How Much Should a Family of Four Spend on Groceries? (USDA Food Plans, 2026)
USDA's August 2026 food plans put a family of four at about $1,024 to $1,679 a month for groceries. What each plan means and how to set your own budget.
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Practical guides to planning meals, pricing groceries and cooking more for less, from the team behind MyFoodManager.
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How to Turn Your Meal Plan into a Grocery List Sorted by Aisle
Turn your weekly meal plan into a grocery list sorted by aisle: combine quantities across recipes, check the pantry first, follow store order, one list per store.
How to Compare Unit Prices at the Grocery Store (and When Bigger Isn't Cheaper)
How to read the unit price on a shelf tag, convert oz, lb, fl oz and liters so you compare like with like, and spot when the bigger package costs more.
How to Digitize Old Recipe Cards (and Keep the Handwriting)
Inherited a recipe box? How to photograph or scan old recipe cards, keep the handwriting, turn them into searchable recipes and share them with family.
How to Read a Nutrition Facts Label (Current FDA Format)
How to read the current Nutrition Facts label: serving size, calories, % Daily Value and the 5%/20% rule, added sugars, and what changed in the updated FDA label.
Meal Planning on a Budget: A Simple Weekly System That Sticks
A weekly meal planning system for a tight budget: shop your pantry first, plan around sales, cook once and eat twice, and use leftovers safely. Takes 20 minutes.
How to Keep a Pantry Inventory (and Stop Buying Duplicates)
A simple pantry inventory you'll actually keep up: what to track and what to skip, first in first out, a running-low habit, and what date labels really mean.
How to Calculate the Cost Per Serving of a Recipe (With a Worked Example)
Work out what a home-cooked recipe really costs per serving: price each ingredient by the amount used, allow for trim and pantry staples, and divide by servings.
Shrinkflation: How to Spot It Before It Shrinks Your Budget
Shrinkflation is a smaller package at the same price. Here's how to spot it at the shelf, why per-unit price is the only honest comparison, and how to track it.
Which Grocery Store Is Actually Cheapest? How to Find Out for Your Own List
National rankings can't tell you which grocery store is cheapest for what you buy. Here's a simple way to price your own list at your stores and decide.