[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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by MrLonzo

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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...

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]

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?

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]

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?

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

[MandoMan]

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?

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]

Originally Posted by 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...

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.