Ames, IA--- All families buy food, but they may not know the appropriate amount to spend for a family their size, or how much they actually spend each month on food and eating out. Iowa State University Extension has a great tool to help families get a grasp on their food spending.

An online calculator, featured on the SpendSmart.EatSmart Web site at  www.extension.iastate.edu/foodsavings/, creates a custom estimate based on age, gender, and number of meals consumed within the home.

“The online calculator gives families a weekly and monthly amount,” said Peggy Martin, Iowa State University Extension Specialist. “Families can compare this amount to what they usually spend to see if they are close.”

Sometimes families don’t know what is currently being spent on food because multiple family members make purchases at a variety of stores.  In this case, Martin suggests family members agree to save the food receipts for a month and then add up the costs, subtracting any non-food item.

The Web site provides hundreds of suggestions to cut costs for families that are spending over the SpendSmart estimate. Planning meals to eat at home, using a list at the grocery store, and using unit pricing take time and skill, can save 15 percent on the grocery bill. 

However, if families are spending less than advised and need assistance, links to community resources are available online.

For additional tips on saving money and eating healthy visit the SpendSmart.EatSmart. Web site at www.extension.iastate.edu/foodsavings/

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