Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Home ECONOMICS

Have I ever mentioned how much I hate to go grocery shopping? I usually wait until we are down to condiments- literally- and we have to eat out on the way to the grocery store. It's sad. And true. I hate it when they ring up the bill and say, "That will be $220, please." Try not to snort coffee out your nose as you read that. That's the correct amount for a family of 8 for 2 weeks. Yes, it is.
But stop to think about it:
$220/2 weeks= $110 per week
$110/8 people= $14.75 per person, per week

What does that really mean?
It means that I can eat out once at a restaurant that serves it's food on a plate- but I have to go hungry for the rest of the week.
Or I could eat out 3 times at a restaurant that serves it's food in a paper wrapper. I'm still going to be really hungry at the end of the week.
Or, I could eat at home 21 times. And not be hungry at all.

Hmm, maybe $220 isn't so bad after all.

7 comments:

Elena said...

I'm just impressed you can do 2 weeks for that! I think I spend almost that much for one week. Although, I've started couponing, so I'm hoping my totals will start going down. :)

Anonymous said...

Gina - these numbers and this reasoning is most impressive. I also know your children live in a home and not in a restaurant so they don't get to choose their own individual menu for the month. You are doing them a HUGE favor. One day the little darlings will rise up and call you blessed. And that dear young mother will bless your soul in a way you already have a glimpse of.

Kris said...

It is so much better for you to eat at home also. I tend to be a bit of a germ-a-phobe. I can't help but to think of all the nastiness that comes in contact with my food when I eat out. You have so much more control at home!

Trish said...

or you could live in Northern Alaska and not bat an eye at spending at least $220 a week on a family 1/2 that size because:

a) there is no where to eat out

and

b) you chose this crazy adventure.

Perspective.

Keys to the Magic Travel said...

Man alive. I think that we spend close to that each week. For the five of us. Even with all of Michael's cheapness. Maybe I am too stuck on brand names. Maybe it's because the people in my house have hollow legs.

mer@lifeat7000feet said...

I'm usually around $280 every two weeks for a family of five so I'm super impressed that you're closer to $200!

And you know what? I can hardly stand to eat out anymore because of the price tag. We went to California Pizza Kitchen last weekend and spent $52. I wanted to cry. It wasn't even that great.

Yay for you! Wanna share your best tips?

Mama Nut said...

Hey, our family of seven sounds just like your family of eight! Except of course that we have to make a weekly milk run since I couldn't stock that much milk in my fridge to last two weeks. :) Have you ever been to eatathomecooks.com? It has some pretty dang good frugal recipes on her site. Plus also the best biscuits I've ever made in my life. I'm just sayin'....:)