What's the most you've spent on a single grocery shopping trip?

[undeterred]

Poll question: What's the most you've spent on a single grocery shopping trip?

I shop for one, so maybe my perspective is a little distorted. I just came from spending around $40 at the grocery store- the couple ahead of me had a bill of over $400!

[LeftyMom]

1. About $350

I was out of nearly everything and finally got some money, so I had to get case lots of everything I use regularly to restock the pantry. Of course I stopped at four stores to do all of that and had the car jammed full of food, because I'm a good shopper.

Normally I spend between $50-$100 a trip.

[bumblebee1]

33. That sounds like us.

The $300 bill is usually once a quarter. That's when my husband goes through the cupboards to see what we need. Between that time, I'll spend under $100 on groceries. Booze is a rarity. Beer and wine is more what we buy. We buy the beer and wine occasionally.

[Midlodemocrat]

2. I once spent $600.

We were out of everything. Normally, I spend about $400 a week.

[DS1]

3. 400 a week? Do you feed on steak and lobster every night?

Got a Sasquatch trapped in your basement?

:wtf:

[Midlodemocrat]

18. Two teens.

And the boy is in a major growth spurt.

[mzteris]

26. I have a

12.5 yo and a 7.5 yo.

The older one - when he's "really hungry" eats less than the 7 yo when he's "not hungry". I'm pretty sure the 7 yo has surpassed in weight the 12 yo in the past month. (The 12 yo was 82 the last time we went to the doc a couple months back and the 7 yo was 78 lbs.)

The 7 yo isn't fat - he's just VERY muscular. His thighs are 2" bigger around than the 12 yo. Think EARL CAMPBELL thighs! His biceps, calves, forearms - are all at least 1"+ bigger than the 12 yo.

The 7 yo usually eats as much as my husband NOW. I really really hate to think about how much he's going to be able to pack away when he hits his teens! YIKES!

[YellowRubberDuckie]

7. How many people live in your house?

According to HUD (I work for a place that services their FHA Loans), the national average is $100 per person, per month. What are you eating?!
Duckie

[skygazer]

10. That's absurdly low

I know I could spend a good deal less on shopping but that's only $25 per week per person! That would require some extreme coupon clipping and bargain hunting.

We spend far too much for just 2 people - averaging about $200 per week. We don't eat expensive meats but we do spend a lot on booze and pet food and we tend to buy a lot of canned goods for backup. Also, the SO tends to cook enough food for the Russian Army.

But $100 a month? Wow.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

14. We manage it...

And we don't bargain shop. We spend 50 a week on groceries, and I'm on a special diet. I know a lot of people who spend less than the amount.
Duckie

[SharonRB]

13. That's absurd.

Are you sure it wasnt' $100 per person per week? Per month is totally ridiculous.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

15. People do it.

Like I said, we spend 50-60 a week on groceries. And we don't bargain shop.
Duckie

[SharonRB]

31. I'm sure some people can do it

But as a national average, it's absurdly low. Then there are those who don't spend much on groceries, but who eat out a lot.

[Midlodemocrat]

19. 100 per person, per month?

Never in a million years. There are six of us. Me, husband, FIL, three kids, two of which are teens.

[Broken_Hero]

4. personally...myself...

I believe the most i spent ever, was two summers ago, when i was taking care of two kids, and an old friend of mine, plus myself and my wife...i spent 170 bucks at food 4 less, and that was a TON of mac and cheese...:)

I'm from a large family, and I have seen my parents dump over 400 bucks easy. Usually they dump that sort of change, when something is on sale, like say, hamburger meat for a dollar, my parents would spend 100 bucks on meat, and we would utilize our three freezers...:) btw, Im' the second oldest of 12....:)

[Nikia]

5. Less than $100

It is only my husband and I and we don't have much room for extra food with limited cupboard space and only a standard refrigerator/freezer.

[seemunkee]

6. 400+ at Costco

only go there once every 6-8 weeks.
Over 300 at the regular grocery store before a holiday with company coming.

[Fleshdancer]

8. I average about $150/mo but the highest was over $600

It was for a dinner party for fellow foodies so $600 really wasn't as bad as it could have been.

[undeterred]

9. This couple ahead of me brought about $15 worth of coupons

and about $100 of the total was cigarettes. Not judging but I guess I am too cheap to be a smoker!

[bertha katzenengel]

11. about $310, the day after my sister and her kids showed up on my

doorstep to surprise me :wow:

[MissMillie]

12. We average about $100 per week (for 2)

but that would be JUST food (no paper products, cleaning products, health & beauty products, etc.)

The most I ever spent on one trip was about $275... and that was for a shop just before Christmas when I was also shopping for my prime rib Christmas dinner. (The roast was $70 by itself)

[Samurai_Writer]

16. I normally spend about $60 a week for myself

But I buy only organic, and that also includes everything -- trash bags, kitty litter, cat food, cleaning supplies, toiletries, etc. I'm a vegetarian, so I don't eat meat... I would hate to think of what my grocery bill would be if I did!

[miss_american_pie]

17. Are we talking just food

or cleaning supplies/paper products, etc?

For food only I probably spend $60-$70/week for four people (one of whom is a baby).

[tjdee]

20. You guys are freaking me out...I don't even eat some days and still spend

over 300 bucks a month for groceries for the two of us. I don't even buy brand names, booze, etc....

:scared:

I honestly need someone to be my life coach, apparently I don't know WTF I'm doing.

[bluethruandthru]

21. The healthier you eat...the more it costs!

We've been trying to stick to the South Beach Diet principles and wow does it cost alot! I have to shop 3 to 4 times a week and average $300-$400 per week. Lots of fresh veggies, dairy and meat. No more hamburger helper, mac and cheese or rice a roni! :) That's for 2 adults, 2 teens and 4 cats!

[prolesunited]

32. I don't agree

I spend a lot less on food since I became a vegetarian. Reduce the amount of meat and replace it with beans and soy products and you'll see a big difference. And, if produce is out of season, frozen is just as nutritious.

You should stay away from processed, prepackaged food as much as possible. The sodium content on those products alone is enough to give you high blood pressure.

But, keep up the good work. I'm sure you feel better.

[bluethruandthru]

34. Yes, I do....

I actually haven't eaten anything but poultry or seafood for 25 years so the 'meat' portion of my food bill is quite small! I'm not a huge fan of frozen veggies..but they work alright in a pinch. Much of my produce is organic which adds to the price, but I think it's worth it. I may have to start growing my own veggies!

[flamingyouth]

22. About $200

[azmouse]

23. Is the cost with or without alcohol included?

'Cause a few bottles of booze can drive up the cost of grocery shopping quite a bit!

[Shine]

24. Shopping for a big family holiday meal with lots of guests is what does it

[Akoto]

25. We generally spend about $100-$120/week.

That's to feed four people, so I don't think it's *too* terrible. We do cut corners where possible. Snacks/produce/drinks and so forth are purchased from the local grocery store. We get our meat from a bulk/restaraunt supply store, cut it up, and freeze it for later use.

I've seen our bill go as high as $160 before, but that was when we had special stuff that we needed. :)

[Sabriel]

27. We used to live 200 miles from the nearest Trader Joes's

So the infrequent trips there resulted in high bills, around 250-300. The checkout people probably thought we were nuts.

[RebelOne]

28. I spend less than $100 a week.

After all, I am only feeding me and two dogs.

[GirlinContempt]

29. around $600

[JitterbugPerfume]

30. about 350--400

I shop once a month and when my son lived with me he was a real chow hound It is about half of that now--or maybe even less