For starters, keep a spending diary for a while.

It can be a shock when one pays close attention to what was spent and for what!!!

And like someone else said - itemize what you buy -

There are three of us living here now - and we all contribute to the total cost.

One also needs to consider portion sizes. Can you stretch one pound of hamburger into four or more servings? Or does one person gobble up the whole thing?

Thank you. I already do some of these things. I rent, so don't have to worry about outdoor maintenance. I usually get my hair cut once a year and I wear glasses (actually, the last one is a medical necessity - I'm allergic to the preservative that contacts come in and is in most cleansers - I break out in severe contact dermatitis :-)). I'm due for new glasses, but put extra $$$ in my FSA this year to cover it. I hope to make my appointment in the next couple of weeks. I also keep my computer/router/modem, TV, and microwave unplugged when not in use and am very conservative with my heat and A/C.

I just wasn't sure what a reasonable budget for healthy (ie, non-junk & processed-filled) foods could be for a week's worth of meals.

So your $30.00 / week is a 1 person (plus fur-baby) food budget? Thanks for sharing your average weekly amount with me.

I have been keeping track of my receipts and spending, though not faithfully, and that is why I wanted to see if my estimated amount for food would actually work. I spend way too much on food and then am gone way to much and don't get to cook it and wind up grabbing takeout for lunch since no cooking means no leftovers.

thank you!

Whenever I need to cut expenses I try to do it on other things, not with food.
But let me explain- we eat really healthy foods which may cost more but compared to prepared foods, sodas, junk food etc it's probably a lot cheaper. I rarely eat anything that's not made from scratch.
I look at it as fuel for my body. I'll skimp on something else.

That amount is for two people iI guess I read it wrong at the beginning so it would be 1.50 to two dollars per serving.

Thank you :-).

I also coupon...only buying what we actually use and need and I save quite a bit with them

I go to Walmart (close by) in the mornings about 7 and buy the newly marked down bread and meats. I freeze both and save 20-40% that way.

I cook everything from scratch. DH and I make a serving for 4 really be for 4, 2 meals for us.

We eat oatmeal or grits for breakfast. I also shop the local bent n dent store for big savings.

I make a cake once a week for our snack food. Sometimes a pie.

I shop the Dollar Tree or Walmart or Dollar Store clearance for all my consumables, shampoo, soap etc. I use shampoo for body wash, shampoo, and liquid hand soap. I buy the moisturizing kinds.

I think we spend about $1 each for breakfast, $3 each for lunch, and $2 for supper. So we are averaging $12 a day x 30 days or $360 a month. Wow! that's more than I thought...hmm
that really is true to our spending though. We have fruit 2 or 3 times a day.

We drink a gallon of milk a week, here it is $4 a gallon.

Oatmeal is my favorite money saver. Real food will be healthier in the long run. Remember "Betty Crocker lied". Processed food is just a money-making gimmick. Your money and health should be the decision maker.