What's the typical cost to feed two people for a month? (coupons, healthier)

[rural chick]

I'm always trying to cut expenses from our food bill. I try to not spend over $70.00 per week on groceries, but on an average 4 week month, that's around $280 per month.

I go through the newspaper ads and try to find the store with the best ads, plus I buy part of the groceries at Aldi's, and use coupons when I have them.

What would you think is the typical cost to feed two persons for a month? Do you have any shopping hints besides the typical buy in bulk and separate, use less meat, etc.?

[Emeraldmaiden]

I think it depends where you live, and how you cook. The USDA has a chart here with lots of info. It's a PDF.

[MoNative34]

I don't know what the average monthly cost is, but I'd say you're doing pretty darn good at 70 bucks a week.

I can think of a lot of things to save money off the top of my head, but you're probably already doing those things!

[jasper12]

It is difficult for me to identify, as when we shop, we also put paper towels, razors, what ever other stuff we need in the cart. We eat what we want, but we are very frugal, On Sunday I make a big pasta salad, or potato salad, and plan meals around that for the week. I always take my lunch, we eat a lot of eggs.

I picked a melon the other day at the store, it was five pounds, total of $7.00! Difficult to eat fresh fruit and veggies on a budget.

[ccm123]

For us, about $50-$70 per week.

[Nanny Goat]

I spend 80/week for 2, sometimes more. We eat fish, org. chicken, org. turkey once in a while and whole grain breads, healthier stuff, EVOO, kashi snacks, soy, flax all adds up.

[Foodmuse]

If I want to cut costs I do it in anything else but healthy eating. Your health is your future, money doesn't mean much if you aren't healthy.

[Newdaawn]

I'd say that $70 a week for 2 is doing pretty good. I know I go over that quite often but good food is an important thing to me. We don't buy soda or pre-made pastries. I always go light on meat - having it maybe 2 times a week and using left over chicken in chicken salad etc. It also depends if we eat out how much is spent at the grocery store. I think the amount also includes things that are not food, such as paper goods,soap, shampoo, toothpaste and cleaning supplies. I don't ever buy paper napkins anymore and use the cloth ones. If I kept track of the money that is spent on edibles only I might be surprized.

[Hedgehog_Mom]

I spend about $100/week for a family of four, including toiletries, cleaning supplies and paper goods. I used to spend $70/week before we started trying to eat healthier and adding fruits and veggies to our diet. The difference in how we feel with the better food is definitely worth the extra expense. We also spend $50/month dining out, which is what we skip if we're trying to save money for the month.

My sister spends $540/month to feed two people, and $700/month dining out.

[hellpaso]

I spend probably $1000/month for two, sometimes less. We eat very well. Let the insults & judging begin.