How much does it cost to buy food? A JoeUser perspective
Friday, April 23, 2004 by joetheblow | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
I visit Joe User every so often and one conversation that goes on there a few times out of many is how much poor people get money from the government. Now I know that there are allot of people who do abuse the system, but ever since the start of what is called Workfare, I believe many of the ''Ghetto Fabulous'' pulling up in a luxury car to get on line for the monthly staple of cash is over.
Long story short, I have read posts that basically were saying that people can get buy on 20 dollars (USD) a week on food per person. I said it was 100 a week if you actually want to be somewhat healthy physically and mentally and be able to work/study/play for that week.
My question is, how much does it cost to eat a full 3 meals a day where you live? I am willing to say that maybe I am wrong about 100 USD and it could be 75 or maybe 50... but not 20.
What is your opinion?
Long story short, I have read posts that basically were saying that people can get buy on 20 dollars (USD) a week on food per person. I said it was 100 a week if you actually want to be somewhat healthy physically and mentally and be able to work/study/play for that week.
My question is, how much does it cost to eat a full 3 meals a day where you live? I am willing to say that maybe I am wrong about 100 USD and it could be 75 or maybe 50... but not 20.
What is your opinion?
Essencay
Reply #2 Friday, April 23, 2004 12:57 PM
Reply #2 Friday, April 23, 2004 12:57 PM
We spend on average about $80-$100 a week for two adults, it,s like $120-$150 one week then $30-$50 then next week. That number also includes all the non-food stuff you get at the grocery store like alcohol (it,s not a food item, it,s a luxury item), household cleaners, plastic and paper products, personal hygiene, pet treats, etc....
If you eliminated all those things from the bill, I,d guess it to be closer to $70-$80 a week. This doesn,t factor in the occasional trip to a restaurant, or the vending machine purchase of a soda a few times a week at work.
I read somewhere that, depending on the part of the country you live in, $30 per person, per week is sufficient enough monies for a healthy and balanced diet.
If you eliminated all those things from the bill, I,d guess it to be closer to $70-$80 a week. This doesn,t factor in the occasional trip to a restaurant, or the vending machine purchase of a soda a few times a week at work.
I read somewhere that, depending on the part of the country you live in, $30 per person, per week is sufficient enough monies for a healthy and balanced diet.
craeonics
Reply #3 Friday, April 23, 2004 1:46 PM
Reply #3 Friday, April 23, 2004 1:46 PM
craeonics doesn''t spend anything, for he still (yes, still) has to move out
joetheblow
Reply #4 Friday, April 23, 2004 5:24 PM
Reply #4 Friday, April 23, 2004 5:24 PM
I guess it would be closer to 70. Milk, bread, cereal, 3 meals a day, 7 days a week... I don''t know. Maybe I am spending too much over here. In New York stuff costs allot of money.
mschwartz
Reply #5 Monday, April 26, 2004 3:50 PM
Reply #5 Monday, April 26, 2004 3:50 PM
Well, I go to the grocery store once a week to supply the refrigerator/freezer/pantry for two adults and two kids, and I spend on the average $100/trip. Sometimes a little more, sometimes less - depends on what we're out of. 
DesignCaddy
Reply #6 Monday, April 26, 2004 5:36 PM
Reply #6 Monday, April 26, 2004 5:36 PM
well milk jus shot up 65 cents agallon so that doesn't help..but my gf and i just went trhough 30$ in groceries.. however it was all very 'light' food, and a couple times during the week i did eat out. just wrap stuf, like tortillas, vegitables, crackers. if i want chicken it'll go up to 40 or 50. as i said though this is 'light' food and i went to bd hungry each of those nights. i'd say two people would get by on 60-80$.
since i occassionally don't have time to eat at home, however, i usuall spend 40-50$ extra just on eating out during a week. if i entertain, that goes up to 100.
since i occassionally don't have time to eat at home, however, i usuall spend 40-50$ extra just on eating out during a week. if i entertain, that goes up to 100.
DesignCaddy
Reply #7 Monday, April 26, 2004 5:38 PM
Reply #7 Monday, April 26, 2004 5:38 PM
ten years ago my mother told me she fed my 3 siblings and i, plus her and my father, on 60$ a week. dollar just doesn't get very far anymore...
_footsie_
Reply #8 Monday, April 26, 2004 5:46 PM
Reply #8 Monday, April 26, 2004 5:46 PM
We live paycheck to paycheck so I average about $120 for the two of us (plus dog and cat) for two weeks.
Styl-X Design
Reply #10 Monday, April 26, 2004 6:36 PM
call me crazy but that is closer to what I spend on going out per month... 
Reply #10 Monday, April 26, 2004 6:36 PM
| We live off of $208 a month. |
call me crazy but that is closer to what I spend on going out per month... 
sig101
Reply #11 Monday, April 26, 2004 7:02 PM
Reply #11 Monday, April 26, 2004 7:02 PM
It all depends too if people have the time to cook and don't buy a lot of prepackaged processed food. Junk food is expensive. Not that more healthy food isn't also costly, but your bang for the buck can be better if it's more homecooking and not a lot of already packaged stuff.
kona0197
Reply #12 Monday, April 26, 2004 7:05 PM
Reply #12 Monday, April 26, 2004 7:05 PM
lets just say we cook all the time. We spend about 20 bucks on going out a month. 
Frogboy
Reply #13 Monday, April 26, 2004 7:14 PM
Reply #13 Monday, April 26, 2004 7:14 PM
I think our family spends around $500 per month roughly. Family of 4 and we eat pretty well.
Shameless Designs
Reply #14 Monday, April 26, 2004 11:24 PM
Reply #14 Monday, April 26, 2004 11:24 PM
The problem with statistics like this is that too much is assumed. It doesn't take into account the differences in modern lifestyles and situations. There are so many single-parent families now, and even in two-parent homes, work schedules often prevent the "classic" meal schedule where everyone is together at mealtimes.
Even school schedules get in the way. My girlfriend's two kids go to an early shift where they get breakfast and lunch at school, but we both work later shifts and don't get home til after 9 pm so the kids eat dinner at daycare. The only time we can actually have meals as a family is on the weekends.
I love to cook, and I make most things from scratch, so we wouldn't need to spend a lot of money on convenience foods, but we do use them so that the time we do have to spend with the kids isn't taken up by a lot of cooking time. We know the kids get balanced meals at school and daycare, so we just grab something quick for ourselves. I think that's the way for a lot of people, so the food budget gets a bit higher and nutrition takes a hit for us at times.
To answer the question, including what we spend on meals for the kids outside the home, our food budget is about $150 per week for the four of us. If we could have the standard breakfast and dinner together at home, I could probably take $30-$40 per week off of that and we'd eat better.
Even school schedules get in the way. My girlfriend's two kids go to an early shift where they get breakfast and lunch at school, but we both work later shifts and don't get home til after 9 pm so the kids eat dinner at daycare. The only time we can actually have meals as a family is on the weekends.
I love to cook, and I make most things from scratch, so we wouldn't need to spend a lot of money on convenience foods, but we do use them so that the time we do have to spend with the kids isn't taken up by a lot of cooking time. We know the kids get balanced meals at school and daycare, so we just grab something quick for ourselves. I think that's the way for a lot of people, so the food budget gets a bit higher and nutrition takes a hit for us at times.
To answer the question, including what we spend on meals for the kids outside the home, our food budget is about $150 per week for the four of us. If we could have the standard breakfast and dinner together at home, I could probably take $30-$40 per week off of that and we'd eat better.
PurrBall
Reply #15 Tuesday, April 27, 2004 7:54 AM
Reply #15 Tuesday, April 27, 2004 7:54 AM
TIPS: Only eat out on Saturday. Try to get most fatty foods like chips and brownies and cake out of the house (except for holidays or partys). Go to Hannaford, not Shaws.(Going to hannaford saved me 20 bucks buying the same stuff as at shaws. )
)
NightTrainthedark
Reply #16 Tuesday, April 27, 2004 7:59 AM
Reply #16 Tuesday, April 27, 2004 7:59 AM
If this thread interests anyone you may want to check out a book called Nickel & Dimed by Barbara Ehrenheart Its a true story about a lady that quits her job and takes a minimum wage job to see if she can swurvive. She proves that you can't do it and live happily.
joetheblow
Reply #17 Tuesday, April 27, 2004 9:34 AM
Reply #17 Tuesday, April 27, 2004 9:34 AM
She took a minimum wage job and the end result is that what???
I think minimum wage jobs are supposed to be entry jobs for just out of high school or someone who is just starting out in a field. I don't think it was never meant to live off of. (I never thought of that until I read some JoeUser articles)
Anyway, I guess you can spend less then what I am spending a week. Maybe I better take a better look at the list I am buying. Maybe I am doing something wrong. I know the cost of living in New York is higher than other places so that might be why I spend more than most of the people who posted here.
I think minimum wage jobs are supposed to be entry jobs for just out of high school or someone who is just starting out in a field. I don't think it was never meant to live off of. (I never thought of that until I read some JoeUser articles)
Anyway, I guess you can spend less then what I am spending a week. Maybe I better take a better look at the list I am buying. Maybe I am doing something wrong. I know the cost of living in New York is higher than other places so that might be why I spend more than most of the people who posted here.
kona0197
Reply #18 Tuesday, April 27, 2004 10:56 AM
And thats the truth because I live on minimum wage. I will look into geting this book. But up here in Oregon it''s getting hard to even get a minimum wage job, much less a regular job.
[Message Edited]
Reply #18 Tuesday, April 27, 2004 10:56 AM
| If this thread interests anyone you may want to check out a book called Nickel & Dimed by Barbara Ehrenheart Its a true story about a lady that quits her job and takes a minimum wage job to see if she can swurvive. She proves that you can''t do it and live happily. |
And thats the truth because I live on minimum wage. I will look into geting this book. But up here in Oregon it''s getting hard to even get a minimum wage job, much less a regular job.
[Message Edited]
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Reply #1 Friday, April 23, 2004 12:39 PM
Not right. We''re phisically healthy, and Work, study and play during the week.