QUESTION OF THE DAY: Groceries or Restaurants: Where are Americans spending more money?

INTERACTIVE: What You Spend

The first step to setting up a monthly food budget is figuring out how much you should be spending. This can vary wildly from household to household.  Fortunately, the U.S. Department of Agriculture releases a report each month to guide your budget. Use the calculators below to answer the questions on your worksheet.

• What You Spend Calculator.
• SmartAsset’s Free Budget Calculator.  

EDPUZZLE: How to Save Money at the Supermarket

VIDEO: Unit Pricing Helps You Save

One of the best ways that you can save money and meet your food budget is to shop at the grocery store and prepare meals at home.  But even the grocery store has its budgeting challenges!  Watch these videos and answer the questions on your worksheet.

ARTICLE: How Much Should I Budget for Dining Out?

Dining out is becoming an increasingly popular option but it can come at a cost.  It can be helpful to consider WHY you’re dining out and take that into consideration when deciding on a dining out budget.  Read the article about dining out. Then, answer the questions on your worksheet.

 LEARNING TARGETS:

• I can estimate the costs of buying food.
• I can explain how to save money when shopping at a grocery store.
• I can detail strategies for lowering a dining out budget.
• I can explain how inflation affects my ability to budget for food.