YNAB You Need A Budget

[JoMor]

We're spending $500 a month (I don't have an average; this is my first month on YNAB) on a family of four (preschool, kindergarten, 2 adults) and two cats. I haven't subdivided so that covers everything we buy at the grocery- food, paper goods, soap, cleaning supplies, etc. We're in the northeastern US. We don't have a budget line for eating out, but we probably swing through fast food 2-3 times a month. However, that money comes out of the "unemployed" spending allocated to me, my wife, and the kids. There we have $60 (my wife) $40 (me).

[ErikaLM17]

We're spending 400$ a month on groceries for a family of 4 (2 toddlers) and that includes paper products and toiletries but not diapers. We also keep kosher which is lot more expensive that conventional meat. I pretty much only buy what's on sale and what I have a coupon for. I keep a very well stocked stockpile and a chest freezer so a lot of what I buy is milk, eggs, cheese, fresh fruits and veggies and anything I need to replenish the stockpile--if it's a good deal.
I have found that meal planning has really helped me get our grocery budget under control. There have been months in the past where we have doubled our budget--so I have been really making an effort. On Sundays I look through the freezer and pantry and plan for the week--it cuts down on convienence dinners and helps us to use everything we buy and eliminate waste. My local store marks down produce first thing on Monday mornings and I have really gotten some great deals that way. We also eat very little meat--too pricey to get it kosher and feels healthier anyway.
We only spend 50$ per month in eating out and that is due to takeout (pizza, etc). We never go out to eat with the rugrats!

[LittleMissMuffet]

I'm finding this thread fascinating... and shall add my food statistics:

I'm Canadian, located in Saskatchewan, just budgeting for myself. I have been budgeting $150/month for food-only groceries since September, and have recently been wondering if I need to try and cut back more.

The only thing is... I have many dietary restrictrions, including being gluten-free and dairy-free and peanut-free for daily health reasons. Beyond that, I try to eat in an ethical manner to support economic sustainability of food. I therefore eat: gluten-free, dairy-free, peanut-free as well as eliminate all sources of corn, refined sugar, and mainstream meat. I try to seek out local food sources as much as possible (a bit harder in the winter.. at least in the Prairies!!)

I receive some gifted home-grown foods from family/friends throughout the year (frozen berries from the summer, honey, occasional bags of garden-fresh carrots and onions)

I shop at the local health food stores on the first Tuesday of every month -- Customer Appreciation Day! Between the two stores, I get 15-20% off all items. This is when I stock up on gluten-free oats, local free-range/hormone-free meat, coconut oil, tamari, etc. and this generally takes up at least a third of my budgeted grocery fund.

The rest of the month I shop at Superstore to supplement fresh fruits and veggies, organic whenever possible, where I use Superbucks from filling up at the Gas Bar and PC Points (I do banking with PC Financial). By the very last week of any given month, my fridge is pretty empty and my freezer stock is waning.. I use up odds and ends, eating random and slightly sparse meals (there's nothing wrong with it, really! I think our culture has put too much emphasis on what a meal should "look" like, rather than the physical nutrition received) looking forward to the First Tuesday of the next month so I can start my cycle all over again..

I no longer feel guilty for spending $150. This seems pretty reasonable, especially given all of my self-imposed restrictions...

[akartlover]

I think our culture has put too much emphasis on what a meal should "look" like, rather than the physical nutrition received) looking forward to the First Tuesday of the next month so I can start my cycle all over again..

I no longer feel guilty for spending $150. This seems pretty reasonable, especially given all of my self-imposed restrictions...

You are an inspiration to this American. I had "gone organic" and the more I learned after realizing I needed to go gluten-free, the more I realize that quality is the most important aspect of food. The planning is what takes the effort and I still sometimes choose convenience and sacrifice quality to save time. Ask anyone cronically or desperatly ill and they realize health is a precious resource. Being "sick" is also a huge waste of time and energy. So, time is precious but I am investing now to work on a comprehensive food plan for myself and my loved ones. Long term investment to save time and money in the long run.

We spent $670 USD for 2 adults per month last year, this was before some of the more recent changes. We have still been wasteful, throwing a lot away, but comprehensive planning will help tremendously. Also cutting down on frozen prepared foods and quantity of meat and at the same time increasing quality.

If you are buying what you need to be healthy, by all means save money AND get what you need. This is where you have inspired me. Plan, plan, plan. : )

Food goes in my "Health" budget so that doctors and drugs have no place later. Food is more effective than those means anyway.

If people only knew the half of it...

Check out Mercola.com or watch the "Food, Inc." documentary on DVD for a starting place.

Just saw "Simply Raw: Reversing Diabetes in 30 Days." A Type I (incurable) diabetic was completely off insulin within a few weeks. The statistics for Type 2 diabetes in this country are outrageous. I'm not vegan, but anyone can learn from this strategy.

Also interested in organic gardening for raising food. (Check out Square Foot Gardening to see how everyone can have a simple, super easy to maintain garden in a 4 foot x 4 foot space.)

Baby steps to great health or giant leaps. Either is better than to continue eating to your detriment. What's sad is how much life saving information is outside of the average person's awareness.

God help us. Help ourselves.

Angela

p.s. used to be a coupon clipper who obsessed over double and triple coupons. I now realized all that food I was getting for next to nothing was empty calories and chemically altered and inferior crap that I had no real business eating. Beware of "cheap food" and "value" menus. They are neither in the big picture.

[malisab]

Thanks to the last two posters to get my wheels turning. I'm so often struck by how the many different focuses of my life are trying to show me that they're really pointing me to the same place...I don't know how I miss it.

I just wanted to post my thanks here. I'll save my ruminations for my journal.

[dorothyc]

In the last year, when we have been a family of two adults and three teenagers (two after November as one moved out), we have averaged $700 a month for groceries, $150 a month for school/work lunches and $100 a month for other eating out. Groceries category does not include household supplies, toiletries or pet food, and I also have a separate category for alcohol/beverages. I live in Los Angeles where food prices are quite expensive, and I can't grow a garden because of water restrictions. Grocery category also includes entertaining/holiday meals, such as barbecues, etc.

I'm intolerant to soy so I can't eat most prepared foods. I shop once a week at the farmers market for eggs and fruits and vegetables, buy bulk staples at Costco and fill in with some other items at Trader Joe's or the Hispanic market (Vallarta) occasionally as needed. I cook a lot of stuff from scratch and bake home made desserts.

I've been quite encouraged by this thread - seems like we are doing pretty well for a larger family.