Weekly grocery bill for large family

We are, B'H, a family of 10. I am curious to know what the normal/average grocery bill is for a large family. We are in the US. I am spending about $350-$425 each week on average, sometimes more, sometimes less. This includes food, paper goods, diapers, school supplies, toiletries, housekeeping items. It can be more if something special is needed in a given week (such as there is a birthday or I need a new household item.) This doesn't include Yom Tov expenses, but does include Shabbos.

DH thinks it is WAY too much. He thinks we should be spending $200-$250 each week. I think he has underbudgeted!

How much is your weekly bill?

Diamond Member Joined: Mar 11 2010 Posts: 3090

Are you kidding? He has definitely underbudgeted!

As I've mentioned elsewhere on this site, I pay about $200-220 per week (including paper goods and tissues, but without diapers and fresh wipes) for a family of six.

This is with only meat on shabbos in the cholent, chicken appx. 2-3 times/week one package each time only (we make it work), and almost all of our fruits and vegetables from the reduced produce section.

Factor in guest for shabbos or an upcoming Y"T and I pay around $280.

Sounds like you're a tzadekes for only spending that much on a family of 10 Very Happy

Well then youre not really asking about groceries only.
For a family of 7 we spend about 200 a week on food alone. And about another 100 for everything else- paper goods, pampers, detergent, toiletries...

We're a family of 11, and though we spend substantially less than what you mentioned, I think you're probably fairly average. I would personally find $200 weekly to be very adequate and $250 to be ample , but I'm quite frugal so my money stretches a good distance. Laughing

So while technically your husband is right that it's possible, it does take a good bit of experience to be able to stay within those limits and feed your family well, so I wouldn't say it's reasonable to consider that average.
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Avivah - grateful mom of ten amazing kids (ages three - nineteen and our gorgeous baby boy with Trisomy 21!)
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