food budget $31.50 per person

United States
November 6, 2011 9:59pm CST
I saw this opinion in the paper today and I was floored. I know some of you don't have alot of funds to spare and do what we do best to survive by being frugal. http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/getting-by-on-3154-qp2s1jd-133275738.html I don't even know what to say bout this seeing I can't affored $31.50 a person in my house a week for groceries and this man was left feeling hungry and hated making choices to what he could afford to buy. Sadly I don't think he understands that there are non-food stamp people in this world who spend that much or less per person normally because we have to budget we have to buy mark downs and know what will keep our bellies full on the least amount of money. We do this because we have no choice (we either make too much to get food stamps) and have learned to do what we need to do to survive within our means and get help from a pantry when we need to. Does your household survive on the $31.50 per person per week? or do you spend more? less? or varies by what's in your pantry vs what you have to budget?
8 people like this
33 responses
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
7 Nov 11
gads! that's about what we spend in CAT FOOD!
3 people like this
• United States
7 Nov 11
$31 in catfood a week?
2 people like this
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
7 Nov 11
Ahhh, you know we have 28 cats... right?
1 person likes this
• United States
9 Nov 11
I didn't realize it was 28. I knew of the ones you had listed on your page or you posted about. People drop their jaws sometimes when they go you have 3 cats in that lil house... yep and one annoying dog.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (214294)
• Chile
7 Nov 11
I thought it was pere month. I survive with a lot less that $31.50 per person per week. And I´m doing better now that I have my own veggies. I have an almost free main dish once a week with my kale and potatoes. In my country there are no food stamps and people either work or don´t have money. I live on a budget and stick to that. And as I believe that each person must have a bit of luxury in his life, I spend all my online earnings in vacations
• United States
30 Nov 11
I agree you are fortunate to be able to grow year round. I know that would help my budget if we could grow all year long. I bet you have come up with some very unique planters that fit the amount of space you have
@Shar19 (8231)
• United States
7 Nov 11
You are lucky to be able to grow you're own vegetables. I wish we lived somewhere that we could grow vegetables year round. Do you put any herbs or spices on your kale and potatoes? It sounds really good. I also agree that everyone should be able to have a little luxury once in a while, whether it's taking a vacation or buying something special for yourself.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (214294)
• Chile
8 Nov 11
I don´t hav a big garden as I live in the biggest city in my country and the land is expensive. But I plant anywhere I can, even in containers. I like crepes with kale cream. And I love potatoes any way.
1 person likes this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
7 Nov 11
I see that he bought brand name, expensive versions of food. Why didn't he look at generic brands? Why didn't he look for alternatives to convenience foods? Why didn't he look for coupons? I think he was trying to make a point, but in my eyes, the only point he made was that he didn't know much about grocery shopping. I sometimes buy far less than $31.50 in a week's time. I can eat healthier than the picture shows. I work at it; I don't expect to be able to walk into a store and buy whatever strikes my fancy. I don't "have to" save as much as I do, but I enjoy the challenge and I enjoy using the money for other things. It's a thrill to me to find something marked down to a really good price. I budget for a month at a time, then try to beat the budget. Right now it's at $100 per month, but it's been lower and probably will be again. I will use all of it this month because of Thanksgiving and stocking up a little for Christmas baking if I can find the sales.
2 people like this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
7 Nov 11
I just get tired of these people who seem to have more money than they have sense, trying to prove a point that they don't even understand. The small local markets are more expensive, but like you said, there is the bus and bus fare would no doubt be cheaper than buying all your food at the local corner mart. No matter where you shop, there are ways to cut costs, though, and we'd be a lot smarter to teach those ways than to throw more money into the food stamp program. I splurge on Thanksgiving, too. I try to keep an eye out for canned goods on sale through the year to help out, but it still costs extra.
2 people like this
• United States
7 Nov 11
Very well said Peavey! Part of what he was trying to say is that people who don't have transportation don't always have access to more nutricious foods. Yes the lil corner markets mainly carry junk and adult beverages and much more expensive than a grocery store. But what he also didn't mention is how Milwaukee has a very good bus system so transportation isn't an issue as he made out. It's just weather they want to carry groceries on a bus or go to the over priced corner market which are usually located in less than savory locations. I saw that too how much he paid for bread he could get store generic white bread for half of what he paid. Same as you mentioned the soups could of been store brand and the peanut butter as well. That's one thing I will agree with. You pinch your pennies where you can so you can afford the basics and a lil something more elsewhere in your budget if it works out. Thankfully thanksgiving is not at our house. That's one of the times I splurge on things we don't normally eat.
1 person likes this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
9 Nov 11
I think they are taught in some places, but other places, not. I don't think they teach in depth, though, and that's what people need. It's one thing to say "buy on sale" and yet another to show them that if you wait for a sale, then buy a little more than you would, you will save money. There's a lot more to it than just that, too. Limits is why I watch throughout the year for canned things like olives and sweet potatoes. I haven't seen a lot of good deals this year, either. I'm just hoping there is a good sale on turkeys.
1 person likes this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
9 Nov 11
Hi Snuggle, It's just me and my daughter here and I do not get food stamps and I don't spend anywhere near 63.00 per week on food. I couldn't as I don't have it. There have been weeks that I've only had 20.00 to 25.00 to spend and I manage. I don't know how the food stamps are figured but I see a lot of people on them that are getting way more than they need. I mean when they can come into a convenience store and by 4 pints of icecream at 5.49 a pop and share with their buddies then they are getting too much. Also I know they look at the size of the family when determining what to allot but they don't consider the ages of the children.
2 people like this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
19 Nov 11
Yes that is exactly what they do. they let the person buy say 60.00 worth of food for 40.00 in cash. In this economy, it isn't hard for them to find people that will go along with such a deal. So yes, it does amount to the same thing as selling them. I've been approached several times and yes it's tempting but it also angers me. I've actually been offered 100.00 worth of groc. for 50.00. Do you know how tempting that is? My boss had stopped taking the food stamps years ago because of all the scams and felt that it wasn't necessary to spend them in the convenience store anyway. We really have mostly expensive junk. Because of the economy and the fact that there are so many that do have trouble getting to a regular groc. store, he started accepting them again recently. It's a real eye opener (as if I don't see enough already). I would not have a problem with someone that really was unable to get to a groc.store, picking up a little snack along with a gallon of milk. The thing is, they must have ways to get to a grocery store. I know that for someone who doesn't drive, they may run out of milk or bread but these people are not buying all their meals here. The ones that are on the system legit and come in and say buy a gal. of milk because they need it...will be stressed at the price. They just have to get by until they can get a ride in to the groc. store. They sure are not buying a ton of junk if any. I really would not have a problem if they put regulations on convenience store shopping with food stamps. Maybe allow them a certain amount that can be spent in such a store.
2 people like this
• United States
9 Nov 11
That's why many people want food stamps regulated more like WIC as you are only allowed healthy foods and within a certain food group. So there wouldn't be any ice cream, chips or junk period. I agree if they can afford to buy for friends they are getting too much in benefits or shouldn't be getting them at all. I know a gal I used to work with went on them as she was a single mother at the time and needed the help for child care. She always came back with a story how people at welfare waiting were talking about going out to their their hair and nails done while the rest of us deprive ourselves of such things so we can pay our bills and so we can eat.
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Nov 11
I don't know that they can physically sell them by us as they are set up like a debit card. So I think they'd have to buy the person things in exchange for whatever, but that's basically the same in a round about sorta way. It would be nice if they did track where they used them at, though people will say that's not fair because some people can't get to anywhere but a corner convenience / grocery.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
7 Nov 11
Hi 3SnuggleBunnies, I think for most healthy person, we do not need even $31.50 per person for weekly grocery. The only exception occurs when someone has medical problem, and can eat only certain kinds of food. Sometimes our meals are lower than a dollar per person, and that happens quite often, when we cook porridge or rice noodle soup. When we are working, we have to eat out, so the food cost is rather high. That is why we try to save on breakfast and dinner. No supper or extra food in between meals.
2 people like this
• United States
7 Nov 11
That's true he did not have any porridge or old fashioned oatmeal in his shopping. He would of gotten breakfast for more than a week on just the oatmeal alone and it's filling. You don't have to eat out when you are working. You can pack yourself a sandwich, yogurt, piece of fruit, and drink water. It's possible that's what I do when I work a shift long enough I get a lunch. It's cheaper than me buying lunch, I haven't put one red cent in the vending machines at work.
1 person likes this
@myfb2009 (8296)
• Malaysia
7 Nov 11
Scheng, same like you, i do loves to cook porridge whenever the weather is hot. Rice porridge does tastes very delicious and cheaper in cost. Same like you, i am trying my best to cut down the cost of food by planning well my food expenses.
2 people like this
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
8 Nov 11
Hi 3SnuggleBunnies, over here, we do not have a practice of packing lunch during working days. If I were to do that, my colleagues would see me differently. It is common to go to the canteen for lunch or go to the industrial canteen for lunch. In this way, we get to network a bit. Anyway, it is rare to find people eating sandwich for lunch! Most of us prefer hot meals, as in noodle, porridge, rice with some vegetables and meat. if you have a chance to experience life in Asian countries, you would understand what it means.
1 person likes this
• United States
7 Nov 11
Umm no! We do about $20 a person a week. There are 6 of us. I use coupons, and buy deals as well as from markets and what ever I can to make it stretch. I feed us rather well in fact but I cook almost everything from scratch and that makes a huge difference. I f I had to buy all pre made items or box kits I could never do it.
2 people like this
• United States
9 Nov 11
True in the olden days you were overweight because you had money while others who were not well off did not have such a girth. It's can also be a cultural or environmental thing were it's normal to eat a bag of chips a day. You'd drop your jaw if you saw SIL and her kids when they were here 2 yrs ago. She ripped on me not making bacon and eggs but as soon as they got up they were opening bags of chips, whereas my kids were eating cereal w/ milk or bagels.
• United States
7 Nov 11
Yet another person who can survive on less than the "poverty" amount per person. He was mentioning how the types of foods allowed is why recipients are obese... probably true because they can afford on the taxpayers dime to have convience foods the rest of us don't buy very often.
1 person likes this
• United States
7 Nov 11
We have been on food stamps since my husband lost his job. There is no reason for someone to be on them and not eating healthy other then laziness and or lack of reason. People are obese because the choose to eat either food bad for them or excessive quantities ( I am not talking about those with healthy issues that is different all together). Whether a person is on Welfare has nothing to do about their weight. For God's sake look at some of the richest people in the world. Many of them are over weight. Money is not the issue it is the people.
@GardenGerty (157027)
• United States
7 Nov 11
The point I appreciated in this link was that healthy food needs to be accessible to the people on food stamps and maybe unhealthy foods need to be restricted. I know people would say that "poor people need treats too" but treats can be healthy and should be a smaller part of our diet. Do I survive on 31.50 per week, per person, maybe not. I know I could though, and make some healthier choices than he showed in the pictures. As you said, we can and do shop for mark downs. I buy meat on sale, in bulk, or marked down for quick sale. I do not buy instant rice. For the same price as canned soup you can make a larger quantity of homemade soups. I did not see any beans there at all. He was worried about his hummus . . .well he can make twice as much hummus for about half the price of one container of ready made. Probably for less than $1.50, and it is a healthy food. I think my $31.50 would include my paper and cleaning goods as well.
2 people like this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
14 Nov 11
@GardenGerty, you made a really good point there about including paper and cleaning goods. My grocery bill includes those things, too, as well as some personal care items.
1 person likes this
• United States
7 Nov 11
I agree with you there. WIC has limits as to what you can buy. That always made me mad when I'd see someone buying junk food on their Quest card while I can't afford nor justify it for my own family. I also imagine he's single as you mentioned he didn't have any beans to make his own hummus nor took the time to find out how to make it. Same with as you mentioned home made soups, I can make a hearty chicken soup that can last for days for under ten bucks easily. Only problem is I'm the only one in my house who loves it enough to eat it that long!
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Nov 11
Sometimes my budget does include those things sometimes it doesn't it depends on what we are out of and what else I have already on hand of various items so I can "splurge".
@Fishmomma (11378)
• United States
24 Nov 11
I think its possible to do this in Southern California, as have been doing this for years. It helps to grow fruit and vegetable, which I enjoy growing each year. Saving money is important to me.
2 people like this
• United States
24 Nov 11
Saving money is very important to everyone now days. You are right growing your own produce is fun and helps offset the costs at the grocery store.
1 person likes this
@CRSunrise (2981)
• United States
28 Nov 11
I guess I never really thought about what our dollar amount per person is a week. If we went by our foodstamps alone, it would be about $25/week/person. That's for the four people who actually eat the food we'd buy with the card. If we considered my 6 month old, those dollars would go down. It would be about $20/week/person. Our dollar amount may actually be less than that, I'm not sure. I sometimes buy things ahead when there's a good sale, such as on spaghetti sauce and hamburger. This way the next month, I can use our money for other things.
2 people like this
• United States
30 Nov 11
You know as I do that 6 month old will be eating solids before you know it! It's always wise to buy ahead if you have the money to spare and the price is right.
@katsmeow1213 (28719)
• United States
7 Nov 11
Wow! Okay, at first I looked at this and though $31.50 per person for an entire week? No way! It's not possible! How could anyone survive on that a week? But then I did the math, and that's actually about what I spend. 31.50 times 7 people is about $220 and that is roughly what I spend per week on food.. some weeks are a little more, some weeks are a little less.. but if you average it out it's probably darn close. But still that seems like a very low number to feed a person for a week. Now I know I could get by on less if my husband wasn't so flippin picky. Not only do I buy enough food to feed 7 people for 7 days, I also have to buy extra microwavable meals for hubby because he won't eat half of the meals that I make. Then I'll also get a few meals that he does like, but I don't.. like hamburger helper meals.. so I have to get myself a microwavable meal for that night. So I know that I'm cheap about certain things.. but excessive on others. But a friend of mine who feeds a family of 4 has told me that she spend the same amount on food as I do each week. That makes me wonder what on earth she is buying to spend that much on groceries for a week.
2 people like this
• United States
18 Nov 11
My Hubby doesn't do that either. That's one thing I always like about nights cause I figured if he ate dinner he'd eat less out of the vending/cafeteria at work. It varies by day/week with him. Sometimes he won't eat stating he's not hungry or his tummy is upset (or probably just won't say he doesn't like what I came up with). That's how I feel about the kids if I don't make them what I know they like they won't eat as much as they should. My kids can be picky especially the oldest and if she says she doesn't like it well the other two won't bat an eyelash at it either. Serving some sort of potato and corn as a side for most dinner meals is getting old! I'd be delighted with something GREEN! Like green beans, a salad, hubby's brown sugar carrots ect. But now all I'd hear is YUCK! *sigh* Hubby will make dinner if he's home during the dinner hour and I am not. Or I'll be nice and put something in the slow cooker and all he has to come up with is a side of some sort. You'd probably faint but I buy a 24pk of soda every 2 months and I have to hide it! The kids would guzzle it up and have fits if they saw us having some and didn't get any. I use it to stay awake if I need to I don't drink coffee. Then I get the lines it'll help me stay awake at school ect. *sigh* True or not true I dunno... but with them both teetering on the ADD/ADHD business caffine can help their focus (oh wait it helps most people that's why we are addicted to soda and coffee!)
1 person likes this
• United States
9 Nov 11
It doesn't seem like much does it. We are all cheap about certain things and require a diff standard on other things. Yeah I'd make hubby make his own meal or own side instead of the micro meals. I know it urks me when I buy him micro meals for work he doesn't take them or when he does he lets them spoil in the car but never eats them or when he eats them at home because he's too lazy to make a sandwich or warm up a burrito. She could be buying brand name things?
1 person likes this
• United States
9 Nov 11
My hubby's problem is he doesn't eat breakfast or lunch. I used to pack him a lunch everyday.. but I just don't have the time to do that anymore. So he comes home starving and eats 2 or 3 meals in a matter of an hour or two at night before bed. Usually he'll eat whatever dinner I made if he actually likes it, and a microwave meal, and then make some eggs, and eat a whole bag of chips in one sitting.. But, ya know, it is what it is. I can't tell him to starve just because he's picky, he's a little too old for me to be trying to change his eating habits (I totally blame his mother for that), and if there's nothing else he really isn't too lazy to make something for himself.. but that's like his last choice if there's something faster and easier. But who can blame him after working a stressful 12 hour shift. I work 4 hour shifts and don't want to cook a large meal when I get home either! And you know, I buy a lot of name brand things also. I buy a case of Coca-Cola for myself every week because I hate the cheap stuff.. I get hubby 2 cases of the cheap stuff. I guess maybe she buys a lot more snacks. That's something I really don't do. I buy school snacks and snacks for me and hubby.. that's it. The kids get cheapo juice and they do not get cookies or candy unless it's a special occassion.
1 person likes this
@myfb2009 (8296)
• Malaysia
7 Nov 11
Hi 3Snuggle, at this moment, i am spending less than that amount per person per week. Since the prices of food had increased quite a lot recently, so i prefer to budget and buy food during promotion period. I am happy that i don't spend much on my food expenses recently after i planed well my buying food schedule.
2 people like this
• United States
7 Nov 11
But you are surviving on a smaller amount then people who get their budget from tax dollars and probably healthier too?
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Nov 11
That certainly makes a difference. I know having a garden helps us out tward the end of summer as the kids spend a good deal of time in there inspecting for the next tomato that has ripened... very few make it into the house for consumption.
@myfb2009 (8296)
• Malaysia
12 Nov 11
Because we do harvest some fresh veggies from our family farm. That's why, we only buy veggies that we don't plant in our farm. And also meat, since we don't feed any animals for meat.
1 person likes this
@TrvlArrngr (4045)
• United States
14 Nov 11
Mine is about 20 dollars per person for a week. Sometimes alittle more. Depends on the sales I can get and what coupons I have. There are some weeks we have pasta 3 nights because that is cheap to make.
• United States
18 Nov 11
You are right pasta is cheap and it goes the extra mile where other foods do not. But it can get old after a while. My kids love ramen noodle and I don't mind a bowl every now and again myself but I like to add veggies to it just to make it a bit more filling.
1 person likes this
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
14 Nov 11
That seems to be about right. Sometimes, if I'm creative enough with the sales and the coupons, I get it down to about twenty five. Of course there are weeks where the money is a bit more of abundance and those are the weeks where I stock up for the inevitable problems and naturally the winter, where a lot of the funds are diverted to the heating bill. It is not without a fight that the bill gets down this low. It seems like the price of everything does tend to really go down more often than ever before. Which means I spend some time shopping at the dollar store. Of course the grocery bill is an absolute nightmare of an expense for many. Making a list does help but it's not the only thing you need to do to keep your expenses in check.
2 people like this
• United States
18 Nov 11
You are right when you have more money available in your household is when you stock up. Yes it's awful that so much of our income in winter is put on the heat bill, sadly we need to keep warm and stop pipes from bursting. Always watching my money, the hard part is my hubby thinks he can spend more freely then we are able to.... of course he's the one who does not pay the bills either.
1 person likes this
• Indonesia
8 Nov 11
$31.50 is different money it can be in different countries maybe in your place this money can be used to bought cat food for week but in country that creating rice so much this money can be used to bought rice for a MONTH
2 people like this
• United States
9 Nov 11
That is true as well. But the man was supposed to live what someone who receives Food Stamps gets (free food for people who are considered to be living in poverty from the government) a week. If you've read other responses he clearly is used to living very well and not having to cook or live on a budget. Rice is a staple here but not like it is in other countries.
1 person likes this
@ravinskye (8237)
• United States
7 Nov 11
That actually is more than what we would spend per person a week. We buy our groceries every two weeks. We usually spend a little over $200 for two weeks, so about $100 a week. There are 5 of us. so from that $100-$150 we buy our food for the week plus any essentials like toilet paper, laundry detergent and pet foods. So I would say $20 per person a week roughly.
2 people like this
• United States
18 Nov 11
Sounds like you have an excellent budget if you are even able to fit your toiletries, laundry, and pet foods in there!
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
7 Nov 11
it costs about a hundred per week here in Canada to feed my family of 4 - sometimes it is more money but i find the food prices here in Canada are much higher than those of the US. i make a lot of soups and cheaper meals during the winter, but during the summer, our house gets hot and i hate cooking when its hot!
2 people like this
• United States
9 Nov 11
I hate cooking when it's hot too. Our house retains heat in summer and the opposite in winter *lol* I use the crockpot & convection toaster oven quite a bit to not heat up the house and save on utilities. I can't imagine how you have to stretch your money since prices for food are higher there. You may have to do some posts and share your secrets :0)
1 person likes this
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
7 Nov 11
I live by myself and don't have to spend alot of groceries. I am not sure what it would be but I make a big pot of chili or soup..or do a crock pot meal and freeze part and have a couple of meals too. I eat cheap. I hate buying groceries!
2 people like this
• United States
18 Nov 11
I like doing that too. But it seems my family doesn't care for anything once it's been in the freezer, sometimes I agree but if that's the best looking thing in the house at that minute I'm defrosting it and eating it!
1 person likes this
@babykeka80 (2084)
• United States
7 Nov 11
I think we could easily get by on less than that in fact I am sure we do. We have 5 right now in the house and we spend probably around $400 a month give or take. Sometimes we splurge or eat out but by no means to we spend $630 a month. People like that need to dedicate themselves to a strict budget or try couponing. Which by the way I do not do and still do not spend $31.50 pp a week. We are in that group that haha makes too much money (just above the cutoff) who really have to watch spending.
2 people like this
• United States
9 Nov 11
Yeah, I know we are too. I wish being in too much debt counted as a reason to qualify and having small kids at home. It just means we have to be come more resourceful in how we spend what we do have left over after bills.
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
7 Nov 11
He's not very good at stretching a dollar, is he? Look at all those name brands! That loaf of bread costs about $3.50--I buy the $.99 store brand loaf! The guy has a good point about how people on food stamps buy foods that aren't healthy. It's not fair for children who don't control what they eat to be fat because their parents won't buy good food. But I still maintain that the obesity epidemic in poor people is because they buy a lot of cheap carbs--it's cheap to eat unhealthy and expensive to buy foods good for you. I can get buy on as little at $20 a week but would rather not. I spend about $60 a week between me, my 2 dogs and the 6 stray cats.
2 people like this
• United States
9 Nov 11
No kidding that was one of the first things I noticed he had more name brands than store brands it seemed. He should of spent all his money at Aldi he would have done better. Very true that parents control what kinds of food are allowed in the home. Another angle I did not think of. If there's more fruit and veggies in the house and less junk the kids have better choices as do the parents. Though I think IMO it's a toss up if it's more expensive to eat healthy than not. Have you seen what a case of soda runs? a 24 pack at my Aldi's is like $4.75... a 12 pack of a national brand is about $5. Same with chips a bag of chips for nearly $4 a bag... I think I could do better and buy whatever produce is on special that week. Shoot there's even an orchard a bit away that sells 2nds for .39 a lb for apples, my kids don't care if they were 1st's or 2nd's shoot they don't even know the difference and other than a few more blemishes they taste just fine to me! I'd rather not spend $20 a week either. Sadly a good week for me is spending $20+/person
@Shar19 (8231)
• United States
7 Nov 11
I guess it really depends on what people are actually eating in their household. My weekly spending fluctuates each week depending on what is on sale at the grocery store and what I am going to cook for dinner. If it was just me then I would probably eat a lot more pasta, beans and other lower cost foods. With picky kids though I have to switch the foods up a bit.
2 people like this
• United States
9 Nov 11
I hear you on that one. I'd eat more veggies or even just eat veggies w/ pasta but the kids they won't touch much with veggies in it. My kids tend to eat up everything I had bought to used to make something else with.
1 person likes this