I spend 100 $ for monthly grocery is it too much?
By pbbbsra
@pbbbsra (1214)
Philippines
July 27, 2011 10:46am CST
I make myself a list of the grocery I need to buy on Friday and my husband saw me. Then he asked, "how much is your budget this month thrifty girl?" Then I told him 100. He was shocked and thought I was joking. I told him I am serious and he still cant believe. The last time we went to grocery we paid less than 50 dollars and he though I am going to the gricery when he is at work to buy things again. I told him not. He is surprise and I am even thinking maybe I am spending too much. I am also keeping a list on my ref, writing there what I have bought and when I bought them to keep track of my supplies and buy only what I really need. I also make meal plans for the week and ask my husband first what he wants to have for the week, most of the time he makes me decide though.
HOw much do you spend for a monthly grocery, is 100$ too much or less for you?
10 people like this
40 responses
@lampar (7584)
• United States
27 Jul 11
At the state of inflation rate we are in now, and the rising cost of living across the world, spending $100 /month in grocery shopping is not too much in my personal opinion, the cost of food is rising rapidly, and the profit margin of the retailer is also rising, i believe it will be extremely difficult for you or any person to spend any amount less that one hundred dollar a month in grocery bill. Unless you only consume less than the require daily meals and necessary nutrients to keep you going forward, then you probably is able to spend less on grocery. 
@derlilaStern (1756)
• United States
27 Jul 11
I agree with lampar completely! $100 each month really isnt very much money on groceries! If there is a lot of food in your pantry or freezer that you are trying to use up, it is definitely possible to spend less than that. However, in order to buy all of the things you need to make complete meals? I think you are doing fantastic!!
If your husband thinks it is too much money, maybe you could bring him along on your grocery trip one day so that he can see just how expensive various items really are!
@lampar (7584)
• United States
27 Jul 11
I'm surprised that she only spend $100 /month on her grocery, it is a lot less than normal expenses for a single person in his/her grocery expenses. With the present rate of inflation and cost of food rising rapidly, i will consider it is impossible for me to spend that amount of money just to keep myself eating sufficiently within the FDA recommended daily food requirement that keep a person healthy. Spending one hundred dollar a month in ten year ago may sound plausible, but in the present rate of inflation we are facing now, it is actually a miracle to me she can manage to spend so little on her grocery, i assume she may well only eat a meal a day or consume low nutrient food in order to make it possible.lol!!
@pbbbsra (1214)
• Philippines
27 Jul 11
hihi. I only buy for two people and I try to list what I really need for the month by making meal plans too. I am vegetarian and my husband is on a diet right now, he eats on a fixed meal and that I think helped me on my budget too. SOrry if my question is nonsense, gosh I didnt even thought it will be like that.
@nurseclare (2209)
• Philippines
28 Jul 11
I'm still single so that is too much for me.In your kids you are married so you need more things than I do. So I think that's fine as long as you and your husband do have enough budget. It's okay for you don't that every time you had your grocery. You're scanty and I think you know what's necessary for your needs.
@nurseclare (2209)
• Philippines
28 Jul 11
In your case you are married., Oh my GOD! what is happening to me. I'm out of my mind. I keep thinking about a guy now who pissed me off. Sorry for that..
@nurseclare (2209)
• Philippines
2 Aug 11
okay, i got that. You're so good in budgeting with whatever you bought, that's a great wife. :)
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
28 Jul 11
I Budget $100.00 a WEEK for all my household expenditures. This includes food, cleaning materials, pet food etc! This is for one person. I do not know how it is possible to feed you and your husband for $25.00 a week (100 month. What on earth do you eat?
@pbbbsra (1214)
• Philippines
2 Aug 11
haha... dont worry we still eat healthy foods. As far as I know we eat normally as like we do. We eat the food we both love on that budget. Being on that budget doesnt deprive us of the food we both love. I just try to maximize the ingredients and make a lot of variety.
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
28 Jul 11
That's actually really really really cheap. If you and your husband can eat healthy on 100.00 per month then you need to be giving up your secrets to us all. I have my daughter and me and I can sometimes spend only that much but really not often and I'm really thrifty. I have to be. just bread, milk, water and cereal add up to 10.00. And then there is toilet paper, laundry soap, And we haven't even gotten to the meals. $100.00 monthly would average out to about 25.00 per week. I can't say that I could do that and still feed my daughter healthy. I want your secrets.
@pbbbsra (1214)
• Philippines
28 Jul 11
I buy in a budget, I dont have to buy laundry soap everytime I go out for grocery because I a big one once. so by the next month that is not on my list. I make my own bread, i make my own yogurt, i make my own cake and sweets if hubby really wants. But i dont do that everyday. I make food in little portions too, make sure that it will only be enough for two us. I dont buy unnecessary things. I watch out for sale and promotions especially on meat and chicken. I have a small garden where I have parsley, tomatoes, eggplant, garlic and onions. thats what i really do. and i think its also my luck its cheap in here.
@bellis716 (4799)
• United States
29 Jul 11
You are an unusually knowledgeable shopper. I was surprised that you are so young. My husband complained about what I spent at the grocery store until I started taking him with me. We would spend nearly half again as much when he went along. He decided to let me do the shopping.
@bellis716 (4799)
• United States
2 Aug 11
You are a wise and conscientious young woman. You could teach my grandchildren a thing or two.
@pbbbsra (1214)
• Philippines
2 Aug 11
I know how difficult it is to earn money, I saw how my father worked and now my husband is working too. They are telling me I dont have to pressure myself that much on budgeting. Telling me we dont need to be that thrifty. But I want to maximize their hardwork by spending money wisely. I try to think before I buy and plan ahead so I'll know what will fit on the budget. My husband loves me more everyday because of this trait, I am doing it for him and I am happy to be like this.
@sinawaliboy (271)
• Philippines
28 Jul 11
It really depends on the number of people at home. If there is like 4 of you, that is just enough. You can probably lower it down by buying generic stuff but more or less that would be the amount you will probably spend. We spend around $80 monthly on groceries.
@pbbbsra (1214)
• Philippines
27 Jul 11
Maybe its really cheap in here. I buy only vegetable, chicken and meat, and meat is cheap here, I make only breakfast and dinner and I eat salad for myself in day time. I have a garden and that lessen some out on the grocery too. I dont buy yogurt because I make that myself. I think because its only my hubby and me thats why I buy less.
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
27 Jul 11
That is around $25 dollars per week on food so I think that is an average amount to spend. You seem to buy from the one supermarket. You have you and your husband to buy food for. In my home country food and drink prices have increased a great deal. I have a vegan diet and have my children plus dogs to feed too. I shop at four different supermarkets to get all I need. I spend around $160 dollars on food a month.
@pbbbsra (1214)
• Philippines
27 Jul 11
Yes, my husband is working and I only have to worry about breakfast and dinner. and we still dont have kids, its my luck the prices here arent that bad. I keep eye on promotions too. If something have reductions or something increased so much, I will buy or I will not buy such items. Its just wise buying. Im doing it for my husbands hard work. I am not waiting for anybody's. applause, I just wanted to share and hear from others. Thanks so much for your nice response.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
27 Jul 11
$100 a MONTH? Wow that is really great. Here in the US we're pretty lucky if we can get by with just $100.00 a week or every two weeks! Congrats on getting enough for a month with that little!
@pbbbsra (1214)
• Philippines
27 Jul 11
Thanks for the comment. I am happy to hear all kind responses. I am not the only one who does the same, it runs in the family. My sister in law who is in Canada also spends almost the same. But they dont have kids yet too. And like me, her husband leaves after breakfast and comes for dinner after work. So she just have to make dinner from her groceries.
@strawberrychocodahi (4818)
• Philippines
27 Jul 11
It depends on where you are living, how many are you in the family and the cost of income to where you budget your grocery because that amount is only allotted to grocery and not including the food marketing which you separate if you buy veggies, fruits, poultry products, fish and other food items which cannot be shelf in a monthly basis.
If your a couple without kids, that $100 is reasonable enough depending also on the prices of commodities in your country or area. But if you think you can still save some more and pay lesser than $100 than that's good because you can keep the remaining amount and budget it elsewhere for an extra savings.
@pbbbsra (1214)
• Philippines
27 Jul 11
I dont shop once a month, I shop every two week or weekly but I divide the 100 dollar for that. I am happy I am able to spend so little, my husband works all day and i want to give him the credit by knowing the importance of his hard work. He sometimes get angry telling me I dont have to thrift that much since he has a good job. But still, I love what I do.
@puccagirl (7294)
• Israel
27 Jul 11
I spend much more than that, but I live in a country where groceries are kind of expensive. So I guess it also depends on where you live, you know? Maybe you should ask your friends or others who live in the same area as you how much they spend to get an idea of if this is normal or not...
@asyria51 (2861)
• United States
27 Jul 11
I guess it depends on where you are living. Even with coupons and staying with the list and shopping promotions, i spend close to $300 each month for my family of three. some of the money goes towards my daughters vitamins and diapers, but only about $20 because she is pretty much potty trained so only a pull up at night.
@pbbbsra (1214)
• Philippines
27 Jul 11
Yes, maybe its because of the place I live, it is only me and my hubby and he works all day, I make only breakfast and dinner and make myself salad for lunch. both of us is on a diet and we have fixed meals. MAybe thats why. Thanks so much for the comment
@silvermarky (20)
•
2 Aug 11
wow! considering that you have a family, you're very good in budgeting. i for myself alone actually spend more than that though. thanks to my being addicted to online games plus i rent a house and i always eat on a fastfood. that would take too much courage on my side to spend any lesser than that. :D
@weasel81 (2496)
• Australia
1 Aug 11
I guess it depends on which country you live in. I'm in australia and a $100 can be spent with ease on food out here. I try to keep it a low as i can and stock up on things. So i dont have to buy them all the time, But other things like wash powder only needs to be bought once a month etc. the other thing i found is going to a cheap shop (like we have go-lo, chicken feed, reject shop) and they have parrell imports. So you can buy the more expensive stuff at lower prices, even if it is in a forgein langue. but there are still some products you have to buy at the supermarket.
excuse the spelling i cant think to good this time of morning.
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
29 Jul 11
How do you do it??? I am just one person and there are times when I spend that much in a week! Of course at those times, I'm buying a lot of frozen dinners, but when I just buy the sale items and sometimes fruit I can get by for about $20/week. It is good to buy only what you need, but are you getting good variety or do you just eat rice and pasta? Lately, I have not been spending that much, but as my health improves, I have been spending more as I don't limit it to cans and such. Have a great weekend!!!
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
28 Jul 11
It actually depends on how big your family is.
We are only 3 in the family but sometimes we have few relatives who come over and enjoy snacks and meals with us and my monthly grocery is also more or less $100. I actually don't plan. I just do a weekly grocery and I pick up items I believe are needful for a week and summing up all my purchases within a month I think it is indeed more or less than 100 dollars.
We are only 3 in the family but sometimes we have few relatives who come over and enjoy snacks and meals with us and my monthly grocery is also more or less $100. I actually don't plan. I just do a weekly grocery and I pick up items I believe are needful for a week and summing up all my purchases within a month I think it is indeed more or less than 100 dollars.
@churchill1980 (764)
• Philippines
29 Jul 11
oh!that's quiet thrifty for you. we are 4 adults in the house, and my 2 kids but i spend 15,000 pesos monthly for food and milk of my kids. that's $348 per month. no matter how i tried to save, it will always reach to that amount. i make a list everyday on the things i buy to keep track with my budget, because sometimes i could not believe i spend that much for grocery alone, not included the salary i gave for my two maids and the bills. i think it also have something to do with the prices that's getting higher everyday. we do our grocery at home weekly, so that i need money every week. i have a hard time doing with our budget, because i want to save more.
@aghiuta (525)
• Canada
29 Jul 11
Let me tell you! You are doing pretty good!,I could never live on $100 a month.my husband and I are spending that much a week.And I make lists and we follow the flyers with the specials,going to pick up items on special at different stores!May food is more expensive in Canada,because I can say that we are not going overboard with the shopping!
@nezavisima (7408)
• Bulgaria
30 Jul 11
I think it depends on your family.
depends on how many people you are and where you live.
even today see that prices are increasing every day.
I can tell you that we spend about 100 per month for a family of four in existence that sometimes there are things we buy every day such as bread and water.
I know everyone must make an account.
However, not all have large incomes.
and anyone who takes a bit to realize what makes you buy and forfeits.
Have a nice day!
