https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 27 Apr 2026 11:58:09 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-on#post-2813787 Mon, 02 Apr 2018 18:31:04 +0000 gotkimchi 2813787@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@codeitall: this is where I had a problem too! Like 4-600 on just groceries ok but when you add in eating out it was out of control!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-on#post-2813780 Mon, 02 Apr 2018 18:04:44 +0000 codeitall 2813780@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>400-600. I tend to lump household items into the same bucket.</p> <p>Looks like I need to check out clicklist...</p> <p>I mostly focus on buying groceries that are versatile and as my convenience-easy meals, we actually do a lot of cereal. Since they are big brand names, I can always find coupons for them and they go on sale a lot. I never pay more than $2 a box. It is fortified with lots of vitamins and minerals, and my kids never say no to it. Actually, neither does DH, haha :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-on#post-2813622 Mon, 02 Apr 2018 10:54:37 +0000 snowjewelz 2813622@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>4 people - two girls ages 3 and 1. We spend $600 a month. I always think it's way too much; I think in a perfect world where I cook, meal plan and use coupons, I can probably lower it to $500 and under. However, DH cooks and does 100% of the grocery shopping. He does not meal plan, he doesn't coupon and he does create a lot of wastes because he never remembers what's in the fridge. But this works for our family so I'm not gonna go there with him haha.</p> <p>The sad thing is, we also eat out and with both we're almost spending $800-$900 a month just to eat :shocked: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-on#post-2813578 Mon, 02 Apr 2018 09:40:47 +0000 Mama Bird 2813578@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>$400 - $600 a month is about what we spend. I think I could shave $100 off that by not buying stuff "for later" for a few months (things like jam and canned food that sit on the shelf in case they're needed in a pinch). I could probably also save by making more rice/noodle based dishes, but those go stale pretty fast so I'd have to make smaller batches more often. I'll give it a try when I'm home a little more. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-on#post-2813574 Mon, 02 Apr 2018 09:19:41 +0000 psw27 2813574@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We spend a lot on food. Probably about $900 per month - including Costco and some Amazon supplements. A lot of this cost is because we live in the city and our best grocery store option is Whole Foods for quality and selection purposes. We used to go to Shaws/Stop n Shop but I would end up buying a lot more junk food and the produce and meat were gross. I try to buy a lot of organic, non-GMO food (as I eat a leftover Easter doughnut... LOL). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-on#post-2813565 Mon, 02 Apr 2018 08:51:56 +0000 Silva 2813565@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I'll join you on team filet mignon ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-on#post-2813563 Mon, 02 Apr 2018 08:51:13 +0000 looch 2813563@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: My parents were raised in post world war 2 Europe, food was scarce, so my dad made it a point to make sure we never experienced that. He has food anxiety, so it's a fine line to walk. But I agree, it's hard to not feel guilty on spending money on nice ingredients. I would rather spend $15 on a piece of filet mignon and eat it once than buy the same amount of ground beef and have to eat chili for a week, but that's just me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-on#post-2813561 Mon, 02 Apr 2018 08:47:49 +0000 Silva 2813561@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: once i read more than one or two blog entries I was out. It was actually kind of nice, and a little validating, because I had been feeling some guilt for food spending. I read their blog and decided I'd rather spend what we spend than live like that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-on#post-2813560 Mon, 02 Apr 2018 08:46:08 +0000 looch 2813560@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: That frugalwoods method is really extreme...I think there's so much interesting food out there that there really isn't a reason to eat so boring and bland. I like to cook with nice ingredients and this is one area where I don't like to deprive myself. I can barely handle second day leftovers, so forget eating the same thing for a week! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-on#post-2813525 Sun, 01 Apr 2018 23:23:03 +0000 gingerbebe 2813525@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am in a stage in life where I am spending more on groceries than I used to during our hardcore budgeting days. But back then, the way I saved was always taking leftovers for lunch for me. DH didn’t like having leftovers the very next day, so I made him sandwich kits each week. I would package up 2 slices of bread, then pack cold cuts with pickles in baggies and roll lettuce leaves in paper towels. I would make 5 of these kits each week, plus a bunch of baby carrots, and DH would grab a sandwich kit, carrots, throw a bottle of mustard in his lunch bag and grab some granola bars or a piece of fruit for lunch every day.</p> <p>We meal planned based on a menu template. Meatless Monday, Pasta Tuesday, Crockpot Wednesdays, Leftover Thursday, Pizza Friday, etc. That made it easy to grocery shop the sales because I could fit something into that template with whatever is on sale. On the weekends we would eat leftovers. We never bought coffee out at Starbuck’s or anything like that. I also made 1 breakfast and 1 dessert each week. So I’d make a big batch of crockpot steel cut oats or I’d buy a big tub of yogurt and throw granola and fruit on it. Desserts could be as easy as a batch of cookies or making an ice cream pie with a graham cracker crust, some chocolate chips, and whatever ice cream is on sale. </p> <p>Anything we could freeze I made huge batches of. Pulled pork, taco chicken or beef, spaghetti sauce, chili, etc. And I always kept a stash of frozen veggies on sale to throw into anything. We also had a deep freezer and if there was a deep sale on meat we stocked up. </p> <p>Doing this we were able to eat for $150 a month including soda, good quality coffee at home, a little booze, and lunch dates out every now and then. </p> <p>With kids, that got trickier. Both our kids are fruit bats so we go through an enormous amount of produce, plus they go through a lot of organic dairy - cheese, yogurt, milk. Plus I have to pack lunches and snacks for both each day, so I end up buying a lot of individually packaged things. We do get them snacks on sale and I have them largely eat seasonal produce, and I always save all their half eaten or browned bananas and make banana pancakes or banana muffins for them to eat for breakfast. So I save where I can. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-on#post-2813521 Sun, 01 Apr 2018 23:06:46 +0000 cake2017 2813521@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snarkybiochemist: I try to buy generic but DH prefers brand names 😐.... well then the bill will increase in my defense! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-on#post-2813520 Sun, 01 Apr 2018 23:05:36 +0000 cake2017 2813520@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ms.Mermaid: So do you find that Costco is helpful for these items? </p> <p>I will look into the Harvest company!@DesertDreams88: Great recommendations- I am planning to look into them. Hanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-on#post-2813519 Sun, 01 Apr 2018 23:03:20 +0000 cake2017 2813519@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@travellingbee: We were spending around this as well but with just 3 adults(gma is temporarily with us to help LO).... this sounds about right with a family of 4 in my opinion. @wrkbrk: We actually know a family who spends right around this amount monthly too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-on#post-2813518 Sun, 01 Apr 2018 23:00:23 +0000 cake2017 2813518@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: Wow! I think you’re doing a great job! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-on#post-2813516 Sun, 01 Apr 2018 22:58:32 +0000 cake2017 2813516@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Blythe: Love the idea but DH will beget “bored”. We eat along chicken... I usually just come up with different ideas on how to make things.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-on#post-2813515 Sun, 01 Apr 2018 22:57:15 +0000 cake2017 2813515@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: same we don’t eat beef really. It seems to just be he other things! I’m wondering if we aren’t being realistic on the budget...???? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-on#post-2813502 Sun, 01 Apr 2018 21:20:42 +0000 Blythe 2813502@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’ve found that for me, saving money at the grocery store comes down to consistency. </p> <p>I like to make big batches of spaghetti sauce, chili, soups, taco filling, stew, curries etc. These recipes duplicate ingredients (most of which are inexpensive) and can be frozen in portions to last most of the month. If I’m careful I can keep the budget under $300, which is great. Though, I fully admit that I have adopted this method not for the savings, but because I hate cooking after a long day and want to come home to meals that are ready to go… The only downside is that you have to be comfortable with the idea of eating the same thing on rotation every week...</p> <p>Oh! One last thought. I’ve also found that placing my grocery order online has helped my budget. I order specifically what I need for my meal plan and not a thing more. If there is a grocery store in your area that offers click and collect service, I highly recommend it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-on#post-2813495 Sun, 01 Apr 2018 20:44:06 +0000 wrkbrk 2813495@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cake2017: A lot. It’s embarassing. Whole Foods at least twice a week + a lot of wine = $1000 or so a month. 🤦🏼‍♀️ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-on#post-2813494 Sun, 01 Apr 2018 20:35:03 +0000 travellingbee 2813494@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We spend about $800 for a family of four. My kids eat A LOT of fruit so our fresh produce bill is high. We don’t buy a lot of meat, but tend to. It too much on convenience foods and buy a lot of organic. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-on#post-2813490 Sun, 01 Apr 2018 20:26:21 +0000 skinnycow 2813490@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We spend a lot... I'd guess around $800-$1k per month for me, DH, and a two year old. We almost never eat out (including lunch) and we have big appetites. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-on#post-2813486 Sun, 01 Apr 2018 19:55:18 +0000 Canoli 2813486@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Following as I feel like I’ve been spending a lot on groceries. We are a family of five. I think I’m going to try ordering groceries online because that should cut down on impulse buys. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-on#post-2813484 Sun, 01 Apr 2018 19:52:31 +0000 erinbaderin 2813484@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I save a lot by doing click and collect, because I just get what I need and don’t impulse-throw things into the cart. I spend between $600 and $800 a month, probably, for two adults, a two year old, and a four year old. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-on#post-2813473 Sun, 01 Apr 2018 18:37:41 +0000 Silva 2813473@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gotkimchi: I forgot to mention we have chickens for eggs, too. I LOVE it. WE have 6 and its plenty of eggs, we often give some away to friends. We eat an egg based dinner once a week, plus eggs for breakfast pretty regularly and egg salad for lunches. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-on#post-2813472 Sun, 01 Apr 2018 18:30:11 +0000 gotkimchi 2813472@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: we also raise our own meat chickens and keep chickens for eggs and if anyone has a yard meat chickens are so easy and fast!! We take ours to a butcher for processing though. It costs us around $3/bird which is worth the convienence </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-on#post-2813469 Sun, 01 Apr 2018 18:14:37 +0000 Ms.Mermaid 2813469@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We actually buy a lot of our essentials at Costco, which is our main savings. We buy a 3-pack of half gallons of organic milk there for much cheaper than the grocery store (I think we pay $4-5 and at the grocery store its $5 for a gallon), we buy orange juice there - we go through it much faster than it goes bad, and since its 3 individual cartons and they usually expire six weeks later, we definitely use them. We buy all our cereal and a lot of our produce and all of our cheese at Costco as well. I also get a lot of my clothing there and it's really decent quality and reasonably priced. Pretty much all of our personal care comes from there or Subscribe and Save. </p> <p>We have a CSA for vegetables during the summer, which ends up being a savings because we basically only have the CSA and then go to Costco and that covers our food needs for the summer so we don't even grocery shop. </p> <p>I was doing Hungry Harvest, which is a better price on organic food and it's delivered to you, so again, eliminates impulse shopping at the grocery store. Then I got pregnant and haven't eaten vegetables in twelve weeks, but I'm looking forward to starting up again if this morning sickness ever wears off. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-on#post-2813467 Sun, 01 Apr 2018 18:07:26 +0000 MrsADS 2813467@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just looked for March, we spent about $500 exactly. That is only at grocery stores (Publix and Aldi). I occasionally buy some cleaning products/toiletries there if they are on sale or on special, so that does include some stuff, but doesn't include most diapers or toiletries (that stuff I usually get at Target). We are 2 adults, a two year old (and I'm pregnant). </p> <p>The best way I save money on groceries is by shopping at Aldi for staples and getting only stuff I can't get at Aldi or stuff that is on sale at Publix. </p> <p>My mom has a Costco membership so I go with her occasionally, but I would end up spending more money. I don't really find it to be a money saver, I can get stuff cheaper at Aldi.</p> <p>I could definitely shave down on my spending, to be honest, and probably should, but I'm really tired and really busy and... yeah. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-on#post-2813466 Sun, 01 Apr 2018 17:51:12 +0000 karenbme 2813466@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We spend ~700/mo for DH and I including food, alcohol, household goods. The biggest game changer for us is how much meat is on the tab. I call myself flexitarian, meaning I don’t really like meat and see the arguments for why it’s bad for health/environment so we do a lot of vegetarian meals with beans or tofu for protein, but once or twice a week do a meat forward dinner, because DH likes it. The difference between a pound of black beans and a pound of organic free range chicken adds up fast. We do buy organic and local whenever possible, which during the growing season saves money. And I have a smallish garden which further cuts costs for about 2 months a year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-on#post-2813465 Sun, 01 Apr 2018 17:48:08 +0000 Silva 2813465@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We spend about 650-800 a month, including one $200 trip to costco. That includes paper products, food, and alcohol. Doesn't include diapers (though we mostly cloth). Also I have celiac disease, and I order bulk gluten free flour through amazon, as well as some other specialty gluten free items, and usually cleaning supplies.</p> <p>I'm pregnant now, nearing the end of my first trimester, and I spent 1000 last month, because every time i set foot in a store i bought whatever sounded good. but usually i'm more restrained!</p> <p>we do the big costco trip for our standards, and then typically order groceries to pick up. This has been a huge cost saver for us, well worth the $5.00 convenience fee. I meal plan and then order what we need- so I'm not throwing in extra stuff randomly. </p> <p>we don't eat meat every night, typically 3 meals or so are vegetarian. we do buy our chicken and the small amount of pork that we eat from local farmers in bulk (we go in on the chicken with several other families, its raised at someone's house, and then we all help with slaughter. obviously this isn't something thats easy to just set up!), which is a significant cost savings for us. </p> <p>we have a garden in the summer. probably the most significant cost savings from that is that we grow a ton of basil and make/freeze pesto to have on pasta/pizza. we also forage wild leeks on our land, and make a pesto out of that.</p> <p>we have raspberries on our land. so we picked and froze blueberries, strawberries and then our own raspberries last summer and still have some. we made all our own jam last summer. we also tapped 4 maple trees on our property this year and made about 2 gallons of maple syrup which will last us the year.</p> <p>so- we do a lot ourselves, but its a hobby and I don't know how much it saves us. I have accepted that food is just something we spend a lot on. and right now, since we started ordering groceries online, we are spending less than we have before. food is expensive. I think it feels like a flexible part of one's budget, so we always feel like we should be spending less.<br /> I read the frugalwoods blog because I couldn't figure out how they spent so little while eating local, organic foods. I realized that they cook one pot of soup or a batch of rice and beans, and eat very small portions of that for dinner each night, along with maybe some hummus. I really can't eat the same thing each night, and I have zero interest in eating rice and beans for dinner for a week. And we all have fairly big appetites. I try to take pleasure in buying groceries and preparing healthy, tasty foods for my family, and if that means spending less on something else, its worth it.</p> <p>ETA I forgot we have 6 chickens who lay about an egg a day each. We eat a lot of eggs! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-on#post-2813462 Sun, 01 Apr 2018 16:39:50 +0000 crazydoglady 2813462@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ChitownRo: Same.</p> <p>We spend 850 to 900 dollars on groceries for two adults (one pregnant) and a 2 year old. I would be more than happy to spend less on groceries but DH is the cook and always wants to experiment and use nicer ingredients. 🤷 I should add that this total includes all cleaning products, paper products, diapers, wipes, soda stream stuff, coffee, etc </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-on#post-2813461 Sun, 01 Apr 2018 16:24:20 +0000 DesertDreams88 2813461@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Family of about 3.5.... one is a newborn, but I do eat more when pregnant or breastfeeding. In October I switched over to shopping exclusively through Fry's (Kroger) ClickList and Amazon Subscribe &amp; Save. ClickList is free the first 3 orders, and by then I was hooked. It is SO much more efficient and cheaper. We've cut our monthly groceries/personal care budget from $650 down to $500, and I think I'm getting close to about $450 a month. </p> <p>- I can see a running total of my "cart"<br /> - I can compare prices with amazon<br /> - I can notice trends over time<br /> - The "sale items" and "coupon" section learns your preferences and shows you most common items first<br /> - In the coupons section, you add the coupon and it shows you the items that match so you don't pick out the "wrong" item (you can "add to cart" directly from the coupons section)<br /> - The produce has always been fresh and good-looking<br /> - The few times items have been unavailable, they usually take off the $5 ClickList fee or add a small discount to the order</p> <p>Also, it helps me save on gas. Every $1 on groceries is 1 fuel point, 100 fuel points is a 10 cent discount on gas. Besides grocery points, they do gift card promos where gift cards are 4x points. I buy a lot of gift cards to places I know we'll go, or gifts for occasions that are coming up, or Southwest gift cards to pay for summer travel. So, for example, in the months of Nov, Dec, and March, DH &amp; I filled up twice together, and each of those times (6 time) our gas was $1 off per gallon. </p>