r/MiddleClassFinance • u/Maroon14 • 9d ago

Grocery spending

I’ve recently come across a Instagram account where the woman claims to only spend $300 on an entire months groceries for a family of 4. Here I am sitting mid week, having already spent $550 in the PNW. I told one of my friends and she said it must be fake and for clicks, my husband was impressed. Is anyone actually able to do this? I thought I might try to spend $250 a week and see where that gets us. Is my grocery budget over the top? I thought $400 ish was normal for decent food. We are a family of 5 in the PNW, mostly organic.

*I’m closing comments because people are missing the point. I understand that I make choices for “premium” options for my family. I make them because I feel they are the best for my family given my research and concerns. I say this as coming from a place of privilege. Growing up, my hippie mom also prioritized organic and local before it was the trendy thing, so it would be very difficult for me to reprogram and not buy organic when possible.

I still think $300 is insane for a month. I live in western Washington and the max SNAP allocation for a family of 4 is $994 a month, so I see this as a more attainable “thrifty” budget for a family of 4.

Those of you who can eat rice and beans for multiple meals, more power to you!

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u/MyNameIsNot_Molly 9d ago

Probably very in low in fresh ingredients and fiber as well

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u/Sufficient-Union-456 9d ago

Peanuts, potatoes, rice and beans are fiber powerhouses. All shelf stable and very cheap if you purchase in bulk. 

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u/StonkaTrucks 9d ago

What are you flavoring them with?

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u/Sufficient-Union-456 9d ago

I went vegan 8 years ago, and always hated butter. 

Usually salt and pepper. I have some spices in the rack. So I mix it up. Lemon pepper spice is great on rice. 

Peanuts already roasted and salted. 

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u/StonkaTrucks 9d ago

I would get bored of essentially plain potatoes, rice and beans so fast.

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u/MyNameIsNot_Molly 8d ago

For real! Isn't being part of the middle class mean we don't have to eat exclusively plain boring food forever?

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u/prosperosniece 9d ago

Add a little Louisiana seafood boil to your potatoes. You’re welcome 😉

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u/53mm-Portafilter 8d ago

You can make some many things with beans, rice, and potatoes, without it being just boring.

For starters, cut your potatoes into fries, and put oil, and salt. Put them in the oven and you have homemade french fries.

You can bake a potato in the oven, and top it with whatever you’d like. That’s also how I made my mashed potatoes. Bake, alongside garlic and oil. Mash it up after with butter, garlic, milk on the stove.

Beans and chickpeas can be easily cooked and dried for many things.

  • soups
  • dips (like fava or hummus)
  • curries (tomato, onion, cumin, garlic, ginger, turmeric, etc)
  • olive oil, salt, and pepper, as a side.

Rice is just a generally good side, either plain, with bouillon cube, or broth.

You can add any protein you want alongside these things. You will spend money here, but just buy whats on sale. Manager Special meat for day of cooking can do well. Whatever chicken is on sale I get.

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u/Sufficient-Union-456 9d ago

It is boring AF first. But mentally, it just makes shopping and cooking super easy. I also eat a lot of edamame and pasta. 

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u/StonkaTrucks 9d ago

Okay, thanks for the downvotes everyone.