30k ingroceries for the year???

amother

↑ Mauve ↓

Yesterday at 6:51 pm

amother Azalea wrote:

My friend spends 36k yearly, 3k a month. 5 kids (all young) but hosts all the time and has her family for Sukkos

I hosted a family of 9 (meaning 7 kids ages 6 months - 13) they rsvped made minute so made separate order - bill was $500!!

From paper goods, to Shabbos treats, fish, meat, fruit, salads, snacks, chocolate and Candy for room… I never realized how much more I spend when I host!

amother

Blush

Yesterday at 6:53 pm

amother OP wrote:

Just filed our taxes for 2024 and ran a report of groceries, including meat, fish, paper goods, detergents.
30 k for family of 4 kids 2 adults. Is this normal?? Could've had a down-payment with this money

It’s sick, but that’s inflation

You couldn’t have had a down payment but you would all be dead if you didn’t eat

amother

Lightgray ↓

Yesterday at 6:59 pm

amother Mauve wrote:

There's nothing wrong with spending that if you want, but sounds like a you went a little above and beyond with your purchases. It's possible to host for less.

amother

Viola

Yesterday at 7:05 pm

amother OP wrote:

That's what we pay.

amother

↑ Yolk ↓

Yesterday at 7:21 pm

amother Lightgray wrote:

There's nothing wrong with spending that if you want, but sounds like a you went a little above and beyond with your purchases. It's possible to host for less.

It’s possible but not by much. Grape juice for 9 more people. Salmon for 9 more people… meat for 9 more people. And theres at least 2 full meals served.
She possibly splurged on candy and other things that are technically unnecessary but if she simply serves her guests what she makes for her family on a regular shabbos, itll cost significantly more too

amother

Brown ↓

Yesterday at 7:38 pm

We’re 2 adults and 4 kids (5-11) and according to my budget software we spent around $18k on groceries in 2024. This is mostly food as I count cleaning supplies separately. OOT in tristate area.

We rarely use disposables and we don’t eat much meat during the week. We also very frequently have my in-laws for shabbos and yt and while I do most of the cooking, my MIL will often provide the meat and wine for the meals and I know that does save us money on our budget. Also we don’t make pesach. So I’m sure we’d come in closer to $22k or higher if not for those factors.

Also according to my budget we spent around $3000 on restaurants/takeout. That includes getting ice cream and when I have to eat out for work or when traveling and occasionally getting pizza or going to restaurants. Crazy how it adds up.

amother

Molasses

Yesterday at 7:39 pm

Yes. My numbers are very close. 2 adults 4 kids (big eaters) my kids school don't provide snacks/breakfast/lunch as many in-town school do (This make a huge difference! ) we never go away for shabbosim but host bochrim from my husband yeshiva almost every shabbos. We make pesach and yt .. and eat lots of vegetables &fruits which are as expensive as meat&fish&diary ( 3.5-4$ for a lb of peppers that's more than chicken!) we eat only hemishe hechshrim for many products. We don't do take out/ froz item ( except 9 on the go pizza in bingo in bulks for emergencies) not because of money as I believe very strongly in "mommy warmth food" . So tomatoes guys .. but no way a family like me ( hecshreim+no school lunch) spend less than 500-600$ a week. I spend around 2000-2500$ a month. No government benefits her ( DH refused any trick&shtick) DH makes 72k a year (I think a family like us should make under 46 to get ebt) I make 30k (limudi kodesh teacher)
So all together 102k ( I know ppl are very jealous of rebbeim&techers on this website..) we pay 32k a year for tuition and playgroup op I feel your pain but let's thank Hashem we kids and family to feed and somehow we can make it! We have the כוחות to cook for them and see them growing.. I see grocery bills as "happy" and good ones and daven to Hashem I'll never need to spend my money on medical/ lawyers bills!

amother

Steel

Yesterday at 7:44 pm

amother Brown wrote:

We’re 2 adults and 4 kids (5-11) and according to my budget software we spent around $18k on groceries in 2024. This is mostly food as I count cleaning supplies separately. OOT in tristate area.

Would love to know what budget software you (or anyone) uses. Any recommendations?

amother

↑ Brown

Yesterday at 7:50 pm

amother Steel wrote:

Would love to know what budget software you (or anyone) uses. Any recommendations?

I use YNAB https://www.ynab.com/pricing. It’s $109/year though I think you can do a free trial. It takes a little getting used to but I’ve used it for several years now and it’s the only way I can keep track of what I can coming in and going out.

amother

↑ Yolk

Yesterday at 8:13 pm

safetynet1 wrote:

I think a lot matters on the number if you eat only Chassidish hasgachas. If you buy all your dry foods like pasta and cereals in Walmart and Aldi you'll be paying a lot less.

Personally I find that produce and proteins make a way bigger dent in my budget than dry food purchased in heimish groceries

amother

Maroon

Yesterday at 8:15 pm

amother OP wrote:

Not crazy! We're also 2 adults and 4 kids and spent 24k. I don't think it takes much to spend 6k more than us... first of all my husband is not a big eater which for sure makes a difference. We live out of town which means kosher items are more expensive BUT I spend less on 'prepared' stuff because it's just not available. When I lived in town I would buy checked romaine lettuce, pre-cut butternut squash, pre-cut fruit sometimes, etc - now I can't, so I don't. But I don't think it's crazy to buy those items if you can!
We have ground meat once a week and chicken once a week. We all like milchigs, including my husband, and homemade pizza or ziti comes out cheaper for me than fleishigs because the only cheese in it is shredded cheese from costco. Shabbos we have chicken friday night and cholent meat in the cholent. I don't buy real meat (corned beef, steak, brisket, etc) except for yuntif, but we have deli in some form or franks n blanks most shabbasos and those are expensive too.
I don't make pesach, but I do make all the other yomim tovim and host plenty for shabbos and yuntif, but it's pretty low pressure out of town.
Groceries are expensive. It was our most expensive category for 2024 after tuition/babysitting and our mortgage.

amother

↑ Lightgray

Yesterday at 8:16 pm

amother Yolk wrote:

Yeah, I've hosted a family of 9+ and I understand the costs involved to have them, even last minute if you have to buy some things ready made. It doesn't have to cost anywhere close to $500. Kvetch about grocery prices if you want, but there's also an option to spend less sometimes.

amother

Junglegreen

Yesterday at 10:33 pm

These threads get me upset, because at the end if the day, there's no amount set in stone that each family needs to spend on groceries.

I track my grocery spending, and I found that there was one month last year that we actually spent $4000! I had kids on special diets, I probably bought ahead for Yom tov or something, or maybe I just restocked my pantry... this is with buying lots of stuff in Wal Mart, shopping sales, and serving meat only once a week.

I did try to cut down. So for me this means less takeout and buying only what I need, less good going to waste... but even so it's expensive and if I think too much about it, causes me so much anxiety.

I think a healthy attitude for me is that bh we had the money for it and I'm feeding my family good food.