Pinching Pennies
I was looking at the December 2011 USDA determined cost of feeding a family. These figures are tracked monthly and have been increasing on a monthly basis at least this past winter and fall. I know I have been complaining (to anyone who will listen) that every time I go to the store I am spending more money and there is less choices available. What I didn’t realize is that not only is it true but it is out there on paper. Somehow seeing it on paper makes it more real.
I have always tried to live frugally. I thought we were doing very well in 2005, feeding 2 adults and 5 children on $400 a month sometimes less. I could still buy snacks for school lunches and even eat out now and then. Now I find I can not afford snacks at all and our monthly store budget is $600 to feed 2 adults and 2 children. I am also feeding, 2 dogs, 2 cats, a goose, bunny, and several fish. Snacks aside, we do always have a variety of fresh fruit available in the house, usually apples, bananas, and oranges.
Following this chart I find we we are right in line with the thrifty low-cost plan. The chart is based only on FOOD. There is nothing in this to account for money spend at the grocery store on sundry items; toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, garbage bags, shampoo, soap, etc…. So I guess we are doing much better than I though. Sigh, it still is depressing to walk out of the grocery store, feeling my wallet so depleted
The government uses a formula, revised in 2007, to determine how much FOOD is consumed weekly, by age group, based on dietary food guidelines and actual ‘basket counts’ of a sample of shoppers. It is based on food being prepared at home though the cost of different levels assumes the purchase of more prepared foods as you progress from thrifty to liberal. I am sure you can also add in higher quality of meat cuts, fresh verses frozen or canned vegetables, organic verses non-organic, and more variety of foods. That doesn’t even throw in sales and coupons. Though I have to admit I rarely manage to use coupons.
While it was somewhat gratifying to discover I was right on track (thank you USDA) it was rather depressing to see in print, that in fact – we are right on track with what the government determines a family of 4 is spending in at the grocery store. The thrifty plan says a family of 4 (two adults under 50, male 12-13 and a child 2-3) costs $138.80 to feed weekly or $601.20 a month.
According to the USDA Economic Research Service the average household income as of December 2011 for Androscoggin County is $41,831 (or 91% of the state average). At $600 a month we are spending $7,200 a year on food alone (and we are spending less than most). That is almost 20% of the average household income. They say taxes are approximately 1/3 of your income. I have heard that most people’s mortgages are 1/4 of their income. As we all know only too well, in the winter here in New England heating your home can often exceeds 1/4 of your monthly income. It is frightening to think about. Based on the same type of statistics how do low income families manage when just food, mortagage, heat and taxes add up to almost 98% of your income.
We are going to start really putting effort into growing our own food. No more hobby garden for me. We are moving on to serious food production at this house. I don’t know how else to keep up with this economy and continuously escalating prices. If we are lucky perhaps we can produce more than we need and donate some food back to the community.
Official USDA Food Plans: Cost of Food at Home at Four Levels,
U.S. Average, December 2011
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