What should you be spending on groceries?
To help you begin to calculate this number, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) actually calculates the average cost of food at home, on a monthly basis, and they calculate it at four different rates:
- Thrifty plan
- Low-cost plan
- Moderate-cost plan
- Liberal plan
A family of four with two kids ages are expected to spend $647.50 a month on the THRIFTY plan (the most frugal plan) and $1060 a month for the moderately priced plan! We average right around $450 a month and that’s buy protein bars and lots of meats for my son who eats like crazy.
Keep in mind this is just a baseline for you. There are so many variables, including where you live, if you buy organic, food allergies, etc. The cost table is a great way to start the discussion, to identify where you might be spending the most money and to identify areas where you can save.
