What Is the Average Grocery Bill for a Family of 4

Our grocery nib is out of control! Let's look at the average household grocery bill, and means to cut downwards on yours — and ours — then that we can use that money somewhere else.

I could easily have named this post the egregiously long (only super-honest) title:

"I didn't expect our grocery bill to soar so high after having just one baby."

That's considering in all of the things nosotros did to prepare for our precious Conner to enter this globe (including learning how to fabric diaper), saving up for the added expense of groceries was not one of them.

And nosotros don't seem to be solitary in this. You lot introduce kids into the motion picture…and food bills can only airship out of control.

Just the other day, a reader emailed me concerned about the amount of money her family spends on food.

Her grocery bill for four people (husband with kids aged 4 and ane) has ballooned to almost $800 a month, and they consume out for lunch and dinner approximately twice a week.

Some weeks she says that information technology seems like they won't make information technology to the terminate of the week earlier they reach the cease of their food. She shops nigh exclusively at Kroger's, and feels that each month it only keeps getting worse.

Before I go into our own story and how our grocery bills have changed over the years — from being a single gal, to buying groceries for 2 after moving in with my husband, to having a baby together — I want to show you what the average household grocery neb is (we need a reference signal).

What is Considered "Average Grocery Spending"?

Co-ordinate to the  Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall average grocery spending for all consumer units (sounds like we're robots living in containers) is $3,971/year. This comes out to $330.91/month. But that includes single households as well every bit households of six.

How are y'all supposed to know what is the boilerplate grocery bill for a family unit of 4 from that statistic, versus what is a what is the average cost of groceries for a family of 3?

And then not terribly helpful.

A Gallup poll shows that Americans with kids nether 18 at home spend on average $173/calendar week on groceries, or $692/month. While this still doesn't requite the number of kids in a household, information technology's a bit more specific (speaking of which, households without kids nether 18 average spending of $143/week or $572/month).

Hmmm…articulate every bit a Mississippi Mud Pie.

Hither'due south what else I institute:

The USDA came upwards with a way to report the average spending American's do on nutrient when eating at home — by breaking information technology up into iv categories of spending: Thrifty Programme, Low-Cost Program, Moderate-Cost Program, and the Liberal Plan.

Because let's confront it — we all set our own limits on what nosotros think is "adequate" to spend on our food. Still, it's helpful to have these categories, and to also get some sort of "average" from them.

Then, I've washed a picayune bit of math for you to show you what the boilerplate household grocery spending would be, using these reports (you can certainly click on over and look at your situation to get a better idea).

According to the USDA's Nutrient Plans: Price of Food at Habitation (May 2019):

• Average Grocery Bill for 1: The average grocery bill for one person per calendar month (an adult) is $275.50 (males between 19-50 years), and $241.thirteen (females betwixt 19-l years).
• Average Monthly Grocery Bill for 2: The average monthly grocery bill for 2 adults (19-fifty years) is $568.28.
• Boilerplate Grocery Bill for Family unit of 3: The average grocery bill for family of iii (monthly) is, unfortunately, non specifically given. So, I've averaged the cost for 2 adults, plus one child, and it comes to $779.50.
• Boilerplate Grocery Bill for Family of 4: The boilerplate grocery bill for family of four (monthly) is $823.xl (with kids aged ii-v years) and $967.43 (kids aged 6-11).

Needless to say…groceries and paying to feed yourself and family actually takes upward a significant portion of income.

And boy can I say that from experience.

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Why Nosotros Didn't Think Our Grocery Bill Would Explode

I was fully expecting − really hanging my mama dreams on − to breastfeed.

Even though I knew this however meant higher costs because I would swallow more, I figured I was eating more than/spending on "cleaner" foods while pregnant anyhow so the cost of groceries afterwards would be about the aforementioned as what nosotros were spending during the pregnancy.

Well, that never happened.

And I'm going to go a little personal on you for why.

I could non have predicted the nightmare scenario we were met with during nativity − not to mention my 6-day hospital readmission due to complications.

So while I tried my damndest to get my milk supply going over the next month (a pipe dream considering the trauma my torso had been through), it never came in for me.

Yes, at that place were many, many tears and struggles over that. Only writing about information technology gives me the sniffles, and it happened over 10 months ago. Even my mother − a neonatal nurse with her lactation consultant friend on-telephone call − got highly emotional with how hard I was trying and how little I was able to reach. She understood how much it meant to me.

And then I gave it a calendar month, and then I made the really hard determination to let it go. That meant that up until a month or then ago, we were spending around $150/month on formula (and that was with buying bulk at Sam'south Order paired with $five/off coupons from the manufacturer). Our toll at present is probably effectually $100-$120.

The other reason we didn't think our grocery pecker would airship later on birth? Because, honestly, how much can a baby really eat from a grocery store? Not much.

But both of these reasons have zero to exercise with why our bill Actually went up.

A Little Inside Scoop for All the Preggo Ladies Out There, Or Those Hoping to Be

As a sunny significant lady (still sunny, past the way…I but also understand what'southward what now), I could non have foreseen:

:: him waking up each night sometime between 12:00 and 2:00 a.thousand. from Month 4 through Month 8 (after he had been sleeping 7 hours straight for two months leading up to that)

:: having mere moments to shove something into my mouth to consume for lunch, breakfast, snacks…and coming to the conclusion pretty quickly that I might every bit well shove something halfway healthy in. Hint: healthy convenience foods are pretty expensive

:: in that location would be emotional eating involved (oooohhhh thank you ice-foam for making me feel improve about getting 3 hours of sleep that ane nighttime, and then that other dark, and heck − if I'm going to be honest − about 4 nights a calendar week)

:: that because I was wary of leaving the house with an infant, I would squirrel away food like I wouldn't be able to leave the business firm until there was another full moon

Needless to say, our grocery budget ballooned. And by "ballooned", I mean it was like watching Violet Beauregarde blow up later on eat that gum on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Granted, nosotros even so saved coin during that time period by eating at home. Permit's face it, a ballooning grocery upkeep is ameliorate than a ballooning eating house + take out budget.

Simply it wasn't pretty.

Let me give you some estimates of how our grocery budget has grown over the years.

Our Cringe-Worthy Grocery Shop Receipt Creep

Through the years, as my life changed and we were in different places, this is what our grocery spending has looked like:

Note: I've always prepared almost every repast at domicile, and since getting together with Paul, we've mainly stuck to that. So these expenses stand for around 30 days of breakfasts, lunches, dinners.

Early 20s, Single Gal

I remember calling my friend, Aurora, and asking if this was normal: "At the grocery store I spend similar $75 in calendar week one of the month, and so $25 the adjacent week, then $75 the post-obit calendar week, then $25 the next calendar week." I seriously thought that I was spending too much on food (insert giggles). She conceded that her own single grocery trips were looking well-nigh the same.

Unmarried Gal'due south Total Monthly Grocery Expenses: $200

Moved in with Paul

In 2008, after both of united states were laid off within two weeks of each other, we came to the decision that it was the perfect opp to live closer to i another (he was in Texas, I was in Florida). And so Paul and I moved in together. I don't accept receipts from this time period, nor did I write a post about it. Merely I do remember lament to Paul one month after figuring out we were spending an egregious $360/month on groceries!

Feeding two People: $360/month

Early Spousal relationship Years, While in Debt Payoff Style

While I didn't keep the receipts, I wrote this on the MyDollarPlan blog:

"Earlier we were debt costless our monthly grocery budget was $250 (there are two of united states of america, and two cats). Now that we are gratis of our non-mortgage debt, we have increased our grocery budget to $300 per month. Nosotros both beloved to cook, and this actress affords ingredients for more exotic fare that are both fun to make and to endeavour. Of course, food prices have also increased since we paid off our debt in 2010, then the extra has helped with just keeping the condition quo." Hither'southward an example (with receipts) of what the 2 of united states cooked for a whole month for simply $288.78.

Married, in Debt Payoff Manner: $250/month, then $300/month

Married + Significant

We kept to the $300/month for quite awhile. Then when I got pregnant, I became SUPER picky (not in a diva way, merely in an I-can't-possibly-eat-that way (my body protested a lot). And so during that fourth dimension our cost of groceries crept up to about $400-$450/month for the two of us.

Married, Not in Debt Payoff Manner, Pregnant: $400-$450/month

Married, with a x-Month Old

Oh dear me. I'yard afraid to fifty-fifty talk near this, but hey, I'thousand human being right? And then last month, including formula (man is formula expensive) + infant purees (yeah…that idea where I was going to puree all of his foods? Out the work-at-dwelling-Mom window), we spent most $650. And that's been pretty normal for us the last few months.

Married, with a 10-Month Old: $650/month

Grocery Saving Posts Roundup to Proceed Money In Your Pocket and Ours

Soooo…how are nosotros going to gear up this?

Well, mainly by condign enlightened of the situation. Over the last month I've changed things upward by doing freezer cooking, monitoring receipts, and taking things i more ladder rung back to the "from scratch" style of cooking.

I've rounded upwards some awesome + super-actionable posts that will help you and I go along our money in our own pockets.

And don't worry. None of these strategies suggest feeding your family unit ramen noodle dinners.

The Play tricks to Proceed Grocery Spending Under Control

Spoiler alert: Her play a trick on is something I learned in my 8th class home economics grade that is still valid today. Don't go to the grocery store hungry. "Our grocery bill was $10 and $12 more than on the "hungry trips." Just more chiefly, on the two "hungry trips," we wound up with twice the amount of junk food and half the amount of essentials."

Freezer Cooking for Babe + Beyond

I attempted my first freezer cooking twenty-four hours ever…at 36 weeks significant. Not recommended! But definitely amend than waiting until afterward the baby was born.

I lay out for you the six steps I took to create 26 meals/prep ingredients for meals for only $95.08, plus links to all the recipes. And judge what? We used these meals over the outset three months with our little guy. What a relief they provided!

Steal My Two-Week Dinner Repast Plan (Free Printable Shopping Listing

We grocery shop every other week in our household. And honestly? I love staying out of the stores. Not only is it a money-saver, but it'southward also a time + energy saver. Every two weeks I utilise my meal planning + grocery listing for ii weeks system to effigy out what we desire to cook. However, sometimes? I only don't experience like sitting down and putting in the planning piece of work.

And then I developed this post about non only for myself, but for y'all. It includes two weeks' worth of dinners, plus a free, printable ingredients list yous can print out and use as you become through your cupboards (check off the items that y'all DON'T need).

How to Grocery Store Once Every 31 Days

I thought we were extreme by only shopping every other week! But this lady lays out (with video) how she shops for her family of 4 once per month. She does all her shopping in one day, and information technology generally takes 4 hours to accomplish (the bodily shopping part, not the planning part). Needless to say, her large thing is to only shop once per month considering if you go to the store more oftentimes than that, it's likely yous'll overspend. And how does she shop all that food? She does it with ane big pantry, one fridge/freezer philharmonic, and 1 freezer chest.

Groceries on a Budget for 2

Our grocery budget for 2 each month used to be $250.

When nosotros paid off the last of our non-mortgage debt in September 2010, we added $50 to our budget for a total of $300 per month.

Nosotros merely grocery shop twice per month.

Not just has this decreased the amount of time nosotros need to spend on planning meals, but I am convinced that it cuts costs because there are simply two chances for impulse buys instead of four.

It besides allows us to get artistic with our meals, specifically during the second week when the more convenient foods have been eaten.

When nosotros did this, we only shopped at Kroger, and didn't hop from store-to-store to chase deals.

If we go out to eat—which is merely once or twice a month—it comes out of our fun coin budget. We likewise both beloved to cook things from scratch, and Paul cooks more frequently than I do.

Our grocery budget typically does non include toiletries, as nosotros play the Drugstore Game. Finally, we shop the clearance bins, discount bins, and clearance meat sections at our local store.

Below are our receipts for the month of July:

Receipt from Grocery Shopping Trip #1:

Receipt from Grocery Shopping Trip #ii:

Below are the recipes and meals that we fabricated in July from the groceries + staple items in our abode. I take included links to the exact recipes when I could detect them online.

Dinner Recipes

Permit me share with y'all what we made for dinners from the list in a higher place:

• Butternut Squash Macaroni and Cheese
• Dear Sesame Crockpot Chicken
• Enchiladas with Tomatillo sauce
• Pork, Apple, and Potato Meatloaf
• salads with roasted craven, avocados slices, carrots, ranch dressing or oil/balsamic vinegar
• Craven Cordon Bleu
• Bootleg Pizzas
• Broiled Ziti
• French Onion Soup
• Stuffed Green Peppers
• Stuffed broiled potatoes
• Butternut Squash and Kale Torte
• Pesto Tilapia
• Turkey chili
• Swiss Fondue Night with apples and homemade artisan bread
• Sweet and Sour Meatballs
• Butternut Squash Ravioli
• Beef Wellington
• Steamed Gyoza Dumplings (omitted the water chestnuts)

Sides

For side dishes, we had:

• Kale, carrot, Asian sesame dressing salad
• side salads
• butternut squash risotto
• Moroccan Carrots
• rosemary and olive oil roasted potatoes

Breakfast

Breakfasts included:

• Cereal with almond milk
• Bombay Breakfast
• Pear, Oat, Cinnamon and Ginger Shakes
• yogurt and a piece of fruit
• Irish potato-Egg Omelets on weekend mornings
• toast on Ezekiel bread with butter and jam (sooo yummy!).

Lunches

For lunch, we enjoyed:

• Leftovers
• sandwiches
• salad
• blueberries
• fresh pineapple
• apples
• yogurt
• carrots/ranch dressing
• grapes
• chips
• fig newtons
• strawberries
• pumpkin soup
• cheese dog with chili
• pepperoni/cheese stacked on crackers
• applesauce
• homemade guacamole.

Desserts/Sweetness Snacks

Dessert is definitely a form in this household. Desserts in July included:

• Vegan Butter Maple Pecan Ice-cream
• eggless cookie dough batter (I confess…it'southward true)
• Blue Bell ice-cream
• Klondike bars
• semi-sweet Chocolate chips in yogurt
• cake pops
• kit-kats/reese'south
• Sugar and Spice popcorn.

While I don't ever await to go back downward to those $200/months (ahhhh − those were the days!), I do know that our current spending is radically out of control.

It just feels…ick.

Only how out of control? I love numbers, then I set out to discover some stats.

Now it's your turn. How many people are in your consumer unit (i.e. household), and how much practice you estimate you spend per month on groceries?

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Amanda Fifty. Grossman is a Certified Financial Education Instructor, Plutus Foundation Grant Recipient, and founder of Frugal Confessions. Over the last x years, her money piece of work helping people with how to save money and how to manage money has been featured in Kiplinger, Washington Mail service, U.S. News & World Report, Business Insider, LifeHacker, Woman's World, Woman's Day, ABC 13 Houston, Keybank, and more. Read more here.

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