A family of 4 for $164 a week?????

Are you serious???

According to Parents magazine, the average family of four spends an average of $164 a WEEK on groceries! I was so shocked that their "financial expert" who is also a registered dietitian took a challenge for feeding her family for $71 a week.

She stated that in the past, she spent more because she wanted "healthy, fresh meals for her family".

I was blown away that she thought that being frugal at the store equated eating junk food. Most people do. I was with two other friends one time, and we were comparing grocery store spending. One blatantly told me that there was no way she could spent what I do since she likes to feed her family "fresh food". Like I only buy my family that is moldy and rotten??

I would say that the average family spending $164 is missing the point of eating healthy. When I bought a lot of convenience foods, even "organic" or "healthy choice" ones, I spent three times as much as I did by buying the ingredients and making it myself.

I have also been told that clipping coupons is a waste of time, since all they are for is convenience foods that are full of sugar, fat, chemicals, and calories. What???? I have found many coupons, especially lately, for fresh produce, organic foods. I also use coupons for the household products that I need so that my grocery budget has more wiggle room for other things.

I comfortably budget between $50 and $65 a week for groceries, and we eat very well, I would say. I don't eat tons of pasta and potatoes, and we have fresh produce, fruit and veggies at least 4 times a day, and only one meatless day a week (by choice-we get tired of it sometimes!)

So, how do I do it?

First of all, I shop only the loss leaders in the store. If there is only one or two at a particular store, I may take that ad into Walmart and price match it to avoid a trip. I write a list, making note of all loss leaders, and make my menu plan. Then, I spend about 1/2 hour getting coupons, and ideas from other bloggers. That's all. If I spend more than that, the savings that I get at the store seem to be eaten up in my time spent.

I usually finish off a shopping trip at Aldi, since they have been the cheapest in my area for basics. If I am short on grocery money, I will just shop there to save time and energy as well.

I make a lot of my own food, too. I make my own yogurt, sour cream, cream cheese, granola, granola bars, muffins, biscuits, and pizza dough. We drink a lot of water around here, with only a little bit of juice being bought if it's on a great sale and I have a coupon.

I also account for the days when I am busy and will be too tired to cook. For those days, I will have a freezer meal ready to go, either a home pre-made casserole or pizza dough. As I make my menu, I keep in mind the activities that are going on throughout the week. I mean, why plan on a roast beef dinner with mashed potatoes when we have TaeKwonDo and won't be home until almost 8? Those nights are perfect for quick meals like tacos, or pancakes.


Feeding your family for under $75 a week isn't that difficult, but it will require you to plan a little, and maybe cook a little more. The payoffs in the wallet have been worth it for me. I don't know that I could ever spend that much on a regular basis...I mean, what would you do with all that food?

Anyone else have any ideas to share that they use for keeping the grocery budget down? I would love to hear them!