That’s a lot of money that is being blown and most people probably don’t realize it. That translates to roughly $1,800 annually for the average family of four. It was a huge waste on so many levels.ĭid you know that American families throw out approximately 25% of the food and beverages they buy? This is according to a 2012 study conducted by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). This resulted in throwing out food that eventually spoiled because I forgot about it or it was hidden in the back. One of my biggest mistakes I made when I started planning my meals was not knowing what was in my fridge. Take inventory of what’s currently in your fridge to avoid food waste Combined, our total meals for the week is about 38.Ĥ. Antony’s needs change weekly due to work-sponsored meals but an average week for him is 17 meals. This helps me determine how many recipes I need to cook for the week for Antony and myself.įor example, I typically need 21 meals for the week which is essentially breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day of the week. I look at recipes now in terms of the number of servings. Knowing how many total meals you need for the week will help you plan more efficiently. Determine how many meals you need to cook for the upcoming week The remaining 10-20% of meals are a combination of restaurant or take out.ģ. This budget takes into account cooking 80-90% of meals at home. According to the USDA, this falls between a low-cost and moderate-cost food plan. Our weekly goal right now is $100-$125 (for 2 adults) or $500 a month for food which in some parts of the country is incredibly high but can be challenging in the Bay Area or any metropolitan city for that matter. For someone who loves to eat, this was an adjustment but when we sat down and looked at our goals, the answer was clear. That would mean cooking a lot more at home. Either way, set your goal and aim to hit your mark each month.įor example, when we looked at our numbers it was obvious that the biggest impact we could make was to reduce our takeout/restaurant spending. And if you’re not sure where to begin, start small and work your way up. Once you know your numbers, you can determine your weekly and monthly target whether you decide to reduce your spending by a percentage or dollar amount. Clearly, there was a huge opportunity to affect our savings! It sounds even crazier when I see it in writing. To give you an example, last year, Antony and I spent an average of $900/month on food including groceries and restaurants for the two of us. This will give you a starting point for your budgeting. Be honest with yourself and know where your money goes in two categories – groceries and restaurants. If you’re not sure how much you spend on food each month, keep track of it for the next month. Look at how much you’re currently spending on food Here are 15 easy tips that’ll help get you moving in the right direction:ġ. I’m not an expert but being in charge of our food planning taught me a few important lessons through trial and error. So how do you plan your weekly meals on a budget? It’s simple. It may not sound like a big deal but over time, it quickly adds up. That’s what can happen when you don’t plan ahead: the food spending goes off track and it sets you back from meeting your target. I was not always a crazy spender when it came to food but I’ll be the first to admit that there were times I bought more at the grocery store than I intended or ate out more at restaurants because there wasn’t anything in my fridge. It’s also your most controllable expense which is great news if you’re looking to reduce your spending and save money. Did you know that your food expenses are your fourth highest household expense in the Bay Area and in the US? This is according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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