Skip to main content

USDA National Grocery Averages

Sometimes it takes the simplest thing to change your life, for me it was one of these reports. I have come across a few of these since joining forums a few years ago. The first year I saw one we were in the moderate to liberal plan. I was just coming to the realization that if we kept living the way we were, that we would be homeless. We both had full time jobs, 2 vehicles with 2 car payments, just about the only thing we had going for us was that our apartment was pretty cheap for this area.

A lady posted this report and I just about died. I have never realized that we spent that much money eating out. I went into super frugal mode. We went from eating out at least once a day, if not 2 times a day to almost homemade everything and no eating out. Looking back this was honestly one of those “turning points” in my life. So I want to share it with you too!

Check out the USDA National Grocery Average Report

I’m curious to see where everyone lands! Where does your family fall?



Comments

  1. Annie JonesMarch 23, 2010 at 5:57 AM

    We are a family of three, 2 adults and a 6yo child. According to this chart, thrifty for our family is $437. I've never spent that much for food in a month! We spend an average of $200 a month on groceries to prepare foods at home, and no more than $75 a month going out to eat. So, we are well below the thrifty plan for our family size.

    ReplyDelete
  2. CarrieMarch 23, 2010 at 6:07 AM

    Ha! We spend about $200 less per month for a family of 4 with children 2 and 4! That makes me feel so much better. LOL! We budget about $300/month for us and another $100-150 for animals.

    ReplyDelete
  3. CandiMarch 23, 2010 at 8:18 AM

    We used to eat out once a week (at least) then we realized we were spending careless amounts of money on fast food and Domino's Pizza. Now we rarely eat out, I pack the kids snacks and lunches if we're going to be gone too long, we make our own pizza dough once a month and freeze it then thaw on Friday for pizza night. Huge savings!

    ReplyDelete
  4. DebbieMarch 23, 2010 at 8:38 AM

    Definitely opens my eyes! Though I have to say we spend less than that a week but only because we have too. :)

    Thank you for sharing this Brandi!

    Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  5. Lori YoderMarch 23, 2010 at 9:41 AM

    I have a family of 5- 2 adults, 10 yob, 8yog, 3yog and I spend LESS than the thrifty plan for a family of 2!!! That alone should be $345.60/month according to them! For all of us and toiletries and other misc household items, I spend $300/month!!! But, I guess that's the government for you!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Holly LefevreMarch 23, 2010 at 10:20 AM

    We are definitely in the moderate to liberal category. We hardly eat out and make almost everything at home, but I need to become a better shopper for my food.

    ReplyDelete
  7. UnknownMarch 23, 2010 at 1:10 PM

    Annie- It says our thrifty plan is $345 a month. that is how much I used to spend when we ate out all the time!

    Carrie- That is great! $300 a month for your family is a very very good number!

    Candi- Freezing pizza dough is a great idea! I am going to do this on friday when I make our weekly pizza. thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  8. UnknownMarch 23, 2010 at 1:20 PM

    Debbie- I understand. Honestly our grocery budget is at the VERY MOST $80 a month. other months we just don't have any money so it is $0..

    Lori- that is wonderful! I'm sure your coupons REALLY help with that! :)


    Holly- this really is a personal preference. I am just wondering where everyone fell. there is always room for improvement if that is what you desire :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Mary BergfeldMarch 23, 2010 at 2:44 PM

    This is fascinating information. I couldn't, however, find a category for two seniors, one of whom has a food blog :-).

    ReplyDelete
  10. UnknownMarch 23, 2010 at 3:13 PM

    Mary- this report is lacking in those departments!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Mrs. B, a very peculiar personMarch 23, 2010 at 8:17 PM

    Hi Brandi,

    Over the years I've kept a "loose" eye on this sort of information. I am always relieved to find that our monthly grocery expenditures have always stayed below the thrifty plan. But, we don't go hungry and we eat very well. Careful shopping and cooking from scratch have been the secret to our kitchen frugality.
    Mrs.B
    P.S. I'm enjoying your blog:)

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Why are you frugal?

Frugality has always been in my life. I spent my summers as a child with my grandma in a very very small town about 150 miles away from where I lived the rest of the year. My grandpa is/was a farmer, had cows, and a diesel mechanic. My grandma was a farmer’s wife. I learned how to garden, sew, cook, move pipe, change oil, and learned how to drive on a tractor. At home during the school year none of these tasks were put to use. We lived in a suburb of a city with nearly 50,000 people, we didn’t have a garden, we had a dishwasher, etc. So at the end of the school year I was ecstatic to get to go my grandma’s house! I loved being there; I loved the fruits of my labor there. I felt as though I had a purpose. Fast forward to 5 years ago. I graduated high school, moved to Phoenix, got into a heap of money issues, wanted everything in sight, forgot everything my grandma ever taught me and then I moved back to Idaho. About a year and a half later I came to the realization that something had to...
16 comments
Read more

Brown Sugar Meatloaf

Really? Meatloaf? Actually this is really good! We usually have it a few times a month. Super easy too! 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 cup ketchup 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef {I use 1 pound} 3/4 cup milk 2 eggs {I only use 1 egg} 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 small onion, chopped 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger 3/4 cup finely crushed saltine cracker crumbs {I usually use pretzels, I never seem to buy saltines} Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 5x9 inch loaf pan. 2. Press the brown sugar in the bottom of the prepared loaf pan and spread the ketchup over the sugar. 3. In a mixing bowl, mix thoroughly all remaining ingredients and shape into a loaf. Place on top of the ketchup. 4. Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour or until juices are clear. {source} What's for Dinner tonight in your house?
25 comments
Read more

Homemade Laundry Soap

Give it a Whirl Thursday will be a weekly column documenting triumphs and failures of frugal projects (yes, I realize this is blurry, I apologize.) Ingredients: 1 bar of soap (I used Zote) $1 1/2 c borax $.18 1/2 c washing soda $.21 2 gallons water Grate your soap. I used Zote and was very excited I found it at Family dollar!! Add 6 cups hot water into your pan, slowly add in your soap shavings. Once all the soap is melted add the borax and the washing soda. Stir until dissolved. Remove from heat and pour into large bucket. Add 4 cups hot water, stir until blended. add 1 gallon + 6 cups cold water to your bucket and mix well. Set aside and let sit for 24 hours. Its chunky and gel like. This is normal. Use 1/2 cup per load. Total for batch of soap $1.39 Which made 2 gallons of soap. 2 gallons=32 cups or 64 loads $.02 per load! Linking to
10 comments
Read more