How much income is needed to support a family on one income?

[deb1]

Our six month average for groceries is $1300 a month for a family of 5 with three teens.

I am shocked myself. And, it’s going up. We live in an area where the average household income is in six figures, housing is expensive, and businesses charge an arm and a leg for everything.

Maybe we consider more things “groceries” than the rest of you guys.

I consider everything that is bought in the supermarket to be groceries. Toilet paper, soap, etc…all groceries.

I’ve had friends who tell me that they have very low grocery bills but they are just counting the cost of food, not the extras like light bulbs that you can get from the grocery store also.

Because my hubby is in the military we can use the commisary. That might be part of the price difference between you and me.

 

[awantz]

House $542.75 Gas & Electric 148.00 Water & Sewer 26.95 Phone & Internet 32.67 Auto Insurance 110.03 Vehicle 154.85 Television 42.79 School 5.00
Baby Supplies 25.00
Necessities 25.00
Miscellaneous 25.00
Gas 100.00
Food 140.00

Income 1300.00

This is for my husband, our eleven month old, and me.

 

[maendem]

Some of you have amazingly frugal grocery budgets! I’m really impressed. :bowdown:

Here’s a question for you all, and it’s not intented as critical in any way: How much of your grocery bill is fresh fruit and vegetables, and how much is processed food (not necessarily junk food, but mac n cheese, hamburger helper, spaghetti sauce, etc.)

Our weekly budget for groceries (family of 3) is $100. We could certainly trim it back if we had to. Except for pasta and cereal we don’t really buy any processed food - maybe chips once a month. We eat a ton of dairy, fruits, veggies and seafood. No snacks otherwise. I cook almost everything from scratch, not out of pride, but for fun and taste. And yes, we are coffee and fresh organic bread snobs. We live in Texas, and food is relatively cheap.

That said: what else accounts for our high grocery bill compared to you larger families on impressively smaller budgets? Do you clip coupons? I never find coupons for things we buy. I’d like to learn from you all, but I’m also suspecting a difference in diet choices or preferences. Any help appreciated!

 

[awantz]

Some of you have amazingly frugal grocery budgets! I’m really impressed. :bowdown:

Here’s a question for you all, and it’s not intented as critical in any way: How much of your grocery bill is fresh fruit and vegetables, and how much is processed food (not necessarily junk food, but mac n cheese, hamburger helper, spaghetti sauce, etc.)

Our weekly budget for groceries (family of 3) is $100. We could certainly trim it back if we had to. Except for pasta and cereal we don’t really buy any processed food - maybe chips once a month. We eat a ton of dairy, fruits, veggies and seafood. No snacks otherwise. I cook almost everything from scratch, not out of pride, but for fun and taste. And yes, we are coffee and fresh organic bread snobs. We live in Texas, and food is relatively cheap.

That said: what else accounts for our high grocery bill compared to you larger families on impressively smaller budgets? Do you clip coupons? I never find coupons for things we buy. I’d like to learn from you all, but I’m also suspecting a difference in diet choices or preferences. Any help appreciated!

Some of us have no choice.

Very little if any of the grocery budget goes to processed food like you mentioned.

I wish I could afford $100 a week.

We also buy bulk supplies of food from places like Sam’s Club. We make meals from our leftovers. We buy meat frozen instead of fresh. We use turkey burger instead of hamburger. If there is something we know we will need down the road and it’s on sale now, we buy it now and store it until we’ll need it, depending on the type of food it is.

 

[Sure]

This whole thread is depressing me, because apparently I should be saving like $7K a month.

I am a really bad steward of God’s gifts.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

Here’s a question for you all, and it’s not intented as critical in any way: How much of your grocery bill is fresh fruit and vegetables About one-quarter of that $300, so $75 a month , and how much is processed food I buy MEAT, real MEAT, and canned goods (veggies and fruit), and frozen veggies and fruit. (not necessarily junk food, but mac n cheese, hamburger helper, spaghetti sauce, etc.) I maybe buy 4 frozen pizzas if pizzas are on sale, and if the co-op has something like pre-breaded chicken breasts. If I buy that stuff, I will eat it, all of it, and get fatter than I am!

Our weekly budget for groceries (family of 3) is $100. We could certainly trim it back if we had to. Except for pasta and cereal we don’t really buy any processed food - maybe chips once a month. We eat a ton of dairy, Yep. Cottage cheese is a big hit here. fruits, veggies and seafood If it comes in the SHARE package; otherwise, not so much. But LEAN meat, no cold cuts. No snacks otherwise. I cook almost everything from scratch, not out of pride, but for fun and taste. And yes, we are coffee and fresh organic bread snobs. We live in Texas, and food is relatively cheap. Indeed it is, but salaries for someparts of Texas are between 30-35% less than other parts of the country. But, I love HEB. I miss it.

Some of us have no choice.

Very little if any of the grocery budget goes to processed food like you mentioned.

I wish I could afford $100 a week.

We also buy bulk supplies of food from places like Sam’s Club. We make meals from our leftovers. We buy meat frozen instead of fresh. We use turkey burger instead of hamburger. If there is something we know we will need down the road and it’s on sale now, we buy it now and store it until we’ll need it, depending on the type of food it is.

When I was young, I had a very hmm, irregular husband, who became by ex-husband. I sometimes had $25 (and thought I had a good deal) to spend on groceries for a week in the early 1980s. So, I do know how tight it can get.

This whole thread is depressing me, because apparently I should be saving like $7K a month.

I am a really bad steward of God’s gifts.

1.) If you don’t make $7K amonth, how can you save $7K?
2.) Well, pick the one financial point that interests you, and work on it for 60 days! You will be surprised at the difference it makes.