How much do you spend a month on food?

[sevenbravo]

I am not normally a budgeting type person, but I am trying to get a better handle on how much I spend each month. Last month my family (wife, 3 kids ages 6,8,11) spent just over $1,100 on groceries. My wife and I are 95% raw and the kids are probably closer to 70%. We buy organic when it is available and we get a basket of veggies every week from a CSA. The only free food we recieved last month was from our small garden and from our neighbors. Eleven hundred dollars seemed like a lot, but then I broke it down to $2.37 per person, per meal. Which seems pretty good considering we don't eat anything out of a box. Everything we eat is a whole food. (the only non-raw things in the house are sprouted wheat bread, oatmeal, and brown rice)

So I am curious, do you all know how much you are spending?

[Conscious Midwife]

Household of seven
Me, hubby and kiddos ages 2, 3, 12, 14, 18

@$1000 monthly including food in restaurants.

ME 100% Raw
Hubby and teens 50% - 75% RAW
2 and 3 year old high raw

farmers market 1-2 times per month
wild oats 1-2 times per month
need to incorporate more organic

Chinese accounts for approximately $100 monthly. Hubby usually eats buffet at lunch, one to two times per week, and The family has take out every other week.

[vgloveforlife]

Househould of 2 and I spend about $300.00 give or take in a month. I go to the farmers market 2X a week and the rest of the week I go to a discount grocery store and I will ocassionally go to the regular grocery store. About 80% of the food is organic.

I could never imagine spending over $1,000 but my family is smaller obviously.

[juliebove]

I spend a lot, but it's hard for me to break it down to just food because I buy other things at the health food and grocery store besides just food. My husband is not raw and most of the food money goes for him. He eats a lot of ice cream, chips, meat, etc. And he eats enough food for two people at least! Daughter is not raw and also has a lot of food allergies so I have to buy a lot of special things for her that cost more than regular food does. I'm high raw, mostly organic. And then there's the cat who is on a senior diet.

Most weeks I get a box of organic fruits and vegetables from the health foods store. I do have a small garden so there were several weeks this summer when I did not get a shipment because it was duplicating what I was fresh in my garden. What I grow doesn't cost me a lot. Much is grown from seed and I use Earthboxes. I can reuse the same dirt from year to year, only having to replace the top 2" of dirt. I probably spent $30-40 this year on seeds, plants and dirt. I didn't really keep track of that.

My organic produce box costs me between $30-50 each week depending on what I get in it. I usually get the small box plus a few additional items so it's usually around $30. But if I get coffee, eggs or a lot of extra produce, it's more.

I usually have one grocery store trip that's around $200. Another trip that's around $100 and still another that's about $40 to $60. But this isn't just food. I might also buy magazines, sundries, cleaning supplies, cat litter, school supplies, etc.

I spend another $60 or so per week at the health food store, but that includes supplements, books, cards, crystals, etc.

During the school year, my daughter and I dined out about 2-3 times a week. A meal for the two of us can run anywhere from $10 to $30 depending on where we go and what we eat. Husband sometimes has to dine out at more expensive affairs such as the one tonight that cost $40.

And then there's the special food for my daughter that I can't get in the regular stores. Stuff like xanthan gum, powdered vanilla, soy and dairy free chocolate, and other baking supplies. That's probably about $30-$40 a month.

I guess the cat costs the least amount of money. She gets one pouch of food per day at less than $1.00, plus a little dry food and treats.

[rawbeliever]

wow, vgloveforlife, that's pretty good. I'm spending twice that much for food that's only about 30% organic. I wish I could get down to $150 per month/person. maybe i should haunt a few farmer's markets...

[Biff]

We spend about $1,200 a month on food - and it is just me, my wife, and our 20 month old daughter. We do buy 95% organic including lots of avocados and nuts, which makes our grocery bill nuts!

[Green Life]

We spend about $400.00 per month. That has to go for food for me (99% raw) my husband (99% cooked) and my two burlesque teenage sons (50-50).

That does not include our restruant fares which I won't even begin to mention.

It is so expensive to eat well, really it is.


Cheers!
Green Life





:D :D

[Jordann]

I'm not quite 100% raw, close though, and I spend on average about $400-$450 a month on food - as much organic produce as I can, tons and tons of fruit, lately quite a few bulk raw nuts/seeds too. It's outrageous, considering this is half my monthly income currently! :eek: But I choose to because I feel best when I eat raw! :D

[rawfigure]

I spend about $ 150-200 a week for 2 of us. I am Raw Vegan and my Husband is not. I buy all Organic for me. We eat very light during the week. We are too busy to cook and un cook !

We spend about 150-200.00 eating out on the weekends. We are at the Lake and eat out Fri Sat and Sunday night. My husband gets Beef or Seafood. I get veggies and salad.

[sevenbravo]

Since there aren't really any restaurant that fit our diet, we don't eat out any longer. We tried finding a great salad in town, but I can make one 10 times better than anywhere so...we don't waste money at restaurants. $1100 does include some things other than food. So maybe $1000 is an accurate count. We probably spend $75 a month just on organic almonds for milk. :eek:

[Coriander74]

I'm guessing about $200 a month for just myself. I'd like to get that amount down but I love my avocados LOL

[mcasburn]

I probably spend around $500 per month for just me (and my boyfriend snacking here and there). That includes maybe one meal per week at a restaurant, 99% organic produce and some mail-order stuff (grawnola from Lucky Duck, jalapeno-stuffed olives from Alissa, etc).

[DavidZaneMason]

-I'm just one guy.......I spend about $150 - $200 monthly tops.

-David Mason

[Cinnamon]

For 2 of us I spend $400.00 to $600.00 per month depending on the time of year and how much organic produce I can find in our area. I am high raw or 100% and my hubby is probably 50/50. We usually have a large garden each summer and it helps so much on the grocery bill but this year we didn't get one put in, too many other things going on in our lives this year! Add to that our local Farmer's Markets in the summer help a lot with organic produce for good prices. Our highest priced items are the nuts and seeds, dates for sure, and the little bit of what I buy online from time to time.

[lavendarJ]

This post was a good idea. With the three volunteer jobs and the two part-times jobs and the grant writing on the side (sometimes only generating 10-20 hours a month) I just couldn't afford to eat the way I desired. I usually get produce that can stretch (like bananas, salad greens, etc). I was just offered a job the other day and I believe I will now be able to shop the way my heart desires. I am going to try to go for a 100/month on food starting in September. My goal is to buy fresh as much as possible and not to go overboard on things like Lara Bars.

You know what is weird. I just think to myself that all the conventional and SAD food should be more expensive than organic. Organic is less trouble, more beneficial to our health -which helps in preventative care. The SAD food has to be processed with chemicals, dyes and all the other junk.

[Graciebeliever]

I'm looking at between $400 - $500 a month but I have 2 teenage boys that are 50/50 Sad/Raw.
As I am beginning to eat less and learn how to buy more efficently I am sure that will come down.
I don't eat out at all :) That is a HUGE savings hehe

[RawChicky]

I spend at least $300 a month on just me but it is 100% organic- mostly large volumes of fruit

[LovesAnimals777]

Just for me, around $200.00 a month on food. Not positive on an approximate amount since I don't keep track.

[Linda1970]

$250-300/month for myself. 95% organic (not necessarily certified) at the farmer's market. 5% at grocery stores.

[ephmeralgrl]

150.00-200.00 for mostly just me, although there are some things that my sweetie and I share. I would love to buy more organic but can't afford to right now. So I supplement and pick and choose what I buy organic. This is the first year I have not had a full on garden, and its frustrating me to buy things in the past I have grown. Next year.
~epgrl

[RawSun]

I spend 500-600 a month for two 100% Raw. We used to spend 400 a month for vegan cooked/proceed food. We try and buy Organic when available and reasonably priced, and we have been freezing fruit such as mangos for the winter well they are $4.00 a case! I'm scared of my first winter Raw... I guess we'll have to live on mostly bannanas and oranges - as other fruit is so expensive here, especially for organic.

[Spectatrix]

$300-400 for me and my fiance.

[juliebove]

This post was a good idea. With the three volunteer jobs and the two part-times jobs and the grant writing on the side (sometimes only generating 10-20 hours a month) I just couldn't afford to eat the way I desired. I usually get produce that can stretch (like bananas, salad greens, etc). I was just offered a job the other day and I believe I will now be able to shop the way my heart desires. I am going to try to go for a 100/month on food starting in September. My goal is to buy fresh as much as possible and not to go overboard on things like Lara Bars.

You know what is weird. I just think to myself that all the conventional and SAD food should be more expensive than organic. Organic is less trouble, more beneficial to our health -which helps in preventative care. The SAD food has to be processed with chemicals, dyes and all the other junk.

Actually it costs more to grow organic. For starters, you can't just plant any old seeds or any old plants because that wouldn't necessarily be organic. You have to make sure your seeds or plants haven't been sprayed with chemicals in any way.

Having grown vegetables all of my life, I know it is far easier, and often less expensive to just dump on some fertilizer and use some spray or dust if bugs appear on my plants. But then that wouldn't be organic. Organic pesticides are often less effective and need to be used on a daily basis. Sometimes it means going so far as to removed the bugs by hand and take them elsewhere. Crop failure is more likely and the end result, the produce does not keep as well as the chemical laden stuff. It also needs to be certified to be called organic. So actually it is more expensive.

I do not spray chemicals on the food that I grow at home. But the seeds and plants I start with are not necessarily organic. Not much I can do about the fruit trees and berry plants that were already here.

[faith4u]

I am not normally a budgeting type person, but I am trying to get a better handle on how much I spend each month. Last month my family (wife, 3 kids ages 6,8,11) spent just over $1,100 on groceries. My wife and I are 95% raw and the kids are probably closer to 70%. We buy organic when it is available and we get a basket of veggies every week from a CSA. The only free food we recieved last month was from our small garden and from our neighbors. Eleven hundred dollars seemed like a lot, but then I broke it down to $2.37 per person, per meal. Which seems pretty good considering we don't eat anything out of a box. Everything we eat is a whole food. (the only non-raw things in the house are sprouted wheat bread, oatmeal, and brown rice)

So I am curious, do you all know how much you are spending?

Yep, that is about what we are spending too. We have four children. Prices have gone up a lot on all foods.

[eachpeachpearplum]

I asked this question when I first started as i felt I never had enough money. . .to then find out most spent less than me so I crawed away with my tail between my legs.

We were concerned why we seem to spend sooo much compared to SAD others and that was just it. PB&J, Pasta, Potatoes, Bread, Hot Dogs, chips etc. These items are CHEAP and last a long time.

So, we do budget and I get $324 x 4 per month and all but maybe $20 go to food & toiletries which are very basic stuff like TP & soap, I wear no make up. I do most of my fruit shopping at Costco and the rest is between PCC (like Whole Foods) & Fred Meyer. We do not eat out.

We consist of myself my husband and kids 2 & 6. I am 100% my husband is healthy SAD and my kids are high raw.

I have included a picture of yesterdays shop. This is mostly Costco ($125) stuff & a bit of Fred Meyer ($55). I shop on T & TH so I will do most of my veg shopping next; as the pics shows that is mostly my fruit purchase. The one item missing is their FZN bags of fruit.

[Conscious Midwife]

I think our expenses is HIGh no matter what precentage of raw anyone in my family is doing. Reason beingis because whenever I get into a dietary kick everyone in the house wants to consume "my stuff" plus their suff. For instance I use to eat a lot of garden burgers, which you know are expensive frozen vegetarian foods. Well hubby can eat three in one sitting when normally he would only consume one large turkey burger from the grill.

Also my kiddos are all big on fruit. So with our household size it is nothing or us to consume 2 bunches of bannanas, a crate of strawberries ( 2pints) a couple of pounds of grapes and 1/2 a bag of apples in a day.

I also love nuts which is my greatest individual food item expense per serving, I guess.

[dreamrawalwz]

$300-$400 a month on just me :( I try to do all organic and when I do it's closer to $400. My parents spend maybe $80 a month...not sure how they do that haha. We also belong to a CSA farm and a little garden that we own in our backyard.

[Dimond]

Way too much on just me, which is why I'm cutting back.

[freespirit]

We go (two of us) to the store every three days or so and get whatever looks good, spend about 30 dollars. Every other week the asian market usually equals about 40, and wild oats once a month, 100. so, 500 for the month, but my hubby is 6'5" so he's a big guy and eats twice or three times more than I do. If he wasn't a giant it would probably be a lot less.

[RawFoodieMom]

EPPP, nice pic, such beautiful fruit! I noticed somebody snagged one of the nectarines before you took the photo, LOL. :D