• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Good Cheap Eats
  • About
    • About Good Cheap Eats
    • Media
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure
    • Contact Me
  • Members Only
    • Login
    • Club Homepage
    • Club Resource Library
    • Downloads
    • Live Club Events
  • Recipe Index
  • Blog
  • SHOP
    • Purchases
    • Cookbooks
    • Planner
    • The Good Cheap Eats Club
    • Meal Plans
    • Holiday Helps
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Easter Recipes
  • Budget Strategies
  • Recipes
  • Shop
  • Join the Club
  • About
  • My Account
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Easter Recipes
    • Budget Strategies
    • Recipes
    • Shop
    • Join the Club
    • About
    • My Account
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Frugal Pantry » Grocery Shopping

    Budgeting for Meals: How Much to Spend on Food?

    Published: Feb 16, 2022 by Jessica Fisher

    FacebookTweetPinPrint
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more details, please see our disclosure policy.
    Pinterest pin showing cart of groceries and a budget planning sheet

    What you spend on groceries can be one of the most flexible line items in your budget. How do you handle budgeting for meals?

    There’s no one size fits all answer to food budgeting, but there are factors, including past food expenses, current circumstances, and federal data that can help you crunch the numbers to find a very doable grocery budget.

    Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

    envelope grocery list atop a grocery ad with cash and a pen. this …
    Jump to:
    • Why It Matters
    • How to Figure it Out
    • Costs for our household of 7 in 2022:
    • Ways to Adjust

    When you’re working on food budgeting, you may be wondering where in the world to start. It can be super confusing, especially if you’re reading the news headlines. (Don’t.)

    Thankfully, a workable, frugal grocery budget is not out of reach. You can have your cake and pay the bills, too.

    Whether you are figuring out a food budget for 2, counting the cost of groceries for a family of 4, or simply want to know how to make a monthly grocery budget, there are several factors you can consider to help you land on a reasonable monthly or weekly budget for groceries.

    Why It Matters

    Budgeting for meals can reel in that out-of-control feeling, like pouring water into a glass instead of all over the table. That grocery budget gives boundaries to your money, but also freedom to spend.

    Food budgeting can give you more wiggle room to your overall personal budget. Since groceries are one of the most flexible line items in your monthly spending, it’s good to consider if you’re on track, if you can cut back, or if you have some flexibility to splurge. Budgeting for meals could make a big impact on your bigger financial picture.

    Clipboard with pen and the grocery budget tracker

    Food budgeting is going to be dependent on a particular household’s size, income, dietary needs, and food preferences. There really isn’t a one-size-fits all answer, but there are some general factors to consider.

    It’s helpful to compare notes with others, particularly those who live in the same region and/or enjoy a similar diet, so that you can see if you’re on track. But at the same time, don’t compare your apples to someone else’s oranges.

    Above all, remember that food budgeting has no moral value. It is neutral. We’re talking about numbers, but it isn’t a competition.

    There are no good budgets or bad budgets; simply food budgets that do or don’t work for you with the resources you have.

    How to Figure it Out

    Walk through these questions to get a handle on food budgeting for your household:

    What are you spending now?

    If you’re new to budgeting for meals, it might be hard to know where to start, especially if you’re also getting out of debt or trying to save for the first time. How much curbing is necessary?

    Knowing what you spend currently will at least give you a starting place for food budgeting.

    • Keep track of receipts for a month or two so you have some data to work with.
    • Log into your bank or credit card account. They may already be generating reports that show this data.
    • Look at what you’re spending eating out. What you spend on food away from home can be reduced by cooking at home.

    Once you know what you’re spending, you’ll be able to determine if this amount can be reduced or relaxed in your food budgeting.

    grocery cart full of Ralphs groceries

    What can you afford?

    Obviously, the money you have at your disposal will dictate your food budgeting. Once you pay for housing, utilities, and other inflexible bills, you’ve (hopefully) got discretionary funds to spend on food, clothing, etc.

    To stay in the black, you may need to give up certain luxuries somewhere.

    For us, we’re happy to go without cable, new cars, and fancy clothes, in order to spend money in other areas, like ample groceries, dinners out, or family travel.

    Adjust your grocery budget to suit your income as well as your priorities.

    What does the government say about budgeting for meals for your type of household?

    Not that the government is the authority on all things grocery-related, but our tax dollars do pay for someone to track food costs nationwide. Consulting the USDA food cost reports can help you decide on your approach to budgeting for meals.

    Check out the USDA Food Cost reports to see how your household adds up.

    In 2022 they’ve made some changes in how they report data. The thrifty plan data is now used to calculate SNAP benefits, while the other three plans are more reflective of research purposes.

    I recommend using the low-cost plan to set an initial target food budget for your household.

    Costs for our household of 7 in 2022:

    Female, 12-13 years = $227.00
    Female, 14-18 years = $226.70
    Male, 14-18 years = $267.80
    Male, 14-18 years = $267.80
    Male, 19-50 years = $266.80
    Female, 19-50 years = $231.70
    Male, 51-70 years = $251.60
    Subtotal = $1739.40
    minus 10% large family adjustment – 173.94
    Total estimated cost on the low cost plan = $1565.46

    Our target budget for 2022: $1200/month, not including dining out or household supplies/toiletries

    According to the most recent report, the USDA estimates that it should cost me $1565.46 to feed my household of seven—all our meals at home along the lowest-price point—each month on the low cost plan. I know from experience that this is totally possible.

    Things might get a little funky with supply chain issues, but I am confident we can swing this food budget with the Good Cheap Eats System.

    How can you make all these numbers jive?

    You’ve got three numbers for budgeting for meals:

    • what you’re spending
    • what you can afford
    • what food actually costs

    In a perfect world, these numbers should all match up to the ideal grocery budget. You would be budgeting for meals only what you can afford and you would be able to afford what food costs.

    Unfortunately, things do not always match up.

    For years Mr. Stark, a friend’s dad, prepared our taxes for free, in part because he couldn’t understand how we were able to feed everyone on how little we made.

    I guess that’s the beauty of the GCE System!

    list of the good cheap eats system

    Ways to Adjust

    Maybe you need to make some changes in how you shop and cook so that budgeting for meals is more doable.

    Auditing your grocery spending is a great place to start. Following the Good Cheap Eats System is another.

    1. Shop your kitchen so that you can use what you have, saving you time and money not going to the store more than you need to.
    2. Plan your meals to save money. This means planning meals that focus on regular low-cost ingredients, food you already have on hand, and groceries you find on sale or clearance. This Budget Grocery List is a good place to start.
    3. Use up leftovers. Learning how to stop wasting food can make a big difference in your overall food budget.
    4. Visit the store with the best prices. Where you shop matters. Many stores offer the exact same products at vastly different prices. You may be able to slash your grocery spending by shopping a different store.
    5. Check the sales and clearance. It’s amazing what you can find — that’s perfectly fresh! — at a discount.
    6. Cook from scratch. Cooking at home will almost always save you money or going out to eat.
    7. Freeze extra for later. Whether you’re freezing a double batch of pasta sauce or stashing away an extra pound of chicken you bought on sale, you’re buying yourself some time and saving money using your freezer.

    The bottom line is that your food budgeting is going to depend on a lot of different factors, including your priorities. Gourmet coffee may be more important to you than a new pair of shoes, and that’s perfectly okay.


    How do YOU decide what to spend on groceries? How are you budgeting for food?

    This post was originally published July 20, 2016. It has been updated for content and clarity.

    « Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing Recipe
    Banana Whole Wheat Pancakes »
    FacebookTweetPinPrint

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jodi

      February 07, 2021 at 10:39 am

      Thanks for this, Jessica. I found during this past pantry challenge that I was feeling frustrated because I set our budget too low. We are a family of 5: me, hubs and 3 boys ages 10, 17, 20. They eat a LOT. I had been trying to spend umder $700 a month for everything: food, personal care, household stuff like laundry soap, etc. Thrifty plan says we should be about $900 for just food. I can’t hit my current arbitrary goal without sacrificing nutrition, and with health issues becoming evident, I am shifting focus to more “real” food and adding in produce, phasing out some carbs. This challenge helped crystallize where I need to put my focus and gives me a new challenge for now: Maybe adding in $100 a month to food budget but making it much more healthful foods.

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        February 08, 2021 at 4:16 pm

        Great aha moment! Remember a budget is a plan or an allowance. It can provide structure, but also freedom!

        Reply
    2. Kelly

      February 07, 2021 at 6:59 am

      Is the large family reduction because of being able to buy in bulk?

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        February 07, 2021 at 7:04 am

        I think so. Likewise cooking for one or two will cost more because of the bulk benefits. I only noticed that footnote a few months ago. Not sure if it’s a new thing or if I just missed it previously.

        Reply
    3. Sherry Hyden

      February 01, 2021 at 9:37 am

      Hi Jessica,
      Love this post! Is the Grocery Budget Tracker pictured above available as a print out anywhere on your site? I’m evaluating my grocery budget – I’d like to shave about $80 off somewhere but I’m already at $800 for a family of 6 plus a sometimes college age eater in an expensive part of the country. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        February 01, 2021 at 10:07 am

        Good for you. You’re already doing a great job, but I know a little work will help you get to a new goal. The tracker is actually available in the Good Cheap Eats Club.

        Reply
    4. Christine

      October 14, 2018 at 6:23 pm

      Just reset my budget so we can come in this month the low budget plan. We are 2 adults and 2 kids. $864 is the low budget for us, and I think I can make it work this month.

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        November 10, 2018 at 11:18 am

        How did it go, Christine?

        Reply
    5. Claudia Jimenez

      February 11, 2018 at 3:25 pm

      I’m totally with you in writing everything down. I can tell you what my cable bill was 15 years ago. I try not to carry cash because it enables me to avoid multiple small purchases which do add up. Since subscribing to your blog though I have gone back to meal planning which I let lapse and my budge showed it. I am a big fan of Sprouts which has helped control the food spending.. I have given up Safeway because the gas rewards were costing too much. Also going towards a more Wholefoods mindset. Thanks for your help.

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        November 10, 2018 at 11:18 am

        So glad to hear that you’re seeing success!

        Reply
    « Older Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    jessica from good cheap eats

    Hi, I'm Jessica! I believe anyone can prepare delicious meals -- no matter their budget.

    More about me

    collage of media outlets where good cheap eats has been featured.
    cooking for one
    cooking for many banner
    cooking to freeze banner

    Best Easter Recipes

    • close up of air fryer asparagus on white platter.
      Air Fryer Asparagus
    • close up of a square of carrot cake on a white plate.
      30+ Best Easter Dessert Recipes
    • plates on table with squares of cinnamon coffee cake, next to baking pan on towel.
      Cinnamon Coffee Cake Recipe
    • lemon cupcake topped with sweet cream cheese.
      Sweet Cream Cheese
    • overhead shot of lemon wedges and a small pitcher of lemon sauce on a white platter.
      Lemon Sauce for Desserts
    • closeup of an easter oreo with crosses piped over a blue sky.
      Easter Oreos

    Take the Pantry Challenge

    • badge that says, I'm taking the pantry challenge at Good Cheap Eats
      Prepping for a Pantry Clean Out
    • overhead shot of cans and boxed ingredients in a flatlay.
      How to Stock the Pantry on a Budget
    • homemade light brown sugar in white bowl.
      90+ Pantry Staples You Can Make Yourself
    • bowl of soup with spoon of vegetables.
      What to Make for Dinner When There’s “Nothing” to Eat

    Footer

    back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • About

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2021 Good Cheap Eats