Need some advice on how to make $600.00 stretch for two people each month for food?

My wife and I have decided to spend only $600.00 a month on groceries for us. Will it be enough?





We have spent over $800.00 a month and want to cut back. This will add an extra $200.00 to our savings each month.





Can it be done without starving ourselves to death?Need some advice on how to make $600.00 stretch for two people each month for food?
600 a month for 2 people is plenty.Need some advice on how to make $600.00 stretch for two people each month for food?
You need that much to eat...is this also going out and having meals at restaurants? When I was married we did not spend $200 every two weeks on groceries, I learned to plan for what we ate more often than not and got that...usually buying the generic foods rather than the name brand because they were usually the cheapest to get and most times were better tasting. Use of coupons are good as well when buying food....but $600 is too much to be spending on food alone...what about cleaning supplies, medications, hygene items, clothing that is needed every now and again, shoes, paper good and other things...do you just not spend that much on this...you could cut your groceries down to $300 per month and save even more.
How much do you guys eat?? I spend about $100-$150 a week on groceries for the two of us, and I buy everything I want. So, worst case scenario, I end up spending about $600/mo. on groceries. We don't go out to eat much, maybe a couple of times a month. If I wanted to actually *save* money... Well, I would probably make sure to stock up on items that are on sale (right now, I buy just enough to last us for a week - week and a half). I'd plan my menu better - i.e., I would try and plan to make dishes that used the ingredients I already had on hand, for example - or make more food and freeze for later. I'd definitely cut back on the unnecessary crap like cookies, chips, sodas and the like. I'd shop for produce at the farmers market instead of at the grocery store. We'd order less pizza. These just a few things I would try, just off the top of my head.





P.S. Yeah, we have 3 cats, too, and I probably spend $50/month just on cat litter and food.
Yes, it can be. The trick will be to make a shopping list and stick to it. Avoid impulse buying, processed ';ready-to-eat'; foods, and snack foods like chips, candy and soda. Be sure to read the supermarket sales ads and buy more than one item you know you will use when it is on sale.





Budgets like this are great because not only do you save money, but cutting back on the junk food will improve your health and appearance as well.
Absolutely it's possible . I have fed 4 on just $300.00 a month .


Hamburger . Buy in large quantities , it is cheaper that way .


With hamburger you can make so many things . Example . Spaghetti , meatloaf , taco's , hamburger helper , chili , chili mac , and much more . Chicken . Fried chicken , chicken %26amp; noodles , chicken fried rice , burritos made with chicken or hamburger .


For vegetables and canned fruits buy the off brand . It is just as good and cost 1/2 as much .


The possibilities are endless .


Good luck
Good heavens! Where do you live? We live in downtown Chicago, so it's not an inexpensive place. For two of us we spend about $450 a month on groceries (food and paper products, sundries, cleaning supplies, etc.), and eat quite well (fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, eggs, very few processed foods). However, we don't eat out very often. If your food budget is going to restaurants, cut back there.
Sure it can be done. Eat in not out. Borrow recipe books from the library and make a list of ingredients. Buy in bulk stuff you'll need lots of - flour, canned tomatoes and so on. You could also join a community kitchen, where you share resources, learn cooking skills and get to take home a share of whatever is made. It's a discipline to cook every day but you'll look and feel better AND save money.
It certainly can be done. Tips:





1. Eat out less. Preparing your own food is far, far less expensive.





2. Get a membership in a warehouse grocery, because the prices are so much lower, it will pay for itself.





3. Don't be afraid of generic brands. Many of them are actually brand quality with generic labels slapped on them to sell more (shh, don't tell).





PS - It's nice to see you write a sincere question here.
yes I have a family of 4 and our budget is less than $600./ month


We eat quite well on about $100./ week


the tips are simple


1. do not buy junk food


2. buy fruits %26amp; veggies ( make sure you eat them)


3. cut soda( cokes,ect) out


4. try to not buy the premade just heat %26amp; eat stuff it costs a lot more and really does not save much time.


5. shop w/ cupons %26amp; sale ads, you will get better variety
omg i can do that for me hubby and our 4 kids.. so yes of course you can do that...


i spend about $200 or a little more every two weeks and that lasts us pretty good.. just depends what you buy and how many dishes you get with one thing... like a package of chicken thighs i can make 2 or even 3 entrees with that... my kids are still young so we're good for the moment...


yes you can do it without starving
are you kidding??!! My BF and I have 2 boys, 3 cats, a dog, a baby on the way and other small pets........feeding all of us plus the pets we only spend about $100 a week and sometimes even skip a week of shopping here or there except for milk, bread, eggs. We would be eating like kings on $600/mo. !!
What the heck are you guys eating????????? i feed 7 people a month for about $800.00, they are full meals that consist of different variations of food. How much can you guys eat??????? people don't live to eat, they eat to live. Stop indulging in the crap you really don't need, and dont be fooled by organic stuff either, they are ridicoulsly over priced.
OMG I spend $600 a month for 3 people and a dog and that includes stuff that is not edible like shampoo, toliet paper, paper towels, dog food, etc.





goodness $600 should be plenty for only 2





PS--and I got a big dog 85 pounds
get real the two of us spend 400 a month eat steak etc and wine with our meals unless your making 100k a year cut back we make 50 and eat healthy and well i think you should donate 200 a month to the local food pantry we do
Dude how much do you two eat?


Wow.................
Give up the lobster i guess
OMG!! how much do you two eat??
We use $500 a month for three people.





Stop eating sirloin steak and lobster bisque and learn how to budget.
My boyfriend and I only spend $500-$600 per month on food for both of us and we are certainly nstarving....so you shouldn't have a problem...may have to skip the name brands here and there but it can definitely be done.
do you have children? The average for a family of 4 is $450 a month on food...
I would hope so. My wife and I eat very healthy and spend less than that.
My gosh! That's $150/week! What in the world are you people eating? I feed myself, my husband, 2 kids, 2 dogs, 2 cats and 6 fish on less than $400 when I have to. We are far from starving!
Easy.





I have lived on 50.00 for food and gas for one week.





Enough is what YOU think it is. If you want to save you have to pay the price of your food choices.
im barely feeding well three people on less than 400 per month.


and now, worrying that food stamps are next cuz utilities arent being paid so we can eat. i think you can do well with 600
That is more than enough for two people just for food.


Try to eat in as much as possible and eat Breakfast for Dinner twice a week. It will save a lot of money =)





Hope This Helps!
i have a family of six and only spend around this amount.


what the heck are you eating?
We spend less than that, and that's with going out to eat at least twice a week. It's not hard at all.
If two people can't survive on $600.00 food allowance, you need to get rid of the Elephants at the dinner table. That's a couple of over eating DOLTS!
we are 2, with animals, cats %26amp; dogs and eat very well on less than $400.00 a month.





We go to stores with lower pricing and bulk foods





bargain hunting is a blast, when you save money
Are you kidding? We spend about $500 a month on three of us - in Connecticut of all places...if you two can't feed yourselves on $600 a month there is no hope...