Is $50 a week realistic for 2 adults?

**Nantahala** · 12-11-2007, 06:18 AM

I am doing January's budget and since my student loans come due at the end of the month, our current budget needs to be reworked quite a bit (or lack of budget is most truthful). I am thinking $200 a month for food (cats and household are a different category) is plenty but DH and my mother balked - they think it's too low.

What do you all think? I have no doubt that I can $200 a month work if we don't eat out much (if at all) and I OAWC on the weekends like I did before the move.

**Holly** · 12-11-2007, 06:54 AM

I plan $50.00 a week this year for 4.
I see no problem at all for 2.

**pip** · 12-11-2007, 08:44 AM

I think it's very do-able. I have found the grocery area a great place to save on.

**McD** · 12-11-2007, 08:53 AM

It's doable. My dad used to feed a family of 6 for like 50 dollars a week by using coupons, shopping sales, using up leftovers in dinner, etc.

**nodmicks** · 12-11-2007, 09:12 AM

I think it is doable. We usually around $80 for 4 people. Since 3 are adult sized (ok Ds is 14 but he is 6ft1 and 190 lbs) and 1 eleven years old I could easily see spend 30 less a week (so your 50) for 2 people.

**LexTysMommy** · 12-11-2007, 09:44 AM

I think $50 is very do able. Probably be less if you cooked frugally and used less meat etc. I would say you could do $150 for a few months and that is without a stockpile. Good luck!

**FrugalMomof3** · 12-11-2007, 10:27 AM

It's doable for sure! I manage on $75 a month for a family of 4 right now. Dont forget there are also food banks and stuff like that around just in case.

**annymoll** · 12-11-2007, 10:38 AM

We are a family of two. We have 9 to 11 servings of veggies and fruit daily, preferably fresh. Our meat is farm raised. As much as possible we have organic or home grown. I cannot do 50 weekly.

**MarshHen** · 12-11-2007, 10:50 AM

Oh yes, it's very do-able. Go online and find frugal recipes that you both will like and make your shopping lists around those recipes. Casseroles are a good bet and soups and stews are wonderful on a tight budget. Use coupons, shop sales and use up your leftovers, and I think you will be amazed that you can probably even do with less than $50 and eat very well. Maybe try to work a meal out in the budget once in a while so you and dh can feel like you are splurging a bit and not feel deprived. Don't forget to try recipes that will allow you and dh to take lunches to work too, cause that will save you alot of money.

I would consider it a challenge to show dh and mom just how frugal you can be.

**Tango** · 12-11-2007, 11:00 AM

I think it's possible. I am also on a tight buget as of January and will be trying to do $50 a week for 2 adults and 2 cats plus household supplies. I'm sure I'll have to spend more time planning and looking for deals but I intend to make it work.

**favesis37** · 12-11-2007, 11:05 AM

we do 75.00 for 3 adults, 2 dogs, 1 cat, and all the paper and cleaning goods. let us know!

**quiltingmommy** · 12-11-2007, 11:06 AM

Except for the occasional month, my grocery budget is 200 for DH, DS and I. every once in a while I blow it. DS only eats raw vegetables, pasta and dairy with occasional meat - although he could live on chili!. DH and I eat just about anything.
Every now and then I blow the budget by 40 or so due to sales I can't pass up that I stockpile...whole perdue chix at .49/# or spaghettios at 3 or 4/$1, etc.
MarshHen is right, soups and stews go very far! we are having hm chix soup tonight. I bought a perdue for 2.56, roasted it Sunday, had leftovers for lunch yesterday, making soup tonight and may have enough meat left over for a small chix pot pie for the freezer.
Is is certainly doable although my dm asked me once what my budget was and she thought I meant that was for the week! she was shocked when I told her and her response was "but you eat so well and healthy and your freezers are full!"
It can be done! watch sales, cut coupons, it takes a few extra minutes, but it can be done!

**Jamauk** · 12-11-2007, 11:06 AM

I, too, am working on getting my grocery budget down. But I know it can be done and I plan to get our groceries (including the food DH needs to take on his trips with him) down to about $300 (DH, Me & 2 little guys).

Good Luck!