Posts
Poll: How much do you spend on food?
On a monthly basis, the USDA calculates the cost of food at four levels. The most recent calculations are for April 2008.
This is how much they estimate a family of 4 with two preschool kids would spend to provide a nutritious diet:
Thrifty Plan: $115.80/wk or $501.60/mo
Low-Cost Plan: $146.70/wk or $635.50/mo
Moderate-Cost plan: $179.90/wk or $779.60/mo
Liberal Plan: $222.70/wk or $964.80/mo
How do you compare?
If you have some extra time, see how much it would be for your household, then come back and submit your answer on my poll.
You can find estimates for other months here.
Update:
The results are in.
Here's the breakdown in percentages (granted my sample size is very small, only 23 responses)
Thrifty: 39%
Low: 43%
Moderate: 4% (1 response)
Liberal: 8% (2 responses)
Don't track: 4% (1 response)
we use to be realy good at keeping track of our expenses... we still are to a certain degree but not AS good haha. since its not as stressful anymore for us..
ReplyDeleteBUT! I would say we only spend 75 a week... really.
Maybe 100 if we have any extras to buy.
I dont have to buy diapers either. I remember diapers adding a lot to our weekly bill.
and we dont eat a lot of beef.. beef can add up.
We are a little unusual because we have 3 adult, 1 child, 1 preschooler and 1 toddler right now eat in our home. Our average for all expenses including all household items,(soap, detergent, dog food, all cleaning supplies) when we start cloth next week is $600.00 a month. I spend on average around $150.00 a week. We eat a lot of fresh veggies and fruit. All our meats are lean. I have found buying in bulk really helps. We also only eat no more than one meal out a week.
ReplyDeleteJust to let you know we are under the thifty plan for all of us was $177.60. I was extremely amazed.
ReplyDeleteThanks, I have been feeling that I was spending to much. It makes me feel that I am being a good steward of the money and items that God has given me.
Hi Renata!
ReplyDeleteOur food costs have gone way up- we just moved to the Outer Banks and Harris Teeter does NO sales during the 'season'. Coupons are still doubled, but the prices are crazy! Last week I spent $200.00. I know we are a family of six, but in Wake Forest I fed us for about $100/wk and I felt like that was a lot. I miss super Target, where I could get hormone/antibiotic free chicken for a great price, and most of the time the organic produce and dry goods were almost the same price.
The cheapest apples this week were $5.00 for a bag- organic is out of the question. I guess I'm more worked up about this than I thought! :) When I got home from the grocery last week, very discouraged, Scott reminded me that God is our provider, we have never gone hungry and God will be faithful to meet all our needs.
Oh, and I started doing that CVS thing for toiletries- big money saver and lots of fun. (On the Money Saving Mom website.)
Hey Tami,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your perspective because people make assumptions that the access to food is the same everywhere. How frustrating for you, but you are right. God is our provider. We shouldn't worry how much we spend, but rather strive to spend it well. It is great that Christ addressed the very worry about food and clothing. "All these things will be added unto you" (Matt. 6:33).
Have you checked www.localharvest.com to see if there are any farmers markets, etc. around?
Thanks for "stopping by"