Let’s talk about groceries and budgeting. I originally published this blog post in 2015 and explained how my family of three eats well on a $300/month grocery budget. But oh how times have changed! Since then, grocery prices have increased and now we have a $700 monthly grocery budget.
By August 2022, the Bureau of Labor Statistics found the rate of inflation for food had reached 11.4%. Things are leveling out, but food costs are still up and like most families, we find ourselves spending a lot more.
Today, my family of three is comfortable spending around $700 – $750 per month on groceries. I still like to save where I can and some of our grocery budget strategies and food choices have changed as well.
In my opinion we’re still eating good, eating healthy, and keeping our food budget under control.
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How My NEW Grocery Budget Works
My husband and I used budgeting software to track our spending and when we noticed costs going up, we were curious to see how much we were really spending on groceries. Based on the data and some frugal tips I’ll be sharing, we landed on a comfortable amount of $700 – $750 per month which breaks down to around $175 per week.
I used to advocate for bi-weekly grocery shopping but we switched to shopping weekly a few years ago. Some produce doesn’t seem to last as long anymore and we’ve done better at reducing food waste by shopping weekly.
Here’s what a weekly grocery shopping trip looks like:
Breakfast/dairy
Frozen waffles – $3.29
Land-o-Lakes Butter – $4.99
Can of cinnamon rolls – $2.59
Tennessee Price Breakfast Sausage (30 patties) – $10.99
Meals/produce/sides
Canned Chickpeas – $0.89
Salmon – $12.00
Spanish Rice – $1.79
Brown rice – $1.89
Taco seasoning – $1.29
Pizza crust (can) – $3.49
Scalloped potatoes kit – $1.89
Nacho cheese (x2) – $2.49
Wheat bread – $2.19
Kroger Brand Hard Salami – $4.49
Mozzarella cheese – $2.49
Fresh broccoli – $2.04
Fresh green beans – $3.11
Red onion – $1.11
Celery – $1.69
Zucchini – $1.77
Yellow onion – $1.24
Sweet potatoes – $1.01
Raspberries – $2.49
Snacks + drinks
Restaurant style tortilla chips – $2.00
Fresh peach and mango salsa – $4.29
Veggie straws – $3.49
Bag of lemons (for homemade lemonade) – $2.49
Lays Variety Chips – $10.99
Snack cakes – $2.79
Fruit cups – $2.50
Coffee K Cups – $4.50
Kroger Raspberry Tea – $1.99
Simply Blueberry – Lemonade $3.19
Subtotal: $111.94
We order 80% of our meat from a local farm
Weekly Total: $170.59
How We Eat Well with a $700 Monthly Grocery Budget
Stock Up on Essentials
You may notice that things like eggs, milk and other basic staples weren’t on my grocery list. We do get these items regularly, but sometimes it’s not just every week. For this particular week, we already had plenty of eggs in the freezer as well as a dozen eggs some friends gave us from their chickens.
We also like to stock up on pantry staples like rice, pasta, flour, oats, peanut butter, honey, chicken broth, etc. so we always have these things on hand. I find it helpful to stock up during sales and keep similar items in the pantry so the cabinets are never completely empty each week.
One of the best ways to keep a lower grocery budget is to build your meal plan and list on items you already have that need to get used up. Here is a great resource from FoodSafety.org that tells you how long you can store and freeze certain types of foods.
Buy Meat From a Farm
Another thing you might notice about the grocery list I shared above is that there’s not a lot of actual dinner items on it. That’s because we buy a lot of our meat from a local farm in Tennessee. They offer healthy grass fed and grain-fed options. Each week we place am order online then they deliver it to a local store and I pick it up – it’s that easy!
While it does cost a little more, sometimes there are sales and I don’t mind the tradeoff to eat cleaner. I’d rather know exactly what’s in my meat and how it’s prepared. We don’t buy seafood from the place we use yet because it is more expensive when you’re on a budget. But I do hope to save up some funds to buy meat in bulk toward the end of this year
If you don’t have a farm near you that does this, you can try delivery services like:
- Butcher Box
- Farm Foods Market
- Omaha Steaks
Limit Stores
We basically shop at Walmart and Kroger each months with an occasional trip to Aldi. We do have a Sam’s Club membership, but only go there once every 1-2 months.
So for the most part, we frequent Walmart and Kroger and it’s better this way because we’re not getting distracted by what every other store offers. I wouldn’t recommend trying to compare prices at five different grocery stores because you will get exhausted and planning and shopping for groceries is time-consuming enough.
Limiting where we shop has helped me better understand the pricing structure at each store, when they tend to restock, and how sales work. For example, I know that Kroger offers a lot of good sales on certain meats and seafood. I can usually get salmon on sale there and I paid $6 for an entire rack of ribs that we were able to grill for Easter.
Use Digital Coupons and Easy Rebates
I am by no means a couponer. I don’t search through newspapers or collect ads in an organized binder. But I don’t knock anyone who had been able to save money this way. It’s just not realistic for me since I’m already short on time.
However, I have no problem using a coupon or getting rebates if it’s super easy and convenient. Kroger has tons of in-store offers where you can save instantly at the checkout just by using your free Kroger Shopper’s Card.
Additionally, Kroger allows you to connect your shopper’s card to your account to clip digital coupons which can be applied at checkout. I never really check for coupons before shopping. But when I’m in the store and I see a sign under an item that says “Save $3 with digital coupon” I then scan that QR code to clip the coupon and load it to my shopper’s card.
At checkout, all I have to do is scan my shoppers card and the coupon savings applies to my order. It literally takes two seconds.
As you can see from this recent Kroger receipt, I was able to save $11 on my order from their deals.
The other thing that takes two seconds is using rebates apps that help you earn cash back for everyday items you need and will also pay you cash back for scanning each grocery receipt through the app.
Seriously, there’s no reason not to be using apps like Ibotta and Fetch Rewards these days. Many of us spend hours scrolling on social media each day so we can spare 5 minutes per week to redeem some savings with these free apps.
After your shopping trip, you can upload a photo of your receipt and you’ll be rewarded with cash back in less than 24 hours. You can earn a $5 welcome bonus when you first start using Ibotta within the first 7 days.
Related: How to Save Even More Money on Groceries With Fetch Rewards
Plan Meals, Make a Grocery List
Meal planning is essential if you want to cut your grocery bill down. Not to mention, making a detailed grocery list of exactly what you plan to buy can prevent you from spending too much time in the store as well.
I used to hate when I didn’t make shopping lists because I would always find myself wandering around the store for well over an hour picking up extra crap that I knew I didn’t need. Making a list keeps you organized and on track with your budget.
A few years ago, I bought one of those meal plan dry erase boards for cheap and never looked back. I absolutely love meal planning and with the dry erase board nothing is set in stone so we can adjust things as needed. But it does help to have a clear plan each week.
However, it takes a certain level of creativity to be able to switch things up so you’re not eating the same thing over and over. I check out food blogs for inspiration and I’m always up to try something new. This allows my family and me to eat a well-balanced diet with plenty of variety.
If meal planning and prep isn’t your forte, I’d highly recommend simplifying this aspect of your life by signing up for the $5 Meal Plan. For just $5/month (after a free 14-day trial) you’ll get healthy and affordable recipes and shopping lists delivered to your inbox weekly. The $5 Meal Plan also has gluten-free and picky-eater-friendly recipes, plus you can try it out for free for 2 weeks. You’ll love it!
Related: Frugal Meal Ideas That Are Easy to Prep
Best Clean Eating Grocery List for Newbies
Cook Most Meals at Home
I know this sounds obvious, but you actually have to cook your food if you want to save money on groceries. Buying ingredients and cooking your food is not only healthier than buying frozen processed food at the store, but it’s cheaper too.
I love to cook and discover new recipes but you don’t have to be an expert chef to do this either. Cooking doesn’t have to be a chore if you don’t make it one. There are plenty of easy and quick recipes you can look up online and you can even alternate cooking nights with someone else in your household.
You can even rotate cooking responsibilities in your household or meal prep and cook ahead. This is something I’m trying to get into the habit of doing more. My husband usually has 1-2 off days during the week and he takes over cooking responsibilities and some nights I just cook a ton of food for two nights so we will have leftovers.
During the summer, my husband grills a lot and he cooks double portions so we can have leftovers the next day. I also have a hard time cooking on Fridays because it’s usually a busy day or a relax day.
Buy Produce In Season
We love fruit in my house but let’s face it, there’s a season for everything. I love strawberries, cherries, and blueberries but in the winter they get super expensive, plus they don’t even taste good so there’s no need for me to spend extra money to buy over-ripe or under-ripe fruit.
Buying produce in-season is an easy way to save yourself a nice chunk of money each shopping trip. Sometimes I try local seasonal markets for produce as well.
Don’t Make Your Budget An Option
One reason why I was able to stick to spending around $300/month on groceries several years ago was because for so long is because that used to be all the money we had set aside for food.
Back when my income was lower and I wasn’t as financially stable, going over the budget wasn’t really an option. Now, we maintain our grocery budget because we like to save money and because we can. It doesn’t negatively affect us in any was since we’re still eating well and eating healthy.
If you set a grocery budget/limit, and commit to it like you have no extra room in your monthly budget to overspend, you will be able to successfully cut your grocery bill down to a reasonable amount for you and your family.
This an updated explanation of how we eat delicious, nutritional and well-balanced meals while maintaining a $700 monthly grocery budget. Would you try any of these methods? Are you comfortable with your current grocery budget and if not, what are you currently doing to cut your grocery bill?
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Emily @ Simple Cheap Mom says
We spend about $70 a week on groceries and consumables/beauty stuff. Our inlaws feed us a solid meal twice a week, which makes the budget a little too easy. We stil. find room to buy a lot of crap.
This month we’ve stopped eating at restaurants. I’m hoping that next month we’ll start adding healthier options to our meal plan. I’m also hoping that once I’ve ate through all the Christmas treats I won’t buy mroe!
I’ts awesomet hat you do a two week shop. We go weekly, but I love when we’re able to stretch that. A surprising amount of fresh stuff will last two weeks (or more). We don’t stockpile much anymore, and don’t coupon much either, but I do try to keep our pantry stocked, and I find that really works!
Chonce says
Sounds like you’re doing an awesome job keeping the grocery bill low. I agree meals from family definitely help. I used to eat at my mom’s house on weekends because I was always over there for work and that helped a ton. But I absolutely love having a stocked pantry. Without it, I get a bit nervous.
C@thesingledollar says
This is a great list, and I’m impressed! I spend $250 a month (give or take) just for me 🙂
Chonce says
That seems reasonable if it fits in with your overall monthly budget and I bet allowing yourself some wiggle room with the grocery bill helps to prevent excessive take out/trips to restaurants.
Christine says
Impressive! We spend about $400 a month for the two of us. I think it’s harder to stockpile as we don’t have a car so our trips are more frequent. I’ve thought about whether it would be cheaper for us to take a cab home from the grocery store…might be worth trying!
Chonce says
Having a car does make it easier to stock up at the grocery store but if I didn’t have one I’d probably be going more often too like once a week. A cab might work if the store is nearby but there’s also foldable carts used to carry more bags that are perfect for the local bus. I have one that I used a lot when we lived in a larger apartment with a ton of floors and I loved it!
Tonya@Budget and the Beach says
ah the grocery budget. This is one area that I’m pretty much giving up feeling guilty about because I spend aprox that amount for just me. There are lots of reasons and probably a million ways I can improve, but it’s just one sticky part of my life. It’s like to me, exercising is super easy and I can sit and think, “hey it’s so easy for me, why shouldn’t it be easy for someone else?” but it just isn’t always the case. 🙂 I.e, I’m forgiving myself and my food budget. I think that should be a post. 🙂
Chonce says
That sounds like a great idea for a post actually 🙂 You make a pretty good point though, I’m one who finds it super hard to stick to exercising regularly but I can budget my groceries and plan shopping trips in my sleep if I had to. When budgeting expenses like these it’s good to just find an honest and comfortable balance that works for you and since you don’t dine out much, having a higher grocery budget seems perfectly fine.
Sarah says
That is very impressive! The lowest I’ve ever been able to go (for my family of four) is $400. Since my daughter started on solids we’re up to about $550 a month for our family four. However, I do all of our shopping at once, so toilet paper, printer paper/ink, cleaning supplies, etc. is also included in that amount.
Chonce says
That’s not too bad Sarah. I only include actual food in my grocery budget but we probably spend about $40 or less on toiletries each month. I stock up at Dollar General on cleaning supplies, toothpaste, toilet paper etc. and this seems to work well.
Jessica says
We probably spend about that much for two adults, but I tend to eat a lot! I know I could do better though. My biggest problem is failing to have a plan. I tend to grab a lot of stuff because it’s on sale and I don’t always use it before it goes bad. I HATE food waste, so I’m really trying to be more mindful. Also, since I enjoy cooking I tend to throw random ingredients in my cart without having a plan for using them. I actually hope to go through my pantry/freezer/fridge and make a list of what I have on hand.
Chonce says
I agree I hate to waste food, especially produce because it is so essential in our diets. When I’m in the store I try to stick to my list but if have to question a purchase, I usually don’t get it and tell myself I can come back another day to purchase it. 90% of the time I never go back for it so I conclude that I never really needed the item at all 🙂
Erin @ Journey to Saving says
These are all great tips, especially the last one! Our grocery budget is around $300 for the two of us, though my fiance tends to eat a lot more than I do. Sticking to sales and looking at circulars are tried and true methods of keeping costs down.
Chonce says
The circulars that come in the mail are like hidden gems that people tend to overlook a lot. It’s like why would I buy chicken breasts at my usual grocery store when Jewel is having an amazing sale throughout the week?!
Christina @ Embracing Simple says
Love this! Any suggestions for food bloggers you like to follow for inspiration? I’m in serious need of meal planning inspiration myself. One of my goals for February is to buckle down and give meal planning and Sunday prep a shot….but I am definitely going to need some help!
I also love food too much to compromise quality and eating what I enjoy. This quote from Julia Child pretty much sums up my mentality on food: “people who love to eat are always the best people.” 🙂
Chonce says
Food prep/ meal planning helps me out so much and I highly recommend it. It’s really not that hard once you get used to it and I’m such a foodie 🙂 Here are my 2 absolute favorite food blogs. I’ve tried a few simple recipes from each and added my own twist and they turned out great each time. I also love to look through their recipe index when I am looking to try something new 🙂 Good luck on your meal planning!
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/
http://www.thewaytohisheartblog.com/
Christina @ Embracing Simple says
Awesome, thanks! I’ll have to check these out to get some food ideas 🙂
DC @ Young Adult Money says
We plan our meals and make a grocery list. We also shop primarily at Target, where you can save a ton of money between the REDcard, Target coupons, manufacturer coupons, cart wheel, and more. We keep our grocery spend fairly low as well, and that’s even with eating pretty healthy (which unfortunately can be more expensive).
Chonce says
That’s impressive! Eating healthy on a budget is a bit tricky but it’s not impossible. I really need to start taking advantage of the instant savings and cash back programs at Target, it’s one of my favorite stores. And the text coupons really come in handy for me.
Jason @ TheButlerJournal.com says
That’s great that you only spend $300 per month on food. I’m only buying for myself and spend nearly $200. I cook my food most of the time, but I have to do better with coupons.
Joe says
We are going to start to incorporate some of these ideas. We tried to spend $600 a month for our family of 3 and can’t seem to even keep it that low. We are averaging around $700 to $800 per month and we struggle to get it any lower. I believe incorporating some of these ideas we should be able to spend less. We cook/eat in every meal except once a week we visit a chick fil a, chipotle or McDonald’s etc…just to get out. Groceries have been a difficult category for us to manage. Sometimes we feel pretty defeated.
Choncé says
It’s sounds like you have been making some progress. The key for us is planning. You can never over plan when it comes to your meals especially if you’re busy. Right now, I have so much going on and I literally have to jump whenever my realtor calls to look at a house because we are actively searching.
Planning out meals, prepping, and having some “emergency” frozen options keeps us on the right track.