Anonymous wrote:OP, consider those two together -- as in feeding yourself. Don't need to be separate.

I think if you’re single, dining out may be a more important part of your entertainment budget - out there meeting people or being with friends.

I make a $120,000 and spend $800.00 a month including wine.

$350-400 - I like organic food and shopped at TJs and HT. I also made large weekly meals in my instant pot.

$500 as a single parent with two under three (they both live with me full time). I do not plan based on sales and pay extra for locally sourced meat so this is the higher end of what I could possibly spend; I think I could do it for $300 if I had to but it would be more boring/stressful. I love to cook so only get take out a couple times a month.

There's another post in this forum called "What do I stock up on, or am I too late?". For $30 here's what you can get:


I just went onto my Giant app and here is what I found for $30.16. If I were buying this in store I could hit under $30 for sure:

4-6 Bananas ($1.52)
1 Green bell pepper ($0.88)
1 garlic ($0.69)
1 onion ($0.66)
1 whole fryer chicken ($6.71)
1 pack chicken sausage ($4.11)
32oz frozen vegetales ($2.15)
16oz dried red beans ($1.50)
32oz rice ($4.49)
16oz pasta ($1.29)
16oz light brown sugar ($1.59)
1 packet taco seasoning ($0.99)
28oz canned crushed tomatoes ($1.99)
16oz oats ($1.59)

I feel like that is enough to get my family of 4 through the week. Yes it might be a little boring food wise but you're only shopping at one store, getting a variety of vegetables and proteins, and it's right at $30. Plus if you didn't want to do the sausage (I was thinking a nice big bowl of chili), you could easily sub something else.

That thread was assumed for a family of 4, so you can definitely feel one person for $30 for a week.

I’m a nanny in LA and make 60k. I try to only spend $30/week but now that’s impossible. I’m creeping up towards $40-50/week. I home cook everything and don’t eat out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I couldn’t afford to eat out, my budget was $50 a week. This was when I took in $25k a year.

Was this recent and around here? That doesn't sound survivable.

I once did $25 in NYC
-Oatmeal
-Yogurt
-Eggs
-Veggies
-1-2lbs pork

Each week I would add one thing like raisins, fruit, seasoning, black beans, cheese etc.

One meal a day was oatmeal with yogurt and fruit.
One meal a day was either a veggie and seasoned pork omelette or veggie and pork stir fry.
I’d usually get a slice of pizza about once a week with friends.

Anonymous wrote:How many single people are on this board?

More than you realize.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, consider those two together -- as in feeding yourself. Don't need to be separate.

What does this even mean?

DP: Groceries & eating out?

$300-500 including wine. I shop pretty much exclusively at Whole Foods.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$250 for groceries, $100 for eating out, that's what I budget but I try to keep it under that. I mostly shop at Aldi or Walmart. I eat well on that amount, plenty of fresh produce and healthy protein. I'm living on $30K without too much trouble although I'm looking for a side gig so I can save more.

How? This is below the poverty line.

Actually the poverty line is about $12,800 for one person. I moved to a lower cost of living area last year, when I lived in NoVa my income was $45K. I have zero debt. I need to accumulate some more savings but other than that I'm fine. Happy life!

Anonymous wrote:$250 for groceries, $100 for eating out, that's what I budget but I try to keep it under that. I mostly shop at Aldi or Walmart. I eat well on that amount, plenty of fresh produce and healthy protein. I'm living on $30K without too much trouble although I'm looking for a side gig so I can save more.

How? This is below the poverty line.

$250 for groceries, $100 for eating out, that's what I budget but I try to keep it under that. I mostly shop at Aldi or Walmart. I eat well on that amount, plenty of fresh produce and healthy protein. I'm living on $30K without too much trouble although I'm looking for a side gig so I can save more.

Really depends how ugly and introverted you are. My date girls when single who spent near zero in supermarket as were smoking hot and were always out.

I used to go out a lot when single did not shop much as would just go bad. I never ever bought veggies, meat, cold cuts, fruits, bread would just rot.

350-400