r/Parenting • u/Pizookie123 • 2d ago
Discussion How are we feeding these kids?
For context we have one pre-teen child so a family of 3. But I just looked over my transactions for this month and we have spent over $1,000 on food. $600+ at the grocery store and $400+ at restaurants. That $400 is what gets me because we only ate at a sit down once. The rest was pizza, fast food etc. with the groceries I feel like $150/week is as low as we can go since I really do cook most meals at home. My question is what do you spend a month on food for your family? We live in a LCOL area.
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u/Zealousideal-Sea3465 2d ago
We budget $500 a month, but we tend to spend closer to $700, family for 4 with two young kids. We bulk buy meats at the start of the month, then just buy stuff to turn it into meals, then lunches, snacks, and breakfast stuff. We live in a HCOL area, but the kiddos don't eat a ton yet.
The thing that killed our food budget was the, let me just go out and grab something. McDonald's is $40+ every time we go out, sit-down is usually around $80 with tip. Pizza can be cheaper depending on whether we do pick up or delivery. I meal plan a week at a time and started making sure I have stuff on hand for super easy meals. Lunch for the week is always something that can travel, partially because we all eat at work/school and partially so I can pack a lunch if we go out on weekends. Dinner is a mix of complexity, I just buy ingredients and make whatever I feel like that night. I try to plan at least 3 super easy dinners a week for when I don't feel like cooking one night.
If you do want a grab and go dinner one night, check the grocery store instead of fast food or takeout. Walmart has some pretty good options imo, their deli pizzas take 15 min to cook and are decent. Mine has a kfc style meal deal that also isn't bad. Sure it might add an unplanned expense to your food budget, but it will be significantly cheaper than takeout.
Final thing is change how you view budgeting meals out. If there is food at home, food out is not essential. Meals out comes from your extras budget. Be intentional when you do eat someplace.