[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]

Originally Posted by 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?

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]

Originally Posted by TomPerry

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]

Originally Posted by ridge

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]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by ron32162

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]

Originally Posted by ridge

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

Originally Posted by ron32162

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

Originally Posted by richhaller

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!

Originally Posted by MrLonzo

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

[MrLonzo]

Originally Posted by ron32162

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

35K is for a couple

[CarlR33]

Originally Posted by MrLonzo

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]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

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]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

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.