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Farm Kitchen:  How much do you spend a month on food?  |
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gramadinah
True Blue Farmgirl
3557 Posts
Diana
Orofino
ID
USA
3557 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 13 2013 : 11:39:18 AM
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I am amazed how much I spend for food and was wondering if I am in the ball park with others. I feed 2 adults and 2 pets.We very rarely go out and all things are from scratch and I do a lot of canning.
But my food bill per month is $650.00 is this a lot?
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #273 |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Mar 13 2013 : 11:51:11 AM
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I don't think so, but then, I can't afford to spend that. We have an organic home delivery service where I get my meat and dairy and veggies from and that's about $50 every two weeks ($100.00 a month) and then I do my "big" shopping for pantry items once a month and spend about $150.00--with extras here and there for spur of the moment recipes, average about $300 a month, then for food. That's for 2 adults, one 4 year old. For my 4 dogs, I spend about $60.00 per month on a good dry dog food brand at Tractor Supply.
"Hey, I've got nothing to do today but smile..."
The Only Living Boy in New York, Paul Simon |
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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
Posted - Mar 13 2013 : 12:56:39 PM
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Yep... That's about right for the three of us and our dear old girl (our dog), too. It's insane, isn't it? My guys work and play hard, though, and they require sustenance! LOL! And it seems no matter how much I adjust my buying, my food budget has been increasing like crazy over the past few years. If we didn't grow and preserve a portion of our own food, buy in bulk, make almost everything from scratch, and purchase meat in large quantity (such as sharing half a pig with our neighbor), I couldn't even begin to imagine what it would cost us. I used to do really well as a faithful couponer, but found that many of the products offered weren't really things we usually buy - and probably not super good for us, either, so I only coupon those items we really use and that I cannot find cheaper at Costco. Buying in bulk from Costco really helps me stretch our grocery dollars. It took time to build everything up, but once we got in the "groove" of things, it really did save us quite a bit. Thankfully, my foster daughter is super scrutinous about grocery pricing - she has saved me from making "mistakes" at the grocery store as well as at Costco. She's a gem! God bless her!
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Mar 13 2013 : 1:04:27 PM
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I'm the same, Nini--coupons just don't really help me other than for some cleaning products and toiletry items. I just don't eat that stuff so it really doesn't save me any time or money clipping them. Now and again I'll find an organic item we use, but not very often. I don't utilize organic websites for coupons either because inevitably, the program acts up or I don't have the right "system" uploaded. .50 isn't worth the headache.
"Hey, I've got nothing to do today but smile..."
The Only Living Boy in New York, Paul Simon |
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princesspatches
True Blue Farmgirl
431 Posts
arttie
iron mountain
michigan
USA
431 Posts |
Posted - Mar 13 2013 : 4:57:16 PM
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We have a family of 5. 2 adults 2 teens and 1 young child. I only use our store coupons at the local store to buy sale items. We shop at Gordon Food Service store and buy alot in bulk. Also they have great prices on bulk meat and cheeses.
I rarely buy any processed foods and make everything from scratch. I can my garden. My parents raise beef so we trade for that. Hubby and son hunt so we have venison. This year we are raising pigs and doing meat chickens. Eggs come from hens.
Last year we spent $5500.00 for the year on grocery and household items (toiletries...cleaning products...etc...) so that is about $460 a month.
My goal every year is to lower our numbers. So I try to find creative ways to save money in the food and household area. Hubby is usually impressed.
Arttie |
Edited by - princesspatches on Mar 13 2013 5:01:08 PM |
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kysheeplady
True Blue Farmgirl
1291 Posts
Teri
KY
USA
1291 Posts |
Posted - Mar 13 2013 : 5:11:37 PM
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I'm at about $750.00 for 2 adults and 4 dogs, barn cats. But, I pack all our luches for work. And we never eat out of a machine, not even coffee. And I also try to keep my staples full this time of year. Spring and summer it will drop down to about $600. as we eat fresh, and do less baking.
But you can just about watch the prices increase from min. to min. I show hubby every week how much a certain items has gone up from the previous week.
Teri
"There are black sheep in every flock"
White Sheep Farm
www.whitesheepfarm.com |
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knittingmom
True Blue Farmgirl
665 Posts
AnneMarie
Edmonton
Alberta
Canada
665 Posts |
Posted - Mar 13 2013 : 5:18:03 PM
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Around $900.00 per month, we're a family of 6. I do shop at the least expensive grocer in our City. In Canada we can't coupon the way you can in the States. I don't buy processed. Meat is the biggest cost of the grocery bill (and we're not buying excessive amounts of that or expensive cuts).
Farmgirl Sister #3759
"There is no foot so small that it cannot leave an imprint on this world"
"The things that matter most are not really things after all" |
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marlee
True Blue Farmgirl
1650 Posts
Marlene
DeRidder
Louisiana
1650 Posts |
Posted - Mar 13 2013 : 5:25:13 PM
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We have 2 adults and a cat. I spend about 350 to 500 a month . I only use coupns for cleaning toiletries an things like that. I dont use many coupons for food its not the food we eat. So I dont want to buy it because I have a coupon and then it just stays in the freezer or on a shelf. Sox the cat I spend about 15.00 dollar and thats with treats. And then Sox gives mommy treats by leaving them (mice) by the front door.
Then meds, overthe counter med. So it just depends. But prices are rediculious.
I want to hear from more sisters how to save more money.
Hugs Marlee
God is the painter, he paints the picture. And his son builds it, for he is the Master Carpenter!
Silly Boys Trucks Are For Girls |
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laurentany
True Blue Farmgirl
3259 Posts
Laurie
Patchogue
NY
USA
3259 Posts |
Posted - Mar 13 2013 : 5:26:12 PM
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I shop once a week for our family of 4 and our grocery bill averages about $150 per week, so that is about $600 per month for us.
Doesnt take into account the chicken feed, rabbit feed and hay, and birdseed expenditures...
~Laurie
"Little Hen House on the Island"
Farmgirl Sister#1403
View my New Blog:
http://simplesuburbanpleasures.blogspot.com
Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you plant.
~Robert Louis Stevenson |
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Tall Holly
True Blue Farmgirl
2305 Posts
Holly
Worcester
Vermont
USA
2305 Posts |
Posted - Mar 17 2013 : 5:00:03 PM
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We spend about $800 dollars a month on groceries for our family of 11. We grow all our own meat. I am trying to stock up on food so we will be at least six months ahead. I like to get the 10 for$10 items like crushed tomatoes or some of the soups because the children like to cook and are not good at planning how much to use for a meal so there is extra. It rarely goes to waste. I also buy four seafood meals a month so that adds up. I make all our bread and milk the cow. This bill includes all our paper products and my dd washes and soaps she just haaaaasss to have and the toiletries and dish and laundry soap.
Holly
farmgirl #2499
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chickensforme
True Blue Farmgirl
90 Posts
Anne
Coopersburg
Pa
USA
90 Posts |
Posted - Mar 17 2013 : 5:10:06 PM
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| We are a 3 adults and 2 dogs and 1 cat and I spend about 900 a month. The area I am in is a little expensive. That is everything from shampoo to dog food. |
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wildflower17
True Blue Farmgirl
3043 Posts
Judy
KY
USA
3043 Posts |
Posted - Mar 18 2013 : 05:32:48 AM
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February Violet,
Where do you call to get the organic home delivery for your food products?
Hugs,
Judy
"Country Girl at Heart"... |
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SandraM
True Blue Farmgirl
295 Posts
Sandra
Coldwater
Michigan
USA
295 Posts |
Posted - Mar 18 2013 : 07:56:18 AM
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It is hard for me to really say. We buy bulk grains, raise/buy local meat and keep in freezer.
I keep a stocked pantry.
On tight weeks I may spend 20. Another week if they have good sales I may spend 100.
This year we are keeping a tab on our yearly food expenses to see how much we spend over the year so we can average it out.
There are six of us at home right now.
Sandra
www.mittenstatesheepandwool.com |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Mar 18 2013 : 08:03:47 AM
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Judy, I use Green Bean Delivery. They have delivery in Louisville, Lexington and the Greater Cincy (where I live). You'd be surprised at the delivery area, if you reside in the outskirts of any of these cities. If you know someone who works within the city, they will also deliver the bins to offices.
"Hey, I've got nothing to do today but smile..."
The Only Living Boy in New York, Paul Simon |
Edited by - FebruaryViolet on Mar 18 2013 08:12:55 AM |
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lovecatsandsunshine
True Blue Farmgirl
284 Posts
Tara
Sands of Time
SC
USA
284 Posts |
Posted - Mar 18 2013 : 2:14:36 PM
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About $650 for 2 of us. I'm trying to get hubby to stop all the just 1 item trips, as he will spend $40 on a spree. I have to eat gluten/soy/corn/dairy/potato free. And eat organic as much as possible. And what I can eat isn't cheap. I do cook from scratch. I make my own " trail mix". I use vinegar/castile soap to clean. I do have a nice garden and dry and freeze a lot. Living is just too expensive.
STYX the Band rocks!
Food for thought, no farm no food. |
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KD Earthwork
True Blue Farmgirl
210 Posts
Katie
Gualala
Calif.
USA
210 Posts |
Posted - Apr 14 2013 : 2:43:33 PM
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I'm a lot like Sandra.
We grow and eat year round out of out huge Calif. garden.
We can the things we can't grow.
Dry fruit from our trees or can it.
Our freezer is full of meat some purchased some traded for bread I make.
Grains, beans and flours we buy in bulk.
We typically buy dairy since we don't milk a cow.
I think maybe average no more than $300 a month
Not counting wine or beer, cat and dog food.
http://www.rosemancreekranch.com |
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Ladybek9756
True Blue Farmgirl
882 Posts
Rebecca
Linneus
Maine
USA
882 Posts |
Posted - Apr 14 2013 : 4:54:29 PM
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I have budget our food bill to $500 per month. That feeds 2 adults 2 cats and 1 dog. My husband likes the items at Richard Foods which tend to be a little more expensive, but ever since I gave him the food budget to buy with, which is $200 every two weeks, that has slowed him done. We now raise some veggies and all my herbs which I found to cost the most. I am researching food for the animals which seem to cost me quite a bit. I know that when we move out of the city to our farm it should be less.
May the stars carry your sadness away. May the flowers fill your heart with beauty, and may hope forever wipe away your tears. Becky #4932 |
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littlepurpleflower
Farmgirl in Training
21 Posts
21 Posts |
Posted - Apr 15 2013 : 6:51:55 PM
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Hi! We spend about $400 a month including paper products etc. 2 adults, 1 teen, and 1 younger child. We have a cat and dog but their food isn't budgeted in because we buy their food in bulk about every two months from a local feed store (roughly $40). I cook mostly from scratch and if it something boxed it's organic. My son has to be mainly Gluten Free so I really watch for special sales on his gf foods for his lunches at school and stock up. I make a menu out for each week and normally grocery shop every other week. Menu planning has saved us the most money because it keeps me from having to run to the store and spending more money than I planned.
Blessings,
Michelle
Sister #4962
a flower to bring a smile! :) |
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sue5901
True Blue Farmgirl
122 Posts
Sue
Wellingborough
United Kingdom
122 Posts |
Posted - Apr 15 2013 : 11:56:58 PM
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When i visited the US on a few occasions I was always shocked at how expensive food was - eating out seemed cheaper than in the UK but buying food seemed much more and this confirms it. I spend approx $60 a month for myself and a cat but feed my Grandson a couple of times a week and this includes some alcohol and all washing/cleaning products.
My daughter has two adults and two children and spends approx $600 a month and believe me - she buys what she wants with no thought to the cost or buying in bulk.
I work at Asda the UK side of Walmart and get quite a few Americans in the store who live in UK and they all say how cheap it is in comparison. Petrol and housing cost more but everything else is much cheaper.
Dance like nobody's watching! |
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papersmiles
Farmgirl in Training
12 Posts
Barbara
Bluffton
IN
USA
12 Posts |
Posted - Apr 16 2013 : 5:29:00 PM
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Diana, I don't think $650 is too much especially if that includes all your paper, cleaning and other sundry needs. My hubby and I spend around $350 a month for the two of us. I do can most anything that I can squeeze into a jar so that really helps. And, I make a lot of mixes (brownie, muffin, biscuit, pancake, taco spice, chili spice, oriental spice and so on) from my cupboard rather than buying the prepared stuff. That isn't always the cheapest but I know it's the freshest. We buy eggs from a hatchery and meat from the local farm butcher. We have a small strawberry patch, a couple of fruit trees and an asparagus patch so I rarely buy those high priced items at the grocery. Still, it seems every time I hit the big box store my bill keeps creeping up....sigh.
Barbara
Aprons make the outfit!!!!! |
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msdoolittle
True Blue Farmgirl
1143 Posts
Amanda
East Texas
USA
1143 Posts |
Posted - Apr 22 2013 : 12:19:37 PM
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Our average is around 500 for 4 people, toiletries/paper goods included. For food itself, you are looking at 350 at a good month to about 450. Lately, I have changed grocery stores to a cheaper store and I was pleasantly surprised to see that the organic items are far cheaper than what I was used to. I can't wait for the farmer's markets, though! I hope that will help us save more. :0)
FarmGirl #1390
www.mylittlecountry.wordpress.com |
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Farm Kitchen: How much do you spend a month on food? |
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How much do you spend a month on food?
