Food Prices - USDA website

On a local list-serve I am on the topic of food pricing and budgeting for food came up. This link was posted, which shows what it costs to feed various size families, and the month that it was calculated for: http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/USDAFoodCost-Home.htm

They say we should be spending around $550 a MONTH!!! I think we are closer to $350 but I am going to keep better track of that this next year. But I generally go to Costco once a month or every 6 weeks and spend about $125 (food only) and that is mostly meat. I go to Winco or Trader Joes about once a month for the bulk items and veggies and spend about $50 and then depending on the sales go to the store for them and spend about $30 a week. So that is … let me get the calculator (I used Costco’s number as once a month) … total 275 a month. Well I will say in the summer we spend more --- farmers markets etc. so that bumps our average for the year up – we have been known to spend $20 just in watermelons that last only 2 weeks when we are in the mood for them! We also usually spend about $50 a month out so I think $350 is probably a fair amount to say … maybe even $375 but NOT $550.

There are a couple great blogs about $5 meals and people who feed a family of 5-6 for only $50 a week. My goal for this next year to spend even less on our grocery bill/going out bill. Here are a couple that I love:

http://grocerycartchallenge.blogspot.com/

http://www.5dollardinners.com/

I would love to hear ways that people are cutting back and reducing their food bill.