How much do you spend on Food?

[Megan]

Too much! I'm a single woman (in a not so inexpensive area), and I spend about $300 a month on food (both dining out and groceries). That said, I am buying a lot of organics, and I am also working on building up somewhat of a pantry, so I could probably eat for a month on what's currently in my home. I would end up with some pretty weird meals, but it's doable.

[Johansen8]

invest in cooking lessons

give a man a fish and he will live for a day, TEACH a man how to fish and he will live longer

[rabidpotatochip]

Originally Posted by Johansen8

invest in cooking lessons

give a man a fish and he will live for a day, TEACH a man how to fish and he will live longer

You might also want to teach that man to cook the fish. Or at least some rice so he can make sushi.

[Joha]

There is a book that I bought for my sister, (I thought it was a good starter cookbook). It's called Anyone can cook. Tuesday Morning has it on sale for $10.00, or even better borrow it from the library and see if you like it. As mentioned before all recipes.com is an excellent resource. My sister does not have internet access, so I'm getting her the book, I also got one for my teenage daughter.

[olena99]

Your cooking could never be a boring, and new hobby helps keep everyone healthier.
You may involve your friends with the cooking and sharing what you have learned.

[Mikeylikesit]

Originally Posted by sr82

I am a single guy who doesn't cook at all at home. I eat out all the time, and end up spending about $400-$500 on food + groceries a month.

I would love to cut this down by a couple hundred. Anyone care to share stories on how you economize on food?

For myself and my 104lb 19 yr old daughter who eats more than I do we spend roughly $50 -$75 per week totally on food and we eat healthy, some organic and fresh food.

Here is how we do it:

1. If we go out to eat we use a 2 for 1 coupon and only get ice water. Beverages are overpriced, and not healthy. Take the leftovers home and have lunch the next or following day. Adding chicken broth to some leftover chinese dishes makes a wonderful and hearty soup.

(try to also avoid places like Starbucks $4 per day x 5 days times 52 weeks = $1040 not counting a tip or any extras you may get.)

2. Shop the supermarket sales. In other word let the sales and seasonal items plan your menu's. When whole chickens are on sale for 59 cents a pound buy an extra or two and free them. Look for easy recipes and make them your own way.

3. Avoid buying foods that are processed. They are more expensive and less healthy. Eat pasta and veggie dinners. Easy, inexpensive, delicious and nutritious.

4. Go to more than one supermarket. Cherry pick the bargains at the various markets. If you shop early - like8-9AM you can avoid the crowds and go to several markets and get the best deals. and remeber to use those coupons also.

5. Get a COSTCO membership. Save on gas and there are some real frozen food bargains. we have a small chest freezer in the garage and load it up with bargain foods. We buy some fresh foods in bulk, portion them off and freeze them.


There's a few hints... Sounds like lots of work but once you're organized it can be fun getting deals and laughing about how great your meal is and how little it costs to prepare!

[mzScarlett]

the tips from buymichigan were superb! google make your own mixes, don't have to buy fancy containers; www.freecycle.org or recycle sites in local area; ask for coffee cans, popcorn tins, etc; check out thrift stores for super inexpensive rubbermaid, etc; also for GOOD knife sets, cooking utensils at fraction of the cost; even cooking pots & pans can be had for little; only takes time; also can request spice bottles (empty season containers, washed, easy to refill with better quality spices!) on freecycle; since many fingers make hard work light, if you belong to a local cafe group, etc, find folks willing to go in & do it with you; it makes for great time all working & chatting; join frozenassets group on Yahoo to learn how to cook once & eat all month; get a George Foreman (got mine at Goodwill) brand new, $8.00; will make EVERYTHING taste best restaurant quality; found I liked hamburgers after all when grandson made some; frankly, I do NOT understand why folks eat out so much when the food is so terrible! it is simple & easy to learn to cook: & making it yourself is so incredibly better tasting you will NEVER go back! I always cooked chicken, & pork chops in the oven, seasoned, never fried. You will learn to UNIT PRICE items: to learn how to get the best prices for less & what stores to go to for the best prices on what. Most spices I get from Azure Standard, a group of us go in together & buy: superb cinnamon far better than found in stores, $2.35 for a lb! bulk organic popcorn, far cheaper than can get in stores, not even organic; raw honey, bulk, $23 a gallon; you learn as you go & become a miser advisor or find someone who IS one in your area to teach you; all it takes is time more than anything; local cafe groups in my area post special savings found in town while out & about; enjoy it & have fun; when baking bread, I found that white bread never worked for me; 100% whole wheat was not very tasty; so I used 4 cups of whole wheat to 2 c of white; & it was perfect; sure, I had disasters & you should expect to; but you keep plugging away & soon we will be coming to YOUR restaurant to eat!

[FruWiki Meg]

My husband and I spend about $100 or less a week on food for the both of us, with the ever so occasional restaurant meal. If we were desperate, we could eat on a lot less, but his diet is mostly meat and mine is mostly fresh fruits and vegetables (opposites attract?).

We used to spend a lot more, both from eating out too much and buying convenience foods, but then we each started to learn a few things we could whip together that were really easy. For him, it's a steak on the George Foreman grill or some ribs in the slow-cooker. For me, it's a pot of cooked tomatoes, or homemade guacamole, or bean salad -- or even just raw fruits, vegetables, or nuts! In fact, I have a couple raw food "cookbooks" because I love the simplicity of just combining raw ingredients, even though I have no plans to go 100% raw.

[starshard0]

I plan on shooting for eating on $100 a month. I asked my girlfriend if she could get the budget down as low as $60 a month and she said she'd try. Coupons coupled with sales ought to help out a lot.

[mikey123]

I cut back on food but at the same time save. What I do is to eat brunch instead of the standard breakfast and lunch. Instead of eating three full meals, I eat two. If I get hungry in the mid afternoon, I take a small snack. It helps my wallet and my diet.