How Much Would You Say You Spend on Food Per Year for Just Yourself?

AlienC on 11/02/2023 - 19:41
Last edited 12/02/2023 - 10:39 by 1 other user

I know random Saturday Shower Thought well actually I am just trying to keep cool on this warm day but I was thinking to myself how much I indulge and spend on food on myself. This includes I guess just food, snacks and desserts so not alcohol or drinks just food no beverages.

If I was living my proper ideal OzBargain life I would only buy from the supermarket and maybe even grow my own garden of vegetables and fruits but I do love my occasional chinese take away and menulog and personally can't cook very well so I buy more expensive convenience products etc.

Anyways after some very basic simple guesstimating my rough estimate for me put me at around $15,000 to $20,000 total food expenditure for the year broken down it looks kind of like this ($4000 - $8500 groceries / $10,000 takeaway food delivery menulog etc / $500 - $1500 dessert snacks) this is a high estimate considering I almost buy a Coles delivery worth $50 - $100 every week sometimes twice if I get cravings for something to be delivered the next day (mmm profiteroles and oak chocolate milk 2L mmm)

Like I said above I love eating out it is my only treat sometimes for before and after work when I am out so I factored that in and was amazed at how much of my food expense it actually is.. more than half.

I actually rarely dine in it is all takeaways for me (social anxiety plus eating alone kind of feels weird sometimes so I usually just eat stuff at the park).

But yeah realistically without bullshitting myself it is about $15k to $20k on food for the year which is a huge chunk of my yearly income so I was wondering what everyone's rough individual spend on food is for the year.

If I really tried to penny pinch for a year and just eat like porridge and oats and maybe rice with egg and cheap vegetables every day I think I could spend maybe only 1/4 of that so $5000 on food per year possibly less.

I do physical work a bit so the food expense justifies it for me when I was unemployed and barely moved I ate a lot less and used less energy so this all makes sense to me.

Just to clarify this is for your individual self not your whole family or whole household if you are not sure just try pick an estimate this is not meant to be super highly accurate just a guess.

What about you?

Poll Options

  • 1
    $0
  • 1
    $0 - $500
  • 0
    $500 - $1000
  • 0
    $1000 - $1500
  • 6
    $2000 - $3000
  • 16
    $3000 - $5000
  • 3
    $5000 - $7500
  • 7
    $7500 - $10000
  • 2
    $10000 - $15000
  • 1
    $15000 - $20000
  • 1
    $20000 - $30000
  • 0
    $30000 - $40000
  • 0
    $50000 - $75000
  • 0
    $75000 - $100000
  • 0
    $100000 - $200000
  • 0
    $200000 - $250000
  • 0
    $250000 - $500000
  • 0
    $500000+
  • 0
    $1M+
  • 0
    $2M+
  • 1
    $3M+
  • 4
    $10M+
  • 17
    $1B+
  • 0
    I don't eat
  • 1
    I am vegan
  • 0
    Food is free if you know how to look for it
  • 3
    Nice try government
  • 1
    N/A
  • 3
    Bikies
  • 0
    Yes
Food & Grocery

Comments

  • askbargain on 11/02/2023 - 19:42
    +1

    a lot of effort for a troll poll. chatgpt?

    • AlienC on 11/02/2023 - 19:43
      +2

      thanks but this is not a troll poll no chatgpt i dont know how to use it yet i think it is limited or something have to pay to subscribe

      • CrispyChrispy on 11/02/2023 - 21:34

        Works free, you can pay to have some premium features but the basic ChatGPT is free.

        • AlienC on 11/02/2023 - 21:36
          +1

          mine just started erroring

    • Debt Free on 11/02/2023 - 22:23
      +1

      @askbargain - What sort of reply is that? Weirdo.

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 11/02/2023 - 19:47

    wtf is with these options

    • AlienC on 11/02/2023 - 20:40

      lol haha i thought the breakdown made sense kinda i cbf to edit it

  • [Deactivated] on 11/02/2023 - 19:56
    -1

    What is with all these quasi-marketing research posts?

    • Ghost47 on 12/02/2023 - 18:46

      Maybe some people are just curious as to the preferences of other OzBargainers? You don't have to read the thread let alone answer the poll if you aren't interested in this kind of thing.

      • [Deactivated] on 12/02/2023 - 18:53

        But there are no 'preferences' - the post + poll is asking how much do you spend on food for yourself

        • Ghost47 on 12/02/2023 - 18:57

          I should have said "preferences, traits, behaviours etc.", what I was trying to allude to is a general understanding of OzBargainers.

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 11/02/2023 - 19:57
    +1

    I said I would do a tally on what I spend on kfc zinger boxes this year to hold myself accountable but stopped counting after $500 :)

  • SF3 on 11/02/2023 - 20:12
    +1

    Tree fiddy.

    • AlienC on 11/02/2023 - 20:40

      million

  • AlienC on 11/02/2023 - 20:18
    -1

    ye

  • bobbified on 11/02/2023 - 20:24
    +1

    $10,000 takeaway food delivery menulog etc

    You spend about $200/week on food delivery? It'd probably be half of that if you got off your arse and went to get it yourself.

    • AlienC on 11/02/2023 - 20:40
      +1

      that is my realistic high estimate yes.. well it is not always delivery but some is.. usually when im at work or busy doing chores at home or other stuff i just delegate stuff to delivery.. but if i can i used to take advantage of the menulog pickup codes which i still have some around

      but yeah in case you were not able to read it is not all on food delivery some is takeaway and pick up orders from say domino's or other shops

      if i had to guess maybe 1/3 of that is delivery

      some days i work myself to death i can't move so food delivery is my only option

      it is a strange balance i have for sure

      • bobbified on 11/02/2023 - 21:46
        -1

        but yeah in case you were not able to read…

        who knows what you meant? "food delivery" is takeaway and also includes menulog, yet you still wrote 'takeaway' and 'menulog' there!

        usually when im at work or busy doing chores at home or other stuff i just delegate stuff to delivery..

        I guess "other stuff" doesn't include installing door locks!

        • AlienC on 12/02/2023 - 00:54

          lol door locks i think you mean sliding door locks :)

  • 7ekn00 on 11/02/2023 - 20:44

    $3k, one cow lasts me a year ;)

  • kiwiyonip on 11/02/2023 - 21:14

    $100 a week eating out, excluding my groceries for own cooking.

    • AlienC on 11/02/2023 - 21:37

      that is pretty respectable imho

      that is only like 3 eat outs for me

      • kiwiyonip on 11/02/2023 - 21:39

        I only do it once a week, like a self-treat. Actually, the petrol cost $30 everytime, the rest is on food.

        • AlienC on 12/02/2023 - 00:53

          I don't drive I am trying to walk everywhere for health reasons but I do end up spending about $40 on opal card costs every week.

  • tsunamisurfer on 11/02/2023 - 21:36

    $10k on takeaway????

    $1500 on desserts?

    That is very high.

    I would probably spend $5200 on eating out for the whole family.

    My dessert spend is a tub of 2L Bulla Ice cream at half price once every 2 months.

    • AlienC on 11/02/2023 - 21:51

      well monday to friday if i decide to eat out it can be anywhere from $15-38 easily and if i am really hungry i might grab a second lunch or dinner for the day so honestly it is not so far fetched for me.

      $10,000 / 52 weeks / 5 days work week = roughly $38 per day on eating out

      If I decide to just eat at home it is usually half that so could be just 2 microwave meals or something more pricier

      • coffeeinmyveins on 12/02/2023 - 08:27
        +2

        You need to learn how to cook

        • AlienC on 12/02/2023 - 22:09
          -1

          also want to be a billionaire but you know it is what it is

          • coffeeinmyveins on 13/02/2023 - 07:19

            @AlienC: Huh? Those two things aren't even comparable.

            You can pretty easily learn how to cook and not only save money but make yourself healthier.

  • Debt Free on 11/02/2023 - 22:02

    One frugal American YouTuber with a big family recommends budgeting $100 US per person for Groceries which includes any home cleaning supplies.
    So if 2 Adults and 2 children, and 1 baby - her frugal budget would be $500 US. She does say you need to budget more if you live alone. I think good quality food, and fresh food is very expensive in the US but she seems to cook nutritious meals.
    For Australia I changed that to $125 Australian per person per week for household groceries. Dining out, junk food, food delivery should be in a seperate budget category like Entertainment, or Splurge, or Holiday.
    I think everyone should keep a little notebook with them, or save their receipts and every evening write down what they spent their money on- after you do this for a few months you will make positive changes.

    A lot of hard working tradies overspend out of convenience, hunger or poor preparation. Bananas should be a tradie’s best friend- just to take the edge off hunger

    • AlienC on 12/02/2023 - 00:53
      +1

      That is a good idea on the bananas I think maybe if I shift towards them more my health and wallet will improve immensely thank you for this great comment.

      • cookie2 on 12/02/2023 - 07:27

        Banana and a good protein shake (whey filled, not sugar filled). It'll give what the body needs directly after/before exertion.

      • Debt Free on 12/02/2023 - 16:30

        @AlienC - also boiled eggs- boil a dozen or 2 every week, and eat 2 eggs, 3 times a week, and eat fried eggs the other 4 days a week- very healthy. So many tradies with good hearts own nothing in their 30’s cos they have no idea how to budget and how to save. When I was growing up, my lunchbox was hurriedly put together with one whole tomato, a small chunk of cheese, a chunk of bread and a small piece of salami— it took no time at all for my overworked exhausted parents to throw in a lunch box for me. It does not have to be perfect. Keep a can opener, a spoon, a plate or cup, and a can of tuna, sardines, 4 bean mix, or a can of baked beans in your car for emergencies.
        When 7 Eleven’s coffees went up from $1 to $2 I stopped going there in mornings, and nurses too no longer go there to save them from robbers, only hungry tradies go there in the mornings now when 7 Eleven’s prices are Sky High complete rip off prices designed to rip off tradies. What is it with tradies and no budgets, and paying overinflated prices for everything food?

  • 2esc on 12/02/2023 - 08:47
    -1

    Takeaway maybe $700 to $800 per year. Eating in last week first time since before covid $110.

  • Benno007 on 12/02/2023 - 09:26
    +1

    Depending on the time of year, I spend between 500/mo and $900/mo on groceries, fruit & veg, takeaway/coffee and restaurants. I eat out or get takeaway maybe once a week. I get 2-3 coffees a week. When my budget shows me I’m nearing $900/mo on restaurants I know I’m starting to gain weight so try to cut back the next month lol

    • AlienC on 13/02/2023 - 00:17

      haha lol

      that sounds pretty sweet honestly i like it

  • RotundPolarBear on 12/02/2023 - 15:13
    +1

    About 4k a year for me, but I almost never buy takeout, just supermarkets stuff. I live alone.

    • AlienC on 12/02/2023 - 21:46
      +1

      good man this is the dream but my temptations could never

  • Blokeinhisundies on 12/02/2023 - 17:15
    +1

    I checked my spreadsheet (only been doing it this year and last financial year so far) and I average about $100/week for groceries and $25/week for takeaway. I am single and early forties and pretty much buy whatever I feel like. I don't really live the true OzBargain lifestyle when it comes to shopping for food.

    I decline to answer any questions about my alcohol spend lol.

    • AlienC on 13/02/2023 - 00:17

      I decline to answer any questions about my alcohol spend lol.

      haha fair enough no need to disclose anything u dont want to this is totally optional i hope everyone knows that

      i just wanted a third perspective on my own food spends

  • Ghost47 on 12/02/2023 - 18:59

    Food is probably my largest annual expense, I'd say per week I spend about $125 to $150 on everything that goes into my gut (groceries, take out, coffee etc).

    $125 * 52 to $150 * 52 = $6,500 to $7,800 p.a.

    Holy (profanity) that poll is hilarious though.

    • AlienC on 12/02/2023 - 21:46

      very considerable takeaway spend

  • ozbargainsam on 12/02/2023 - 22:41

    Work lunch is typically $20, 3 days a week.
    Home-cooked dinner most days, at least $10 of raw ingredients (unless it's a lazy instant noodle-day). So call it $60/week
    Snacks, treats/desserts, coffees/breakfast is probably, $30/week?
    Then there's me eating my way through the Good food guide 2-hat list once a month ($200+ a meal)

    I really don't like paying for delivery. Neither direct from the store and definitely not via a middleman app like Uber (I don't feel like paying 50% extra for warm soggy food).

    Call it high 4-digits. Highly scientific.

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