How Much Should I Spend On Groceries To Save More Money

Food is such a personal, individualized experience that advising on how to save money on it is difficult because it applies to everyone.

resources and procedures can help you get a good start, but ultimately, you must decide what budget makes sense for you and your family.

For many families, determining how much to spend on groceries and creating a budget is difficult. The average annual cost of groceries for a household is $4,643.

This means that the average monthly grocery bill is $387. While that may sound about right for some families, it may be way off the mark for others.

Unless you have a predetermined budget or buy the same meals every week, your food bill will vary considerably week by week. You may overspend if you shop when you’re hungry, for example.

When it comes to recipes, if you’re ambitious, you might end up spending more than usual. However, if you’re short on time or preparing for a trip, you can save a lot of money.

Check Out: What Should My Average Grocery Bill Be Like After The Pandemic?

What should the Grocery Budget be Monthly?

A variety of factors influences your grocery budget, such as where you shop, what you purchase, how many individuals you feed, and also whether you shop online or in-store.

It is suggested that you spend only 1015% of your take-home pay on food, which includes both groceries and eating out, but most people spend significantly more.

The average monthly grocery bill for one person is between $167 and $385. Monthly expenditures for married couples range from $382 to $800.

When it comes to a family of four, the average monthly grocery bill ranges from $588 to $1,344.

Check Also: 26 Tips to Maintain Grocery Shopping on a Budget in 2022

Each Family Member’s Spending Plan

A single person, a family of two, and a family of four are all represented in the table below.

You’ll need to make some adjustments to the numbers if your family is a different size.

Increase the percentage by 20% for one additional person, 10% for two additional people, and 5% for three additional people.

1. Spending on a Single Person’s Food Plan

The following is a breakdown of monthly costs for a single female between the ages of 19 and 50 for each type of food plan:

$175.60 (Thrifty)
$222.60 (Low-cost option)
$272.20 (Moderate cost)
$348.80 (Liberal)

The following is a breakdown of monthly costs for a single male, ages 19 to 50, for each type of food plan:

$197.70 (Thrifty)
$256.10 (Low-cost option)
$320.70 (Moderate-cost)
$392.70 (Liberal)

2. Food Budget for a Two-Family Household

The following is a breakdown of monthly costs for a family of two, ages 19 to 50, for each type of food plan:

$410.60 (Thrifty)
$526.50 (Low-cost option)
$652.10 (Moderate cost)
$815.60 (Liberal)

3. Food Budget for a Four-Person Family

The following is a breakdown of monthly costs for a family of four with two adults, ages 19-50, and two children, ages 2 to 5, for each type of food plan:

$599 (Thrifty)
$766.40 (Low-cost option)
$944.50 (Moderate cost)
$1,169.00 (Liberal)

The following is a breakdown of monthly costs for a family of four with two adults, ages 19-50, and two children, ages 6 to 11, for each type of food plan:

$687.40 (Thrifty)
$907.20 (Low-cost option)
$1128.20 (Moderate cost)
$1370.10 (Liberal)

Tips to spend less / stay within your budget

It’s all too easy to blow your grocery budget. Maybe it’s the fluorescent lighting, the flashy product labels, or the squeaky cartwheel that makes you lose your mind and your budget.

Here are a few tips for how to save money on groceries;

1. Go shopping with a full stomach, you’ll buy fewer snacks and/or items you don’t normally buy, and you’ll only shop at the grocery store for groceries, not gifts and other extras!

2. Make a list and stick to it, especially if your children are “assisting.”

3. Plan your week’s meals before going grocery shopping, and then buy what’s on the menu.

4. If planning for the entire week seems overwhelming, start with three or four days.

5. Only go shopping once a week, as you’ll likely spend more if you go to the store every day or multiple times a week.

6. Shop when you’re full of energy and not exhausted from a long day, when you have energy and aren’t preoccupied, it’s easier to focus and make wise decisions.

7. Return your bottles and cans in exchange for the fee. If you have children, enlist their assistance and allow them to keep the money they earn.

8. When you’re tired, stressed, or in a hurry, go to familiar stores. You’ll locate what you’re looking for and be able to get out fast.

9. Plan your meals so that you have leftovers for lunch the next day or freeze them for a quick meal later.

10. Make your snacks, juices, and treats. Purchase a large package of snacks and a box of baggies to create your own individually wrapped snacks for on-the-go consumption.

11. Buy fewer convenience foods in cans and packages and shred your lettuce and cheese.

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12. Clean out your fridge and cabinets once a month. Before you go out to get more, make certain that you have finished what you have.

13. Clean out and organize your food storage cabinets and drawers. You’ll buy more of the same if you don’t know what you have or can’t find what you purchased.

14. If you stock up, keep an eye on expiration dates and package the food to keep it fresh for as long as possible.

15. If you buy large packages of meat, cook or marinate Make it ahead of time and refrigerate it to save time on meal preparation. When you know you have meals cooked at home, it is less enticing to dine out.

16. Once a week, spend some time washing and/or chopping up fruits and vegetables. This will help you prepare dinner and lunch faster and more healthily.

17. Avoid buying snacks on the go because they are often unhealthy and expensive. Experiment with new foods and be creative. You might be able to find less expensive food that tastes just as good!

18. Bring a calculator with you to the store and add items to your cart as you go. If you’re out shopping with kids, give them the job of listing the goods in the cart. It will help you to keep to your budget.

19. Master the art of cooking or baking, Seek the help of a close relative, or register in a course.

20. Shop at a discount store for non-food items like detergent or garbage bags.

21. Buy only what you need and can afford; a 3-for-1 deal is only worthwhile if you can use all three items.

22. Compare prices and shop around for bargains on items you buy frequently. When possible, use store and manufacturer coupons. Consider downloading a grocery app to your smartphone or tablet.

23. Keep in mind that smaller sizes can sometimes save you money. Make the calculations on your phone or with a calculator.

24. Don’t dismiss store brands or no-name brands out of hand. Many are manufactured by the same corporations that produce well-known products but under a different brand name.

25. It’s only a good buy if you’ll use it, even if it’s “on sale.”

How Much You Can Save

To help you create a grocery budget, the following factors will show you how much you could save on each trip to the grocery store, as well as how you can utilize them to make the best choices for your family, from the fruit department to the frozen food section.;

Purchase Generic Brands rather than Name Brands (25%)

When you buy generic brand groceries instead of name brands, you can save 25% on your groceries.

Generic brands don’t always taste as good as brand names, but there are ways to get around this.

Real Cheerios, for instance, taste better than generic Cheerios, but if you’re buying for a child, they won’t notice.

For most people, there is no noticeable difference in quality for staple foods like sugar, salt, flour, and bleach only in price.

You don’t want to completely disregard brand name groceries because they do go on sale, but if you can switch generic brands for brand names, you can start to save money.

Create a shopping list and stick to it (23%)

People who can control their impulse purchases can save up to 23% on their grocery bills. The best way to shop is to make a grocery list and stick to it.

Consume More Fruits and Vegetables (25%)

By including more fruits and vegetables in your snacks and meals, you can reduce your grocery bill by up to 25% while also losing weight.

As you incorporate more fresh produce into your family’s diet, your budget will benefit as well.

Shop at Discount Supermarkets (10%)

When compared to the next best alternatives, shopping at a discount grocery store like the SuperStore or a Supermart can save you at least 10% on your groceries.

These savings are based on a comparison of name-brand products that are available in every store.

Shop at a Produce Discount Store (32% )

Shopping at a discount produce store or a farmer’s market can save you up to 32% on fruits and vegetables. Some farmer markets, but not all, will save you a lot of money.

If the premium or organic produce is important to you, you will have to pay more for it, but if your product doesn’t have to be flawless all of the time, you may be able to save a lot of money by shopping at a discount produce store.

Compare prices at local produce stores, farmer’s markets, and grocery stores to see if you can save some money.

Restock on Sales (10 percent to 20 percent)

Stocking up on grocery items that are on sale can save you ten percent to twenty percent or more. Stock up on non-perishable or freezer-friendly items like bread and meat.

You will only save money if you stock up on items that you use frequently.

Stock up on groceries when they’re on sale, use a coupon, and then buy on a customer appreciation day (if your supermarket has one).

Manufacturers can be contacted for coupons (10%).

By requesting coupons from all the manufacturers from which you normally purchase products, you can save around ten percent on your groceries.

Send them an email and ask them to send you any coupons they may have.

Some people do this once or twice a month, when they know they’ll need more coupons, and they can get coupons for almost anything they buy.

Stockpile and Avoid Grocery Shopping (25%)

By stocking up on groceries when they’re on sale and skipping a grocery shop once a month, you can save nearly 25% on your annual grocery bill.

You live off of what you stockpiled when you skip a grocery shop; if you can’t do it monthly, try once every three months and you’ll still save a lot of money.

You can stockpile a variety of non-perishable foods and freeze bread and meat when they’re on sale.

Price Matching ( 10% )

By shopping at a grocery store that price matches competitors’ flyers, you can save at least 10%.

To take advantage of this, make sure to bring your flyers with you when you go shopping.

This sort of tip may still not appeal to everyone, but if you want to save roughly 10% on your yearly food expenditure, this is an excellent idea to implement.

Grocery-only Wal-Mart stores are ideal for this, and it appears that SuperStores will also price match.

The SuperStore, on the other hand, does not advertise this, and some other grocery stores may also match competitor prices.

Ask a manager at your favorite supermarket if they will match a competitor’s advertised price.

FAQs

What is the weekly grocery budget for a single person?

This varies depending on each person’s monthly income, on average a weekly budget for a single person is $37.

In terms of budgeting, what then is the 50-30-20 principle?

The 50/30/20 rule of thumb is a set of simple guidelines for budgeting. You use them to divide your monthly after-tax income into three categories: 50% for “needs,” 30% for “wants,” and 20% for your financial goals.

For a single person, what is a reasonable food budget?

Begin with $200 per month for a single-person household. This will leave you with $100 for everyday groceries and another $100 for sale purchases.

How can I slash my grocery bill?

Purchase in bulk from the bulk bins.
It should avoid frozen dinners.
Vegetables and fruit that have been pre-cut should be discarded.
Be willing to try something new with your ingredients.
Invest in frozen produce.
Don’t buy well-known brands.
Check the price per unit again.
Increase your intake of plant-based proteins.

How can I save the most money on groceries?

Use a grocery rewards card to pay.
Enroll in the loyalty program.
Coupons should be clipped.
Foods that have been pre-packaged or processed should be ignored.
Check out the costs at other shops.

Conclusion

A few new habits can help you save money on groceries, stay on track with your budget, and achieve your financial goals faster.

That means more money to pay down debt, save for the future, or treat yourself to a babysitter and a nice meal out where someone else does the cooking and cleaning!

Try one of these grocery budget hacks on your next trip down the aisle now that you know how to save money on groceries.

You might be surprised at how much money you keep in your wallet. Who knows, maybe you’ll get a lot more inventive in the kitchen as well.

How Much Should I Spend On Groceries To Save More Money

What should the Grocery Budget be Monthly?

Each Family Member’s Spending Plan

1. Spending on a Single Person’s Food Plan