What is the average grocery bill

After all, a household of two adults will likely spend more on groceries than one adult and a two-year-old. For the month of August of , the average grocery bill for two was as follows:.

Note: This report used to include a fourth plan; the Thrifty Plan. That plan is no longer included in the USDA report. An interesting point is that older couples spend less on groceries than younger couples. There could be a number of reasons for this. We as humans tend to eat less as we get older. And, there are other factors that influence what we spend on groceries. Are grocery costs on the rise? Do people spend more on groceries now than they did in years past?

Luckily, the USDA keeps a historical record of food costs. This enables us to compare historical costs of food to see if food costs are on the rise. As expected, prices were lower in Groceries on the East Coast, for example, often cost much more than groceries in the Midwest.

There are limited sources of reliable data recording grocery prices by state. I was surprised to find that milk in Dallas was quite a bit cheaper than in Milwaukee. After all, Wisconsin is a high producer of dairy products.

And New York has notoriously high grocery prices. However, milk in Syracuse, New York was also shown to be cheaper than in Milwaukee. This report from the Missouri Department of Economic Development rates the cost of living per state. It ranks costs including groceries, housing and more. As you can see, the chart shows a noticeable difference in grocery prices.

Arkansas residents, for instance, spend a lot less on groceries than those living in Nevada. In , households in the middle income bracket spent roughly Here are some tips to help you save money on groceries.

A menu plan is key to cutting down on grocery costs. It helps you avoid random trips to the grocery store. You can receive fresh farm produce and save money — double win! While these items are not bad in any way, most grocery stores only accept produce that resembles what the average person thinks a carrot, for example, looks like.

Share this article. Create a free checking account within 5 mins. OnJuno is a financial technology company, not a bank. OnJuno CapitalJ Inc. Blog Personal Finance Crypto Immigrants. Login Join Now — it's free. The Average Grocery Bill for 1 Person — and How to Bring Yours Down Find out how much you should spend on groceries each month, along with tips and tricks for reducing your bill.

Take Advantage of Promotions Sign up for email or text alerts on which grocery items are going on sale that week and create your weekly menu around that. Earn Cashback A number of cards offer anywhere from 1. Visit Local Farms While this tip is not applicable to all, many Americans live closer to farms than they think. Keertana Anandraj. Approximately six percent is spent on groceries, while five percent is spent dining out — including dates, lunches with coworkers, and Sunday brunch.

With this framework in mind, you can calculate your total food budget based on your take-home income. There are several ways to cut back on what you spend without sacrificing the quality and taste of your food. Trimming your food budget can help you stow away more for your financial goals, such as building an emergency fund or saving for a dream vacation. Coupons are easy to find in the mail, in store, in your inbox, and even in a Google search. Many popular grocery stores are rolling out apps that track your coupons and savings.

Be sure to download and register your email for new updates and sales. These usually work in person or online, so you can shop when and how you like. While a single coupon might not give you a large discount, you can save a lot with multiple coupons.

This can quickly get out of hand and push you over budget. Freezing your fresh food before it goes bad helps your wallet and the environment. Frozen vegetables are great in soups and stews, and you can use frozen fruits for healthy breakfast smoothies. Plan your meals ahead of time to determine the food items and quantities you need before you head to the grocery store.

You can also make larger meals and plan leftovers for lunch so you have less to plan and purchase. Push your monthly food budget further with delicious lunches from home. Salads, sandwiches, and leftovers are all easy, inexpensive, and nutritious. Many packaged products have a huge price disparity between brand name and generic items, and store brand items tend to be cheaper without sacrificing much quality.

You can easily save 10 cents to a dollar per item, which adds up quickly over many trips. Your local farmers market, chain grocery, and organic store will all offer different specialties and sales. Check out the different shops in your area to find the best combination of quality and price. Some stores might even offer bulk items — great for your favorite products and those with a long shelf-life. Choosing cheaper staple items like milk and yogurt can also make a huge difference over time.