Budgeting Question - Ask Rich / Money 101

antenney · 09-23-2009, 04:37 PM

I have often tried to write a budget, and I always fail because I have no clue how much I should spend on food. I know this is probably a silly question, but is there a good rule of thumb on what percentage of the budget should be for food? I don't think I necessarily overspend, but some kind of guideline would help me do better.

Navgirl · 09-23-2009, 08:19 PM

Originally Posted by antenney

I have often tried to write a budget, and I always fail because I have no clue how much I should spend on food. I know this is probably a silly question, but is there a good rule of thumb on what percentage of the budget should be for food? I don't think I necessarily overspend, but some kind of guideline would help me do better.

I saved receipts for a month and figured out roughly what I spent and then added some to it. I have $400 a payday (yes $800 a month) budgeted for food because I have 2 boys and a husband!
I haven't figured out what percentage that is of our total combined income.

Genna · 09-23-2009, 08:24 PM

On the financial board I'm on they normally recommend about $100-$150 per person in your house. I budget about $500 a month for two adults and 2 kids.

antenney · 09-23-2009, 10:48 PM

I'll definitely have to save my receipts and see what I spend. $100/person sounds about right. It's just me and DH, so it shouldn't be too hard to do. I think at the moment I'm spending a bit more, but I know there's some things to work on. I do use a list and don't go crazy or anything, but I usually pick up a few impulse items and such. Thanks!

J.Ski · 09-23-2009, 10:56 PM

I budgeted what we could afford and that's what I brought to the grocery store. We never starved.

HisCupcake · 09-25-2009, 11:05 AM

I cut so many coupons its not even funny, I usually save like 60$ just with coupons. Its just me and my husband and we spend no more than $200 a month on groceries. Usually its around $175.

mossey2000 · 09-25-2009, 12:46 PM

I spend 400-500 a month on my family of 4 and 3 daycare kids.

LT · 09-25-2009, 12:49 PM

We spend about $400 for a family of 3, to me that is a lot but i am so used to being a single mom and not even spending half that so i am having problems budgeting too.
I aim to spend no more than $300 in the furture not including the baby.

FishersWifey · 10-02-2009, 02:46 PM

Its just DH and I and a cat and lately ive budgeted $250 a month which is generally enough but now that im preggo im gonna add more to that since ive been buying a lot more fruits and veggies to juice with.

I cut coupons too and i buy organic when i can.

Jill · 10-02-2009, 03:22 PM

I budget our family about 50.00 a week but it could easily mean 100.00 worth of food. I do coupons and stockpile. That includes 2 adults, a growing boy, and a baby girl

09-23-2009, 04:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
antenney The coalition for reason is extremely weak. Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Defense Language Institute Posts: 170 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 32% Longevity: 6%	Budgeting Question I have often tried to write a budget, and I always fail because I have no clue how much I should spend on food. I know this is probably a silly question, but is there a good rule of thumb on what percentage of the budget should be for food? I don't think I necessarily overspend, but some kind of guideline would help me do better.

09-23-2009, 08:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
Genna Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pearl Harbor, HI Posts: 657 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 26% Longevity: 51%	On the financial board I'm on they normally recommend about $100-$150 per person in your house. I budget about $500 a month for two adults and 2 kids. __________________ Birth Doula and Childbirth Educator In Training

09-23-2009, 10:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
J.Ski Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 8,852 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 71% Longevity: 27%	I budgeted what we could afford and that's what I brought to the grocery store. We never starved. __________________

09-25-2009, 11:05 AM	#6 (permalink)
HisCupcake Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New York Girl, just livin' in San Diego Posts: 2,468 Classifieds: (2) Activity: 18% Longevity: 17%	I cut so many coupons its not even funny, I usually save like 60$ just with coupons. Its just me and my husband and we spend no more than $200 a month on groceries. Usually its around $175. __________________ Wifey to MS234755

09-25-2009, 12:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
mossey2000 I'm from the south and sometimes I have a big mouth Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Gulfport Posts: 9,687 Classifieds: (1) Activity: 40% Longevity: 67%	I spend 400-500 a month on my family of 4 and 3 daycare kids. __________________ Heather Mom to Ethan and Elijah Proud Seabee Wife! I can describe life in three words: It goes on. Robert Frost.

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09-23-2009, 10:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
antenney The coalition for reason is extremely weak. Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Defense Language Institute Posts: 170 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 32% Longevity: 6%	I'll definitely have to save my receipts and see what I spend. $100/person sounds about right. It's just me and DH, so it shouldn't be too hard to do. I think at the moment I'm spending a bit more, but I know there's some things to work on. I do use a list and don't go crazy or anything, but I usually pick up a few impulse items and such. Thanks!

09-25-2009, 12:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
LT Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: The DESERT Posts: 4,042 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 74% Longevity: 15%	We spend about $400 for a family of 3, to me that is a lot but i am so used to being a single mom and not even spending half that so i am having problems budgeting too. I aim to spend no more than $300 in the furture not including the baby. __________________ Hope is not a dream but a way of making dreams become reality. Expecting baby # 2 It's a boy

10-02-2009, 02:46 PM	#9 (permalink)
FishersWifey I LOVE DUCKS Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Camp Pendleton Posts: 254 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 26% Longevity: 14%	Its just DH and I and a cat and lately ive budgeted $250 a month which is generally enough but now that im preggo im gonna add more to that since ive been buying a lot more fruits and veggies to juice with. I cut coupons too and i buy organic when i can. __________________ I LOVE BEING A FISHY

10-02-2009, 03:22 PM	#10 (permalink)
Jill It must be nice to live in your world Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 6,086 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 16% Longevity: 87%	I budget our family about 50.00 a week but it could easily mean 100.00 worth of food. I do coupons and stockpile. That includes 2 adults, a growing boy, and a baby girl