![]() ![]() With two careers and three busy kids, packing lunches was not always an easy feat. “We do still drink a moderate amount of alcohol at home but buying it at a grocery store versus a restaurant is a big difference, so that makes each meal we order average around $70.” Some of those do include to-go margaritas (a lovely new result of the pandemic) and most include a tip for those essential workers preparing the meal.Īlso, kudos to Shelley and her hubby for only drinking a “moderate amount” of alcohol while stuck at home with three kids. They don’t eat in restaurants at all, but do occasionally order a nice meal to-go for their family. Since March, that number has scaled drastically back. When they were able, they spent anywhere from $500-1000 per month on sit down meals from restaurants. Shelley and her family enjoy restaurants, and miss sitting down to a meal together at favorite local spots. They have chosen to continue to avoid sit-down restaurants. As restrictions eased over the summer in Texas and some activities resumed, their fast food purchases did increase a bit, but still overall lower than usual. They’ve spent an average of about $550 on fast food since March, which is a huge savings overall. That part of the pandemic has been really nice.” She and her husband don’t run through a drive-through on their way into work anymore, either, since they are telecommuting now. “Our family isn’t juggling sports, band practice, and church activities in the evenings any more so we can plan, cook together and eat longer meals together. Prior to March, the family was spending around $1000 per month on fast food, but that dropped drastically as they began their long stay at home. Fast food: $550 per monthĪs a family with three kids on the go and two working parents, driving up to a window to be handed a meal was a huge part of their pre-pandemic lifestyle. Overall, their grocery store bill has gone up around $200 per month, but it hasn’t affected their bottom line due to other major changes in their spending. It’s become a little pandemic treat they don’t leave out of any order now. “They waived all the fees and their app makes it very easy for me to stick to buying only what we need.” Some new foods became a necessity for the family during the milk shortage Shelley bought chocolate milk, and her kids became hooked on it. Once the shelter-in-place orders came into effect, the family began using Kroger curbside pickup. Shopping in person, it’s hard to resist impulse buys, so some unplanned expenses were part of every trip. Prior to the pandemic, the family spent about $700 per month at grocery stores. Here’s a look at what they were spending before, and what they are spending now. Shelley meticulously tracks their food spending, as they are on a strict plan to pay down their debt. Unlike many Americans, their food costs actually have gone down during the pandemic. ![]() This included groceries, school lunches, fast food, and sit down meals at restaurants. ![]() Family: A mother and fatherīefore the pandemic, the family was spending an average of $2700 per month on food. Mom Shelley attributes that to a few key changes. While some families are spending much more during the pandemic on entertainment, food, or technology for remote learning, one Houston-area family has found that their grocery budget has drastically decreased since March when life came to a screeching halt. Expense Report gives us a look into the spending, scrimping, and wishing that defines parenthood, from what moms spend on birthdays, to childcare, to sleep, to self-care (we wish!), and beyond. Raising a child supposedly costs you a quarter of a million dollars, but it can honestly be more daunting to face the idea of spending $80 on bottle nipples in a single month.
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