How much do you spend on groceries?

[momof5boys]

Grocery totals for February and March (only food....)
Feb $439.32
Mar $293.05

For family of five now (all teenagers/young adults here)

[i_forget]

I spend around $100 a week for me and my 3 kids. My daughter is an athlete and my boys are Autistic, so I feed them a diet rich is meats, fruits and veggies and as little grain, processed and sugar products as possible. I have even started to cook for my dog instead of buying him dog food. Been a couple of weeks and his coat is getting better and he is not scratching anymore (and cooking has been costing me much less than his dog food).

[momof5boys]

I spend around $100 a week for me and my 3 kids. My daughter is an athlete and my boys are Autistic, so I feed them a diet rich is meats, fruits and veggies and as little grain, processed and sugar products as possible. I have even started to cook for my dog instead of buying him dog food. Been a couple of weeks and his coat is getting better and he is not scratching anymore (and cooking has been costing me much less than his dog food).

I find that cooking from scratch and using very little processed food saves a ton of money. We also very blessed to be able to have a garden on my parents farm so the freezers are generally well stocked for the winter.

[jasperandchar]

I don't know what I'm doing wrong or what some people are doing right but OMG I spent $700-850 on groceries every month and some months I do better than others. How can 2 people eat for $20-$25 a week, what are you eating? We are a family of 2 adults, 2 kids, 2 dogs.

[alyssa2011]

I still spend $600-700 per month. I have a stockpile of various food items and toiletries, but we still need to buy dairy items, poultry and beef and other meats, bread, fruits and vegetables, which can easily add up quickly with a family of 5, and we don't even have pets! I'm not sure how some people live on so little either. I've been couponing for almost 6 months now and I can't get lower then $100 per week on a regular basis. I try to stick to $10-$15 just for stockpiling, but sometimes it takes me over buget. I don't know....

I don't know what I'm doing wrong or what some people are doing right but OMG I spent $700-850 on groceries every month and some months I do better than others. How can 2 people eat for $20-$25 a week, what are you eating? We are a family of 2 adults, 2 kids, 2 dogs.

[momof5boys]

I still spend $600-700 per month. I have a stockpile of various food items and toiletries, but we still need to buy dairy items, poultry and beef and other meats, bread, fruits and vegetables, which can easily add up quickly with a family of 5, and we don't even have pets! I'm not sure how some people live on so little either. I've been couponing for almost 6 months now and I can't get lower then $100 per week on a regular basis. I try to stick to $10-$15 just for stockpiling, but sometimes it takes me over buget. I don't know....

I think what is key for our family is that I am a stay at home mom and able to cook pretty well everything from scratch. Just baking bread/buns etc easily saves our family $25 per week. As well, we do have a large garden in the summer and so our two chest freezers are well stocked. We try and pick berries when we are able to get them for free - friends have blueberry bushes and we also pick wild blackberries. Strawberries are bought only when they are a good deal. I also make most our own juice with a large stove top juicer/steamer when neighbours give me pears, grapes, etc.

I also take advantage of using the superbucks and points accumulated from RCSS toward groceries which brings our grocery totals down as well. Just my being home easily saves our family $1000 per month....this includes the family allowance we receive for two kids because we are considered low income. Maybe we are low income but we are a happy family, the house is paid off, we drive older vehicles and just live frugally.

I should add that at times couponing doesn't save money. For example, if a quaker oats coupon has a size restriction on it, I always compare the larger packages to the smaller. The past weekend I bought a large box of quaker oats that was much cheaper than buying the smaller packages and even with a coupon. I do some stockpiling but keep it at a reasonable amount.

[alyssa2011]

I think what is key for our family is that I am a stay at home mom and able to cook pretty well everything from scratch. Just baking bread/buns etc easily saves our family $25 per week. As well, we do have a large garden in the summer and so our two chest freezers are well stocked. We try and pick berries when we are able to get them for free - friends have blueberry bushes and we also pick wild blackberries. Strawberries are bought only when they are a good deal. I also make most our own juice with a large stove top juicer/steamer when neighbours give me pears, grapes, etc.

I also take advantage of using the superbucks and points accumulated from RCSS toward groceries which brings our grocery totals down as well. Just my being home easily saves our family $1000 per month....this includes the family allowance we receive for two kids because we are considered low income. Maybe we are low income but we are a happy family, the house is paid off, we drive older vehicles and just live frugally.

I should add that at times couponing doesn't save money. For example, if a quaker oats coupon has a size restriction on it, I always compare the larger packages to the smaller. The past weekend I bought a large box of quaker oats that was much cheaper than buying the smaller packages and even with a coupon. I do some stockpiling but keep it at a reasonable amount.

That's awesome!! I'm at home now too, I should really start baking more and finding ways to get veggies and fruits for better prices. We live in a condo, so it's almost impossible to find away around growing our own veggies and fruits. I guess I just need to slowly find better ways to economise. Thanks for all the great tips

[momof5boys]

That's awesome!! I'm at home now too, I should really start baking more and finding ways to get veggies and fruits for better prices. We live in a condo, so it's almost impossible to find away around growing our own veggies and fruits. I guess I just need to slowly find better ways to economise. Thanks for all the great tips

Are you maybe able to find someone nearly that would be willing to loan you a bit of garden space to grow veggies? I know that in our town here there are a few garden plots that people are able to use if they don't have their own garden space. If you have a deck with a sunny spot, you could try container gardening. It is amazing what you can grown in a small space - tomatoes do very well in a container as long as they are growing in a sunny sheltered spot.

[Craiger]

We set aside $100 a week for groceries, some weeks it is less and that extra money is kept in the grocery jar that way when meat goes on sale we buy in bulk and freeze in smaller portions.
That is for my husband, myself and 2 young daughters, it includes all groceries, household cleaners, toilet paper, etc...
I also started a thread in the food section titled "How much $$ do you spend on dinner" There are some great cost effective dinners on there for anyone who is interested.

[sweetmomma]

We spend roughly $100 a wk sometimes less on groceries. The least amount I have been able to buy groceries for was $70 for the week. Anything left over is saved for out "free grocery week fund". This is feeding 2 adults(1-female/1-male)and 2 DS's(both under 3).

[lizzie bargain]

Here are the recent grocery prices in Calgary-not sure if this would feed your family for a week. Superstore always seems to come out the cheapest.

CTV grocery price comparison for April ctvcalgary.ca Superstore came out on top in CTV Calgary's price comparison of grocery items on Sunday, April 15, giving shoppers the best buy for their money. The price comparison was done by home economist Sylvia Kong as part of an ongoing series on price checks to be aired monthly on CTV. Once a month, CTV will create a grocery list and compare prices at major Calgary stores. The prices are a snapshot on the given day. All coupons and membership programs are included and some chains vary prices from store to store. CTV priced out 33 items at the Southland Crossing Safeway. Macleod Trail Co-op, Fairmount Sobeys, and Southport Road Superstore. The best deal was at Superstore, where the grocery basket cost $138.92. The same goods bought at Safeway cost $148.26. At Co-op, it cost $148.27. And it was most expensive to shop at Sobeys, where the basket cost $162.60. This week's best buys are: Ground Turkey - $9.90/kg - Co-op, Silk Soy Milk - 1.89L - $3.48 - Superstore, and Cottage Cheese - 500g - $2.28 - Superstore. CTV - Calgary Food Price Comparisons April 15th, 2012 ITEM SIZE CO-OP SAFEWAY SOBEYS SUPERSTORE Staples Butter, salted 454 g 3.49 3.79 3.49 3.49 Milk, 1% 4 L 4.69 4.69 4.69 4.57 Eggs, large 1 doz. 2.69 2.79 2.69 2.53 Whole Grn Bread, Dempsters/Country Harvest 600-675g 3.00 3.99 3.49 1.99 Bananas kg 1.94 1.94 1.94 1.70 Sub-total $ 15.81 $ 17.20 $ 16.30 $ 14.28 Dairy/Alternatives Soy Milk, Silk 1.89 L 4.99 4.99 3.99 3.48 Omega-3 Eggs Doz. 4.29 3.59 3.99 3.79 Cottage Cheese 500 g 3.49 2.99 3.99 2.28 Yogurt, Greek, Liberte, 0 percent MF 500 g 5.49 5.40 4.69 4.99 Babybel Cheese 120 – 129g 5.99 4.99 5.69 4.47 Sub-total $ 24.25 $ 21.96 $ 22.35 $ 19.01 Meat Lean Ground Beef kg 6.59 7.59 5.49 5.49 Ground Turkey kg 9.90 12.10 15.41 10.78 Fresh Pork Baby Back Ribs kg 9.90 9.90 13.99 9.88 Fresh Chicken Thighs, bnls, sknls kg 12.10 13.21 12.10 10.88 Fresh Whole Fryer Chicken kg 5.05 5.05 7.03 5.78 Sub-total $ 43.54 $ 47.85 $ 54.02 $ 42.81 Other Almond Butter, works out to be per 100 g 1.79 1.79 2.79 1.30 Coffee Beans, Kicking Horse 454 g 12.99 11.99 15.99 10.98 Sub-total $ 14.78 $ 13.78 $ 18.78 $ 12.28 Fruits and Vegetables Organic Salad Mix/Greens 142 g 2.99 2.99 3.49 3.49 Strawberries, works out to be per 454 g 2.00 1.99 1.99 1.68 Raspberries, ½ pint 170 g 3.99 3.99 3.99 3.88 Kiwi each 0.39 0.49 0.59 0.33 Navel Oranges kg 1.74 1.96 2.18 2.12 Ambrosia Apples kg 3.73 2.75 3.28 3.26 Broccoli Crowns/Florets kg 2.84 1.94 3.95 1.92 Green Leaf Lettuce, head each 0.99 1.00 1.00 1.27 Yellow Peppers kg 8.80 7.68 7.69 7.67 Asparagus kg 4.39 4.39 4.39 6.57 Russet Potatoes, 10 lbs. 4.54 kg 4.99 3.99 4.49 3.97 Swiss Chard bunch 2.49 2.99 1.99 1.98 White Mushrooms, bulk kg 5.49 5.49 6.59 6.57 Avocado each 1.00 0.99 1.00 1.28 Zucchini kg 2.18 2.84 2.84 3.26 Kale bunch 0.99 1.99 1.69 1.29 Sub-total $ 49.89 $ 47.47 $ 51.15 $ 50.54 Grocery Shop Total $148.27 $148.26 $162.60 $138.92 Store CO-OP SAFEWAY SOBEYS SUPERSTORE

[muggos0101]

Here are the recent grocery prices in Calgary-not sure if this would feed your family for a week. Superstore always seems to come out the cheapest.

CTV grocery price comparison for April ctvcalgary.ca Superstore came out on top in CTV Calgary's price comparison of grocery items on Sunday, April 15, giving shoppers the best buy for their money. The price comparison was done by home economist Sylvia Kong as part of an ongoing series on price checks to be aired monthly on CTV. Once a month, CTV will create a grocery list and compare prices at major Calgary stores. The prices are a snapshot on the given day. All coupons and membership programs are included and some chains vary prices from store to store. CTV priced out 33 items at the Southland Crossing Safeway. Macleod Trail Co-op, Fairmount Sobeys, and Southport Road Superstore. The best deal was at Superstore, where the grocery basket cost $138.92. The same goods bought at Safeway cost $148.26. At Co-op, it cost $148.27. And it was most expensive to shop at Sobeys, where the basket cost $162.60. This week's best buys are: Ground Turkey - $9.90/kg - Co-op, Silk Soy Milk - 1.89L - $3.48 - Superstore, and Cottage Cheese - 500g - $2.28 - Superstore. CTV - Calgary Food Price Comparisons April 15th, 2012 ITEM SIZE CO-OP SAFEWAY SOBEYS SUPERSTORE Staples Butter, salted 454 g 3.49 3.79 3.49 3.49 Milk, 1% 4 L 4.69 4.69 4.69 4.57 Eggs, large 1 doz. 2.69 2.79 2.69 2.53 Whole Grn Bread, Dempsters/Country Harvest 600-675g 3.00 3.99 3.49 1.99 Bananas kg 1.94 1.94 1.94 1.70 Sub-total $ 15.81 $ 17.20 $ 16.30 $ 14.28 Dairy/Alternatives Soy Milk, Silk 1.89 L 4.99 4.99 3.99 3.48 Omega-3 Eggs Doz. 4.29 3.59 3.99 3.79 Cottage Cheese 500 g 3.49 2.99 3.99 2.28 Yogurt, Greek, Liberte, 0 percent MF 500 g 5.49 5.40 4.69 4.99 Babybel Cheese 120 – 129g 5.99 4.99 5.69 4.47 Sub-total $ 24.25 $ 21.96 $ 22.35 $ 19.01 Meat Lean Ground Beef kg 6.59 7.59 5.49 5.49 Ground Turkey kg 9.90 12.10 15.41 10.78 Fresh Pork Baby Back Ribs kg 9.90 9.90 13.99 9.88 Fresh Chicken Thighs, bnls, sknls kg 12.10 13.21 12.10 10.88 Fresh Whole Fryer Chicken kg 5.05 5.05 7.03 5.78 Sub-total $ 43.54 $ 47.85 $ 54.02 $ 42.81 Other Almond Butter, works out to be per 100 g 1.79 1.79 2.79 1.30 Coffee Beans, Kicking Horse 454 g 12.99 11.99 15.99 10.98 Sub-total $ 14.78 $ 13.78 $ 18.78 $ 12.28 Fruits and Vegetables Organic Salad Mix/Greens 142 g 2.99 2.99 3.49 3.49 Strawberries, works out to be per 454 g 2.00 1.99 1.99 1.68 Raspberries, ½ pint 170 g 3.99 3.99 3.99 3.88 Kiwi each 0.39 0.49 0.59 0.33 Navel Oranges kg 1.74 1.96 2.18 2.12 Ambrosia Apples kg 3.73 2.75 3.28 3.26 Broccoli Crowns/Florets kg 2.84 1.94 3.95 1.92 Green Leaf Lettuce, head each 0.99 1.00 1.00 1.27 Yellow Peppers kg 8.80 7.68 7.69 7.67 Asparagus kg 4.39 4.39 4.39 6.57 Russet Potatoes, 10 lbs. 4.54 kg 4.99 3.99 4.49 3.97 Swiss Chard bunch 2.49 2.99 1.99 1.98 White Mushrooms, bulk kg 5.49 5.49 6.59 6.57 Avocado each 1.00 0.99 1.00 1.28 Zucchini kg 2.18 2.84 2.84 3.26 Kale bunch 0.99 1.99 1.69 1.29 Sub-total $ 49.89 $ 47.47 $ 51.15 $ 50.54 Grocery Shop Total $148.27 $148.26 $162.60 $138.92 Store CO-OP SAFEWAY SOBEYS SUPERSTORE

I didn't compare the whole list, just things I bought at a Calgary Shoppers Drug Mart recently, and I got bonus points: Eggs $1.99, Butter $2.99, Oikos $3.99. It seems strange that a drug store sells food cheaper than a grocery store, but that is often the case for the items they carry. Maybe one day Shoppers will have 87¢ broc crowns but this week I'll have to settle for 88¢ at Safeway.

[momof5boys]

Well, I just finished totaling all of April's expenses - groceries came in at $372.64!!! Now, I'm off to Superstore to pick up a bunch of those 2lb strawberries - such a good deal....will be slicing and freezing most of them

[emmy3111]

I use money jars (ala Gail Vaz-Oxlade) for all of my variable expenses... I have budgeted $80 per week for myself and my two boys (11 and 9). This covers everything food-related (groceries, eating out, hot lunch at school every two weeks, treats, etc) as well as all health and beauty and laundry/cleaning products. Some weeks we have money left over, so it just stays in the jar for the next week. Every now and then I empty the change out and put it in a separate jar to roll for our "fun" fund, and just keep any paper money in the jar. This system is working very well... it does help that I have a big stock-pile, and that I watch very carefully for things to go on sale, then stock-up.

[sunny3]

I'm single and spend 50-60$ a week. I buy very little prepared foods but I have a lot of dietary needs related to medical conditions- low or no lactose, high potassium, low carb, low salt, mainly whole grains for starches... I also have a condition for which I can't tolerate a lot of acid like tomatoes and I'm encouraged to lean meats because I'm on a high protein diet.

Few coupons exists for my diet and I can't live on pasta, potaoes (high potassium but high carb), and rice. I'm not allowed to drive so I go to one grocery store per week, and do what i can with coupons, price matching and making things from scratch. Lately though I've been unwell so I've been buying hummus instead of making it... I rarely eat out so this amount accounts for nearly 100% of my food consumed in a month, unless I went to my mom's (60$ to travel there), or went out. To cut corners, I make soups from scratch- especially dump soups (veggies on the verge), roast chickens so i can have cooked meat for things since I'm not allowed lunch meat (i cheat on occasion), love my large flake oatmeal, and try to plan meals with what is on sale. I also like to freeze meals and soups for when I'm not well enough to cook. I also try to use my own spice mixes- i make my own fajitas- no need for 99cents+ of spices when i can add my own for 10 cents or less. I find if I was 2 people, it would cost me less. Some things tend to feed the trash because I get sick of foods easily. I only want a few bowls of salad, not to have to eat it is massive amounts for the entire few days it'll be good for. I want one romain heart, not 3, 2-3 mini cucumbers, not 6-8... I freeze things like spaghetti sauce because i use little and not often but it really sucks that everything is sold in large quantities and if you just want a little, you'll be paying a lot more for it. Even the farmer's market doesn't deal in single ears of corn by splitting the price- once they had 12 ears of corn for 3$ but i was going to be charged 1$ for 2. My dietitian also wants me eating the more expensive things- oikos yogurt instead of regular yogurt (less lactose and more protein). I just do my best.