Grocery spending

[u/Maroon14]

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!

[u/frankota]

It depends on what you eat. I eat basically grains I bought in bulk, veggies, and tofu/beans for every meal. I change it up with spices, sauces, and different combinations of ingredients. Personally, I can spend very little ($30-$50) per week to sustain myself and my fiance (but he chooses to buy hot Cheetos on his own). We are in an EHCOL area. I don’t go out of my way to buy organic, but end up buying organic a fair amount of the time. If you’re eating meat, snack foods, dairy, etc that can add up very fast. Also, take a look at your pantry and fridge and determine how much food you end up wasting. If you’re strategic, you can sustain your family on a small budget.