hi-will try to help but not quite enough info on this one-lets start with the 160 dollars-at 7 days a week 6 meals a day that works out to 4 bucks a meal-cant eat out for that-but there are lots of ways to save at the grocery store but all take work-first only buy sale items-that is a much better price but you have to stop at a couple three stores to get a weeks worth of groceries that way-but as most sale items are half the full retail a lot of the time the savings potential is very high-stores assume once they have you in there you will do all your shopping there and can make a hefty profit on all the other things that you buy that arent on sale-coupons help also but only if it is something that you are planning on buying anyway-also if something comes up with a long shelf life and has a real good sale price buy a bunch of it if you use it on a regular basis-bottom line is food is expensive--hope this helps a little-have some points is a good question-smile and enjoy the night

I help people budget all the time. It all depends on what you buy, when you buy and where you buy. Scan the receipt and email it to me and I'll analyze it for you. here are some questions: 1) do you plan meals? 2) do you drink alcohol? 3) Do you buy your soaps and cleaning supplies at the grocery? 4) do you buy organic? 5) what store do you shop?

I don't think you are doing anything "wrong". Next time you go, as you put items in your basket ask yourself, "Do we really need this?" You would be surprised at the savings you experience when you cut out the spur of the moment items. I always make a list and try to only buy what is on my list. If I want to buy something that is not on my list I always ask myself if it is really necessary?

Wow! This is not an answer but I must let you know that $160 can feed a family of 4 for 2 months here in the Philippines (and that's good healthy food).

If you're buying ready-made items those can run up the bill. So can snack foods, alcohol, bottled water and gourmet products. Meats are expensive too, and there are a lot of yummy meals that don't require any meat. Buy produce in season and buy bulk when you can because that's an expense you can spread out. make an extra trip to a discount store for your cleaning, paper and hygiene items. If it's any consolation, prices for food have gone up because of transportation costs so we are probably all paying more than we did last year at this time.

thats not so bad... i spend about 270 in unnecessary expenses for myself and fiance

For just the two of you? Per week? Wow. My fella and I spend maybe 1/3 of that, so I'm genuinely scratching my head. Keep track as you are putting items in the cart, that will give you a better idea of where the real dents are coming from. I round everything to the nearest dollar and keep a count in my head, and if I start going over budget I start putting things back. A few ideas: -Buy generic, it's exactly the same thing. Look at the ingredients list - if you're paying $2 more for exactly the same product, you're a sucker. That adds up a lot over time. -Frozen foods are crazy expensive. Just buy the ingredients and make it fresh. -Make oatmeal instead of cereal. Much cheaper. -Drink water. Buy a water filter if you need to. But you wouldn't BELIEVE how much money you save not buying all this soda, fruit drinks, fancy water, etc. -"Boxed foods" are much more expensive, and less healthy, than other food. You don't need "fruit snacks" (what are those anyway? weird jelly circle things?) when you could have fruit. You don't need a box of potato au gratin when you could buy a bag of potatoes. You don't need a box of specially flavored rice, when you could buy regular rice and add flavor to it. Basically it's not that you're messing up in your shopping, but that you need to change the way you eat. If you don't want to do that, you'll have to resign yourself to $640 a month in groceries.

Deep six the processed foods, learn to make rice from scratch, go vegetarian, or better yet, vegan.

Hi Sara!! First, are you checking the flyers in the Sunday paper or online for the best deals? Second, are you sure the supermarket you are shopping at has the best values? Third, are you using coupons and do you know if the store you are shopping at offer double and even triple coupons AND what the restrictions are on that deal? Fourth, Did you know that stores like Target or Walmart have better deals on groceries then supermarkets? There is a market right down the block from me but it is one of the most expensive ones in my area so I take a little extra ride. I always cut coupons. Most of them are for paper and beauty products except right before a holiday, that's when you get the good food coupons. I found out that bags that cost $10 in the market cost $7 in Target and paper towels are also cheaper....yogurt, cereals, etc. When thee is a good sale you should stock up on the stuff you like so you always have it in the house. If I think of anything else I'll add on to this.

I spend $160 every two weeks and even less some times. If my wife goes shopping for groceries she will spend that much just for one meal. It depends on a few things. Location, supermarket you shop at, and what brands you buy will all effect your cost. The south east is really cheap but the mid west(colorado/arizona) and California/surrounding states seem to be much more. If you going to trader joes or organic markets your going to pay a premiums. Also alot of stores like Publix, kroger, giant, king sooper etc actually have there own brands of canned veggies and other things. They are bargin rates but sometimes they aren't the best. Best way I learned to keep the cost down was create a budget and a grocery list. In the beginning you don't have to stick to it but try to buy foods that help you stay in budget. If you don't like the cheaper foods then note that you are unwilling to sacrafice taste for cost for that item. Eventually you will bring the overal cost down

were you buying junk foods and what not? Cause i take me grandma to the supermarket since she usually does all the cooking and she can spend up to $120. And i only live with my aunt and grandma. 3 people! Well it also depends on the place your shopping at. Did you check the local newspaper to see if anything was on sale? I think you probably limited yourself to only shopping at one store (lets say Vons) when another store had the same things you were looking for for less. Or you can always go my grandma's way and shop at an asian supermarket. Usually when it comes to vegetables and meat, asian market is usually less expensive but theres still some stuff i wouldnt buy at an asian market such as eggs, milk, oj, cereal, tooth paste, the list goes on but i dont want to get too specific, my hands kind of tired from typing right now

well i think prices are going up. Me and my patrner used to spend $120 on groceries... this last month or two its gone up to $180. (FOR TWO PEOPLE!!!!) we only buy the "expensive" things on sale. and we are not shopping any differently. so... what the heck??