Anonymous wrote:If you are a DINK, why are you hanging out on DCUM?!

Why ask such a dumb question?

Anonymous wrote:When we were DINKs, we spent the same in inflation-adjusted dollars as we do now with one 8-year-old. We buy more food at the grocery store for most meals (since we have the extra mouth to feed) and more on takeout (and eating out, pre-COVID). But we get a little less restaurant food and we eat out/get takeout at less expensive places on average.

It's about $1000/month total ($600 grocery, $400 restaurants/food trucks/etc.) because we do love restaurant food, but that includes anything you might buy at the grocery store, like detergent or toothpaste or pet food.

HHI used to be lower though, even inflation-adjusted. So it makes up a smaller percentage of our income now (with a kid, we have more other expenses).

Sorry, first paragraph was a confusing mess!

What I meant was that we buy more *food* now (of course!), but that a smaller percentage of it is restaurant food, and that the establishments that it comes from are less expensive on average.

This means the total spend for all food is about the same, even with an extra, albeit small, person.

When we were DINKs, we spent the same in inflation-adjusted dollars as we do now with one 8-year-old. We buy more food at the grocery store for most meals (since we have the extra mouth to feed) and more on takeout (and eating out, pre-COVID). But we get a little less restaurant food and we eat out/get takeout at less expensive places on average.

It's about $1000/month total ($600 grocery, $400 restaurants/food trucks/etc.) because we do love restaurant food, but that includes anything you might buy at the grocery store, like detergent or toothpaste or pet food.

HHI used to be lower though, even inflation-adjusted. So it makes up a smaller percentage of our income now (with a kid, we have more other expenses).

"Kooky barrel of laughs.". Sums up the entire forum. Thanks OP.

We spend ~$450 a month on groceries and maybe an additional $200-$400 on restaurants or takeout.

DINK here answering both prior questions:

Cuz you all are a kooky barrel of laughs and the fashion, career, travel, money, MIL, home decorating and pop culture discussions are right up my alley.

Pre pandemic it was way too high. We both have not gone back to office yet which may change things, but we're at about 220-260 at the grocery store each week (after inflation) and that includes cleaning supplies and toothpaste and the like. We cook at home and usually to do a fish, a meat (pork, chicken, beef), and a tofu/veggie dinner each to last two days of dinner and lunch in any given week. We're eating out way less than before the pandemic even though we're OK with going out, I just have gotten to be a better cook and almost enjoy my own cooking more. Not sure how long that will last though, especially when we go back to the office and the commute eats into cooking time. Take out will be more attractive.

If you are a DINK, why are you hanging out on DCUM?!

How much do you spend on groceries? How much on eating out?