https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 04 Jun 2026 22:57:38 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/per-day-or-per-meal-food-budget#post-2326172 Mon, 19 Oct 2015 17:17:55 +0000 brownepiano 2326172@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think I could handle calculating that! I did once calculate how much my breakfast (eggs and potatoes scramble) cost vs my husband and son (granola and yogurt) to make sure I want spending way more on me just because I am picky. </p> <p>One thing that works for me is to budget how much I'll spend on meat for the month and then buy it in bigger packages since that is one of the more expensive things that costs less in bigger quantities. They way I have a variety of cheap meat in the freezer for meals. That also makes it harder to calculate per meal though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/per-day-or-per-meal-food-budget#post-2326154 Mon, 19 Oct 2015 16:57:55 +0000 mrsrain 2326154@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just thought to add: we try to use ingredients for multiple meals. So if I buy a ham, we'll use the leftover meat for a pot of beans. We also eat leftovers a couple of times a week for lunch, which saves on overall cost too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/per-day-or-per-meal-food-budget#post-2326145 Mon, 19 Oct 2015 16:54:20 +0000 mrsrain 2326145@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a biweekly grocery budget that includes everything (toothpaste, paper towels, eggs). I use Peapod (Stop and Shop delivery service) which allows me to look at deals and meal plan based on what's cheap. I just completed it for the next two weeks and the total was about $120. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/per-day-or-per-meal-food-budget#post-2326121 Mon, 19 Oct 2015 16:26:00 +0000 sapphire 2326121@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just wouldn't be willing to go through that much homework! I have a set amount per month that we try to keep in under but figuring out per meal would be a lot of work. Plus some meals are more expensive and some cheaper so I feel that it balances out... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/per-day-or-per-meal-food-budget#post-2325869 Mon, 19 Oct 2015 13:58:28 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2325869@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sera_87: Yes! And her "intake cost" at the end of the much (rationed out per meal cost) is almost identical to her actual "outtake expense" (money actually spent). So it works well. But its just for one person. </p> <p>I am trying to find cheaper meals, and this challenge interests me to maybe try to find 2 meals per week that are under $3pp (which is still way higher than what she's spending). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/per-day-or-per-meal-food-budget#post-2325864 Mon, 19 Oct 2015 13:56:08 +0000 sera_87 2325864@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a bi-weekly budget. It includes everything from diapers to Lightbulbs to actual groceries. I usually stay under 200$ but could go up to 300 depending on what we need to buy.</p> <p>I'm intrigued by this challenge. Does she ever explain how she finds the per-item/serving cost? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/per-day-or-per-meal-food-budget#post-2325791 Mon, 19 Oct 2015 13:21:59 +0000 MrsSRS 2325791@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, I have a weekly budget. It includes all meals (packed lunches), snacks, beverages, and some incidentals like dish soap. It doesn't include diapers. I aim for under 100/week, but 120 is my cap. We're a family of 4. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/per-day-or-per-meal-food-budget#post-2325728 Mon, 19 Oct 2015 12:49:10 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2325728@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For the food that you cook, do you have a per meal or per day budget?</p> <p>I found it interesting to read the Budget Bytes September Challenge that totaled out food costs. I know our monthly budget of over $500 is extreme but I wonder how much is waste or snacks. Besides just trying to "cut back" I would like to know what is reasonable to spend on a "meal". For us a Meal serves 4-6 people (Dinner for the family of 4 plus a lunch or two). </p> <p><a href="http://www.budgetbytes.com/2015/10/september-challenge-week-4-and-month-summary/" rel="nofollow">http://www.budgetbytes.com/2015/10/september-challenge-week-4-and-month-summary/</a> </p>