"cshenk" > wrote in message
...
> Julie Bove wrote in rec.food.cooking:
>
>>
>> "cshenk" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > Gary wrote in rec.food.cooking:
>> >
>> > > Julie Bove wrote:
>> > > >
>> >>> "Christopher Helms" wrote:
>> >>> > It's a lot easier to spend a hundred dollars on groceries than
>> it >>> > used to be. I try to stay under thirty dollars per trip and
>> it >>> > seems to require a little more creativity every month.
>> > > >
>> >>> $30 would only buy maybe one meal here.
>> > >
>> > > No way, Julie. I also spend about $30 per week or a little bit
>> > > more. That's just for me though. There's no way you are spending
>> > > $30 per MEAL for your family of 3 that don't like most foods.
>> > >
>> > > G.
>> >
>> > True Gary. I spend a little less than you per person but with 3 of
>> > us, we can make more use of sales and I am in what is considered a
>> > fairly cheaper food area.
>> > Carol
>>
>> I spent about $30 a week on just myself back in the 1980's. And I
>> dined out a lot. Groceries are not cheap here! I probably spend
>> about $300 a week, no counting restaurant meals but that's hard to
>> tell because some things I buy like flour, black pepper or olive oil
>> would certainly last far more than a week. I also stock up on canned
>> things, and I buy paper products, cleaning supplies, magazines,
>> books, cat things and some cosmetics. So not all food.
>
> That you spend more, doesnt mean you are spending wisely.

Nor does it mean that I don't. I am no cheapskate! I do get the Rosarita
refried beans for 80 cents a can. That price probably beats dried beans
since I am not having to add seasonings or cook them. But I also buy
expensive olives sometimes, just because I want them. And I am grateful
that I can. There was a time when I couldn't buy any kind of olives!

Tonight's dinner is pizza and salad. Yes, I did buy a bag of mixed greens
just because that is likely the only salad we'll eat this week. It was just
enough for three. I added toppings based on what people like. Black
olives, plum tomatoes, celery, red pepper, red onion. Would have been
cucumber but the last little piece had gone mushy.

Whole wheat pizza crust made from scratch. I did purchase the sauce. Yes,
I know I could have made it but stuff came up, and husband wanted to eat
right away so I just bought sauce when I went to the store. Expensive
sauce. Not the most expensive I have bought but it was $4.99 for the two
pizzas. Theirs has a combination of Western Family (cheap) mozzarella and a
small amount of leftover medium priced, mixed Italian cheeses and some very
expensive, uncured pepperoni. Mine has Daiya (dairy free) cheese, red
onion, fresh tomato slices and pine nuts.

I looked at potato prices. The only one I remember was for the bulk russets
at 98 cents per pound. I did not buy any. I did buy black grapes and
cherries. Cherries were $9.98 per pound. I only bought them because
husband ripped through the last bag that I got in no time flat. I prefer to
buy food that they will eat and not have to throw things out.

I do like to save money on many things. However there are other things where
I prefer to buy really good stuff. One of those things is meat. I don't
see too much difference with canned beans but when it comes to the refried,
there were a few I did not like at all because they were runny. I don't see
much difference with most canned vegetables. Tomatoes can be an exception.
I do think when it comes to some tomato products, some are superior but
that's not always what I buy.