random curiosity

[ratcreature]

Poll #4781 the price to feed yourself

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 42

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How much money do you spend on food per week per person? (in an average week, eating your average food, not an exceptional one with a holiday feast or a dinner treat at an for you unusually fancy restaurant or the like)

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less than 20 € (currently exchanged to about 27.50 US$ or so or 17.50 UK£, convert € below accordingly, though I realize the exchange rate vagaries don't reflect local purchasing power for stuff like food necessarily)
4 (9.5%)

20-30 €
11 (26.2%)

30-40 €
11 (26.2%)

40-50 €
3 (7.1%)

50-60 €
5 (11.9%)

60-70 €
1 (2.4%)

70-80 €
2 (4.8%)

90-100 €
3 (7.1%)

100-120 €
2 (4.8%)

120-140 €
0 (0.0%)

140-160 €
0 (0.0%)

160-180 €
0 (0.0%)

180-200 €
0 (0.0%)

200-250 €
0 (0.0%)

250-300 €
0 (0.0%)

more than 300 €
0 (0.0%)

Comments

[saraht]

While I try not to be wasteful, I buy things in bulk when I can, and I do try to take lunch in to work on a regular basis (eating out in my area will kill you), I think buying good-quality food is one of the best investments you can make in yourself and in the health and economic vitality of your community. I buy a lot of food at the farmers' market in season (not cheap), I get most produce and meat from the higher-end store here even though I don't always get organic, and I try to buy cruelty-free meat, dairy, and eggs whenever possible. Last Saturday at the greenmarket, I probably spent twenty-five dollars on: kale, leeks, garlic, sage, rosemary, apples, a few cider donuts, and some wild arugula. I have a weekly grocery budget of $75, but when I eat out I charge it against my entertainment budget, so I know I often go over that.

[saraht]

(However, from past experience, I know I could get by on about $30/week in dire straits, and $50/week with some discomfort.)

[ratcreature]

When I had a bit more money I spent quite a bit of that extra on better food, eating mostly organic for some years. I still feel bad about not buying organic dairy anymore (because I already have dairy guilt anyway, but I always fail as vegan while I have been vegetarian without problems since my late teens), and I do still buy organic eggs, but then I don't eat many eggs anyway. Mostly I buy them for baking and because my rats love having egg every now and then.