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An estimated $6,490 $541 a month was dedicated to their grocerybudget.
Not all retirees earn that much monthly, while some bring in a little more.
George Yang, a 60-year-old retiree, said his monthly retirement budget is approximately $6,500.
Organic Fruits and Vegetables
Its no secret that organic produce tends to be more expensive than non-organic.
It tends to be more expensive and has a relatively limited supply compared to non-organic options.
As a retiree, I need to manage expenses for financial stability, Yang said.
I choose conventional over organic to save money.
Organic is pricier, so I buy it only when essential.
Of course, not everything organic is automatically more expensive.
Organic brown rice, for example, costs around 10% less than its counterpart.
On the other hand, a head of lettuce (organic) costs about 18% more.
Other organic options can be up to 134% more expensive, particularly in the meat section.
Certain High-End Meats
The cost of meat can be quite high, depending on the cut.
Premium meats like filet mignon are now rare treats, Yang said.
I stick to affordable options like chicken, pork and ground beef.
A pound offilet mignon angus beefat Harris Teeter costs about $27.
A pound of ground beef goes for about $5 at Target.
Name-Brand Household Items
The grocery store isnt just a place for food.
Some stores, like Walmart, have aisles dedicated to non-food items like household cleaners and paper products.
But the name-brand option is sometimes too expensive.
I avoid expensive cleaning products, branded paper goods, and costly toiletries, Yang said.
Instead, I opt for generic or store brands.
And this isnt only true of food.
Nonedible items also tend to be cheaper on a per-unit basis.
Twelve mega-rolls of Charmin toilet paper costs $14.99 at Target.
The same number of rolls at Walmart costs about $10 when you buy generic.
Now that hes retired, Yang said he rarely buys specialty foods like he did before.
Gourmet cheeses, exotic fruits, andspecialty health foodsare no longer staples.
I buy these only for special occasions, he said.
For example, gourmet cheeses can easily cost $15 to $20 at the store.
Some go for much more than that.
For retirees sticking to a budget, opting for the cheeses that cost under $10 is generally better.
When every dollar counts, the best option tends to be getting those individual ingredients rather than fully-made meals.
Along with that, Yang noted that he rarely goes out to eat anymore except on special occasions.
He especially avoids eating at high-end restaurants, preferring to prep and cook his own meals at home instead.
This isnt unusual either.
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