Budgeting Essential Strategies: Feeding a Family for an Astounding $800 Monthly Expense
Living on a tight budget while feeding a family can be challenging, but it's not impossible. One mother of seven shares her strategy for maintaining a healthy family menu for under $800 a month.
With six children at home and two more who come for visits during holidays, this family's weekly grocery budget is capped at $200. To stretch this budget further, the mother occasionally stocks up on essentials at Sam's Club or purchases specialty items from stores like Whole Foods when they visit.
Here's a breakdown of her grocery shopping routine:
Walmart/Local Grocery Store – Weekly Groceries ($150)- Fruits: Bananas, lettuce, tomatoes, seasonal produce like peaches, nectarines, and cherries- Vegetables: Celery, apples, avocado- Proteins: Organic grass-fed ground beef, milk- Dairy: Organic Greek yogurt- Pantry Staples: Canned veggies, baking supplies, condiments
Every 2-3 weeks, she adds the following items:- Proteins: Organic chicken- Dairy & Cheese: Cream cheese blocks, Noosa Vanilla yogurt, shredded & sliced cheese- Meats: Uncured bacon, sausage, lunch meat- Snacks: Organic granola, popcorn- Frozen Fruits & Veggies- Pantry Staples: Baking supplies & spices
Sam's Club – 4-5 times a year ($400)- Canned Goods: Canned chicken, salsa- Snacks: Organic red quinoa tortilla chips- Bread, Cheese, & Dairy: Various types of bread, shredded & sliced cheese, regular & organic butter, plain Greek yogurt- Produce: Fresh fruits & vegetables for the next two weeks- Pantry Staples: Organic chicken broth, baking supplies & spices
Whole Foods – 1-2 times a year ($200+)- Grains: Organic sprouted oats, sprouted corn tortillas- Beans: Organic black beans, other types of beans- Dairy & Probiotics: Kefir- Cheese & Snacks: Raw cheese, popcorn kernels
By planning meals around seasonal produce and taking advantage of bulk purchases, this family successfully maintains a healthy, affordable diet despite their large size. Though their expenses increase during the summer months with more children at home, they offset these costs by growing their own food.
The mother, with a large family of eight, manages to maintain a food-and-drink lifestyle on a monthly budget of $800, including cooking and travel-friendly snacks like organic granola and popcorn. Her grocery shopping strategy includes regular visits to Walmart or local grocery stores for weekly essentials such as produce, proteins, dairy, and pantry staples.
occasional trips to Sam's Club, especially 4-5 times a year, help stock up on bulk items like canned goods, bread, cheese, and produce. One-time or twice-yearly visits to Whole Foods provide organic grains, beans, dairy, cheese, and probiotics, enhancing the family's home-and-garden lifestyle and overall food-and-drink choices.
By planning meals around seasonal produce, making bulk purchases, and growing their own vegetables during the summer, this family successfully balances a large family's needs with budget-travel expenses, ensuring a healthy and varied diet for everyone.
