I need strategies to cut costs. Despite eating largely at home and having a Costco membership, I still spend about $600 a month on food.
3 Likes
$200 a month for groceries and $150 for dining out is the monthly budget. $350 a month. Though I do not set limits, I have shed a lot of weight since cutting back on my eating out expenses.
2 Likes
$50/week? How? What do you eat?
1 Like
My typical day looks like this:
- Breakfast: Eggs, toast, and a fruit kefir smoothie
- Lunch: A chicken sandwich or other meat
- Dinner: Soup and a potato with kefir cheese
I drink a lot of milk. I buy whole chickens at a dollar a pound and store them in my chest freezer, using about two a week. I make stock from the bones. I go through about a loaf of homemade bread each week. For smoothies, I buy a $11 bag of frozen berries that lasts three weeks. I eat a serving of frozen salmon from Aldi each week and buy the cheapest beef on sale, portioning and freezing it to eat one day a week.
Weekly costs:
- 2 chickens: $12
- Eggs: $2
- Milk: $9
- Berries: $3
- Bread: $1
- 4 oz salmon: $2
- Serving of beef: $2
- Butter: $1
- Dry sherry (for soup): $4 (bottle is $12 and lasts three weeks)
- Onions: $2
- Carrots: $2
- Celery: $2
- Potato: $5
Total: $47 a week.
With spices and other occasional purchases, it’s close to $50. I know people suggest legumes and rice, but I dislike them, so I make this work.
As someone who has been exploring budgeting strategies and managing food expenses, I understand the challenge of cutting costs even with a Costco membership and eating at home. To reduce your $600 monthly food bill, consider meal planning to avoid impulse buys, buying in bulk only for items you frequently use, and utilizing Costco’s sales and coupons. Additionally, try incorporating more affordable ingredients, like seasonal produce and pantry staples, and reduce waste by repurposing leftovers. Tracking your spending closely can also help identify specific areas to cut back. These strategies have helped me manage my budget more effectively.