me&thegals
A Major Squash & Pumpkin Lover
I'd say we average around $50/week for a family of 4. In the summer, about May-Nov, it may be only $15/week. But, we occasionally have a huge output of $100 for meat processing (making venison into sausage, ring bologna) or fruit (peaches and pears), so that may not be a totally accurate average. We can actually go weeks with no $ spent at all, but DH works at a dairy farm mornings and gets free milk, and we have our own eggs and a lot of our own meat, grow a pile of our own veggies and fruit...
Before we had as much on our own, we easily spent $100/week, and that's when the kids were little. Cutting out processed foods (rarely buy cereal or crackers) and junk (no more soda, occasional chips) has helped a lot.
We can sometimes go up to a month without eating out, but I'd say our average restaurant money per month is $25-50. If traveling a lot, then more like $100.
I haven't factored in chicken feed costs, as our egg sales far and above cover that. Nor the food for the meat birds for same reason. I also don't count the garden costs, as we operate a CSA that far more than covers those costs.
It's a frugal life, but a hard-working one
I also forget the trips to Sam's club for nuts, oils, chocolate and cheese--which can easily top $200!
Before we had as much on our own, we easily spent $100/week, and that's when the kids were little. Cutting out processed foods (rarely buy cereal or crackers) and junk (no more soda, occasional chips) has helped a lot.
We can sometimes go up to a month without eating out, but I'd say our average restaurant money per month is $25-50. If traveling a lot, then more like $100.
I haven't factored in chicken feed costs, as our egg sales far and above cover that. Nor the food for the meat birds for same reason. I also don't count the garden costs, as we operate a CSA that far more than covers those costs.
It's a frugal life, but a hard-working one
I also forget the trips to Sam's club for nuts, oils, chocolate and cheese--which can easily top $200!