Cutting Food Costs
Money ManagementKeeping you and your family fed can really eat up your income. Learning how to minimize food costs can help you stay on budget and avoid credit card debt. This guide will teach you how to keep costs low, whether you’re cooking at home or dining out.
Open Booklet Download BookletHow much should you spend on food?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture releases a monthly report on how much the average person, couple, and family of four should expect to spend on food. These guides can help you understand the weekly and monthly costs you can budget for at four different spending levels.
NOTE: All numbers have been rounded up to the nearest dollar and are based on the USDA’s March 2020 report.
| Household | Weekly Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Single adult male, age 19-50 | $44 | $189 |
| Single adult male, age 51-70 | $40 | $173 |
| Single adult female, age 19-50 | $40 | $170 |
| Single adult female, age 51-70 | $40 | $167 |
| Family of 2 (male and female), age 19-50 | $91 | $392 |
| Family of 2 (male and female), age 51-70 | $90 | $372 |
| Family of 4, male and female age 19-50, with 2 kids age 2-3 and 4-5 | $132 | $572 |
| Family of 4, male and female age 19-50, with 2 kids age 6-8 and 9-11 | $152 | $656 |
NOTE: All numbers have been rounded up to the nearest dollar and are based on the USDA’s March 2020 report.
| Household | Weekly Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Single adult male, age 19-50 | $57 | $245 |
| Single adult male, age 51-70 | $54 | $231 |
| Single adult female, age 19-50 | $49 | $212 |
| Single adult female, age 51-70 | $54 | $231 |
| Family of 2 (male and female), age 19-50 | $116 | $502 |
| Family of 2 (male and female), age 51-70 | $111 | $481 |
| Family of 4, male and female age 19-50, with 2 kids age 2-3 and 4-5 | $169 | $730 |
| Family of 4, male and female age 19-50, with 2 kids age 6-8 and 9-11 | $199 | $861 |
NOTE: All numbers have been rounded up to the nearest dollar and are based on the USDA’s March 2020 report.
| Household | Weekly Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Single adult male, age 19-50 | $71 | $311 |
| Single adult male, age 51-70 | $67 | $288 |
| Single adult female, age 19-50 | $60 | $260 |
| Single adult female, age 51-70 | $60 | $257 |
| Family of 2 (male and female), age 19-50 | $144 | $621 |
| Family of 2 (male and female), age 51-70 | $139 | $599 |
| Family of 4, male and female age 19-50, with 2 kids age 2-3 and 4-5 | $208 | $900 |
| Family of 4, male and female age 19-50, with 2 kids age 6-8 and 9-11 | $248 | $1,075 |
NOTE: All numbers have been rounded up to the nearest dollar and are based on the USDA’s March 2020 report.
| Household | Weekly Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Single adult male, age 19-50 | $87 | $374 |
| Single adult male, age 51-70 | $81 | $348 |
| Single adult female, age 19-50 | $77 | $332 |
| Single adult female, age 51-70 | $72 | $310 |
| Family of 2 (male and female), age 19-50 | $179 | $776 |
| Family of 2 (male and female), age 51-70 | $167 | $723 |
| Family of 4, male and female age 19-50, with 2 kids age 2-3 and 4-5 | $257 | $1,112 |
| Family of 4, male and female age 19-50, with 2 kids age 6-8 and 9-11 | $331 | $1,302 |
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If you need help balancing your budget, talk to a certified credit counselor for a free analysis. |
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