If you budget for groceries do you include non-food items?

[MonkeySeeMonkeyDo]

Things like:

Laundry detergent
Pet food
Shampoo

Or do you just budget for food?


I’m trying to act like a responsible adult and actually use a budget but what I’m reading is to budget 125 a month per person and that seems low if it’s also supposed to include things other than food.

[leadfoot40]

Nope, groceries is just food. We don't really have a budget for it tho.

[LuckyEightWow]

Yes, because for me it is all on the same trip.

[Anonymous 1]

No

[KendallsMom]

I buy all that in the same trip, so if we budgeted, I would include it all.

[Cupcake]

I don’t really have a budget. If we need it I buy it.

[KaiandKadensMama]

My grocery shopping entails EVERYTHING, not just food.

[Deleted User 670]

If you are trying to budget, yes you should include all your expenditures.

[MonkeySeeMonkeyDo]

If you are trying to budget, yes you should include all your expenditures.

Does it make sense to have one category for just food and another for other stuff like paper towels and tampons?

I’m trying to come up with a good starting point, I looked over what I’ve spent between groceries and pets and I’ve spent over 300 for the month of May already and I know I’m spending more than I should.

[Deleted User 670]

If you are trying to budget, yes you should include all your expenditures.

Does it make sense to have one category for just food and another for other stuff like paper towels and tampons?

I’m trying to come up with a good starting point, I looked over what I’ve spent between groceries and pets and I’ve spent over 300 for the month of May already and I know I’m spending more than I should.

If it's easier for you to create different categories the yeah. Especially if you shop at different stores for the pet food and tampons vs grocery store. Otherwise, it might be easier to have one category "groceries" that includes food, toiletries, pet food, cleaning products, etc.