Once or twice a year I look up what the cost of the USDA’s Thrifty Food Plan is. My goal is to stay under that amount most months. I am needing to take a look back at the amounts I have spent on groceries in any given week this year to see if I am on track, but I’m willing to bet I have gone over sometimes. I wonder, if I keep track and add it all up at the end of the year and then divide by 52, will I average out at or below that amount, though. I might do this to find out.
I am not sure if amount of the weekly food plan is consistent throughout the year or not. but for April this is what the USDA says the thrifty food plan amount is for me:
$53.20 per week/$230.60 per month
While it says this is based on a market basket of healthy, nutrient dense foods and beverages, I know that healthy means different things to different people. The market baskets they use include things that I do not buy. For instance, I don’t really buy grains. Or dairy milk. I also do not buy sugar. Unfortunately, the monk fruit sweetener I use costs more than sugar. So do the non-dairy yogurt and milk alternative options. I know my food is going have a different cost than someone eating the standard American Diet. In some areas, it will cost much more. In others, it might be less.
If you head on over to the USDA’s food plans, you can see how your family compares. Are you on track with one of the levels? Which one? I am also curious if anyone comes in under the thrifty food plan.
~ Shannon
