Groceries are a necessity of life and something everyone has to buy. But, just how much would individuals and families spend on their credit cards or out of their bank accounts to eat a balanced diet? The answer may surprise you.
Here's what a balanced diet would cost the typical American family
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has created a plan called the Thrifty Food Plan, which "represents a nutritious, practical, cost-effective diet." The USDA explains that this typical plan follows dietary guidelines for Americans and assumes that all meals and snacks are cooked at home rather than out at restaurants.
To help families get an idea of their grocery budget, the USDA has provided a cost estimate for the Thrifty Food Plan. According to this estimate, a reference family of four (consisting of a heterosexual couple between the ages of 20 and 50 with two children between 6 and 8 and between 9 and 11) would spend around $223.30 per week and $967.70 per month in order to eat a balanced diet.
The USDA also provided some other cost estimates as well. For example, a typical female who is 71 or older and who follows the Thrifty Food Plan would incur monthly grocery costs of $245.70, while food for the typical 1-year-old child on this diet would come in at $108.40 per month.
How does your spending compare?
The USDA's price estimates are based on its definition of a balanced diet, as well as estimations of prices throughout the United States.
Your own spending may differ dramatically from these estimates. Depending on your situation, including whether you tend to opt for more expensive organic items or whether you are a budget-conscious shopper who buys on sale, your own grocery spending may be much higher or lower than this amount.
If your spending is coming in at a much higher rate, though, it may be worth looking into cost-cutting measures -- especially since the USDA has indicated you can eat healthy for around this price. You may want to think about:
- Steering clear of prepared or packaged food items as the more prep-work that is done for you, the higher the cost.
- Shopping the sales flyers so you can buy items that are on sale each week and take advantage of grocery store bargains.
- Making a meal plan and shopping from a list to avoid impulse buys or wasted food that you don't end up eating because you buy more than you need.
- Switching where you do your grocery shopping, perhaps by changing to a less-expensive grocery store chain or shopping at a big-box store such as Costco or Sam's Club to score bulk bargains on groceries.
- Using coupons which can help you save on the cost of food and other grocery-store items such as aluminum foil or paper towels.
You never want to compromise health or safety when it comes to buying food items, but aiming to try to stick within the USDA's guidelines for what a healthy balanced diet should cost can be a good goal if you want to keep your grocery spending in check.
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FAQs
amounted to $609.7 per month. In 2023 the average household spends between. $1,047 to $1,576 on a groceries per month. Safe to say.
What is the average grocery budget for a family of 4? ›
Single-person households, as you might expect, spent the least on food: $5,235 in 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Two-person households spent $9,363, up from $8,242 in 2021. The national average for three-person households was $11,158. Four-person households spent $13.055.
What is the average monthly expenses for a family of 4? ›
Average Expenses for a Family of Four
According to the most recent data, U.S. households that consist of four people spent an average of $8,640 per month in 2022. In 2021, the average four-person household spent $7749 per month. This works out to average annual expenditures of $101,514 in 2022, up from $92,989 in 2021.
How much food for a family of four? ›
Thrifty Food Plan Costs
A typical family of four (mother, father, and two young children) would spend about $130 each week on groceries to meet the MyPlate recommendations. Families with elementary aged children would spend a little more, almost $150 per week.
How to grocery shop for a family of 4 on a budget? ›
Sales and discounts are a great way to save money on your grocery bill. Plan your weekly meals around what's on sale at your local grocery store. Also, consider buying items in bulk when they're on sale, especially non-perishable items that you use regularly. Remember to be mindful when shopping sales.
What is the 50 30 20 rule? ›
Do not subtract other amounts that may be withheld or automatically deducted, like health insurance or retirement contributions. Those will become part of your budget. The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings.
What is a normal monthly grocery budget? ›
By Household Size
According to the USDA guidelines, you might spend $979 a month on a thrifty plan, $1,028 on a low-cost plan, $1,252 on a moderate-cost plan and $1,604 on a liberal plan. The USDA guidelines can provide a starting point for a food budget, but they don't consider all the variables that can affect cost.
What is a good budget for a family of four? ›
Per the Economic Policy Institute, the yearly average budget for a family of 4 in our area was $89,000 (but this includes taxes).
What is a good income for a family of four? ›
Out of all 99 cities SmartAsset examined, a family of four would need a median of $226,886 to live comfortably.
How much money does a 4 person family need? ›
The Living Wage For a Family of Four in All 50 States
| RANK | STATE | LIVING WAGE |
|---|
| 47 | New York | $118,127 |
| 48 | California | $130,239 |
| 49 | Massachusetts | $142,341 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $182,900 |
46 more rowsSep 12, 2023
Generally speaking, 200 square feet of garden space per person will allow for a harvest that feeds everyone year-round. For an average family of four, plan for an 800 square-foot garden—a plot that's 20 feet by 40 feet in size should do the trick.
How to spend less than $200 a month on groceries? ›
Here are the most important habits that we regularly used to spend no more than $200 a month on food.
- Create a weekly perishable food inventory. ...
- Plan a menu each week. ...
- Focus on buying loss leaders. ...
- Find the markdowns. ...
- Buy in Bulk. ...
- Avoid processed foods.
What is the average weekly grocery bill for a family of four? According to the USDA, the average weekly grocery bill for a family of four in the United States fluctuates between $150 to $300. This variance accounts for differences in dietary preferences, geographical location, and individual shopping habits.
What is a realistic grocery budget for a family of 5? ›
On average, a family of five spends anywhere from $922 to $1,488 a month on groceries, according to USDA monthly food plans. If you're looking to curb your spending, consider meal planning, buying in bulk, and shopping at more affordable grocery stores.
How to make a cheap grocery list? ›
How to Save on Weekly Groceries
- Shop your fridge, pantry, and freezer first. ...
- Keep versatile basics in the pantry. ...
- Maximize freezer space. ...
- Make a meal plan. ...
- Buy the ingredients you use the most in bulk, but ONLY if they're non-perishable or have a long shelf life. ...
- Repurpose your leftovers.
| Average Monthly Cost Clothing For Various Family Size |
|---|
| 1 | $67.08 |
| 2 | $135.58 |
| 3 | $189.25 |
| 4 | $213.92 |
4 more rowsThe 50/30/20 budget can help you work out how much to spend on groceries based on your specific income and expenses. Following this framework, you spend about 50% of your monthly after-tax income on needs, 30% on wants and 20% on savings and debt repayment.
How much should I spend on food per day? ›
What's a reasonable food budget? Many financial advisors and gurus recommend spending no more than 10%-15% of take-home pay on food, a figure that includes restaurant dining and takeout.
How much does the average person spend on eating out per month? ›
How Much Do Americans Spend Eating Out? Americans spend an average of $3,639 eating out each year—roughly $300 each month. And those fast-food meals and restaurant tabs continue to add up. In fact, Americans spent 20% more eating out in 2022 than they did in 2021.
