Unpopular opinion: I think spending $100 a week on food for one person is actually too low

Tbh, I hit $75 last week for my total grocery bill and it really made me stop and think. Everyone in these groups seems to aim for that $50 or $60 mark, but I feel like that forces you into a corner of just rice, beans, and frozen veggies. My $75 week let me buy a whole chicken to roast, fresh herbs, and even some cheese. That chicken gave me three dinners and stock for soup. Ngl, I think pushing the budget down too far makes cooking feel like a chore and you miss out on learning how to use better ingredients smartly. Has anyone else found that a slightly higher number, like $70-$80, actually leads to less waste and more enjoyable meals?

3 comments

3 Comments

amy_cooper462mo ago

A food writer argued that a slightly higher grocery budget is an investment in cooking skills.

casey8432mo ago

It also buys you the freedom to fail, which is huge. A cheap cut of meat feels like a crisis if you ruin it, but a nicer one you got on sale? That's practice. You're more likely to try a new technique when the stakes feel lower.

the_lucas1mo ago

Wait, does that mean @amy_cooper46 is right then? That spending a bit more actually pays off in the long run? I've been sitting here wondering if my $75 weeks are just me being bad at budgeting or if it's actually a smarter move. Because when I spend closer to $80 I end up buying things like a bag of shallots or a jar of decent mustard, which last forever and make everything taste better. That cheap life just ends up with me eating bland stuff and then ordering pizza anyway, which totally blows the budget. So is the real issue that the "budget goals" in these groups are just too tight to actually teach you how to cook well?