How much should I be spending on food each month? (plus suggestions)

This is pretty good.

I spend around $50-$60 every week and a half on groceries. Spaghetti is the easiest to make with the best taste. I try to cut down on microwave dinners because they don't really fill you up nor are they too healthy.

Btw, bananas are very cheap and they can fill you up good for breakfast or something. Usually a glass of milk, bananas and apples are good enough for breakfast. Make a sandwich for lunch and make spaghetti for dinner. They shouldn't run you more than 50-60/week (or 2).

I usually set aside about $20 a week for eating out. It never works, I usually end up spending about $30, but at least the goal is there.

You can be cheap and still eat healthy. Good luck!

 

Please explain....also, what do u do for a living?

 

I don't know how tough your schedule is, but cooking feels like a chore to me if I have to do it everyday. You definitely should consider cooking multiple meals at a time if you have a tight schedule.

 

yeah, cook a few chicken breats with some rice and veggies. keeps for a couple of days. Noodles/spagetti as well.

 

Eat leftovers for lunch that will save you around 200 right there, best way to save your money. Just cook more when you cook dinner.

 

He said $100 / day <b>for TWO.</b>

Rachel Ray does a whole TV show showing-off how she can eat on $40 / day. $100 for two is very reasonable if you consider fast food unacceptable. Also, many company expense accounts allow for $40 per diem when traveling.

Try eating out (healthy) at every meal, especially if you like good coffee, desert, salad appetizers, and occassional wine with your meal.

and, don't forget the tip!!!

 

ever heard of the Latte Factor?

use the calculator on this page. you can't cut out everything, but reducing your spending you can see how much you waste/save:

link

 

Actually, I have a question for you guys. I am starting night school next week, so my schedule pretty much involves me being downtown between 8 am to 9:30 pm. Outside of eating snack bars and stuff, do you guys have suggestions of what food I can carry that doesn't rely on refrigeration?

 

sandwiches

 

Yeah, but $50 is still pretty steep. That's a $15 lunch and $35 dinner (or $20 and $30) every day each.

That's crazy...but hey, if you can afford it...why the hell not?

 

am I limited to PB&J? I mean, it's probably not a good idea to let cheese and cold cut sit around without refrigeration right?

 

Well, when we were kids and brought lunches to school they weren't refridgerated...

Would not use mayo, though...

 

get a cheap cooler at walmart if you could keep it somewhere, stock with gas station ice. you'll have to restock.

 

I'm ok with that for lunch, but you're adding 5 to 6 hours since it'd be for dinner.

 

ahhh...then I would go with the post above. try a small cooler or something.

 

Lots of fruits?

 

I posted this once in another thread, but you could try beans and rice. Buy a sack of dried pinto beans (or other kinds of beans... whatever floats your boat) and soak them in water overnight. When you buy the beans, also buy a sack of rice (I used to use brown rice). Cook the beans for a few hours (or less), with whatever spices you like. Try slicing up a small onion, or half an onion and toss it in there. You can cook up a ton of beans, and they're good for a week. Just make some rice whenever you want to have a meal. You can sauté some veggies to toss in with it, or grill some chicken, for example. Very, very cheap meals. I did this back in my hippie days. Oh, and you should be sure to take some vitamins.