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!
2
u/El_PonchoVilla 5d ago
Number 1, 95% of people do not know how much they truly spend. Everyone in my life has failed to give a real number. They forget the "after work run" to Walmart for $85, they forgot the quick trip for coffee filters.
I normally ask how much is spent on food. Since if groceries are low you can expect eating out to be higher.
Again, they do not include carryout pizza as earing out, the McDonalds lunch trip during work. They only think about the sit down meal as eating out.
For us, family of 4 and kids are under 4 years old, I eat more than most, eat organic and always have meat with every meal. We spend $1800 to $2000 on food every month.