Monthly Food Bill

Just curious, how much do you spend on groceries a month and put on your current expenditures? And for how many people?

Also, do you include dining out in that expense? (I'm single, and eat lunch out each day as my dinner.)

$1200/mo for 6 people is what we told the attny. We're allowed nearly $1300/mo on the Schedules.

The paralegal said eating out was not to be included in the monthly food budget. Eating out is part of "Entertainment". Which here, the Entertainment budget amount most attnys list is $100/mo max.

$1000 a month for a family of 6, not counting eating out although we don't eat out very often at all (less than once a month)... take a look at the IRS reasonable expenses chart. It'll tell you how much you're "allowed" to spend on food based on how much money you make and how many people in your household.

We spend about $600 for a family of 3, one of which is a teenage boy.
That includes nonfood items like tp, soap, and shampoo, not just food because I shop a lot of the time at a Grocery Outlet where I can buy all of that for much cheaper.

I forget exactly how much we are allowed; I think it is $800.00 for 4 people. We try to keep everything between $500.00-$550.00 per month. This also includes household products, but doesn't include eating out. We have two teenagers which makes it a little harder, but it is doable.

I found the allowable living expenses food costs for 1 in my salary range is $292. I was afraid it was going to be under $200 based on the other figures here.

(Cooking for one sucks! Besides the fact that I can't stand cooking anyways!)

I know what you mean anonymuse. I am in the same boat as you. I find that cooking actually cost me more money because in reality, you waste alot of food.

I use Dream Dinners, its a chain place where you put together a months worth of meals in about 2 hours and then they are all fresh in the freezer to
cook. This costs about $225 a month, but that is included in the $600 I spend that I mentioned above. I love it because I work fulltime and its so great to have a good healthy meal all ready to prepare with limited time and almost no mess. My husband said hes never eaten so good!
Some people think its expensive, but I actually save money doing it because there is so little or no waste.

I put $400 for just me. Atty noted that I was a diabetic and required a special diet. Also increased my medical allowances because of this also.
They do make special allowances where needed. Good thing for me! It is so much more expensive to always have to buy the "good for you" foods!!

I know what you mean anonymuse. I am in the same boat as you. I find that cooking actually cost me more money because in reality, you waste alot of food.

So true. 99 cent salad and hamburger at Wendy's is still cheaper than bringing something into work. I guess I can "fudge" the dining out into the groceries expenses since I won't be claiming grocery expenses near the limit.

It is so much more expensive to always have to buy the "good for you" foods!!

Now ain't that the truth! Top Ramen -- 12 for $1.00; Mac n Cheese -- 3 for $1.00. That's how I survived grad school.

Plus the "good for you" foods are fresh and don't last long--especially when you're only cooking for one.

13inOR,

I looked up Dream Dinners. I should have known we wouldn't have any of those near us. We live in the Southeast. Yep, it's black-eyed peas, turnip greens seasoned with neckbones, and cornbread for us! Not very healthy, but it's cheap and tastes so good!!! Nothing like good ol' soul food!

Jane, sometimes in the south they have other variations though. I know theres several. One is My Girlfriends Kitchen, theres also one called Dinners Done Right. Same basic concept though.

I could not live without it right now! It helps out so much when you work fulltime. Plus they are gourmet type dishes you would probably never try otherwise.

I will check that out. I have at least a 35 minute commute and work late one evening. Something like that would be awesome. I hate to waste food, too, and the kids aren't too good about eating leftovers. My husband will eat anything not nailed to the floor and has never minded taking his lunch to work.

I hope you find one, they are so awesome.

Are these meals microwaveable?

Now ain't that the truth! Top Ramen -- 12 for $1.00; Mac n Cheese -- 3 for $1.00. That's how I survived grad school.

Plus the "good for you" foods are fresh and don't last long--especially when you're only cooking for one.

Its too bad most of us can't eat like that all the time. I would if I could. But I was fast approaching 300lbs. Now that I buy all my foods fresh or frozen, and not eating out of a bag, box or can, I am plummeting back towards 200lbs. To eat this healthy, I am probably spending near 400 a month to feed myself alone.

Are these meals microwaveable?


Not really. They are things like stir fries, marinated flank steak, enchiladas, etc. Some of it bakes in the oven, some is stove top. Its not precooked, so it tastes really fresh and good. Of course after its cooked, the leftovers are great microwaved.

No Dream Dinners or Girlfriend's Kitchen even in my state! I live in an area where some of the best food is in buildings that probably should be condemned!

Maybe one day I'll open a Girlfriend's Kitchen. I do love to cook when I have time.

Jane, I pm'd you but you might see if supersuppers.com is anywhere near you. Its the same concept. Dream Dinners is more in the Pacific NW but there are similar places all over the country it seems, Super Suppers is yet another one!

I looked at Super Suppers (none close to me), and sounds very interesting.

$110 for 6 meals that feed 4-6 people each

So if that's for 4 -- 18.33 per meal -- 4.58 per person per meal
For 6 -- 18.33 per meal -- 3.05 per person per meal

Since there's only me, 6 "meals" should be at least 24 single meals.

Yes, thats what I do. Theres only 3 of us so I can get double out of each meal. I absolutely love it.