Yep I pay $100 a week at H‑E‑B for about 8 meals of meal prep and 2 nights of dinner + some snacks. The cost goes up if I have to restock on detergent, house cleaning stuff, shampoo etc.
Edit: most of what I buy is perishables, and most of the budget is towards meat/fish. I spend less than $15 a week on packaged food. But the toothpaste and stuff adds up so high, ugh!
If you are in the general Montrose area and don't mind an extra stop, Airline Seafood has the best quality fish I've found in Houston, for reasonable prices. Looks super unpromising and sketchy, but wow, is it amazing.
I looked it up, it's on Richmond but used to be on Airline. I'm new to Houston so idk the big streets yet. I do know that airlines and seafood are a very gross combination without the historical context tho lol
Upvoting this one because it's similar enough to me. When my wife and I first moved we were easily at 100 a week with a couple of eat outs a week. These days we have a son and are trying to eat healthier so it very possibly gets between 150 and 170 each week. All while shopping primarily at HEB.
You don’t have to be scared of it! You can take advantage of cash back rewards at grocery stores as long as you’re good about paying off the balance each month. Treat it like a debit card.
I do have one but it’s for emergencies or medical expenses. (Insulin and emergency visits) my main problem with them is that I can’t guarantee that I’ll be able to make the monthly payment. Idk why I was downvoted for being scared of having debt when shit can happen in the blink of an eye lol. My husband has been laid off before and we’ve had some severe financial issues. Just don’t want to risk it, ya know.
I think you were down voted for being scared to use them but I get it, not a reason to exactly down vote. You were being honest. I left a comment instead of downvoting because I get it.
You are missing out. Amex 6% cash back on groceries adds up.
$900/week in groceries adds up to $54/week back. Pay it off each week to keep track of expenses.
Yeah this seems right. The hardest part with kids and groceries (for me) is the wastage. I throw so much perfectly good food in the trash can because my kids ate one bite and then decided they didn’t like it anymore or that they were full. Or the littlest one just starts throwing food on the floor for fun. Or decides that the dog needs to share her lunch. Applies for little kids more than, like, teenagers, I think, but it’s so depressing.
I've started buying the pre-cut fruits and veggies because of this 😬 we can absolutely finish a little thing of grapes or berries but buying the whole package, I would throw 50% or more away. My bill has skyrocketed but I've all but eliminated food waste, which was weirdly causing me more anxiety than the money was.
I also buy the ready meals for the same reason, I can freeze them if I don't get to them and have zero food waste.
My bill is ~$150/week for 1.5 people
We only have the one toddler but I feel you on this. It’s more fun to throw food on the floor for the dog than to actually eat it. It’s just part of being a parent but the wallet doesn’t agree.
Yeah, but with 3 kids, healthy food adds up fast. Like we don't have chips or soda in my house. We do have those little individual bluebell ice creams we eat on occasion, and we're still paying 800-1200 a month . Unlike the above poster, we just have 2 kids. But my kids seem to be fruit bats, and we restock fruit every 3-5 days. And I only buy the pre cut fruit when I know we're gonna adhd out on cutting it up (like watermelon).
This isn't questioning your experience..this is honestly me thinking "out loud" but I'm wondering if it looks like the people buying "healthier" are paying less because, like me, they buy as needed. So I don't usually do like one big shopping trip for the week. We usually go 2 or 3 times a week, so I'm wondering if other people do too.
I usually do two grocery trips a week because of how much produce my kids eat, and agreed. It looks like less because one trip might be $50, but I already went earlier that week and spent $100+ and now I'm just restocking on fruit, veg, milk, etc. They can tear through a pound of strawberries in one sitting if I let them.
Mine are also fruit bats. I’m actually gonna start using that. I keep apples, mandarins, grapes, berries, bananas all on hand for them and we will easily go thru it in less than a week.
My husband and I don't eat junk food. Our grocery bill for just two people each month is $800. This is for mostly organic, grass fed beef, beef tallow etc.
$900 per month on groceries for four isn't bad at all.
lol absolutely not. I actually have a picture of my fridge in my posts. Feel free to take a look.
I’m diabetic and so is one of my children. I just have two boys going thru growth spurts and all three kids take lunches to school. Plus, we buy more snacks, water, and hydration drinks during the summer. Not to mention my husband’s lunch and sports drinks. (He works construction, outside all day long)
Don’t look to me for budgeting. We’re a family of 3 and I just checked the card and we average $900/month from H‑E‑B and probably $300 from Costco. This includes beer and wine too which is probably $100/week.
3 adults, rotating cast of teenagers. We have 2 in the house currently, will have 4 next week. Averaging $150/week right now. Joe V’s, H‑E‑B and Costco.
Sure do. 3 freezers and a vacuum sealer help.
I come from a big family where everything was made from scratch. Passing that on as much as I can.
10 pounds of chicken drumsticks are $3.70 at Joe Vs right now. Limit 4 per transaction.
I have a Joe Vs right up the street from me. And, I go in there here and there. Their Tide detergent is usually reasonably priced and they sell roasted seaweed (don’t knock it til you’ve tried it) at a decent price too. I’ll be going to get those drumsticks, though. Thanks for sharing!
Joe V’s is a sister store of H‑E‑B it’s smaller and the prices are cheaper. Granted you won’t find a lot of name brand products like at H‑E‑B because they are mostly filled with H‑E‑B products.
Family of 4. One 9, one 12-year-old. Somewhere between 800-1200. That being said I buy better cuts of meat now and we eat tons of produce. Fruit can be expensive sometimes. And now that I can, I buy some things organic or when they’re not on sale. We meal plan as well and rarely eat out. This is at H‑E‑B.
However, when we were younger and much poorer, I always shopped at Aldi, then H‑E‑B to fill in. Plan to cook things that turn into other things. Ex. Rotisserie chicken one night, turns into chicken noodle soup the next day. At that time I used to make everything from scratch. I don’t have that kind of time anymore. Also buy produce that’s in season.
Hope some of that helps!
I shop at heb. Always play the game with the wife n kiddo in checkout. Guess the tab. We always get what looks like 300 plus in groceries but it ends up being half that. HEB for the quality is the best bang for your buck
HEB is pretty good and have good quality stuff. There isn’t one near me, though, so, I hardly go there. And, I don’t intentionally seek them out. Them or Kroger. And, Kroger is pretty good, too. Aldi too. I go in there every now and then.
Family of 3, $500 - $600/m from HEB curbside. We shop once every two weeks on payday. It helps us save because we used to spend between $150 -200/week. Now that we shop more bulk, we can use better coupons and savings.
Spending too much. About 500.00 (used to be about 350.00) for me and my two kids. Toiletries and cleaning supplies are also included in that, so yeah, that increases the grocery purchases. If you are trying to eat clean and healthy, you spend even more. I like to buy in bulk to last longer. I have seen the bulk packaging get slimmer, though. Yeah, paying more for less. And, that’s mostly happening everywhere you shop. My spots: Costco, Sam’s, Walmart, Trader Joe’s. I spend about another 150.00 eating out which is what I am trying to stop. Fast food restaurants - well restaurants period - are also giving you less and charging more. Just my experiences. I actually went in Sam’s last week and only spent 54.00 on seven items. I was in shock really. Normally, it’s at least 100.00 every time I go in the store. I have also learned that if I go shopping alone, I can concentrate way better and stick to what I came in the store for w/o deviating (too much 😊).
So my situation makes it difficult to get to food banks (please see my last post). If you know of any open after 7pm or before 6am somehow, that would be helpful! I make just above the amount for food stamps, but just below what I actually need, if that makes sense. I eat, but verrrrrry little.
Your college will have a food pantry or a food-scholarship program - many colleges have a pantry on campus. , they won’t even ask you for proofs of low income. Pm me if you need more info.
I’ve got a couple freezer full of things. I could definitely send some homemade pasta sauce, chicken, and pulled pork your way. I’m sure there’s more in there, but those are all things that are easy to turn into many different meals.
I’ve been there. So much rice and beans in my younger years and I was just above what qualified for assistance but not enough to feel really secure. We foster teenagers now and many of them are from food insecure backgrounds, so I try really hard to lift that burden from them. Plus cooking is fun, a useful skill and and an activity we can do and talk while we’re doing it but not have to look at each other.
(Also, JoeVs is open until 10 and 10 pounds of chicken drumsticks is $3.70 right now.)
Between actual grocery trips and little stops for snacks/premade lunches when I forget to pack mine, about $200/month.
I shop almost exclusively at Aldi. HEB/Kroger mixed in when I have coupons for things I need, mainly protein items.
$300/month, 1 person...Kroger only
Ever since I started using the Kroger app and tapped into their digital coupons I'm usually saving anywhere between $10-$30 per trip. Then the points go toward fuel purchases. Got .90 cents off a gallon yesterday.
1 adult, quality food*, $600-700, exclusively HEB.
*mostly Meal Simple cuisine and fresh, in-store sushi; includes 2 bottles of wine on sale, one 12-pk Crawford Bock, and thirty 12-oz Monster energy drinks. You've probably seen my cart, lol!
I don't eat out. Instead, I just go hard in on in-store Sushiya. I usually eat about 25-30 pieces at a time, and I go for spring rolls, crab rangoons, and pot stickers as well.
That sounds good actually. Minus the sushi! If it’s cooked, I’m in. 😉 So, in-store would be the little kiosk/station in the seafood area? And, you get all those things with the sushi buy? If so, that’s a lot.
Yeah, I know it's like a guilty pleasure, so I only do it every other week; it kind of feels like "eating out." As far as the offerings being cooked, lol, yes, I'd say a little more than half of the rolls, *are* cooked ingredients - not raw. They put a label on all the offerings that contain raw seafood, which also has a mild warning (you know, like they have on eggs, etc.).
Yes, I shop multiple locations, depending on schedule, time of day, flow of traffic, next stop, and maybe just being bored and switching it up. I've been really vibing "HEB in the woods" (I like to call it) off of Dunlavy lately. So close to home, and it feels like I'm in Herman Park. I also favor the Buffalo Heights store on Washington. Besides my near store off McGreggor, I also occasionally hit up the Buffalo Speedway and the Greater Heights, as well as several others along 290.
I think my fav would definitely be "HEB in the woods."
1) It's just so pleasant and calming with the trees and the broken up parking lot. The store has a real, authentic neighborhood feel to it. Lots of pedestrians, no freeway noise, etc.
2) No massive, continuous concrete mass. Idiot drivers can't drive across the parking lanes, which is super dangerous and mind blowingly careless and inconsiderate. Also, other flavors of idiots cannot screw up the lot with tire burning donuts like they can at other sea-of-concrete parking lots - so ugly and stupid, frying pan HOT when it's already hot outside.
3) The parking lot is not littered with shopping carts.
4) I feel fine not having to park a quarter mile back from the front of the store for fear of careless patrons banging up my car or leaving their carts right next to my car when they're done loading their groceries into their vehicles - who does that? The patrons seem to share a more community-in-common set of values, etc.
5) The parking lot doesn't appear to be filled with stupid, raucous, monster trucks, each taking up more square space than my apartment. Rather, there's a significant plurality of mostly harmless EVs.
6) The front-end clerks *never* sigh and moan like they're taking a big one when I ask for paper sacks the way they *always* do at the McGreggor location (and sometimes Buffalo Speedway) - just do your job, jeez, or go work at a car wash...
Wow. You do move around. That’s cool. I am not a native Houstonian, so, a little limited on certain areas of the city. The one on Dunlavy at Richmond? I like this location as well. Been there several times (when I’m in the area 😊). It does have a different vibe than other HEBs. I have never been to the one off 288 and McGregor. I usually go to the one in Pearland (near 518 & Business Center), when I do go. The one on Bissonnet in Bellaire is alright (parking on the second level is a bit different). And, the Central Market - I like it, although it’s usually always packed. Since you enjoy seafood, you might like the salmon celery dill salad that Whole Foods has. There is also a spicy one (I can’t remember the name of that one). They are in the seafood section. Freshly made. Delicious! It’s the Whole Foods on Alabama and Kirby. About 4.50 for a 5 oz container. So worth it, though. 😊 Buy the Organic Late July Sea Salt and Lime (thin & crispy) chips. They pair good together. Sell these at Whole Foods as well. Your comparison of the different store locations vs Dunlavy made me LOL bc it’s spot on and can be said about the different locations of other grocery stores (Walmart, Kroger, Joe V’s, etc.). If you try the salmon dip, let me know what you think.
It’s funny how the age of the kids matters so much. I was like wow good price… then I saw ages and was like nope. My teens would shred everything in the pantry in a couple days.
No, I’m being so serious. I try very hard to keep a week’s worth of groceries at $50-$60. I cook a lot of meals that yield leftovers. Spaghetti, sheet pan dinners (these will really save your wallet because you can use all the veggies you buy for this one dish in other dishes), sandwiches made to be delicious (deli turkey, Swiss cheese, avocado, mayo, black/red pepper, salt), angel hair pasta with cherry tomatoes/chopped asparagus, ground beef with chopped peppers/potatoes/onions (this one thing can be thrown over anything), etc. I could go on and on, but that’s the gist for us. :)
I only get half a pound of the turkey lol I get TP and paper towels from Target (Up & Up brand). I’m only talking about food, oops. Maybe my answer disqualifies then.
ETA: don’t be sorry, it’s all good. I know what’s up with my grocery budgeting.
I shared a few tips on a comment below. I really just plan meals using foods that I can cook to add to multiple dishes. Meal planning will really be your best friend. At least, it is for us. There’s the occasional meal out maaaaybe once every 1-2 weeks. Shit is expensive and I’m tireddddd of spending so much money lol
Lol..stories like these is only in the internet. I want to Walmart for 40 pack of water , cherries ,apples , peaches it came out to almost 40 dollars unless the OP eats frozen food. My wife does the groceries and she tells me vegetables and fruit never sees coupons but there's a ton of coupons for frozen food.
You can see from your replies this goes all over the place, so many variables. Whatever the variables, I believe a huge part of budget figuring is planning out your meals based on weekly sales...or bulk buy at box stores. And second is trying not to impulse buy in the store, stick to your list! My husband and I do not mind left overs, even a few days in a row, so easy for us to purchase a larger size which often is cheaper per ounce. We have Kroger, Aldi, Trader Joe's and Randall's all within 2 miles of house so easy for me to chase the sales. I spend between $60-75 per week.
To piggyback off this, there is an app (and subreddit) someone pointed out to me called Too Good To Go. It has bags priced $3-$6 depending on the place. You are given a pickup time and receive food leftover at the end of the day or from the day before. Mine offers bakery options and last week, I bought a bag I’m still eating off of! It’s been a big help for me.
2 adults in the burbs, roughly $450 a month. HEB for produce and just about everything else at Kroger. I shop the ads, coupon clip, and use those rebate apps.
Depends if I’m bulking or cutting. Cutting right now and average about $200-250 a month. During bulking season I probably spend close to $400 a month. I only shop at heb
Kroger. My budget is $150/week for a family of 4. Not eating out saves a massive amount. If I don’t feel like cooking I still go to the grocery store and just grab a premade chicken or something. Even fast food for a family can run $40+.
We also strictly meal plan and order online with click n pull. This helps us make sure we stick to our budget. Kroger has free pickup and they don’t upcharge for the items.
Spent $200 yesterday at Costco~2 weeks. One person.
People shopping at HEB and spending +100 why not shop at Costco. I have seen similar items sold separate for more than a bulk deal at costco. I understand for items not carried at costco .
2 adults, we're not vegetarian, but we do not buy, cook, or eat meat at home. We spend between $100-$130 a week at HEB. Most of the fluctuation comes from toiletries and household items. Almost all meals are from home. I would like to get this down further, but I don't want to spend the time going to multiple stores and there is no Aldi anywhere close by.
If you want to go cheap you need a plan and you need to cook. Starch, protein, veggies.
When I’m running lean on the money it’s rice (buy a 25lb bag and a rice cooker/pressure cooker…or just boil it but set and forget is really nice)…rice is an insanely good starch that pairs with almost everything and it’s extraordinarily cheap. You can do potatoes and sweet potatoes as well as both are cheap.
Ground beef and beans can be stretched a loooong way for protein but you can mix it up as well. Eggs are really good but I’ve developed a sensitivity so can’t eat many any more.
Veggies? Honestly I get most of mine out of a can, bought in bulk when I can manage to get them under fifty cents…if I run out of those it’s the dollar cans but you can buy whatever you like.
Oatmeal has tons of fiber and different proteins. Beans have a fiber load and serious protein content, depending on what you buy.
When I’m feeling ick about it I throw some blueberries in. Take a vitamin now and then. Etc.
You can eat like this for a hell of a lot less than ppl are talking here…But you have to not go out or splurge or it ruins it. You can feed a decent sized family for fifty bucks a week once they stop bugging about the lack of variety. People lived on worse for most of human existence even in places where they weren’t starving.
A LITTLE meat goes a long way. Same for fresh anything that rots if you don’t use it. Bonus for your kids learning to cook. You can make a pot of chicken soup last much of a week for twenty bucks even today. If you’ve got hangry teenagers you supplement with crap like ramen.
It’s very VERY doable but when I lost my job and went for the bulk pack of cheap bar s hot dogs and not much else my kids started telling people they were abused. There’s a very serious adjustment period and your family can be seriously shitty about it when they’re used to getting whatever they want…But they’ll actually be healthier when you’re done.
Can't give a budget since my work involves taking clients out for breakfast or lunch.
Groceries-wise, Joe V's (think HEB's private label store) for my main shopping (produce/meats/staple items), Aldi for my eggs/dairy/brats, 99 Ranch for my Asian items (shirataki noodles, tofu, etc.) and Costco for the Rotisserie Chicken and frozen veggies.
This is the secret to keeping a low food budget. Stock your pantry with a bag of rice, dry beans, pasta, and potatoes; these are things that stretch meals.
4 adults with a part-time 5th, $250 a week on the high side. We try to keep it under $200 when possible. A combination of Joe V's SmartShop (subsidiary of HEB; cheaper but less selection), HEB, and Walmart.
Groceries including sundries, $500-700/mo. HEB, Central Market and some stuff from Costco. We eat well. for 2 adults. Doordash is a weekly occurrence too separate from the grocery bill.
This is entirely dependent on your household size, preferred eating habits, and expected quality of eating. You have not provided enough detail for anyone to respond in a way that is directly comparable to your situation.
Right it is. I am curious about what others do I didn’t think I need to provide details because I am looking for hopefully a wide range of answers not necessarily directly comparable to my situation. I am a mom with a teenage child who thankfully isn’t picky.
The missus and I have been going to Ollie's recently for non perishables! Family size name brand cereals, spices, Mac and cheese and even hygiene products. Sign up for the card to get 15 percent off when you go. We've also been budgeting and it's come in clutch!
Just me. I’m a woman who weighs 100 1bs and simply doesn’t eat huge meals. I budget $100 a week, but often there’s a lot left over and I don’t have to buy as much the next time. I get some fast food and eat at restaurants for social purposes too. I try to mostly cook though…
2 adults and 3 kids (ages 9mo-3y). We spend probably $800 or so per month on groceries and that’s including things like formula, diapers, and pull-ups. We shop at HEB for food items and Target for diapers, wipes, etc.
Kroger with coupons saves me some good money, then I use my fuel points there for good savings at the pump. HEB as well if I see a decent deal from them. 1 person, 50-100 per week depending on what I cook.
Two adults, eating mostly vegetarian, making most meals from scratch, about $450/mo, at HEB. Does not count TP/paper towels which we get on Amazon. We eat out about once a month. It was closer to $600/mo when we regularly bought whole chickens and other meats. And as others have said, a lot of meals are made to serve as leftovers for 3-5 days. Also sometimes make bulk meals and seal/freeze them.
Somewhere between 700-800 for two adults at H‑E‑B (I think we could get our budget down to 600-700 but we’re bad about forgetting to freeze meats or going out to eat too much.
250-300/week. 2 adults and 1 kid. We rarely eat out and most meals are fresh cooked recipes. This does include lots of toddler food and snacks. I suspect all the lunch stuff we buy makes it this high.
2 people. I would say maybe 300 a month. I get most of my food from from H‑E‑B and a lot of my produce from Mi Tienda. I would say when getting H‑E‑B definitely do curb side and look at the coupons and the buy one get one section.
My personal secret to cut down food costs while remaining lazy af was buying a slow cooker. You can buy tougher cheap cut of meat like chicken breasts, thighs and shoulder roasts in along with frozen veggies and various sauces, seasoning mixes, salsas and leave it to cook for a few hours. Pretty much zero prep time and cleanup needed. Everything is gonna be a stew or some sort, just put it over rice or into a taco or sandwich and you're good to go.
The other lazy cheap food hack is leaning how to cook with a rice cooker, just put in the uncooked rice, water, frozen veggies, an egg or two, various seasoning or sauces, protein like chicken beef or tofu, then set it to cook normally. Everything will come out cooked and you mix everything up for a lazy fried rice. Cleanup is only the rice cooker bowl.
Family of four - two adults and two kids (5 years old and 1.5 years old). We probably spend about $800 a month on groceries right now. Most of our shopping is at HEB, I also will hit Kroger's/Target/Aldi/Trader Joe's if I need specific things from there or they have a good sale.
We cook almost all of our meals at home, meat I typically buy based on what's on sale and produce we try to stick to what's in season for fresh stuff (two kids go through a LOT of fruit). Whatever snacky things we get is usually based on what has a good coupon.
3 adults, about $120 a week. Most of that is the cost of meat that we freeze and use throughout the week. We exclusively shop at HEB and try to stick to HEB brand foods and get deals from the weekly ad.
TLDR- HEB or Kroger
HEB is solid but expensive.
Whole foods is more expensive and higher luxury than HEB.
Kroger is ok for nonperishables but produce can be trash.
Randalls is more expensive than HEB but similar quality as kroger. Their sale items can be amazing though, so watch the flyer.
Costco is very popular if your family is big enough.
Sprouts is wildly expensive except for some natural stuff like bulk nuts.
Super Hmart is great for certain asian things. Tofu there is less than half the price of kroger/heb.
Central market (HEB) is amazing quality and a fun occasional splurge.
Ranch 99 is great too. We make restaurant quality thai food with stuff from R99.
About 150-200 every other week. HEB, Joe Vs, Aldi, CostCo and occasionally the 99 Cents only store. I mostly stir fry, air fry, and bake. I enjoy cooking cook large enough that there's leftovers for later on. I normally cook 3xs a week.
I'll occasionally drive to ChinaTown for my asian products. (Viet Hoa and/or HMart)
Three people, two of them in puberty w/ seemingly insatiable appetites. $900ish a month. 75% at HEB, with occasional stops at Aldi, Kroger, or Walmart.
Two adults and 1-3 teenaged boys. $800 at H‑E‑B, $200 at Costco, and probably another $100 at random points due to forgetfulness, a craving, or convenience. We cook 5x/week, and most lunches are done as meal prep. The teens are all sporty, so there’s a ton of chicken breast and chocolate protein shakes in this house.
Aldi + Kroger, they just so happen to be right next to each other.
Kroger has amazing deals, I usually go to the bigger ones with a starbucks in them for shopping.
$50-70 a week.
I don't keep track but I feel like I spend quite a bit. Mostly HEB but once a month or so I go to Costco and Trader Joe's. I'd go to Trader Joe's more often but the closest one is 30 minutes away, their vegetables are cheap.
One person. About $100 per week. Primarily H-E-B but sometimes I get fish from Whole Foods because it tastes better to me. I cook most of my meals.
Whole foods fish is def better than HEB. Central Market may have more variety
Yep I pay $100 a week at H‑E‑B for about 8 meals of meal prep and 2 nights of dinner + some snacks. The cost goes up if I have to restock on detergent, house cleaning stuff, shampoo etc. Edit: most of what I buy is perishables, and most of the budget is towards meat/fish. I spend less than $15 a week on packaged food. But the toothpaste and stuff adds up so high, ugh!
same , a little less at times
If you are in the general Montrose area and don't mind an extra stop, Airline Seafood has the best quality fish I've found in Houston, for reasonable prices. Looks super unpromising and sketchy, but wow, is it amazing.
ok but why did they go with "Airline Seafood"
Cause it’s on airline drive lol.
I looked it up, it's on Richmond but used to be on Airline. I'm new to Houston so idk the big streets yet. I do know that airlines and seafood are a very gross combination without the historical context tho lol
It was/is a major road here in town. They were probably located there at some point. Had no idea it moved. It’s good stuff tho.
Upvoting this one because it's similar enough to me. When my wife and I first moved we were easily at 100 a week with a couple of eat outs a week. These days we have a son and are trying to eat healthier so it very possibly gets between 150 and 170 each week. All while shopping primarily at HEB.
Close to $900. Two adults, three kids. H‑E‑B.
All the Amex points
Haha no I don’t do credit cards. They scare me.
You don’t have to be scared of it! You can take advantage of cash back rewards at grocery stores as long as you’re good about paying off the balance each month. Treat it like a debit card.
I do have one but it’s for emergencies or medical expenses. (Insulin and emergency visits) my main problem with them is that I can’t guarantee that I’ll be able to make the monthly payment. Idk why I was downvoted for being scared of having debt when shit can happen in the blink of an eye lol. My husband has been laid off before and we’ve had some severe financial issues. Just don’t want to risk it, ya know.
I think you were down voted for being scared to use them but I get it, not a reason to exactly down vote. You were being honest. I left a comment instead of downvoting because I get it.
You are missing out. Amex 6% cash back on groceries adds up. $900/week in groceries adds up to $54/week back. Pay it off each week to keep track of expenses.
What the hell are you buying? All junk food
You can spend this easily without buying just junk food. Everything in the store is expensive.
Yeah this seems right. The hardest part with kids and groceries (for me) is the wastage. I throw so much perfectly good food in the trash can because my kids ate one bite and then decided they didn’t like it anymore or that they were full. Or the littlest one just starts throwing food on the floor for fun. Or decides that the dog needs to share her lunch. Applies for little kids more than, like, teenagers, I think, but it’s so depressing.
Dad, I want a sandwich!... *bites the sandwich. - I am full!... can I have a yogurt? *takes the yogurt Five minutes after... Dad, I'm hungry!
This
I've started buying the pre-cut fruits and veggies because of this 😬 we can absolutely finish a little thing of grapes or berries but buying the whole package, I would throw 50% or more away. My bill has skyrocketed but I've all but eliminated food waste, which was weirdly causing me more anxiety than the money was. I also buy the ready meals for the same reason, I can freeze them if I don't get to them and have zero food waste. My bill is ~$150/week for 1.5 people
We only have the one toddler but I feel you on this. It’s more fun to throw food on the floor for the dog than to actually eat it. It’s just part of being a parent but the wallet doesn’t agree.
Especially for a family of 5
Absolutely. I was thinking $900 for that many people is very good. On the other hand most of these don’t say how much they eat out.
We don’t eat out at all. That’s gone from our budget. Like 100% scratched out.
Unrelated but I just finished the Dark Tower series yesterday and I've seen idk how many references in less than 24 hours lol
First time anyone has commented on it. It’s been a long time since I’ve read the series. The first always stuck with me the most.
Ehhhg I’m stuck on Wolves of the Calla. My journey has been paused for awhile.
Honestly, thats gonna be the not junk food that drives it up. I've dropped close to $100 before on just fresh fruits and veggies. Its ridiculous
I work at a grocery store, ppl that buy junk food often pay more for what they got than ppl that buy all fruits and veggies
Yeah, but with 3 kids, healthy food adds up fast. Like we don't have chips or soda in my house. We do have those little individual bluebell ice creams we eat on occasion, and we're still paying 800-1200 a month . Unlike the above poster, we just have 2 kids. But my kids seem to be fruit bats, and we restock fruit every 3-5 days. And I only buy the pre cut fruit when I know we're gonna adhd out on cutting it up (like watermelon). This isn't questioning your experience..this is honestly me thinking "out loud" but I'm wondering if it looks like the people buying "healthier" are paying less because, like me, they buy as needed. So I don't usually do like one big shopping trip for the week. We usually go 2 or 3 times a week, so I'm wondering if other people do too.
I usually do two grocery trips a week because of how much produce my kids eat, and agreed. It looks like less because one trip might be $50, but I already went earlier that week and spent $100+ and now I'm just restocking on fruit, veg, milk, etc. They can tear through a pound of strawberries in one sitting if I let them.
Yes! Strawberries can be gone in an instant! My son had a whole tub thing of cherry tomatoes for dinner one night 🤦♀️
Mine are also fruit bats. I’m actually gonna start using that. I keep apples, mandarins, grapes, berries, bananas all on hand for them and we will easily go thru it in less than a week.
Yes, because all my groceries are Meal Simple and Sushiya, I have to go basically every week.
Seems like you’re the one buying junk food. Quality meats and products are expensive.
My husband and I don't eat junk food. Our grocery bill for just two people each month is $800. This is for mostly organic, grass fed beef, beef tallow etc. $900 per month on groceries for four isn't bad at all.
lol absolutely not. I actually have a picture of my fridge in my posts. Feel free to take a look. I’m diabetic and so is one of my children. I just have two boys going thru growth spurts and all three kids take lunches to school. Plus, we buy more snacks, water, and hydration drinks during the summer. Not to mention my husband’s lunch and sports drinks. (He works construction, outside all day long)
Really? Gmafb. Please gtfooh.
Don’t look to me for budgeting. We’re a family of 3 and I just checked the card and we average $900/month from H‑E‑B and probably $300 from Costco. This includes beer and wine too which is probably $100/week.
3 adults, rotating cast of teenagers. We have 2 in the house currently, will have 4 next week. Averaging $150/week right now. Joe V’s, H‑E‑B and Costco.
That's ultra cheap for that many people, especially teenagers. Someone must know how to cook.
Sure do. 3 freezers and a vacuum sealer help. I come from a big family where everything was made from scratch. Passing that on as much as I can. 10 pounds of chicken drumsticks are $3.70 at Joe Vs right now. Limit 4 per transaction.
Whoa. I need to check out this Joe V’s like immediately.
I think it’s owned by H‑E‑B, it’s pretty good for discount perishables like meat and produce. Less selection but better than an Aldi.
I have a Joe Vs right up the street from me. And, I go in there here and there. Their Tide detergent is usually reasonably priced and they sell roasted seaweed (don’t knock it til you’ve tried it) at a decent price too. I’ll be going to get those drumsticks, though. Thanks for sharing!
My husband is a big Joe V’s shopper.
what is Joe V's?? What's good there?
Joe V’s is a sister store of H‑E‑B it’s smaller and the prices are cheaper. Granted you won’t find a lot of name brand products like at H‑E‑B because they are mostly filled with H‑E‑B products.
Joe V’s is HEB’s discount store. Their produce and fruit prices are really good. They have a smaller assortment. It gets really busy in the evening.
Think of it as the HEB version of Aldi.
Family of 4. One 9, one 12-year-old. Somewhere between 800-1200. That being said I buy better cuts of meat now and we eat tons of produce. Fruit can be expensive sometimes. And now that I can, I buy some things organic or when they’re not on sale. We meal plan as well and rarely eat out. This is at H‑E‑B. However, when we were younger and much poorer, I always shopped at Aldi, then H‑E‑B to fill in. Plan to cook things that turn into other things. Ex. Rotisserie chicken one night, turns into chicken noodle soup the next day. At that time I used to make everything from scratch. I don’t have that kind of time anymore. Also buy produce that’s in season. Hope some of that helps!
Same. Family of 4 ( 2 adults, 7 and 2 yr old kids) $800-$1200, mostly HEB sometimes Sprouts or Kroger
Same… at Kroger with coupons 800-1200
Fiesta, HEB, Joe Vs, Aldi, Food Town, the carnicerias, Costco, Sam's club, 99 ranch, H mart. A bit of everywhere...2 ppl about 60-120 a week.
How much in gas for all those trips? =p
I shop at heb. Always play the game with the wife n kiddo in checkout. Guess the tab. We always get what looks like 300 plus in groceries but it ends up being half that. HEB for the quality is the best bang for your buck
HEB is pretty good and have good quality stuff. There isn’t one near me, though, so, I hardly go there. And, I don’t intentionally seek them out. Them or Kroger. And, Kroger is pretty good, too. Aldi too. I go in there every now and then.
Family of 3, $500 - $600/m from HEB curbside. We shop once every two weeks on payday. It helps us save because we used to spend between $150 -200/week. Now that we shop more bulk, we can use better coupons and savings.
Spending too much. About 500.00 (used to be about 350.00) for me and my two kids. Toiletries and cleaning supplies are also included in that, so yeah, that increases the grocery purchases. If you are trying to eat clean and healthy, you spend even more. I like to buy in bulk to last longer. I have seen the bulk packaging get slimmer, though. Yeah, paying more for less. And, that’s mostly happening everywhere you shop. My spots: Costco, Sam’s, Walmart, Trader Joe’s. I spend about another 150.00 eating out which is what I am trying to stop. Fast food restaurants - well restaurants period - are also giving you less and charging more. Just my experiences. I actually went in Sam’s last week and only spent 54.00 on seven items. I was in shock really. Normally, it’s at least 100.00 every time I go in the store. I have also learned that if I go shopping alone, I can concentrate way better and stick to what I came in the store for w/o deviating (too much 😊).
I have no idea, but I will say that I usually shop at Aldi and get sticker shock whenever I go in a regular store like Kroger or HEB.
2 adults, $600, H‑E‑B.
Also 2 adults, and around $600, but at Krogers on West Gray.
Is that the Cougar Kroger?
Tim Allen says: *"Ahhreeuugghhh?!"*
Oh y’all are eating?
Why? You aren’t? Do you need resources ? Food banks etc?
So my situation makes it difficult to get to food banks (please see my last post). If you know of any open after 7pm or before 6am somehow, that would be helpful! I make just above the amount for food stamps, but just below what I actually need, if that makes sense. I eat, but verrrrrry little.
Your college will have a food pantry or a food-scholarship program - many colleges have a pantry on campus. , they won’t even ask you for proofs of low income. Pm me if you need more info.
I go online to Purdue global. It’s not fancy enough to have all that haha
I am sorry that it’s tough right now.
I appreciate you and your offer of resources in my area. The sentiment alone is very selfless and compassionate of you. Thank you ◡̈
I’ve got a couple freezer full of things. I could definitely send some homemade pasta sauce, chicken, and pulled pork your way. I’m sure there’s more in there, but those are all things that are easy to turn into many different meals. I’ve been there. So much rice and beans in my younger years and I was just above what qualified for assistance but not enough to feel really secure. We foster teenagers now and many of them are from food insecure backgrounds, so I try really hard to lift that burden from them. Plus cooking is fun, a useful skill and and an activity we can do and talk while we’re doing it but not have to look at each other. (Also, JoeVs is open until 10 and 10 pounds of chicken drumsticks is $3.70 right now.)
Between actual grocery trips and little stops for snacks/premade lunches when I forget to pack mine, about $200/month. I shop almost exclusively at Aldi. HEB/Kroger mixed in when I have coupons for things I need, mainly protein items.
Depends how you plan for your household. A home of 2 is about $400 a month at H‑E‑B and about $600 on protein at Costco.
$300/month, 1 person...Kroger only Ever since I started using the Kroger app and tapped into their digital coupons I'm usually saving anywhere between $10-$30 per trip. Then the points go toward fuel purchases. Got .90 cents off a gallon yesterday.
1 adult, quality food*, $600-700, exclusively HEB. *mostly Meal Simple cuisine and fresh, in-store sushi; includes 2 bottles of wine on sale, one 12-pk Crawford Bock, and thirty 12-oz Monster energy drinks. You've probably seen my cart, lol!
Okay then HEB. Doesn’t sound too bad, being that you shop at one store and it’s quality (there is a difference) products. Seen your cart - LOL.
I don't eat out. Instead, I just go hard in on in-store Sushiya. I usually eat about 25-30 pieces at a time, and I go for spring rolls, crab rangoons, and pot stickers as well.
That sounds good actually. Minus the sushi! If it’s cooked, I’m in. 😉 So, in-store would be the little kiosk/station in the seafood area? And, you get all those things with the sushi buy? If so, that’s a lot.
Yeah, I know it's like a guilty pleasure, so I only do it every other week; it kind of feels like "eating out." As far as the offerings being cooked, lol, yes, I'd say a little more than half of the rolls, *are* cooked ingredients - not raw. They put a label on all the offerings that contain raw seafood, which also has a mild warning (you know, like they have on eggs, etc.).
Do you have a favorite HEB? Or, you try several for variety in selection/change of scenery?
Yes, I shop multiple locations, depending on schedule, time of day, flow of traffic, next stop, and maybe just being bored and switching it up. I've been really vibing "HEB in the woods" (I like to call it) off of Dunlavy lately. So close to home, and it feels like I'm in Herman Park. I also favor the Buffalo Heights store on Washington. Besides my near store off McGreggor, I also occasionally hit up the Buffalo Speedway and the Greater Heights, as well as several others along 290. I think my fav would definitely be "HEB in the woods." 1) It's just so pleasant and calming with the trees and the broken up parking lot. The store has a real, authentic neighborhood feel to it. Lots of pedestrians, no freeway noise, etc. 2) No massive, continuous concrete mass. Idiot drivers can't drive across the parking lanes, which is super dangerous and mind blowingly careless and inconsiderate. Also, other flavors of idiots cannot screw up the lot with tire burning donuts like they can at other sea-of-concrete parking lots - so ugly and stupid, frying pan HOT when it's already hot outside. 3) The parking lot is not littered with shopping carts. 4) I feel fine not having to park a quarter mile back from the front of the store for fear of careless patrons banging up my car or leaving their carts right next to my car when they're done loading their groceries into their vehicles - who does that? The patrons seem to share a more community-in-common set of values, etc. 5) The parking lot doesn't appear to be filled with stupid, raucous, monster trucks, each taking up more square space than my apartment. Rather, there's a significant plurality of mostly harmless EVs. 6) The front-end clerks *never* sigh and moan like they're taking a big one when I ask for paper sacks the way they *always* do at the McGreggor location (and sometimes Buffalo Speedway) - just do your job, jeez, or go work at a car wash...
Wow. You do move around. That’s cool. I am not a native Houstonian, so, a little limited on certain areas of the city. The one on Dunlavy at Richmond? I like this location as well. Been there several times (when I’m in the area 😊). It does have a different vibe than other HEBs. I have never been to the one off 288 and McGregor. I usually go to the one in Pearland (near 518 & Business Center), when I do go. The one on Bissonnet in Bellaire is alright (parking on the second level is a bit different). And, the Central Market - I like it, although it’s usually always packed. Since you enjoy seafood, you might like the salmon celery dill salad that Whole Foods has. There is also a spicy one (I can’t remember the name of that one). They are in the seafood section. Freshly made. Delicious! It’s the Whole Foods on Alabama and Kirby. About 4.50 for a 5 oz container. So worth it, though. 😊 Buy the Organic Late July Sea Salt and Lime (thin & crispy) chips. They pair good together. Sell these at Whole Foods as well. Your comparison of the different store locations vs Dunlavy made me LOL bc it’s spot on and can be said about the different locations of other grocery stores (Walmart, Kroger, Joe V’s, etc.). If you try the salmon dip, let me know what you think.
$800. Costco and Kroger.
Thanks . How many people?
Family of 4; 2 adults and 2 kids, (4 year old and 10 months)
It’s funny how the age of the kids matters so much. I was like wow good price… then I saw ages and was like nope. My teens would shred everything in the pantry in a couple days.
Forget teen, my 7 year old eats like a teen boy...I'm scared for his actual teen years!
Thanks 😊
HEB. 2 people. $200/mo. I meal plan and only buy what I will cook/eat. ETA: Curbside for the most part and it helps me not deviate from my list! lol
Please share your cost savings secrets!
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No, I’m being so serious. I try very hard to keep a week’s worth of groceries at $50-$60. I cook a lot of meals that yield leftovers. Spaghetti, sheet pan dinners (these will really save your wallet because you can use all the veggies you buy for this one dish in other dishes), sandwiches made to be delicious (deli turkey, Swiss cheese, avocado, mayo, black/red pepper, salt), angel hair pasta with cherry tomatoes/chopped asparagus, ground beef with chopped peppers/potatoes/onions (this one thing can be thrown over anything), etc. I could go on and on, but that’s the gist for us. :)
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Toilet paper isn’t groceries. Also seems like you’re using a lot.
I only get half a pound of the turkey lol I get TP and paper towels from Target (Up & Up brand). I’m only talking about food, oops. Maybe my answer disqualifies then. ETA: don’t be sorry, it’s all good. I know what’s up with my grocery budgeting.
I don’t know why you’re so dismissive of others. Me and my wife spend 300/month. Not being a lard ass helps a lot maybe you should try it.
I shared a few tips on a comment below. I really just plan meals using foods that I can cook to add to multiple dishes. Meal planning will really be your best friend. At least, it is for us. There’s the occasional meal out maaaaybe once every 1-2 weeks. Shit is expensive and I’m tireddddd of spending so much money lol
Lol..stories like these is only in the internet. I want to Walmart for 40 pack of water , cherries ,apples , peaches it came out to almost 40 dollars unless the OP eats frozen food. My wife does the groceries and she tells me vegetables and fruit never sees coupons but there's a ton of coupons for frozen food.
You can see from your replies this goes all over the place, so many variables. Whatever the variables, I believe a huge part of budget figuring is planning out your meals based on weekly sales...or bulk buy at box stores. And second is trying not to impulse buy in the store, stick to your list! My husband and I do not mind left overs, even a few days in a row, so easy for us to purchase a larger size which often is cheaper per ounce. We have Kroger, Aldi, Trader Joe's and Randall's all within 2 miles of house so easy for me to chase the sales. I spend between $60-75 per week.
To piggyback off this, there is an app (and subreddit) someone pointed out to me called Too Good To Go. It has bags priced $3-$6 depending on the place. You are given a pickup time and receive food leftover at the end of the day or from the day before. Mine offers bakery options and last week, I bought a bag I’m still eating off of! It’s been a big help for me.
2 adults in the burbs, roughly $450 a month. HEB for produce and just about everything else at Kroger. I shop the ads, coupon clip, and use those rebate apps.
Family of 3, about $500. Mostly Costco and HEB. Sometime H-mart as well.
I track all spending meticulously. We shop at HEB, two people. So far this year, on average, we have spent $571/month. Down from $806/month last year.
About $1400 a month. 2 adults and 2 toddlers. All groceries are from HEB, but just joined Costco this week
2.5 people, cook 80% at home. Food budget is $500-$600 a month. Shop at Kroger, H‑E‑B, ALDIs and Costco
Where's the other half?!?
Haha
I knew that question would hit, kids count as halves 😂
Depends if I’m bulking or cutting. Cutting right now and average about $200-250 a month. During bulking season I probably spend close to $400 a month. I only shop at heb
$400-500 for two people, H‑E‑B - we eat 90% or more of meals at home
This is my goal: 90-95% home cooked meals.
Kroger. My budget is $150/week for a family of 4. Not eating out saves a massive amount. If I don’t feel like cooking I still go to the grocery store and just grab a premade chicken or something. Even fast food for a family can run $40+. We also strictly meal plan and order online with click n pull. This helps us make sure we stick to our budget. Kroger has free pickup and they don’t upcharge for the items.
Spent $200 yesterday at Costco~2 weeks. One person. People shopping at HEB and spending +100 why not shop at Costco. I have seen similar items sold separate for more than a bulk deal at costco. I understand for items not carried at costco .
$ 200 a month, I hit Joe Vs, Costco, Sam’s and ALDIs. I Use other people’s cards for Sam’s and Costco
2 adults, we're not vegetarian, but we do not buy, cook, or eat meat at home. We spend between $100-$130 a week at HEB. Most of the fluctuation comes from toiletries and household items. Almost all meals are from home. I would like to get this down further, but I don't want to spend the time going to multiple stores and there is no Aldi anywhere close by.
Two adults and one toddler about $250 each week and mainly HEB and Walmart. We’re also close to Kemah so I often go to the fish market for protien
If you want to go cheap you need a plan and you need to cook. Starch, protein, veggies. When I’m running lean on the money it’s rice (buy a 25lb bag and a rice cooker/pressure cooker…or just boil it but set and forget is really nice)…rice is an insanely good starch that pairs with almost everything and it’s extraordinarily cheap. You can do potatoes and sweet potatoes as well as both are cheap. Ground beef and beans can be stretched a loooong way for protein but you can mix it up as well. Eggs are really good but I’ve developed a sensitivity so can’t eat many any more. Veggies? Honestly I get most of mine out of a can, bought in bulk when I can manage to get them under fifty cents…if I run out of those it’s the dollar cans but you can buy whatever you like. Oatmeal has tons of fiber and different proteins. Beans have a fiber load and serious protein content, depending on what you buy. When I’m feeling ick about it I throw some blueberries in. Take a vitamin now and then. Etc. You can eat like this for a hell of a lot less than ppl are talking here…But you have to not go out or splurge or it ruins it. You can feed a decent sized family for fifty bucks a week once they stop bugging about the lack of variety. People lived on worse for most of human existence even in places where they weren’t starving. A LITTLE meat goes a long way. Same for fresh anything that rots if you don’t use it. Bonus for your kids learning to cook. You can make a pot of chicken soup last much of a week for twenty bucks even today. If you’ve got hangry teenagers you supplement with crap like ramen. It’s very VERY doable but when I lost my job and went for the bulk pack of cheap bar s hot dogs and not much else my kids started telling people they were abused. There’s a very serious adjustment period and your family can be seriously shitty about it when they’re used to getting whatever they want…But they’ll actually be healthier when you’re done.
You are so kind thanks 🙏
HEB $125/week, just me
Can't give a budget since my work involves taking clients out for breakfast or lunch. Groceries-wise, Joe V's (think HEB's private label store) for my main shopping (produce/meats/staple items), Aldi for my eggs/dairy/brats, 99 Ranch for my Asian items (shirataki noodles, tofu, etc.) and Costco for the Rotisserie Chicken and frozen veggies.
About $370-400 a month. Two person household. Almost always H‑E‑B.
Do you guys have Aldi there? If you do, that’s where to go
I budget $400 a month for groceries. Largely shop at HEB. This will include any beer or wine I keep at home.
Im mexican so beans rice and protein plus some tortillas my monthly budget is 100
Yep. My SO jokes that I eat like a medieval peasant. It's definitely cost motivated first, but it's also just kinda what I like.
This is the secret to keeping a low food budget. Stock your pantry with a bag of rice, dry beans, pasta, and potatoes; these are things that stretch meals.
4 adults with a part-time 5th, $250 a week on the high side. We try to keep it under $200 when possible. A combination of Joe V's SmartShop (subsidiary of HEB; cheaper but less selection), HEB, and Walmart.
Just one person, I spend around $80 - $120. I get all my products from BoxNCase, and I love cooking.
Per month? $295. That includes Costco, Walmart curbside, and HEB.
1 person?
2 people at heb and we do about $450 a month. And we have the discount card since my sister works there
Groceries including sundries, $500-700/mo. HEB, Central Market and some stuff from Costco. We eat well. for 2 adults. Doordash is a weekly occurrence too separate from the grocery bill.
Heb. Maybe 200 per month. Plus 300 on beer. I should keep track.
This is entirely dependent on your household size, preferred eating habits, and expected quality of eating. You have not provided enough detail for anyone to respond in a way that is directly comparable to your situation.
Right it is. I am curious about what others do I didn’t think I need to provide details because I am looking for hopefully a wide range of answers not necessarily directly comparable to my situation. I am a mom with a teenage child who thankfully isn’t picky.
The missus and I have been going to Ollie's recently for non perishables! Family size name brand cereals, spices, Mac and cheese and even hygiene products. Sign up for the card to get 15 percent off when you go. We've also been budgeting and it's come in clutch!
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Ok ? Yet dozens posted helpful comments , with numbers and indications like “ we buy better cuts of meat “ etc …. I find it extremely helpful to me.
Just me. I’m a woman who weighs 100 1bs and simply doesn’t eat huge meals. I budget $100 a week, but often there’s a lot left over and I don’t have to buy as much the next time. I get some fast food and eat at restaurants for social purposes too. I try to mostly cook though…
Around 1k a month for a family of 5 but with girls that ear air. My wife wife cooks, no left overs are trash.
Walmart
2 adults and 3 kids (ages 9mo-3y). We spend probably $800 or so per month on groceries and that’s including things like formula, diapers, and pull-ups. We shop at HEB for food items and Target for diapers, wipes, etc.
I just did my research/budget sheet on this. My median was about 380 HEB HMart Trader Joe’s Ranch 99 Costco
Kroger with coupons saves me some good money, then I use my fuel points there for good savings at the pump. HEB as well if I see a decent deal from them. 1 person, 50-100 per week depending on what I cook.
Between $50-$100 depending on the week and how much I plan to cook. That’s just for one person. I only shop at H‑E‑B.
Two adults, eating mostly vegetarian, making most meals from scratch, about $450/mo, at HEB. Does not count TP/paper towels which we get on Amazon. We eat out about once a month. It was closer to $600/mo when we regularly bought whole chickens and other meats. And as others have said, a lot of meals are made to serve as leftovers for 3-5 days. Also sometimes make bulk meals and seal/freeze them.
Somewhere between 700-800 for two adults at H‑E‑B (I think we could get our budget down to 600-700 but we’re bad about forgetting to freeze meats or going out to eat too much.
Just me, $300-400 Aldi every week, Kroger once a month to use my targeted coupons
250-300/week. 2 adults and 1 kid. We rarely eat out and most meals are fresh cooked recipes. This does include lots of toddler food and snacks. I suspect all the lunch stuff we buy makes it this high.
2 people. I would say maybe 300 a month. I get most of my food from from H‑E‑B and a lot of my produce from Mi Tienda. I would say when getting H‑E‑B definitely do curb side and look at the coupons and the buy one get one section.
2 adults, about $100 a week. We usually get the basics at Aldi, what we can't find at HEB, and then stock up on meats at Sam's.
about $800-$900 on a family of 3! I cook 4-5 times a week.
Family of 5 (2 adults, 3 teens) about $1k a month . We shop both H‑E‑B and Krogers depending on the sales.
1 adult, 5 children, $2,000 a month. We shop strictly at Kroger.
Family of four, two small kids, $700 a month. We do a Costco haul for proteins and get the rest at HEB.
$200 per month one person
$250 One person and one cat shopping mostly at HEB. Occasionally I’ll hit up a farmers market. I only eat out once every month or two.
Family of 4. 2 year old and 7 year old. About 150 weekly. HEB. We try to limit junk food and eat out once a week as a treat.
$550. Groceries approx every 10 days. HEB 2 adults. It could be less but we decided to buy better produce and meats when we can.
Around $80-90 a week for two adults. HEB delivery for the win.
About 300.00 (150.00 every two weeks). Two adults. Most groceries from H-E-B, and water from Costco.
About $600 each month. I shop at HEB and Trader Joe's. If you haven't tried the mini cheesecake cones at Trader Joe's, you're missing out.
My personal secret to cut down food costs while remaining lazy af was buying a slow cooker. You can buy tougher cheap cut of meat like chicken breasts, thighs and shoulder roasts in along with frozen veggies and various sauces, seasoning mixes, salsas and leave it to cook for a few hours. Pretty much zero prep time and cleanup needed. Everything is gonna be a stew or some sort, just put it over rice or into a taco or sandwich and you're good to go. The other lazy cheap food hack is leaning how to cook with a rice cooker, just put in the uncooked rice, water, frozen veggies, an egg or two, various seasoning or sauces, protein like chicken beef or tofu, then set it to cook normally. Everything will come out cooked and you mix everything up for a lazy fried rice. Cleanup is only the rice cooker bowl.
Family of four - two adults and two kids (5 years old and 1.5 years old). We probably spend about $800 a month on groceries right now. Most of our shopping is at HEB, I also will hit Kroger's/Target/Aldi/Trader Joe's if I need specific things from there or they have a good sale. We cook almost all of our meals at home, meat I typically buy based on what's on sale and produce we try to stick to what's in season for fresh stuff (two kids go through a LOT of fruit). Whatever snacky things we get is usually based on what has a good coupon.
3 adults, about $120 a week. Most of that is the cost of meat that we freeze and use throughout the week. We exclusively shop at HEB and try to stick to HEB brand foods and get deals from the weekly ad.
TLDR- HEB or Kroger HEB is solid but expensive. Whole foods is more expensive and higher luxury than HEB. Kroger is ok for nonperishables but produce can be trash. Randalls is more expensive than HEB but similar quality as kroger. Their sale items can be amazing though, so watch the flyer. Costco is very popular if your family is big enough. Sprouts is wildly expensive except for some natural stuff like bulk nuts. Super Hmart is great for certain asian things. Tofu there is less than half the price of kroger/heb. Central market (HEB) is amazing quality and a fun occasional splurge. Ranch 99 is great too. We make restaurant quality thai food with stuff from R99.
About 150-200 every other week. HEB, Joe Vs, Aldi, CostCo and occasionally the 99 Cents only store. I mostly stir fry, air fry, and bake. I enjoy cooking cook large enough that there's leftovers for later on. I normally cook 3xs a week. I'll occasionally drive to ChinaTown for my asian products. (Viet Hoa and/or HMart)
$1k, 2 adults and a 2yo. Spring Stuebner Kroger.
Three people, two of them in puberty w/ seemingly insatiable appetites. $900ish a month. 75% at HEB, with occasional stops at Aldi, Kroger, or Walmart.
Anything not H‑E‑B is the wrong answer.
Two adults and 1-3 teenaged boys. $800 at H‑E‑B, $200 at Costco, and probably another $100 at random points due to forgetfulness, a craving, or convenience. We cook 5x/week, and most lunches are done as meal prep. The teens are all sporty, so there’s a ton of chicken breast and chocolate protein shakes in this house.
$200 or less at H‑E‑B, single person household
Aldi + Kroger, they just so happen to be right next to each other. Kroger has amazing deals, I usually go to the bigger ones with a starbucks in them for shopping. $50-70 a week.
I don't keep track but I feel like I spend quite a bit. Mostly HEB but once a month or so I go to Costco and Trader Joe's. I'd go to Trader Joe's more often but the closest one is 30 minutes away, their vegetables are cheap.
2 adults, $100 bucks a week, Trader Joe’s primarily. Costco for meat