How Much Are You Spending For Groceries?
How does the amount you spend on groceries each week compare to these government guidelines? The guidelines are given for four levels of spending… thrifty, low-cost, moderate, and liberal. The costs for each level represent a nutritious diet where all meals and snacks are prepared at home.
How do you think these cost estimates compare to your grocery budget? Except for the thrifty plan, the dollar amounts seem high to me, but I know we eat differently than most people because of the soy allergy. I cook and bake everything from scratch and try to buy as natural and as local as possible, with emphasis on fresh fruits, vegetables, and grains. I shop for groceries to keep my pantry, freezer, and refrigerator stocked, rather than shopping for a week of meals at a time, so I can wait for sales on the items I regularly buy. My biggest savings come from comparison shopping and buying in quantity.
| For one child, age: |
Food costs for one week Prices from May 2008 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thrifty plan | Low-cost plan | Moderate cost plan | Liberal plan | |
| 1 year | $20.20 | $26.50 | $30.40 | $37.10 |
| 2-3 years | $21.40 | $27.00 | $32.70 | $39.50 |
| 4-5 years | $22.40 | $28.30 | $34.80 | $42.70 |
| 6-8 years | $28.40 | $37.90 | $47.00 | $55.60 |
| 9-11 years | $32.80 | $43.30 | $54.60 | $64.30 |
| For one male, age: |
Food costs for one week Prices from May 2008 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thrifty plan | Low-cost plan | Moderate cost plan | Liberal plan | |
| 12-13 years | $34.70 | $48.50 | $60.00 | $71.00 |
| 14-18 years | $36.10 | $50.10 | $61.90 | $72.30 |
| 19-50 years | $38.60 | $49.60 | $61.80 | $75.00 |
| 51-70 years | $35.40 | $47.20 | $57.50 | $69.70 |
| 71+ years | $35.40 | $46.70 | $57.70 | $69.90 |
| For one female, age: |
Food costs for one week Prices from May 2008 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thrifty plan | Low-cost plan | Moderate cost plan | Liberal plan | |
| 12-13 years | $34.90 | $42.40 | $50.80 | $61.70 |
| 14-18 years | $34.70 | $42.40 | $50.90 | $62.50 |
| 19-50 years | $34.60 | $43.40 | $52.80 | $68.20 |
| 51-70 years | $34.10 | $42.20 | $52.30 | $62.70 |
| 71+ years | $33.50 | $42.00 | $52.40 | $62.90 |
The food costs above are adjusted for a four-person family. If you have a smaller or larger family, you can still calculate the overall household food costs for YOUR family by making the following adjustments:
- For one person, take the appropriate age cost figure amount and add 20 percent.
- For a two-person family, take the total of the two appropriate age cost figures and add 10 percent.
- For a three-person family, take the total of the three appropriate age cost figures and add 5 percent.
- For a four-person family, no adjustment is needed… just add the four appropriate age cost figures.
- For a five or six-person family, take the total of the five or six appropriate age cost figures and subtract 5 percent.
- For a seven or more person family, take the total of the seven or more appropriate age cost figures and subtract 10 percent.
Written by Shirley | Filed Under Frugality & Nutrition series, Simple Living, Voluntary Simplicity
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Comments
Comment by Mrs. Mordecai:
We usually spend right around where we fall for the thrifty budget plan. We use minimal convenience foods, and I do a lot of our own baking. I also stock up on extras every week, so I guess you could say that we use less money for our weekly food, since some of that (15 pounds of pasta last week, for example) goes into storage.
Comment by robin:
Yay, we are thrifty! According to the chart we could be spending $148.96 (on just food?) but we spend a very strict $120 on ALL groceries- includes cat food, detergent, etc. Shopping at the farmer’s market and making everything from scratch makes a big difference, as does buying from bulk bins at the co-op.
Comment by Carolyn:
We spend much, much less than this. I was amazed that on the “thrifty” plan, the chart says that would spend what amounts to $460 for my little family of four. Wow! I spend about 60% of this and every month try to stock up on extras for food storage.
Comment by Jack:
I probably spend about $200 in groceries per month. This does not include $ paid for breakfast/lunch at work and an accasional evening meal. I just need to be more frugal, cook more at home, take food in to work more, etc…It’s hard given how much time I spend at the office. Urgggg…
J
Comment by Laura:
Going by the Thrifty Plan for my husband (36.80), myself (34.60), and our 8 children (20.20, 21.40, 22.40, 28.40, 28.40, 32.80, 36.10, 36.10) and minus the 10%: $267.48 per week
We spend an average of $125 per week.
Comment by Lightening:
If I’ve worked this out correctly, our family of 5 would be spending around $150 per week on the “thrifty plan”. Up until recently I was spending $100 (Australian Dollars which used to work out around $70 USD until the exchange rate changed). Our food costs have recently increased due to drought and oil price issues so it’s around $120 right now. But I’ve also been a bit more relaxed of late and purchased a few more “preprepared” foods.
Comment by Brianna:
My father-in-law lives with us ($35.40). My husband ($38.60), myself ($34.60), twin 13-year-old boys ($34.70 twice), 10-year-old boy ($32.80), 4-year-old girl ($22.40), 6-year-old girl ($28.40), and a 2-year-old boy ($21.40). Total $283.00, subtract 10% ($28.30), new total $254.70. I usually spend less than $200 a week, so I must be doing ok!
Comment by Dan:
I have to do better. I eat many of my meals out and probably spend more than $250 a month. I don’t really know what I spend. I need to eat better than I do. You’ve inspired me to make a change. Thank you!
Comment by Chrissy:
On the thrifty plan, I would spend $117.00 on our family of four. I currently spend between $50- $75 so I guess I’m doing ok although sometimes it doesn’t feel like it lately.
Comment by Laura:
One thing you have to remember is that not all cities have cheaper option. The 5 cities surrounding mine have only one Krogers or Dons Iga each, so the markets can really inflate prices and there isnt much the shopper can do about it!
Comment by Linda:
I’m in the netherlands, so I don’t know if I am actually entitled to post this comment.. *lol* But we spend much less than even the thrifty plan..
We’re a family of 3, and according to the thrifty plan we should spent $95 a week. In reality, it’s less than $70..
perhaps this thrifty is only so to ‘normal’ people.. say: the consumer generation ;)
Comment by Shirley:
Hi Linda,
Of course you’re entitled to post about your grocery budget! I think it would be really interesting to share what food costs in different countries… a gallon of milk, flour, etc. I think you’re right about the government figures. They seem high to me… and a lot of other people too, apparently.
Comment by Kelly:
Well yes and no on it being high, it depends on how you cook and what you have avalible to cook. I had a penpal when I was in highschool who lived in innercity New York and the only place to by groceries with in a reasonible distance was one of two convenace stores, and her and her Mom where paying $3 for a half gallon of milk $1 for a can of instant soup and $1.50 for a loaf of white bread (and this was in the late-90s). So when calculating these figures (that they use to calulate food stamps and welfare) they had to take situations like that into account.
Just saying…
Comment by Linda:
Hi Shirley! :)
Thanks for your reply! As to answer your questions…. groceries are pretty much dirt-cheap here in the Netherlands. Which is strange, because we’re doing ‘pretty well’, according to European standards. We’re one of the wealthiest countries on earth, with the MINIMUM income for one person being about $1800. I hear the Dutchies always complaining when food prices go up, but really.. we have nothing to complain about. I’ve recently been to Italy and Ireland, and noticed the prices were MUCH higher there, and the national income was lower than ours.. Now, as for the examples you mentioned.. let me give you the price of a few staples, so you can compare:
(I’m giving you the cheapest option, no name-brands, ok?)
flour – 1kg – $0,70
milk – 1 quart – $0,90
rice – 1 kg – $0,70
dried beans – 1 kg – $1,50
cheese – 1 kg – $7,00 (real cheese though, not that melted-with-milk-and-salt-added kinda gunk)
eggs – a dozen – $1,50
chicken – 1 kg – $5,00
beef – 1 kg (for stew) – $8,00
cheap coke – 1 1/2 quart – $0,50
coca cola – 1 1/2 quart – $2,00
bananas – 1 kg – $2,00
apples – 1 kg – $1,50
Well, that’s about it I guess…. I have no idea how these compare to prices in the US.. one thing I know though.. is that whenever you guys complain about the gas price, think of us.. we’re paying over 10 bucks a gallon! (mostly taxes, of course) ;)
greetings from the netherlands!
Comment by Mrs. B:
I make almost everything from scratch (including condiments). I shop a produce co-op for fresh fruits, and dry goods co-op for grains and beans, we grow a vegetable garden, and we raise rabbits & chickens and my husband and sons generally harvest two deer per year. But even with all that, I still have to purchase dairy products, cooking oils, spices, etc. I spend around $55.00 per week for a family of 5. If we didn’t do the above, according to the thrifty plan I’d spend $173.00 per week! Thanks for this providing this comparison, It’s helped remind me that all the work we do is worth it.
Comment by Nicki:
Wow…I am spending too much.
My husband has a special diet and needs to have a lot of fruits and veggies. They are pretty expensive here lately, even in season. I shop at a local farmers market when I can, but they are not that much cheaper and have a limited selection. Any suggestions?
Comment by sealander2008:
Wow, I converted the table into New Zealand dollars, and our household of 4 barely spends half the thrifty budget, even if I include one restaurant visit a week. And food is more expensive here than the US…gotta wonder just what that hypothetical budget is being spent on? Looks like I can shop at the farmer’s market and buy grass-fed beef and lamb (actually you can’t buy any other sort here) on half the budget needed to feed an American family.
Comment by Christina Turpin:
I would like to know where you were able to get these facts on the national average for grocery spending, I would like to research more info on this subject. Can you point me in the right direction, please? Thanks
Comment by Shirley:
Christina, the information comes from the USDA. I have just posted a new chart with adjusted prices for the month of November 2008.
Comment by Trish:
Thanks for this. We have been living pretty tight as a few here seem to be as well. It was good to have a dollar amount to work on. This is generous in the amounts given. Our tally for the family of 5 was $208.30. Which is about what I spend. Thank you for your useful guide.
Comment by Ali:
This is a great chart! My husband and I fall in the thrifty category. Pretty good considering we eat a lot of meats and fresh veggies (shopping around the perimeter of the store). Healthy food is never the cheapest option but we can make it work.
Please leave a comment!