live in Canada and prices are higher on some things here. but I have two kids 3 & 5, one in pullups, a teenage homestay student, 5 birds and 1 cat.  I do about 8-10 loads of wash a week. groceries (depending on how much prepackaged stuff I get) about $300 - $400 depending on deals etc, pets average $80, about $12-15 a week on laundry soap/tp etc.

 I had raised to $600 this month from $500  but overspent it by $200.  lots of deals and stocking up. 

I recently lost a cat (died from cancer) so I don't know how much that is cutting down my cat food yet. but will probably get another kitten in the fall.

You have to see what your triggers are too. I am the cook here and the guys don't cook beyond frozen pizza.  So if I am sick, depressed etc the budget goes to hell because I am not cooking. 

Hi Martha,

Thanks for sharing!   I have a guinea pig!  I didn't count her costs!  ;-)  She's my little compactor though.... she eats all the tips and tops and left over veggies!  ;-)

I am sorry about your cat, our pets are our families!

Well, I think you are right, once I get the hang of it... right now, I think I am a little crazy with looking at the adds and saying, now that is a good deal and getting it.  The trick will be for me to make sure I stay within a budget, make food work for me and do not waste.  I am still eating the left over from bbq this weekend for my lunches...  

I do find I get sick of my own cooking.. I mean, I take breakfast, lunch and then I cook dinner!  Ugh!  It gets really boring, sometimes would love to order a big cheesy pizza, but I would feel guilty based on my circumstances and debt load!

heavy sigh!

;-)

 

 

 

yes they are! He was 16  but always very healthy his whole life. 

that is why I buy the good quality cheap frozen pizza for those times of not wanting to cook.   I starting saving the delivery pizza for my once a month girls nite. plus they chip in. and I can get interesting pizzas like sicilian sausage, roasted mediterran veggie with goat cheese etc.

The amount you are spending on food relies heavily on how you eat and the costs in your area.

I have $600 a month budgeted for four of us and houseguests. My spending covers a low carb diet high in fresh and natural foods. I also add basic household and personal needs in.

 

We are a family of 2.5 (mom, 7 year old boy, cat and 6 fish) and I budget $498 a month for groceries and incidentals.  Included in that amount is our $44 monthly organic veggie Co-op delivery.  We get about 15 pounds of veggies, so I rarely have to shop for vegetables, but I do have to shop for fruit.  I make a lot of 1-pot food, so our grocery list consist of fruit, cat food, milk, kool-aid packets, chicken, cat litter and staples (onions, garlic, potatoes). 

Starting this month, I'm going to track exactly what I'm spending on food.  I'm going to use the cash baggie/envelop system, so I can have better control of my spending.

We are a family of 4 and I budget $400 a month for groceries. We have been able to come in below (by $20-$40) which is great. However, I do use some of that extra money to stock up on things or I transfer it over to my supply budget and add to the $50 a month. The $50 for supplies covers diapers, wipes, dog food and some hygiene items. Things I buy at the pet store, Sam's Club, Target, Walgreen's. I try to not buy supplies at the grocery store as they often are more expensive. I don't shop at Super Wal-Mart as I don't have one close enough to me to justify the driving.

Some ways I have trimmed the budget (we used to spend $125-$150 a week!): I know this doesn't work for everyone.

• Cut back and then stopped drinking pop on a daily basis ($5 a week saved). A case of pop lasts us over 2 months.
• Stopped buying "pre-packaged" foods (meals you just stick in the micro or oven) except for occasional frozen pizza and/or chicken nuggets. No more hot pockets, banquet meals, etc. We are healthier, too, now! ($10 to $15 saved)
• Cut back on beef and bought cheaper cuts of meat/roasts; bought whole chickens and cut up for parts ($10 to 15 saved)
• stopped buying deli lunchmeat except on good sales. We eat leftovers for lunch instead of sandwiches ($5 saved)
• Snack items were cut back to occasional bag of plain chips or pretzels (mainly for lunches) ($3-4 saved)
• Cut back on boxed cereal; ate more oatmeal ($3 saved)
• Cut back on alcohol ($10 saved). We still occasionally splurge on a bottle of wine but I get the $6 bottle rather than a $10-$15 bottle. DH does drink beer but only 1-2 on the weekends so a case lasts quite a while.

It really took looking at "wants" in the grocery budget versus "needs." I had to adjust my cooking, too. Once I started using my crock pot more, I didn't need to buy the "heat and serve" meals for the oven. A roast that cost $4 gave us 2-3 meals versus a frozen meal that served us once. Once I got my boys to eat pretzels/yogurt/fruit, I didn't need Teddy Grahams, Goldfish crackers, etc. for snacks. The only area I still keep my budget (but really, really look for good deals) are fresh fruit and veggies and organic/whole wheat bread and pasta. But cutting out the other "crap" helped us afford better things. I do use coupons occasionally but prefer to look for super deals at the 2 stores I frequent.

Good luck! You can do it!

For two of us we budget $600/month for groceries. That includes a lot of fresh veggies (expensive) and only rarely any red meat. DW uses a huge amount of paper products like paper towels, TP, and tissues. Some things aren't worth arguing about in a marriage, and she is frugal in other ways so I guess it all evens out. "Groceries" includes everything we buy at the grocery store, probably half or less is actually food. I buy Coke and drink one per day, that's my "caffeine fix" in the morning instead of coffee.

There are Costco and Sam's Club stores available but they are 30 minutes away, and I won't pay them for the "privilege" of shopping in their stores. Their levels of service are terrible. The couple of times I've been in them with other people they also have staff checking purchases at the exit to check for shoplifting. This is highly insulting to me as I am not a thief and I will not put up with being treated like one.

Well for 2 adults and a two year old who eats a lot we have a budget of $200 a month for groceries.  That amount doesn't include toiletries, supplies, diapers, eating out or pet food (one dog).  Although right now it is enough as we have two freezers full of stuff.  So we are getting by with $150 a month of fresh stuff and milk.  We are trying to condense the freezer space to a small 7 cubic freezer and the refrigerator freezer only and get rid of the 20 cubic foot freezer in the garage.  It is from the 1960's.  Huge still runs great but is killing us in energy.  But if prices keep rising we are going to raise it to $250 a month.

Yes, I know about storage issues!  I live in a tiny space.  My 250.00 is supposed to cover everything, shampoos, papers, etc. as well as food.  I think I can make it based on my stock, next month.  It might be that I go over a little, but it will be better than I have ever done before.  I have talked to some people here at work and they do that in one week!  YIKES!!!!

 Like a lot of you, I keep it healthy.  Lots of veggies and fruit and fresh food.  No packages really.   I also found tuna, albacore, water packed for 88 cents.  I bought what they had left, 8 of them.  The shelve was empty and the sales started yesterday.  I knew then it was a good deal! 

I eat left overs for lunch, tomorrow, I am having a tuna san though.  I love those and can eat them for dinner too when its just me.

 

;-)