How much do groceries cost you per month?

[binky11]

I'm throwing this poll out there as I am just really curious as to what others spend?
It seems to be going up at a very fast rate, is it just me or are others noticing a drastic increase in their grocery bills as of late?

[Puppycake]

Someone in Kelowna actually spends only $200 a month for two adults? Just out of curiosity, do you eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at home? I am not trying to be a smarta$$, I am thinking I must be doing something wrong, because I spend over double that per month and would love ideas on cutting back!
And, let me add, I do not buy junk food, tons of prepared or frozen foods, or a lot of sweets. I change my menu ideas to purchase whats on sale too!
I for one will be glad to see produce come back into season so the prices will drop a bit!

[CoffeeCanuck]

Good question Binky. I honestly don't know. The reason is, some weeks I will spend extra if there is a good sale on, other times I don't spend much because of all the groceries I've stocked up on during sales.

Hmmm, something to pay more attention to.

~D

[Saxon]

I don't do the shopping for our tribe but when I lived alone in England I would live quite cheaply opting to buy ingredients for food and making them myself... Id buy bags of flour etc to make pastry then meats + veggies to make pies... recipe Ideas can be good...its often very simple to just throw a dish together from nothing...I will sometimes just invent my own dishes...ok fair enough I have worked as a chef but its not that hard to do when you stop to think about it...just a case of being able to do a little mental tasting lol... superstore has some great deals on sausages over here on the westside... you can get like almost 2kg of pork sausage for under $10...Pizza! is a very cheap way to go ...home made of course...just make up a big batch of sauce and get dough ingredients and toppings and you're ready to go... make up a bunch and freeze them... I find today lots of 'packets'... you want yorkshire pudding? here's a packet... you want bechamel ( white sauce ) here's a packet... and some of it is so simple to make its not even funny

Another good cooking skill is 'leftover integration' lol

[binky11]

Maybe I worded the poll wrong for anyone answering $200.00. I should have asked how much DO groceries cost a family of 2 for one month, not how much "should" they cost. They should cost $200.00 a month I agree, but thats not practical. I can remember when that is what they cost. And you figure of course they are going to double over time, even thats not shocking. But I swear 3 years ago I was getting twice as much food for the same amount of money. I'm eating better now and that sometimes can be costly, but what I used to get for $400.00 three years ago even, doesn't last even 3 weeks anymore. And it seems to me I heard a piece on the news about a month ago that the price of food in North America is going to increase by up to 25% in the next 2 years! However, I guess what I spend on groceries according to the poll so far, seems to be the average. It just seems like way too much to me.

[CoffeeCanuck]

What has been happening for a while now, is manufacturers have been decreasing their product size and increasing the price. I wonder how many people are aware of this.

~D

Edit to ad~Here is a nifty site. http://www.grocerysavings.ca/

[Piecemaker]

We spend about $400 per month on food (including cleaning supplies and TP). We buy very little meat and not much that is packaged. My mother spends about $150 per month for one person. She cooks from "scratch" and doesn't waste a thing!
(We very seldom eat out.)

[binky11]

Oh that is so true!! Remember when a box of kraft dinner would feed 1 adult & 2 kids! That is another reason I guess that the dollar is just not stretching like it used to, it's not just the price increases. Thanks for that link, I just looked at it quickly for now, but looks like a site I will want to get into more when I have the time!

[Nebula]

Oh darn, I just screwed up your poll. I answered it without looking at the poll question.

I was answering what do you actually spend. We are a family of mom and dad and two teen boys. The sky's the limit.

[binky11]

I was answering what do you actually spend. We are a family of mom and dad and two teen boys. The sky's the limit.

Then you answered right. I should have worded it differently, to read how much do you spend a month, not how much do you think you should spend.

[shoo]

Ok,not including wine and the occasional dinner out and my Starbucks addiction,on the average we spend $400 to $500 per month. There are just the two of us,but when we had a couple of teens in the house,it could easily reach about $1000.00

We do eat well,nothing packaged,as much organic as possible and good quality meat and seafood. The only snack type food we buy is dark chocolate I would say that we are a typical dual income no kids(at home) couple.

[binky11]

I'm appreciating the input. I thought we were spending wayyyyyyyy too much but I guess not. We buy a lot of produce, as far as meat goes mostly white meat chicken and extra, extra lean beef. Almost nil in the way of junk food anymore. Spend probably a lot on cheese & milk. But again 1% milk and low fat cheese. We don't go the organic & top of the line because of cost but go through a lot of extra, extra virgin olive oil, and as mentioned white meat a lot more than dark meat, low fat everything which costs more, same as "no sugar added" products which cost more. I mean in Safeway yesterday whole chickens were selling for $18.00 each and wasn't much more than a feeding for 3 adults! I just won't pay it. I miss my whole roast chicken. We try to stick to no more than $5.00 per meal where just the meat is concerned but that's getting tougher. And fresh deli meat wow! Enough shaved ham or turkey for 3 sandwiches was over $7.00! Sure you can substitute the processed crap for less but eating healthy is costly contrary to what some may believe. I guess because I am becoming more health conscience now, I am seeing the difference between prices when trying to do so. It is making a huge difference.

[aginger1]

We probably spend about the same, between 800 and 1000 per month. That doesnt includes our Timmys and dinners (once a week) out. I guess thats average? We are a family of four. Mind you...Its my husband and two teenage daughters. I think if I had boys, the bill would be way more. No offence against boys, but I know how my brother ate when we were teens....yikes Just saw your post writerdave...my humblest apologies...lol

[Smuckers]

I would say for three of us we spend 400-500 a month, maybe more. I find the biggest waste of money is when I spot shop. I have a habit of changing my mind about what i'll make for dinner, stop at Safeway and spend extra money that I didn't intend on.

We would do better if I actually did a weekly food plan.

[CountryAtHeart]

We are a family of 5. Big hubby, 2 teen boys, teen girl and me. We spend about $500 - $600 per month including cleaners etc. That includes their lunches.