Start from your last three months
Add up the grocery spending for the last three months, including milk, vegetables, pulses, cooking oil, staples and household items. Average the three totals. That average is a realistic starting budget.
Example for a family of four
Suppose the average is ₹9,000 a month. Set the grocery limit at ₹9,000, and check it after the first two weeks. If you are already near the limit, you can plan the next two weeks around staples and cut back on snacks and takeaway.
Track it in its own category
Keep groceries as a separate category, so the total is clear. Record each shop with its date. At the end of the month, the category total shows whether the budget held, and the trend tells you whether to change it.
- Average the last three months
- Set a clear monthly limit
- Check the total mid-month
- Track groceries in their own category
Questions people ask
How much should a family spend on groceries?
It depends on household size, city and diet. Use your own past months as the starting point rather than a national figure.
Should I include household items?
Include them in the same category if you shop for them together. Separate them if you want to see food costs alone.
Can I track grocery spending in budgetbaba?
Yes. Add each shop as an expense with the groceries category, then check the category in the spending analysis.