If you’ve been around here for a while, you’ll know I am pretty frugal. And by frugal, I mean I don’t like to spend a ridiculous amount of money on food so I can still have leftover money for Starbuck’s and trips to Disney World. Priorities people… priorities.
Okay, and I’m kind of lying. I really do like to spend money on food. But sometimes I just can’t justify spending $6 on a jar of nut butter when I can get the same thing at Trader Joe’s for $3. Yes, there are times where I do have to shell out the extra dough for my gluten free lifestyle (oats, flours, etc.), so I like to make up for it when I can.
I recently received the following question from one of my readers:
What budgeting tips to you have for someone who is trying to eat as wholesomely as possible?
Actually Create a Budget: I have talked about it before, but I have a budget of $300 each month to spend on groceries. Could we spend more if we wanted to? Of course we could. However, I have found this amount to be perfect for our family of two. I can’t imagine going to the store and buying whatever I wanted to, whenever I wanted to — money would add up FAST! It comes out to about $75 a week. We also eat all our breakfasts and lunches at home and/or packed, and we eat in six days a week. That comes to a total of 40 (for two people) meals coming from that $75 a week, of about $1.88 a meal.
Eat at Home: With that being said, we don’t go out to eat very often. We will maybe go out once a week (maybe), but it’s never very exciting to me unless we go to a restaurant that specializes in gluten free vegan foods. It’s not worth it to us to go out to eat because I could make the exact same thing at home for a sliver of the price we would pay at the restaurant!
Go Semi-Vegetarian: Believe it or not, a vegetarian diet is actually much more cost efficient than a meat filled one. If you eat meat, I would suggest making 1-2 nights vegetarian nights to save money. Some great vegetarian meals include:
asparagus and white bean pasta
Buy Whole Foods: Not the grocery store — I’m talking about real, whole foods here. Hit up the farmer’s markets to find the best deals on produce. I got a weeks worth of produce from my local farmer’s market yesterday for $23. That price cannot be beat. Instead of buying pre-packaged cookies, buy the ingredients to make your own! While it might seem like you are spending more money at first, the cost evens out over the course of the month.
Buy in Bulk: Every few months, I head to Whole Foods to stock up on the dry essentials — beans, rice, quinoa, nutritional yeast, dried fruits, nuts, and seed.
I place these items in ball jars and keep them visible on my kitchen hutch, so I know how much I have of each item. Plus, having foods visible means I am more likely to use them up. I go through phases with beans — sometimes I buy them in cans, sometimes I buy them in bulk, Right now I figured it would be easiest to buy in bulk since I am going to be revisiting meal planning now that I am working again. The only thing about dry beans is you have to plan ahead. Otherwise, you’ll be left at dinner time with no food to eat!
Allow Yourself to Make Mistakes: Last fall when I was trying to figure out how much money we would need to get us through the month for food, I played around with my budget a lot to see what works for our family. I made mistakes, I adjusted money, and I found out perfect budget. You can read more about that process in my grocery shopping blues series:
Since we are total budget people, I also have a weekly “personal spending” amount of money I am able to use. Obviously I can spend more if I want to, but I try to keep frivolous purchases under a specific amount. There are also some foods that I buy on occasion, for example — Kombucha, that I would never use my grocery money on. There are also some foods I deem “would like to have but doesn’t fit in the budget” — like if I want to splurge on my favorite Larabars at the store.
In the end, it all comes down to balance (like most things in life). Eating wholesomely on a budget doesn’t have to be boring (see my tagline in my header) and it certainly doesn’t have to be a pain. Yes, it can be challenging at times, but that’s when I get the most creative in the kitchen!
Question: Do you eat on a budget? What are some tips you would tell this reader who is trying to eat healthfully on a budget?
{ 67 comments… read them below or add one }
Eating at home 95% of the time definitely helps me save money.
I try to shop around and now what grocery stores have the cheapest options. Some things are a better deal at Whole Foods than the “normal” grocery store near me. Farmer’s markets can also be a very cheap for produce.
Great tips Chelsey! I totally agree with cutting back on meat consumption to save money.
I also stock up on non-perishable and freezeable foods when they’re at a special price. Also don’t cook more food than you need and if you have leftovers then eat them for lunch!
Great tips! I agree that going veggie for a few dinners each week helps lower total grocery cost.
I also think it’s a good idea to plan out our meals for a week and write a grocery list so I’m not tempted to throw extras in the cart
These are awesome tips!! Thanks:)
we eat on a budget and just like you, preparing our own foods in the biggest way to stick to it! Making breads and cooking with beans and whole grains are filling and inexpensive!
Stop eating out EVER!! Cook at home. That means no drive thrus, delis, hot bars, cold salad bars, no eating out. If you don’t make it in your kitchen, you can’t eat it. Ironically when i was trying to get to the bottom of my food allergies, i made/ate 100% of my own in-home cooking, no eating out, and 2 benefits happened: i figured out my food allergies and my overall monthly spending went wayyyyy down. It was amazing!
And also, no Starbucks or coffee shop coffee. At $3-5 per cup, you can buy enough coffee beans to brew coffee for WEEKS with the price it costs for one cup out.
I have a whole post on this stuff.
Great question and great tips you gave your reader!
Thank you for posting your thoughts on budgeting. I’ve been wanting to find something like this, and it’s really good info!
Eating out is probably our vice - I blame the husband
. It’s a bad habit that has to stop. I think it’s mainly because right now, at my husband’s work, he gets a meal allowance each month. So, everyday he eats at work, and then it’s pretty easy to continue that when you get home. I think with school starting in the fall, I’m going to want to follow a budget a little more, but my only problem is the actual cooking part with school to be done! I guess I’ll have to devise a plan once school has started and we’re in the swing of things!
Thank you sooooo much for these tips! I need to really work on budgeting at the grocery store when I go back to school next week! I actually signed up for mint.com so that I can have a website to budget everything for me
Great tips, girl. I haven’t really been paying attention to my grocery budget while I’ve been living with my parents, but now that I’ll be moving out on my own, I’ll have to start paying more attention to what I buy. My biggest tips would probably be to eat at home, buy in bulk, stock up on staples when they go on sale, and shop around in different stores. I find that a lot of the time, the same product is a bit cheaper in different places. It’s just a bit annoying because it means you have to run to like 3 or 4 different stores.
Great post! I’ll definitely be visiting your grocery shopping blues series!
Like you said, produce markets are the best way to get your groceries. I can usually get mine - for a single lady who doesn’t eat any meat or cheese or whathaveyou - for about $17/week. Not shabby!
I always make a big pot of soup or vegan or chicken chili - once a week. SOUP is sooo cheap to make. Then I freeze it into individual servings and throw into the fridge…soup stay good forever in the freezer. Then, you have instant lunches or quick healthy dinners ready to go!
xoxo from Trinidad
These are great tips! I definitely need to eat out less and buy in bulk more. Thanks Chelsey!
I definitely need to work on my budget. I can’t believe two of you only spend $300, that’s what I spend just for myself! I do have a problem with frivolous buys though. I end up in whole foods and think, let’s just try this $5 frozen dinner, I’ll want it when I get home late! Bad idea… those things really add up!
I don’t have a strict budget but I end up spending aronud $200 a month just for myself, but that does include detergent, paper towels, etc…so maybe more like $150 a month on food. My biggest tip is to PACK YOUR LUNCH! I always eat breakfast at home but I would buy lunch every day at work- $10 gone and over the course of the week- $50 gone! Now I buy one day a week and pack food the other 4…saves so much!
That’s really good including toiletries!!
Totally agree - I switched to a mostly pulses and veggie diet when I was a student (mostly in order to be able to afford more beer, but that’s neither here not there!) and saved loads…and as a bonus even lost some weight! Woohoo!
I definitely eat on a budget!! I’m a student, it’s necessary. It’s super easy because I only buy food and cook for myself. I’m vegan, and I spend way less money than anyone else I know! I set myself a weekly budget (I posted on it awhile back), and sometimes I go over if I need to stock up on staples. Meal planning is key! I think your advice is spot on!!
Thanks for the tips! I’m just about to start my first semester of college where I will not have any kind of meal plan, so this is really helpful! The hardest part for me will be planning for meals on the go, as I will be spending a lot of time out in classes or studying or something - but I do not want to be buying food at cafes and such all the time.
haha when I was living in my apartment during college, I probably spent about the same amount ($300/month) on just myself!
Great tips! I think the one thing that helps me stick to my budget is making a list, checking it twice (haha), and sticking to it. If I don’t make a list, I end up buying things I don’t need and inevitably I go over my budget.
You sound lik eyou’re singing a Christmas song!
Awesome tips! The cost of healthy living is flexible-> it can be as expensive (or cheap) as you make it! I completely agree with you about eating a semi-veg diet! My dinner tonight was so delicious yet works out so cheap because of the main ingredients: potatoes, kidney beans, broccoli,green beans, mushrooms and peppers!
Eat at home is a huge help and so is buying in bulk. I like basing meals around the same ingredients with different tastes. Lots of my meals include brown rice, beans, etc…mixed together for some new fun.
I should definitly start having a budget. It seems that I am letting a lot of food go to waste (I hate! that) simply because I don’t have a plan…. I NEED a plan!
This is inspiring Miss Chelsey, I shall go forth and budget!
Let me know how it turns out!
Great tips! Eating vegetarian meals a couple times a week is a great way to save money. As is eating in and buying in bulk. Sure, it costs more upfront but it’ll last and everything will even itself out in the end
These are all great tips! While I do things liek buy in bulk, eat at home, etc. food budgeting is one thing I don’t do. I’m a frugal person by nature so I always shop for the best deals but I don’t worry about how much money I’m spending in total on food over the course of a month. It’s the one area I don’t mind spending $ on and will gladly restrict other areas (entertainment, etc.) to have the food I want in my house
LOVE your tips!! I spent a LOT of money on food…I blame my bar addiction!
Not eating out much, and not buying Starbucks coffees every day has saved me SO MUCH money!! Also avoiding branded stuff where possible helps
Groceries get so tricky for me, because I know I COULD spend a ton of money if I threw everything I wanted into my cart, but obviously spending about double of what I need to on groceries would really add up over time. I have trouble making decisions about what to buy and what to hold off on - when I go to Whole Foods for the “special” items (anything beyond our regular produce and pantry staples) I try to limit myself to $25 or $30 so each time I can try a couple new things if I want and figure out what is really worth it. Buying in bulk is something I definitely need to start doing more often. Thanks for your tips, and knowing that it’s hard for other people (not just me) helps a lot.
I always get sucked into the “special” items at whole foods, which is why I can’t go very often!
Eating at home is definitely my fave way to eat healthy on a budget! Because I can’t eat wheat/gluten, I end up getting a salad anyways. I could have just as easily made one at home and gotten more of it for less money!
I think all of your tips were great! The only other thing I recommend is taking a list to the grocery store and don’t deviate from the list!
great advice! I don’t currently have a budget, which is why I splurge WAY too often. It’s a problem ha. I’m currently making the transition from having a full-time job to being a full-time grad student so I will be definitely be budgeting this semester-and your grocery blues posts are an inspiration.
I love how you added in that each meal basically costs $1.88 each. The ingredients to make the meal may be a little costly but when you see how many meals they end up making, it can be very very cost-efficient! Also, people always think that eating a vegetarian diet costs more nut it doesn’t!!! A pund of meat can be over $6 but a pound of beans can sometimes be less than a dollar!
When you break it down, it’s hard to deny the fact that eating in is so much cheaper!
Great ideas and tips! Beans and Brown Rice are my staple foods. They are SUPER cheap too. You can make allot of different recipes with those staples. When I do my weekly grocery shopping for Veggies I look at the items on sale. The other week I got Organic Kale for .99 a bunch, and this week they had Organic rainbow chard on sale for .99 a bunch. If you need frozen buy from Costco. They have Big bags of frozen Organics for less than $6.00 for a HUGE bag! Happy Budgeting everyone =D
Great tips, Chelsey! We definitely live on a budget with me staying home, it’s a necessity! One tip I would recommend is using only CASH! It’s alot harder giving over bill by bill than swiping a card.
I agree! I get my $300 at the beginning of the month in cash - no charging for groceries!
brilliant post!
eating out is a massive dent to my meesly budget of £20 (about $35?!) a week student budget, so i pretty much prepare everything at home! (also helps with the gluten free diet as i know what everything has in it) neat lil pack lunch and and a gazillion snacks weigh my bag down on a daily basis!
oh and i find shopping last thing on a sunday at supermarkets before closing as they mark everything down to pennys! aaaaand the freezer is very much my friend!
Great tips Chelsey! Being on a budget can be hard sometimes, but everyone can do it!
i try to stick to a budget..its kind of amazing how much money i can spend on food..i used to spend a lot on clothes now its food haha cool.
Oh goodness - I remember in college, my roommate and I would go to Target every THursday to find something to wear for the weekend. It was so bad.
I was thinking of you today when I was grocery shopping! (I’m not creepy, right?) We spend about $75 a week as well (Today was $69 - small personal victory haha) I also find that taking the time to make a good list really helps with not going over budget. If I don’t go in with a list, I end up spending more money and buying less stuff! And taking time to look at unit prices really adds up as well
I totally love you.
Great tips!
Veggie nights are amazing for the budget, as are cereal dinners 
I’ve never given myself a defined food budget, but I do try to be reasonable with my purchases. Eating about 50% vegetarian when I’m at school really helps to keep my food costs down. Also I always pack my lunch instead of buying ridiculously priced food on campus.
I could still use lots of improvement though… I spend way too much money on berries, fish, and expensive cheese.
I eat almost every single meal at home. Although I do buy the pricier items, I’m within my budget every month!
All of your tips are spot on and I follow most of them already!
I always tell myself that just one meal out would cost about $50 for my husband and myself, so I always feel better about expensive purchases!
I’m definitely learning that shopping around helps save a lot of money, too, particularly on produce.
Thanks for the tips!
I couldn’t agree more! I’ve been known to go to 3-4 different stores every weekend!
I’m pretty sure you could have done my entire presentation at the HLS this year.
LoL Too bad I didn’t have you there - we could have tagged teamed it.
i WISH we could have!!
Great advice, Chelsey
I am a very frugal shopper, but I don’t have a budget. I try to stick to lists, clip coupons and only buy items on sale to save me money. By the way, you can really buy nutritional yeast in bulk? How much is it? We have a whole foods in Milwaukee and multiple Outposts Foods they have a lot of bulk foods. I think I paid $11 for a large jar a month ago but it is almost gone!
It’s a lot cheaper in the bulk bins - it goes for about $8.99/lb in my Whole Foods.
I definitely eat on a budget. Eating in is probably the best piece of advice, but I have a hard time sticking to it. If a friend calls me to meet up for lunch…I can’t say no! So, my next best tip is to be careful with coupons. I used to buy things just because I had a coupon for them, and it ended up making me spend MORE money, because I wouldn’t have purchased it in the first place! Now, I save some coupons for things that I don’t typically buy and wait for the item to go on sale. That way, I get a really great deal on them!
Great tip about the coupons - I always look through them but rarely use them because they’re for things I wouldn’t normally buy.
Love this and couldn’t agree more! We have a budget, but I’ve been straying (out of pure laziness) lately. I need to get back on track…re-figure out what is realistic with diapers and such.
Also, your “bulk jars” are so much more organized than mine are, I’m jealous.
Buy some mason jars! You can order them off Amazon for really cheap or get them at a hardware store cheap as well!
Ugh, diapers! We have a separate “fund” for toiletry type items - it took a long time for me to convince the Husband that toiletries are not groceries!!
Awesome tips! Love this. I’m all about being frugal and budgeting while also eating healthy, so this was great. I think anyone and everyone can take something away from this post.
Great tips! I had one of those moments today that was like “o crap you need to stop eating out all the time!” That being said, perfect timing to read this post
Great advice and tips for having a good budget and being healthy! I’m a graduate student, but its taught me to look for the best deals and I can still eat healthy. Eating out does add up really quick though, but I do make room to eat out once a week and if I do, I always have 2ish meals of leftovers.
I love, no, ADORE the idea of putting your dried goods in jars and storing them in the open. Maybe it’s not great for them to sit in the sun for too long, but then I should eat them sooner instead of reaching for the processed packaged crap…I’m looking at the perfect shelf in my kitchen right now! So excited!
I absolutely agree with you on the Farmer’s Market!!! I go every week to get fresh season produce and save at least 50-75%!!!! Love love love it
Very nice tip with the ball jars. Just added those to my list for my next trip out. Wonder if I can budget that into the grocery funds? :O We have a budget. It’s easy to stick to because when the money’s gone, it’s gone, ha!
Im generally a healthy eater if/when I cook. The key being cooking myself, unfortunately work doesnt allow for that very much. The loaded cabbage soup looks delicious, by the way.
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