How much do you spend on food?

[MrLonzo]

As noted in today's "The Villages Daily Sun", Popmenu recently reported that the average consumer spends $350 per week on food ($115 on restaurants + $235 on groceries). That's the equivalent of $35,000/year, or close to $100/day per couple. My food expenses are about 1/3 of that, and more in line with other results I found online.

I challenged Popmenu on the results of their survey -- waiting to hear back. Meanwhile, how much do spend?

[Bill14564]

As noted in today's "The Villages Daily Sun", Popmenu recently reported that the average consumer spends $350 per week on food ($115 on restaurants + $235 on groceries). That's the equivalent of $35,000/year, or close to $100/day per couple. My food expenses are about 1/3 of that, and more in line with other results I found online.

I challenged Popmenu on the results of their survey -- waiting to hear back. Meanwhile, how much do spend?

Yeah, that doesn’t seem right. If that person eats out twice per week then both restaurants and groceries cost them $50 per day. If they eat out only once then groceries cost only $40 per day. Either way that seems like too much for groceries, certainly more than we spend.

We’re not the typical consumer, we eat out more, yet we didn’t spend $35K for food last year.

[Velvet]

I spend about $150 on food per person, per week. But I don’t like to eat out much except to socialize, I prefer my own cooking.

[ElDiabloJoe]

Our monthly food budget is $1000. Generally $600 for groceries and $400 for dining out. That's about $250/week. That does not include alcohol. There's another $400/month budgeted for that ;-)

Hope that helps.

[Pugchief]

I track this on a spreadsheet (bc of course I do, LOL). Last winter in TV, we spent, on avg, $600/month on groceries (2 people). It was higher in Dec/Jan and then lower each month thru the end of May. Prices were definitely dropping a bit as we didn't change our buying or eating habits.

We eat out maybe 2 or 3 times a month when in FL, at mid-priced restaurants, rarely spending more than $75 including tax and tip. But to be fair, if we ate those meals at home, they would have cost 1/4 of that. Groceries is a much better indicator than restaurant bills. YMMV

[bopat]

We use AI to generate our meal plans for the week, keeping it healthy, quick, and under $100/week at the grocery store, and actual meal assembly quick.

Here’s an example using perplexity: Just a moment... (https://www.perplexity.ai/search/please-generate-7-days-of-meal-4_ebNw0LSaOGq2QrYg4dpQ)

You’ll see it has some issues with assembly times, so you’d have to go over it ahead of time.

Grok and Gemini can do it too. We’ve had lots of success with those, grok seems to be the best of the three.

[CarlR33]

I eat cheap and light. This is the content in the Daily Sun?

[Topspinmo]

As noted in today's "The Villages Daily Sun", Popmenu recently reported that the average consumer spends $350 per week on food ($115 on restaurants + $235 on groceries). That's the equivalent of $35,000/year, or close to $100/day per couple. My food expenses are about 1/3 of that, and more in line with other results I found online.

I challenged Popmenu on the results of their survey -- waiting to hear back. Meanwhile, how much do spend?

Must be shopping at Publix? :1rotfl::1rotfl: We don’t eat out very often, spend about $350. month on food and maybe $150 eating out? We are not heavy eaters though. I sure could cut that number by maybe 20%?

I could see big different in family of 4 or more, just 2 of us. Makes us wonder how younger population makes it, especially lower income working class.

[Rainger99]

That's the equivalent of $35,000/year, or close to $100/day per couple.


For 2025, the average household income in the U.S. is approximately $67,500, while the median household income is around $63,180.

That is before taxes, insurance, rent or mortgage, clothing, utilities, car payments, vacations, etc.

I doubt if anyone in the bottom half spends more than 50% of their income on food.

In 2023, the average U.S. household spent approximately $9,985 per year on food, including both groceries (food at home) and dining out (food away from home). This is according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

[Rainger99]

As noted in today's "The Villages Daily Sun", Popmenu recently reported that the average consumer spends $350 per week on food ($115 on restaurants + $235 on groceries). That's the equivalent of $35,000/year, or close to $100/day per couple. My food expenses are about 1/3 of that, and more in line with other results I found online.

I challenged Popmenu on the results of their survey -- waiting to hear back. Meanwhile, how much do spend?

I think this is a link to an article about the Popmenu survey.

https://x.com/restauranttrend/status/1938294977345556965?s=46&t=wvLWOmNmCCMVhiR6UgEl0w

[Rainger99]

Some people criticize AI but this is a weekly budget that AI did in 10 seconds. Most of the items are from Aldi or Walmart so if you shop Publix or if you only eat prime steak it will be a little bit higher. But not 3.5 times higher!

Sample Grocery List for The Villages, FL ($100/week)
**Produce ($26)**
- Bananas (5 lbs): $2.95 ($0.59/lb, ALDI)
- Apples (3 lbs): $4.50 ($1.50/lb, Walmart)
- Carrots (2 lbs): $1.78 ($0.89/lb, ALDI)
- Potatoes (5 lbs): $3.45 ($0.69/lb, Walmart)
- Spinach (1 lb, fresh): $2.20 (ALDI)
- Onions (2 lbs): $2.00 ($1.00/lb, Walmart)
- Tomatoes (2 lbs): $2.80 ($1.40/lb, slightly above national average)
- Bell peppers (2): $2.10 ($1.05 each, ALDI)
- Frozen mixed vegetables (2 lbs): $3.20 ($1.60/lb, Walmart)
- Avocados (2): $2.00 ($1.00 each, ALDI seasonal)

Proteins (~$32)
- Chicken breast (3 lbs, boneless): $9.90 ($3.30/lb, Walmart, reflecting 2024 meat price hikes)
- Ground beef (1 lb, 80/20): $5.00 (up 5.4% from 2024, Walmart)
- Eggs (1 dozen, large): $3.00 (reflecting 57.6% projected increase for 2025)
- Canned tuna (4 cans, 5 oz each): $4.40 ($1.10/can, ALDI store brand)
- Black beans (2 cans, 15 oz each): $1.80 ($0.90/can, ALDI)
- Peanut butter (16 oz jar): $2.70 (ALDI store brand)
- Greek yogurt (32 oz tub, plain): $4.00 (Walmart store brand)

Grains & Pantry (~$23)
- Rice (2 lbs, white): $2.20 ($1.10/lb, ALDI)
- Pasta (2 lbs, spaghetti): $2.00 ($1.00/lb, ALDI)
- Bread (1 loaf, whole wheat): $2.50 (Walmart)
- Tortillas (10-count, flour): $2.00 (ALDI)
- Oats (18 oz, rolled): $2.70 (ALDI)
- Canned tomatoes (2 cans, 15 oz each): $2.20 ($1.10/can, ALDI)
- Olive oil (16 oz bottle): $5.50 (ALDI, reflecting import cost increases)
- Spaghetti sauce (24 oz jar): $2.10 (ALDI store brand)
- Flour (2 lbs, all-purpose): $1.80 (up 36% since 2020, Walmart)

Dairy (~$10)
- Milk (1 gallon, 2%): $3.70 (Walmart, stable pricing)
- Cheddar cheese (8 oz block): $2.60 (ALDI store brand)
- Butter (1 lb): $4.00 (Walmart)

Snacks & Misc (~$9)
- Popcorn kernels (1 lb): $1.50 (ALDI)
- Crackers (16 oz box): $2.80 (Walmart store brand)
- Applesauce (24 oz jar): $2.20 (ALDI)
- Coffee (12 oz ground): $2.50 (ALDI, lower-end price due to import cost concerns)

Total Estimated Cost: $100.23

[asianthree]

Grocery (Fresh Market, TraderJoe’s, WholeFoods, Costco) $5,824 yearly (Publix cat food)

Out of bubble dining $1, 896 yearly

We don’t purchase processed foods. We do participate in a community garden that donates 50% to food bank, 50% to group. $96

Our protein consumption (beef/pork/chicken)is farm raised, grass fed, free range. Total 225 lbs per year, raised, Eggs come from local egg farm. $1,925. Yearly

Total $9,741.

Definitely healthier and less. DS must be shopping in the bubble Publix.

[dtennent]

At this point of our lives, we are willing to spend the money for food that we enjoy. We enjoy wine with our dinner. While we buy better coffee/tea for home, we don’t go to the Starbucks of the world. When we dine out we prefer the nicer restaurants. With all of that, we spend about a third of the Popmenu number. My guess is this number is based on NYC or similar cities.

[TravelswithD&K]

We use AI to generate our meal plans for the week, keeping it healthy, quick, and under $100/week at the grocery store, and actual meal assembly quick.

Here’s an example using perplexity: Just a moment... (https://www.perplexity.ai/search/please-generate-7-days-of-meal-4_ebNw0LSaOGq2QrYg4dpQ)

You’ll see it has some issues with assembly times, so you’d have to go over it ahead of time.

Grok and Gemini can do it too. We’ve had lots of success with those, grok seems to be the best of the three.


My husband and I were amazed at what you came up with and what AI outputted to your request. We are going to teach my daughter how to do this for her family.
Thank you.

[manaboutown]

Although I never paid much attention I would guess no more than $20/day on groceries to prepare meals at home. In my dotage I eat mostly simple, healthy meals prepared with fresh veggies, legumes, fresh fruit, chicken, fish and far less red meat than I used to consume when younger. I cannot remember the last time I drank a soft drink and I don't miss them. I do enjoy eating out with friends and a glass or two of Bordeaux now and then which probably runs another $400/mo. Life is too short to drink cheap wine.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

The "data" is based on people aged 21 and older who answered the survey. That means people 20 and under weren't counted at all, even though they are all "consumers" of groceries (except babies who are being breast-fed). What that also means, is that a person doing the grocery shopping for their family of 6, is including the other 5 people in their budget. That shopper is the "consumer" - more accurately named the "buyer."

These aren't "per-person" totals. They're "per household" totals, in other words.

As for us - we average around $200/week for the two of us, combined with groceries and take-out food. I get most of our groceries at Walmart, certain things at Publix and Winn Dixie, and if I just need a half gallon of milk I get it at Aldi. We eat a lot of take-out food but a whole sub at $11 at Publix is good for dinner and the next day's lunch. An extra-large pizza is only $3 more than a large, and that nets us a full extra lunch worth of leftovers. And of course every 6-8 weeks I spend $50 and make a huge tray of lasagna and extra sauce for macaroni and meatballs. I portion control and freeze sauce and lasagna, and it lasts around 5-7 weeks depending on how often I feel like making meatballs.

[MrLonzo]

The "data" is based on people aged 21 and older who answered the survey. That means people 20 and under weren't counted at all, even though they are all "consumers" of groceries (except babies who are being breast-fed). What that also means, is that a person doing the grocery shopping for their family of 6, is including the other 5 people in their budget. That shopper is the "consumer" - more accurately named the "buyer."

These aren't "per-person" totals. They're "per household" totals, in other words.


How do you know that? 'Shopper' and 'consumer' are not the same. It's not what the survey results said.

[fdpaq0580]

How much do we spend on food? Way more than we need to.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

How do you know that? 'Shopper' and 'consumer' are not the same. It's not what the survey results said.

The fact that they didn't define their terms is how I know it. It's one of those dubious "surveys" that companies pay other companies to design for them, to help them spin a marketing agenda.

[Rainger99]

The "data" is based on people aged 21 and older who answered the survey. That means people 20 and under weren't counted at all, even though they are all "consumers" of groceries (except babies who are being breast-fed). What that also means, is that a person doing the grocery shopping for their family of 6, is including the other 5 people in their budget. That shopper is the "consumer" - more accurately named the "buyer."

These aren't "per-person" totals. They're "per household" totals, in other words.

As for us - we average around $200/week for the two of us, combined with groceries and take-out food. I get most of our groceries at Walmart, certain things at Publix and Winn Dixie, and if I just need a half gallon of milk I get it at Aldi. We eat a lot of take-out food but a whole sub at $11 at Publix is good for dinner and the next day's lunch. An extra-large pizza is only $3 more than a large, and that nets us a full extra lunch worth of leftovers. And of course every 6-8 weeks I spend $50 and make a huge tray of lasagna and extra sauce for macaroni and meatballs. I portion control and freeze sauce and lasagna, and it lasts around 5-7 weeks depending on how often I feel like making meatballs.

Even if it is per household, it is still way off. If the average household gross income is less than $70,000, families aren’t spending 50% of their gross income on food.

An average U.S. household (not individual) spends approximately 7.3 % of gross income on food, 22.1% on shelter, and 16% on taxes.

[Happyretiredgal]

We use AI to generate our meal plans for the week, keeping it healthy, quick, and under $100/week at the grocery store, and actual meal assembly quick.

Here’s an example using perplexity: Just a moment... (https://www.perplexity.ai/search/please-generate-7-days-of-meal-4_ebNw0LSaOGq2QrYg4dpQ)

You’ll see it has some issues with assembly times, so you’d have to go over it ahead of time.

Grok and Gemini can do it too. We’ve had lots of success with those, grok seems to be the best of the three.

That is really cool! May have to try this sometime!

[westernrider75]

As noted in today's "The Villages Daily Sun", Popmenu recently reported that the average consumer spends $350 per week on food ($115 on restaurants + $235 on groceries). That's the equivalent of $35,000/year, or close to $100/day per couple. My food expenses are about 1/3 of that, and more in line with other results I found online.

I challenged Popmenu on the results of their survey -- waiting to hear back. Meanwhile, how much do spend?

We track our expenses monthly on a spreadsheet, we spend between $800-1000 per month total for food. Includes eating out and home cooked. Seems like we could cut that down a bit.

[ridge]

As noted in today's "The Villages Daily Sun", Popmenu recently reported that the average consumer spends $350 per week on food ($115 on restaurants + $235 on groceries). That's the equivalent of $35,000/year, or close to $100/day per couple. My
food expenses are about 1/3 of that, and more in line with other results I found online.

I challenged Popmenu on the results of their survey -- waiting to hear back. Meanwhile, how much do spend?

Think you need to check the math. $350 per week X 52 weeks is $18,200 not $35,000.

[MandoMan]

As noted in today's "The Villages Daily Sun", Popmenu recently reported that the average consumer spends $350 per week on food ($115 on restaurants + $235 on groceries). That's the equivalent of $35,000/year, or close to $100/day per couple. My food expenses are about 1/3 of that, and more in line with other results I found online.

I challenged Popmenu on the results of their survey -- waiting to hear back. Meanwhile, how much do spend?

Restaurants, $25-$50 a week. Groceries, about $50 a week.

[SaucyJim]

I see a lot of comments about eating out here. Conflating eating out and actual food costs muddies the water and, IMHO, is not the way to budget. Food consumed while dining out is a discretionary expense. Groceries eaten at home are a mandatory expense. A baseline budget is mandatory expenses only. Only after establishing that baseline can the discretionary budget be calculated.

I break my expenses up in this area as follows:

Groceries (mandatory)
Dining out (discretionary)
Alcohol at home (discretionary)
Alcohol out (discretionary)

When viewed from a ‘bare bones survival’ perspective, a lot of budget items are discretionary. One the mandatory budget is in place, one can weigh mandatory expenses in a different way.

[La lamy]

Probably $80 average of groceries/drinks a week, plus very few restaurant outings.

[retiredguy123]

The problem with this thread is that combining groceries with restaurant food is an apples to oranges comparison. Obviously, people who eat a lot of meals in restaurants are going to spend more money on food. And, if you include alcohol as food, that cost difference is staggering. If you want to save money on food, stay away from restaurants.

[Steve Window]

We use AI to generate our meal plans for the week, keeping it healthy, quick, and under $100/week at the grocery store, and actual meal assembly quick.

Here’s an example using perplexity: Just a moment... (https://www.perplexity.ai/search/please-generate-7-days-of-meal-4_ebNw0LSaOGq2QrYg4dpQ)

You’ll see it has some issues with assembly times, so you’d have to go over it ahead of time.

Grok and Gemini can do it too. We’ve had lots of success with those, grok

seems to be the best of the three.


Thanks for sharing .. fantastic ideas

[Ptmcbriz]

We spend about $1200 a month on food for two people. We rarely eat out and eat healthy. That includes about $200 for alcohol.

[opinionist]

I rarely eat out and spend no more than $25 a day on groceries. I have no urge to consume alcohol or other rich foods. A couple of slices of sprouted bread, fresh fruit, and chicken or roast beef deli meat. Maybe not the best diet, but I take a lot of supplements.

[airstreamingypsy]

Single woman, rarely eat out.... unless on a date. This month I spent $140.00 at Aldi, which includes a 6 pack of beer for 7.00. Have a big dog on 350.00 a month medications. Still have the beers.

[TomPerry]

As noted in today's "The Villages Daily Sun", Popmenu recently reported that the average consumer spends $350 per week on food ($115 on restaurants + $235 on groceries). That's the equivalent of $35,000/year, or close to $100/day per couple. My food expenses are about 1/3 of that, and more in line with other results I found online.

I challenged Popmenu on the results of their survey -- waiting to hear back. Meanwhile, how much do spend?
I am a retired CPA/Financial Advisor with over 47 years experience and admittedly a little anal when it comes to numbers. Average or median numbers for income and expenses are essentially meaningless, what is meaningful are your actual numbers. Here are the numbers for my wife and I for calendar year 2024:

Expense. Annual. Avg. Weekly. Ave. Monthly

Groceries. 9,723.51. 186.99. 810.29
Dining Out. 12,041.73 231.57. 1,003.48

Total. 21,765.24 418.56. 1,813.77

[Bill14564]

I am a retired CPA/Financial Advisor with over 47 years experience and admittedly a little anal when it comes to numbers. Average or median numbers for income and expenses are essentially meaningless, what is meaningful are your actual numbers. Here are the numbers for my wife and I for calendar year 2024:

Expense. Annual. Avg. Weekly. Ave. Monthly

Groceries. 9,723.51. 186.99. 810.29
Dining Out. 12,041.73 231.57. 1,003.48

Total. 21,765.24 418.56. 1,813.77

Thank you. These numbers are similar to mine. I was a bit worried seeing the estimates of $10K/year and below.

[MrLonzo]

Think you need to check the math. $350 per week X 52 weeks is $18,200 not $35,000.

$350/week per consumer = $700 per couple as stated.

[MrLonzo]

The fact that they didn't define their terms is how I know it. It's one of those dubious "surveys" that companies pay other companies to design for them, to help them spin a marketing agenda.

But you can't turn your assumptions into facts. What is the 'marketing agenda'?
I did contact Popmenu and asked them about their survey methodology. I'm waiting a response.

[MrLonzo]

The problem with this thread is that combining groceries with restaurant food is an apples to oranges comparison. Obviously, people who eat a lot of meals in restaurants are going to spend more money on food. And, if you include alcohol as food, that cost difference is staggering. If you want to save money on food, stay away from restaurants.

I agree about the 'apples and oranges' comparison. But they are related. If you have a fixed number of pieces of fruit, the more apples you have, the fewer oranges! i.e., the more you eat out, the less you eat in, meaning that the divisor of your weekly grocery bills gets smaller making your $$$ per meal larger.

[Nana2Teddy]

Grocery (Fresh Market, TraderJoe’s, WholeFoods, Costco) $5,824 yearly (Publix cat food)

Out of bubble dining $1, 896 yearly

We don’t purchase processed foods. We do participate in a community garden that donates 50% to food bank, 50% to group. $96

Our protein consumption (beef/pork/chicken)is farm raised, grass fed, free range. Total 225 lbs per year, raised, Eggs come from local egg farm. $1,925. Yearly

Total $9,741.

Definitely healthier and less. DS must be shopping in the bubble Publix.
Where can we find a local farm for eggs please?

[ron32162]

350.00 a week x52 weeks in a year is 18,200 not 35k

[Rainger99]

350.00 a week x52 weeks in a year is 18,200 not 35k

The study is ambiguous. It is unclear if that $18,200 amount is per person, per couple, or per household.

But no matter how it was calculated, average families are not spending $18,200 a year on groceries and dining out.

[richhaller]

I believe $350 per week for 52 weeks is $18,200 per year, not $35,000.

[Bill14564]

Think you need to check the math. $350 per week X 52 weeks is $18,200 not $35,000.

350.00 a week x52 weeks in a year is 18,200 not 35k

I believe $350 per week for 52 weeks is $18,200 per year, not $35,000.

Yes, your calculator works correctly, but PLEASE read the entire thread before posting!

$350/week per consumer = $700 per couple as stated.

[MrLonzo]

350.00 a week x52 weeks in a year is 18,200 not 35k

35K is for a couple

[CarlR33]

But you can't turn your assumptions into facts. What is the 'marketing agenda'?
I did contact Popmenu and asked them about their survey methodology. I'm waiting a response.Maybe instead of asking PopMenu ask the Sun why they include articles from PopMenu and not carry real local community news instead (good or bad)?

[Pugchief]

The fact that they didn't define their terms is how I know it. It's one of those dubious "surveys" that companies pay other companies to design for them, to help them spin a marketing agenda.

So true.
@MrLonzo most (all?) of those surveys are agenda driven. Think "Best Places to Retire". Why do you think every single time the top 10 are different?

[Pugchief]

I doubt if anyone in the bottom half spends more than 50% of their income on food.



If you include SNAP and EBT, the percentages are completely different.

[Pugchief]

Some people criticize AI but this is a weekly budget that AI did in 10 seconds. Most of the items are from Aldi or Walmart so if you shop Publix or if you only eat prime steak it will be a little bit higher. But not 3.5 times higher!

Sample Grocery List for The Villages, FL ($100/week)
**Produce ($26)**
- Bananas (5 lbs): $2.95 ($0.59/lb, ALDI)
- Apples (3 lbs): $4.50 ($1.50/lb, Walmart)
- Carrots (2 lbs): $1.78 ($0.89/lb, ALDI)
- Potatoes (5 lbs): $3.45 ($0.69/lb, Walmart)
- Spinach (1 lb, fresh): $2.20 (ALDI)
- Onions (2 lbs): $2.00 ($1.00/lb, Walmart)
- Tomatoes (2 lbs): $2.80 ($1.40/lb, slightly above national average)
- Bell peppers (2): $2.10 ($1.05 each, ALDI)
- Frozen mixed vegetables (2 lbs): $3.20 ($1.60/lb, Walmart)
- Avocados (2): $2.00 ($1.00 each, ALDI seasonal)

Proteins (~$32)
- Chicken breast (3 lbs, boneless): $9.90 ($3.30/lb, Walmart, reflecting 2024 meat price hikes)
- Ground beef (1 lb, 80/20): $5.00 (up 5.4% from 2024, Walmart)
- Eggs (1 dozen, large): $3.00 (reflecting 57.6% projected increase for 2025)
- Canned tuna (4 cans, 5 oz each): $4.40 ($1.10/can, ALDI store brand)
- Black beans (2 cans, 15 oz each): $1.80 ($0.90/can, ALDI)
- Peanut butter (16 oz jar): $2.70 (ALDI store brand)
- Greek yogurt (32 oz tub, plain): $4.00 (Walmart store brand)

Grains & Pantry (~$23)
- Rice (2 lbs, white): $2.20 ($1.10/lb, ALDI)
- Pasta (2 lbs, spaghetti): $2.00 ($1.00/lb, ALDI)
- Bread (1 loaf, whole wheat): $2.50 (Walmart)
- Tortillas (10-count, flour): $2.00 (ALDI)
- Oats (18 oz, rolled): $2.70 (ALDI)
- Canned tomatoes (2 cans, 15 oz each): $2.20 ($1.10/can, ALDI)
- Olive oil (16 oz bottle): $5.50 (ALDI, reflecting import cost increases)
- Spaghetti sauce (24 oz jar): $2.10 (ALDI store brand)
- Flour (2 lbs, all-purpose): $1.80 (up 36% since 2020, Walmart)

Dairy (~$10)
- Milk (1 gallon, 2%): $3.70 (Walmart, stable pricing)
- Cheddar cheese (8 oz block): $2.60 (ALDI store brand)
- Butter (1 lb): $4.00 (Walmart)

Snacks & Misc (~$9)
- Popcorn kernels (1 lb): $1.50 (ALDI)
- Crackers (16 oz box): $2.80 (Walmart store brand)
- Applesauce (24 oz jar): $2.20 (ALDI)
- Coffee (12 oz ground): $2.50 (ALDI, lower-end price due to import cost concerns)

Total Estimated Cost: $100.23

I would pay money to watch you and one other person consume that entire pile of food in 30 days. That's an awful lot of food.

[Pugchief]

a glass or two of Bordeaux now and then which probably runs another $400/mo. Life is too short to drink cheap wine.

Would love some recommendations.

[Pugchief]

Alcohol at home (discretionary)
Alcohol out (discretionary)



Discretionary to YOU. :beer3:

[Pugchief]

Yes, your calculator works correctly, but PLEASE read the entire thread before posting!

LOL.
Good luck with that.

[Stu from NYC]

Thinking about what we pay for food and really have no idea.

We have become impulse shoppers and as long as our food waste is minimal does not matter as we are in a position to afford to buy what we like or think we will like.

[margaretmattson]

I would pay money to watch you and one other person consume that entire pile of food in 30 days. That's an awful lot of food.I may be wrong but I think the food is for one week? Looks pretty standard. Eggs, milk, bread, oats for breakfast. Tuna and peanut butter for lunch sandwiches with a piece of fruit. Meat and vegetables for dinner, plus a few snacks.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I may be wrong but I think the food is for one week? Looks pretty standard. Eggs, milk, bread, oats for breakfast. Tuna and peanut butter for lunch sandwiches with a piece of fruit. Meat and vegetables for dinner, plus a few snacks.

It's not reasonable to assume it's for one week. I don't know of anyone who goes through 2 pounds of flour and a pound of butter in a weekly routine. I get a pound of flour and it lasts a couple of months. A pound of butter can last between a month and three months, depending on my mood to bake desserts.

Five POUNDS of bananas plus three pounds of apples? For one week? I'd be making banana bread with three of those five pounds of bananas; they'd be too mushy to eat by the time we got through the first two pounds.

A pound of peanutbutter for one week? That'll give you some hard-core constipation if a family of two went through that much in a single week.

Most of these pantry items are just that - pantry items. They're not intended to be consumed in one week. And if you're cooking up three POUNDS of boneless chicken breast AND a pound of ground meat (it hasn't been $5/pound even in Walmart since 2022 by the way), you're eating way too much meat.

And the only fresh greens is spinach? Where's the romaine lettuce, or field greens/spring mix? Who's gonna eat a whole POUND of fresh spinach? I mean - that's a LOT of spinach. The average salad bowl will only hold around 1 ounce of fresh spinach leaves. So that's 16 salads - by the time you get to the last 6, the spinach is slimy and you have to throw it away.

[MrLonzo]

So true.
@MrLonzo most (all?) of those surveys are agenda driven. Think "Best Places to Retire". Why do you think every single time the top 10 are different?

Yes, I can see the best retirement communities -- there are probably political or monetary incentives which go into compiling the lists. I'm having trouble understanding who benefits from inflated food expense numbers, especially when there are dozens of other such surveys online with much different results.

[manaboutown]

Would love some recommendations.

My personal favorite. I once enjoyed a vertical tasting at the winery, for free! Chateau Palmer | Time Always Tells (https://www.chateau-palmer.com/en)

Chateau Margaux (https://www.chateau-margaux.com/en)

Wines from chateaus in regions such as Margaux, Pauillac , Saint-Emilion, Pomerol, Graves and Haut-Medoc I usually enjoy, some more than others. Rhones, no!

[Tom52]

I track all my spending on a spreadsheet. Results are for two people. We shop mostly at WalMart and Aldi and some at Winn Dixie and Publix. Paper products, etc. are included in the groceries totals.

Year 2022
Eating out $2441.14
Groceries $5638.53

Year 2023
Eating out $3543.09
Groceries $6316.93

Year 2024
Eating out $2455.54
Groceries $6236.82

Year to date 2025 (6 months)
Eating out $1605.71
Groceries $3075.43

[Pugchief]

My personal favorite. I once enjoyed a vertical tasting at the winery, for free! Chateau Palmer | Time Always Tells (https://www.chateau-palmer.com/en)

Chateau Margaux (https://www.chateau-margaux.com/en)

Wines from chateaus in regions such as Margaux, Pauillac , Saint-Emilion, Pomerol, Graves and Haut-Medoc I usually enjoy, some more than others. Rhones, no!

Thanks! Will check it out.

Edit: At $250-$1000 per bottle, that's out of 99% of the TOTV price range. I can see spending $50, but not beyond that.

[Laraine]

As noted in today's "The Villages Daily Sun", Popmenu recently reported that the average consumer spends $350 per week on food ($115 on restaurants + $235 on groceries). That's the equivalent of $35,000/year, or close to $100/day per couple. My food expenses are about 1/3 of that, and more in line with other results I found online.

I challenged Popmenu on the results of their survey -- waiting to hear back. Meanwhile, how much do spend?

Those numbers sound very high, and they are--$350/week is $18,200/year, not $35,000.

[manaboutown]

Thanks! Will check it out.

Edit: At $250-$1000 per bottle, that's out of 99% of the TOTV price range. I can see spending $50, but not beyond that.

Yes I know. As I recall I was introduced to and started enjoying Bordeaux wines in the early 1970s and drank them through the mid 1980s. Back in the 1990s I was able to purchase Chateau Palmer at $90 - $130/bottle, depending on its vintage. Anymore I only drink it maybe once or twice a month and share a bottle with friends, or they split theirs with me. Since I am not King Charles or Jeff Bezos that will have to do!

A few years ago a long time wine tasting friend of mine died at age 82. He had an amazing nose and could pretty well nail the mystery wine at the end of the night. On University of California staff member (he held a PhD in physics) salaries he and his wife assembled an amazing wine cellar. He installed a recycled bank vault door on it, no kidding. After he retired he established his own vineyard and winery in Northern New Mexico. It probably helped that they were a dual income childless couple. They took annual trips to France and indulged themselves in meals at the finest restaurants in France. She sold off just part of their cellar for about $2M. I doubt he had more than $100K to $200K in it as he knew how to buy at auctions and from collectors selling some of their wines.

[asianthree]

Yes I know. Back in the 1990s I was buying Chateau Palmer at $90 - $130/bottle, depending on its vintage. Anymore I only drink it maybe once or twice a month and share a bottle with friends, or they split theirs with me. Since I am not King Charles or Jeff Bezos that will have to do!

A few years ago a long time wine tasting friend of mine died in his 90s. He had an amazing nose and could pretty well nail the mystery wine at the end of the night. On University of California staff member (he held a PhD in physics) salaries he and his wife assembled an amazing wine cellar. He installed a recycled bank vault door on it, no kidding. After he retired he established his own vineyard and winery in Northern New Mexico. It probably helped that they were a dual income childless couple. They took annual trips to France and indulged themselves in meals at the finest restaurants in France. She sold off just part of their cellar for about $2M. I doubt he had more than $100K to $200K in it as he knew how to buy at auctions and from collectors selling some of their wines.

Our 40yo wine club invests in new and old world wineries. One of our investments in 1992 was a new winery Screaming Eagle. Every year since 3 bottles of each variety released is signed and cataloged at the cellar. My wine budget is covered for the next 70 years and beyond. It was a lucky wise investment

[manaboutown]

Our 40yo wine club invests in new and old world wineries. One of our investments in 1992 was a new winery Screaming Eagle. Every year since 3 bottles of each variety released is signed and cataloged at the cellar. My wine budget is covered for the next 70 years and beyond. It was a lucky wise investment

Napa cabs are the best! Screaming Eagle | Napa Valley | Wine Academy | Cult Wines United States (https://www.wineinvestment.com/us/learn/wine/usa/napa-valley/screaming-eagle/#:~:text=Enjoying%20an%20average%20Parker%20score, a%20truly%20world%2Dclass%20wine).

[Rainger99]

I would pay money to watch you and one other person consume that entire pile of food in 30 days. That's an awful lot of food.

That is a weekly budget. Not a monthly budget.

[Gholland55]

Great question.
I tracked our May 2025 food costs.(no alcohol) $1,030 for May for 2 people. 15% was restaurant dining.
I tracked out costs in June 2019 as well. $1,250 for 2 people. 25% was restaurant dining.
In 2015 I was single. My food costs were $600 per month for 1 person. 50% dining out.
No way is the data you quoted from Popmenu correct for the average adult.
Good for you to challenge them!!

[J1ceasar]

Husband and wife together we spend between $100 and 150 a week depending on what we need for groceries, I like to do fast food so probably another 50 a week on that and together we probably go out at least once a week that's another 50-hundred depending on where we go

So probably a thousand a month which means 12,000 a year and most of the time I shop at aldis or Walmart, because we all know publix is 30% more

[Rainger99]

I shop at aldis or Walmart, because we all know publix is 30% more

If you buy BOGOS, Publix and Winn Dixie are cheaper than Aldi or Walmart.

[Pugchief]

That is a weekly budget. Not a monthly budget.

Then I would pay even more money to watch....

[Pugchief]

If you buy BOGOS, Publix and Winn Dixie are cheaper than Aldi or Walmart.

Ya, on those items but not on the overall bill. You can't plan meals strictly based on what's BOGO this week.

[Stu from NYC]

If you buy BOGOS, Publix and Winn Dixie are cheaper than Aldi or Walmart.

Seems like they raise the price on the first item