The SNAP budget

[peter12]

So the wife and I are sort of trying to push our necessity budget to a more efficient level. One of the things that we blow a lot of money on is our food budget, probably around $600 a month. We were seeing food waste well over 40%, and our cupboards were absolutely packed with things that we really had no use for - try three different packets of cumin or five bottles of olive oil. Ridiculous.

There is kind of a big fad going around where people try to exist on the same budget as people on food stamps or SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) as it is currently called. Basically, you get about $125 per person per month for all groceries. We figured we could do it for two on $170 a month.

There are also other rules about not accepting free food and not using food that you had purchased before. I guess this somewhat simulates the lack of surplus that poor people suffer from, and the overall lack of food bank resources or something. Anyway, we broke them both because it would be wasteful and there is so much free food around, I think almost anyone could take advantage of it. So by free food, I mean we will take leftovers from dinners with our parents, we aren't actually going to the food bank to take something from people that need it more.

Anyway, one month in, we did it and had a surplus of around $20. It wasn't actually that painful if you don't mind rice and beans. Fresh produce is a bit of an issue, but that was solved by planning meals appropriately, and then freezing the leftovers. We figured that we could live like kings on probably $400 a month after this.

Anyone else give this a go?

[GGG]

$125 isn't too bad. As a family of 4 we have a budget of $600.

The key for me is to bulk purchase meet and freeze it. And not premade food aside from bread.

Premade food is ridiculously expensive.

With $600 to spend if you keep supper between 8-12 per meal the rest is pretty easy.

[squiggs96]

If you bought one less sport jacket per month your food budget problem would be solved.

[Tyler]

I'm a single guy and I spend $600 a month on groceries. Could never do this

[Flash Walken]

One thing my wife and I did that really helped our food costs was investing in a pressure cooker and slow cooker.

We now make a freeze meals in advance (we will make up to 10-15 meals at a time on a Saturday or Sunday once a month, put them into ziplock freezer bags and lay flat in freezer). This allows us to save a lot on produce as we are purchasing at one time for many meals portioned out and have virtually no 'leftover' food waste from things like lettuce or herbs spoiling in the fridge.

With the pressure cooker, for things like chicken breasts we can go from the freezer straight to cooking and be done in about 20 minutes. With the slower cooker, it's just a matter of taking out a meal before bed and putting it in the fridge, then emptying the freezer bag into the slow cooker before work in the morning.

We don't eat every meal like this, but 2 per week has really cut down on our food costs. The leftovers make tremendous lunches.

Now that winter is starting to set in, we'll probably eat more like as the prep method lends itself more to the soup/stew/curry type meals.

[burn_this_city]

What about meat? I take it mostly chicken since decent beef is too expensive.

[flylock shox]

Originally Posted by Tyler

I'm a single guy and I spend $600 a month on groceries. Could never do this

Yeah, it's a lot tougher to eat frugally as a single person.

Part of the reason is that, sure, you could make a whole mess of rice, beans, chili, pasta, whatever, but then you're stuck eating the same meal 6 nights in a row. And you could freeze some of it, but then you spend most of your meals eating reheated leftovers, which isn't very inspiring.

Another part of the reason is the per meal cost. If you accept that a homemade meal with some meat will cost about $4 for an individual serving, but you can go out and buy something for $6 and save time and washing up, it's pretty easy to do that.

A third reason is that eating has social value: people eat together and socialize. But if you're single, that means getting out of the house.

Social (i.e. outside the home) eating is probably my biggest monthly expenditure. Of course, that includes beer too.

But hey, you gotta live your life. I'd hate to have to seriously restrict my dining choices for budgetary reasons.

[calgarygeologist]

Aside from meat, another big budget killer is junk food. It is shocking how much a bag of chips or box of cookies cost. We don't buy much junk food but sometimes I get a craving for the stuff. The only time I have chocolate bars is during Halloween because I just can't fork over $1.50 for a chocolate bar.

That being said, we easily spend $800 a month for a family of 4 (2 young kids who don't eat a lot.) Some months we are well over $1000.

[Incinerator]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyler

I'm a single guy and I spend $600 a month on groceries. Could never do this

Yeah, it's a lot tougher to eat frugally as a single person.

Part of the reason is that, sure, you could make a whole mess of rice, beans, chili, pasta, whatever, but then you're stuck eating the same meal 6 nights in a row. And you could freeze some of it, but then you spend most of your meals eating reheated leftovers, which isn't very inspiring.

Another part of the reason is the per meal cost. If you accept that a homemade meal with some meat will cost about $4 for an individual serving, but you can go out and buy something for $6 and save time and washing up, it's pretty easy to do that.

A third reason is that eating has social value: people eat together and socialize. But if you're single, that means getting out of the house.

Social (i.e. outside the home) eating is probably my biggest monthly expenditure. Of course, that includes beer too.

But hey, you gotta live your life. I'd hate to have to seriously restrict my dining choices for budgetary reasons.

This. I probably spend close to $1000 a month eating out as a single guy, it's just so hard to cook for yourself at home. My grocery shopping is exclusively junk food.



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[JiriHrdina]

I'd like to hear more about the pressure cookers. What other types of meals can you make with them?

[bigtmac19]

I started making an effort to use my slow cooker last winter. I had purchased a new cook book that had a lot of great recipes, most of them fairly cheap to make. It made a real difference in my grocery budget. I would usually do it on a Sunday and could stretch it several meals/lunch. Lentils and other low cost beans work really well in the slow cooker.

[tvp2003]

Thanks to CP a third of my diet consists of ham and egg breakfast sandwiches. Cheap and yummy

Actually, I've always been a pretty frugal eater (cereal for dinner by choice, not necessity); my wife likes her costco fruits and veggies so that probably half our budget right there of course, with kids it's kind of gone out the window...

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

but then you're stuck eating the same meal 6 nights in a row.

That's what I do when I'm working. $30 for meals for the week at work (breakfast & lunch) then a light supper at home. Make a big batch of something in either mason jars or the slow cooker and have it all week at work, then my days off play in the kitchen and make something different. I find making a specific recipe for a one time use generally costs way more.

As for the monthly budget I've spent on average $700/month on food & dining out. (some liquor included in that figure I guess too).

If I limited dining out it'd probably be $450-500 a month on average. I've been experimenting with making my own dehydrated meals for camping and hiking, as well as jerky, so that probably inflates the numbers a bit too.

For fruits, veggies, junk food, and canned goods, you can't beat Costco for prices. Even if I can't finish half of it, sadly it's cheaper to buy more at Costco than the amount I need at the local stores. Although I've started freezing/dehydrating more lately.

While I'm all for limiting food waste and saving money, I'd cut back in a ton of other areas over food. $125 might work in college, but I enjoy food way too much. Living on rice, beans, and poor cuts of meat is not my idea of an enjoyable month. I had crappy enough nutrition when I was younger. Don't need to re-live that. Impressed you could do it for $150 for two people though.

[Street Pharmacist]

For my wife and I, a 16 year old 1-2 days a week and a 3 year old, we probably spend $1200-1600. We buy stupid stuff when we're hungry and eat out far too often. It's hard as both my wife and I work odd hours and are rarely both home in time to make dinner. When we are it feels like a holiday so we eat out. Serious burden on our budget every month. We throw so much out. One time when cleaning the fridge I found 6 kind of mustard. 6. That's absurd

[Swarly]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

....
One time when cleaning the fridge I found 6 kind of mustard. 6. That's absurd

not absurd at all, that is called being a connoisseur sir.

I spend about $250/month on groceries and probably another $700 eating out. Single guy, I eat out lunch nearly every day and probably dinner out 4-5 times a week. Have a roommate so that helps in the grocery area, able to split larger things like milk, eggs, and normal stuff like that.
Starting to try and plan a bit more, as I type this I am cooking up about 12L of chilli. I'll freeze it and it should last about 20 meals, $40-50 bucks for the chilli (I didn't skimp on meat, I usually still use fillet cuts, bacon), but about $3/meal once i cook up some rice or pasta to go with it.

as for the OP, I'm not sure how anyone could live on $125/month. at 3 meals/day and 30 days/month that is an average of $1.39 per meal. you would be eating mustard sandwiches.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Swarly

you would be eating mustard sandwiches.

With only one type of mustard!

[GGG]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

What about meat? I take it mostly chicken since decent beef is too expensive.

Pork is really cheap too. Some days they practically give away pork tenderloin.

For beef portion size is key. 4-6 oz per person instead of 8-12.

[Machiavelli]

Wow, I thought I spent a lot on groceries, $300-350 per month for just me.

Dining/eating out probably adds another $150 or so.

I hate cooking for one; I detest leftovers, and the thought of reheating already-cooked frozen food makes me shudder.

[blueski]

Yeah my wife won't eat left overs. Three kids lot of processed food. 1600+ per month. I hate it, but where to start?

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by peter12

you get about $125 per person per month for all groceries

This puts the $1000 we spend a month on food (for 6 people) into perspective.

I used to look at it as an absurd amount, but is someone living on food stamps for 6 people is at $750, then maybe I should consider that pretty good, considering we have take out maybe once a week on average due to our schedules.