I think we spend too much on groceries! I was just wondering what others with families of 5 (2 adults and triplets - mine are 4 years old) might spend on groceries per month. I use the couponing system (matching sale prices with coupons) for items that I use, I'm not brand specific, I use Sams club for those items that I use very frequently (toilet paper, paper towels, milk etc...), and I purchase very few organic items (only milk and eggs.) I group groceries and toiletries together because it's too hard to separate, but I'm spending about $1200 per month at the grocery store. I would love to get this number down because I would like to save and invest the money in extra stuff for the kids - they're getting older and asking about all the extra stuff (gymnastics etc...) I live 25 minutes outside of Chicago in the burbs and I'm wondering: what do you spend per month for a family of 5 at the grocery store?

Thanks!

I hate to say this, but I think that's what we spend, too. It's not only the food that adds up, but the cleaning supplies, detergents, toilet paper, etc. that makes it expensive.

Even with my coupon cutting expertise, it's still expensive!

We have a family of 5, too and I want to say I spend about $250 a week.

And some dinners are cheaper than others, KWIM? I can justify paying a little more for let's say, a salmon dinner.

And then the next night might be sloppy joes.

But, yeah. It's nuts. And it seems like everything is slowly getting more and more expensive.

I saw a jug of Tide for $14. Granted, it was huge, but still!

I was going to buy a huge pack of Charmin and it was $14.99. I threw it back on the shelf and just went for the store brand toilet paper.

I think any time there's a sale on things you crave, just get it. Watch for signs. Cut your coupons. Don't rule out store brand stuff, which might be a little cheaper.

I saw a buy one get one free ad for dish washing detergent and thought that was a great deal, so I threw those in the cart. It's stuff like that, that I keep an eye out for. Anything I can keep in stock is a good thing.

But, yeah. I hear you.

Lisa

Thanks so much....I thought I was going overboard somewhere, but didn't know where! My husband will be glad to know it's not just us!

Some of it is probably living near Chicago but I bet you can bring that grocery bill down by changing 1 thing- where you shop.

We are a family of 6, 2 adults and 4 teens- and my son is a football player/swimmer who is 6'2", 180 pounds.
We spend about $700 month on groceries.

Our secret- we shop mostly at Aldi's.

It is true that you have to buy the bags (or bring your own) and bag your own groceries (it gets easier with time) but you can save big time.

Aldi's has changed drastically over the last 20 years.
When I first went there while in nursing school, it was cheap but not great quality. Now they offer many whole wheat, low fat, fresh items.
Paper products and snack food is crazy cheap, important when you have 5-6 friends over every weekend.

We still go to the local store for some items and get our eggs and milk from a farmer. In the summer, we do more shopping at the farmers market but it really adds up.
I never found the items at Sam's club to beat Aldi's.




Judie and Victor
lucky parents to
Frankie 3/95
Maggie 7/96
Rose 7/96
Elizabeth 7/96

My husband just questioned the amount of money we are spending each week. On food alone (and truely buying only what we need for the week) we spend about $200. Then about another $100 every 2 weeks on paper prducts, cleaning supplies, laundry stuff. So probably about $1000 or so. Scares me for when my kids (4 years old next week) are older!

Anna Lucia, 4lbs 7oz
Matthew Ronald, 4lbs
Sophia Christine, 3lbs 13oz
Born screaming 2/5/07!

http://fruitsaladchronicles.blogspot.com/

Mine will be 3yo in 2w and I'd say that's probably about what we spend. I don't clip, but do shop sales at our local grocery store for what we like and stock when those items are on special. We have a large pantry (10 x 10)and 3 fridges (gave up the deep freeze and really wish I hadn't, but we do use the fridge more and it has a freezer). Mine eat varying amounts, but there are days when they eat the equivalent of an adult--3-4 pieces of pizza including the crust--not the same as a teen boy who could eat the whole pizza by himself I understand. We're still buying diapers so this adds to my cost at the moment. Organic stuff we buy is limited to milk (4 gallons/week) and some meat. I spend probably $600/mo at the grocery store in addition to paper stuff at say Walmart/Target as I'm not going out of my way (the big boxes are) when I pass the others on the way home from work.

We're a family of 8. 5 kids (ages 6,3,2,2,2,) myself, DH and our live in nanny. We spend about $175-$200 weekly. We have a deep freeze and we buy a whole pig when we run out of meat. It's WAY cheaper. Our produce is VERY expensive where we live. I used to do a menu, but I don't anymore. My menu is determined by what's on sale at the grocery store. We eat very little meat. And when we do it's cut up into something so the portion isn't as much. For instance, for chicken, we wouldn't do chicken breast or chicken strips, rather cut up chicken in the noodle or rice dish. Also, if we are having chicken I buy thighs instead of breasts. It's the meat and produce for us that kills us! For paper products we go to Costco about every 4 months. I can't imagine it getting any better for us.

Dee

DS Oct.2004 40W6D
8lbs10oz
DS Mar.2007 41W4D
9lbs13oz
GGG July 2008 33W6D
3lbs12oz; 5lbs5oz; 4lbs4oz

We are a family of six and spend around 500-600 a month but we also buy a cow and split it with family members. I have not bought red meat in a store for over 5 years. I think it saves a whole lot of money this way!



http://www.burtfamilyof6.blogspot.com/

I buy groceries for myself, boyfriend, and the triplets, and only spend $100-125 a week. I was spending $250 a week on groceries and toiletries (and without buying for my SO), and then I started couponing. I use www.afullcup.com. You can get soooo many items for free or nearly free using coupons, it's ridiculous. When there's a really good deal on something, I order extra coupons and stock up. I highly recommend it!

Jenny
single mom to spontaneous BBB 34w 2d

http://lilypie.com>

wow! I checked out that site -- but it doesn't seem to work for me our grocery store is CO-OP and it's not there -- anyone know if there is a site like this for Canadians?

Dee

DS Oct.2004 40W6D
8lbs10oz
DS Mar.2007 41W4D
9lbs13oz
GGG July 2008 33W6D
3lbs12oz; 5lbs5oz; 4lbs4oz