Sorry Bob but I don't see someone going from 700 to 155/month. I would try to cut your bill in half which appears to be reasonable.
Oh yeah, yeah most people won't make that much of a cut but some people reading this may pick up a tip or two. And who knows after a few months of tracking and practice the OP may decide that having an extra $6,500 in the bank at the end of the year is worth a little effort? (that will come to around $150,000 in 10 years if invested properly)
I typically say "shoot for $2 per day per person, fail and end up at $3." I think our fearless leader comes in around $3 PPPD?
So here might be a daily food plan per person-
Breakfast - 2 eggs, 2 strips bacon, toast = .78
Lunch - Sliced meat (slice either $2 lb ham or $1 chicken yourself) and cheese sandwich (or wrap), piled with spinach, onions, tomato + chips = .98
Dinner - Homemade chicken and rice soup (chicken, celery, carrots, rice, olive oil, skip the high dollar canned broth which is mostly salt flavored water) = .85 ($1 per pound chicken bought as a loss leader and frozen)
Bedtime snack -- homemade popcorn popped in butter = .25
Total = 2.85
It is very doable.
Bob, you are spot on.
We're in Canada, where the prices are a bit higher, and my husband (who is 220 lbs) and I spend around $50-$60 week on average.
I say, on average, because when a deal comes up, we stock up.
The other day, the local drug store had tuna on sale for 99c a can. That is a good price here. However, if we bought $35 worth, we got $10 off.(in the form of points) That makes the tuna $0.72 each.
The grocery store has reduced fruit and vegetables...the last time we bought them, they lasted 3 weeks. (cost $9)
You never know what they are going to have..which is fun.
We plan our meals around specials, and what we have at home.
The other day, the grocery store had an incentive. For every $30 spent, you saved $10. (in the form of points...no matter)
We use our bread machine 4-5 times a week. Costs $0.60 a loaf and 2 minutes to stick into the machine. The cheapest bread in our area is $1.50
My suggestion for some one spending $700 month....wow, I can't even fathom it, unless they are buying a lot of premade crap food...
anyways, go through your grocery flyers..and see what is on sale...stock up !!
The other day, peanut butter was on sale for brand X...which was a good price....but brand Y, which wasn't advertised, was cheaper...we bought that instead. Just as yummy.
My bananas sometimes ripen too fast. I stick them whole, in the freezer. Yesterday, I took out 8, and made muffins.
We rarely shop for groceries. Instead, we shop for reduced produce and meat, and stock up on sales.
Eggs will last for months.Cheese can be frozen.
The other day I decided to make a pot of chili. Out of the freezer, I used up celery, onions, yellow peppers, that I froze a couple of months ago, when I couldn't use them up fast enough.
I save all my bread crusts in the freezer. I use it to make bread stuffing , when I cook a chicken...or bread pudding, for a dessert.
When my ketchup or BBQ sauce bottle gets empty, I rinse out the remainder with water or vinegar, and use it in a recipe of sweet n sour sauce.
With mayo or jam, I use my rubber spatula.
I would venture to say, I rarely throw anything out.... can the person spending $700 a month say the same thing?
With the money you save...pay off bills.