PSA -Sapphire Reserve with 100K points bonus, LAST CHANCE is Saturday 3/11 at branch...

[purbeast0]

holy crap, how much do you eat? I can easily survive on less than $200 total food cost per month (including eating out) if I want to...basically did it for year. Even had 2 of us on about $300/month total food cost.

I don't really do that so much now, but it's pretty easy to eat well, cheaply, though you have to put some brain power into planning it all out. It gets kind of tiring, haha.

"Groceries" isn't just food. I lump all of our soap, shampoo, detergent, trash bags, paper towels, etc, into groceries since I buy all of that stuff at the grocery store.

If you can "easily" survive on $200/month that includes eating out, then you must be able to get by on very little food.

 

[Svnla]

"Groceries" isn't just food. I lump all of our soap, shampoo, detergent, trash bags, paper towels, etc, into groceries since I buy all of that stuff at the grocery store.

If you can "easily" survive on $200/month that includes eating out, then you must be able to get by on very little food.

I can do $200 per month for groceries (with other items as you mentioned) for myself by cooking at home and by buying items while on sale and stock up, but NOT includes eating out regularly.

 

[deadlyapp]

"Groceries" isn't just food. I lump all of our soap, shampoo, detergent, trash bags, paper towels, etc, into groceries since I buy all of that stuff at the grocery store.

If you can "easily" survive on $200/month that includes eating out, then you must be able to get by on very little food.

$200 budget for groceries for one person is very cheap. My wife and I are near $1000/mo on groceries (any spending at a grocery store or Costco, which we spend about 80% on food). This is however almost always organic, high end meats, vegetables, and almost no processed foods.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

"Groceries" isn't just food. I lump all of our soap, shampoo, detergent, trash bags, paper towels, etc, into groceries since I buy all of that stuff at the grocery store.

If you can "easily" survive on $200/month that includes eating out, then you must be able to get by on very little food.

He's probably talking single costs - not family of 4.

Regardless, $200/month single is easy. It's especially way easier because you don't have to worry about buying excess food because you only have to anticipate and buy what you want and what you like. Vs. Parents that have to buy for themselves, their kids, and their spouse and hopefully they like it.

 

[zinfamous]

holy crap, you people must be incredibly wasteful/buy shitty box food or something. ^As I said, the budget for two was as low as $300, pretty easily...and also like I said, I don't really do this anymore.

Whole chickens are cheap, and one can provide material for almost a dozen meals: either roast the whole chicken, or pressure cook to make stewed chicken (for brunswick stew or other things, and the broth reserved for tons of things). That's a ton of calories for like, $5.

A pork shoulder can feed me for more than a week--not every meal, but most of the meals. Key is to shop on the outside of grocery store. It's cheaper, fresher, actual food. If it comes in a box, it's wasteful (expensive) and terrible for you. ....not that I'm exclusively anti boxed food, but if you do want to see how easy it is to eat "proper" and do it cheaply, then you should avoid it.

It helps to be able to tolerate eating the same/similar meal most of the week. I get that not most people enjoy that, but I like what I cook and can eat it for a while (and yes, I will get sick of it). Also, you people need to be drinking your Metamucil, whether you accept that or not, it's essential for everyone, and is also a great appetite suppression/snack/meal.

I make a vat of rice and beans (black beans; a single 500lb bag--again, if you're buying canned beans, for anything, you are buying garbage and throwing money in the trash when you do that)--with chicken and sausage and smoked turkey legs and the broth that I make myself, and this lasts for about 2 weeks. easy pressure cooker meal. And yeah, that does get old.

I had it down to just under $2 per meal for nearly half of a year. Yes, that's insane, but it's not that difficult. I eat more than a child, so it's absolutely ludicrous to think you'd need to spend 3x more ....of course, I know kids are picky and obnoxious with their taste, so there's not a whole lot you can do there to keep them happy, but kids also eat what they grow up with.

Train them on Pop Tarts at your own peril I guess, lol.

 

[zinfamous]

I can do $200 per month for groceries (with other items as you mentioned) for myself by cooking at home and by buying items while on sale and stock up, but NOT includes eating out regularly.

yeah, you can't eat out regularly on that kind of budget. Average take-out prices are about the cost of 3-4 meals on that other budget. It doesn't work. I was able to eat out about twice per month...and I kinda stopped liking take out food for a while, anyway. Though you do miss "trash food."

 

[purbeast0]

Whole chickens are cheap, and one can provide material for almost a dozen meals: either roast the whole chicken, or pressure cook to make stewed chicken (for brunswick stew or other things, and the broth reserved for tons of things). That's a ton of calories for like, $5.

So you just don't eat much if a whole chicken can provide you almost a dozen meals.

 

[Svnla]

Let see, $200 for 30 days in a month = $6.66 per day or about $2.22 per meals if you eat 3 meals per day or $3.33 per meal if you eat about 2 meals a day like me because I don't like to get up early for breakfast.

It is doable but you have to plan ahead for groceries items on sale and to cook at home. I know I did it because I just look on my BoA credit card statements (I use it exclusively for groceries because of the 2% cash back) and for the last few months, all statements were less than $200/month or so.

For example, I wait for chicken on sale such as $1/lb. for breasts or legs or thighs or $1.5/lb. for pork loin and veggies such as cabbage for $0.50 or less per lb., tomatoes for $1/lb., celery for $1 a large pack, carrots for $1 or less per lb. and so on. Healthy and good for the wallet. I am down to 180 lbs. as of yesterday. I will be happy when I am down to 170-175 lbs. range. I think my perfect weight would be around 165-170 lbs.

 

[zinfamous]

So you just don't eat much if a whole chicken can provide you almost a dozen meals.

huge difference between roasting it (about 3 meals for me alone), and stewing it = tons more meat and almost 3 pints of broth for all sorts of meals. I didn't say--at least I don't think I said--that it is the entirety of x meals, but that it provides for x meals.

The other thing....I definitely don't need to eat as much as I used to/just learned to eat proper portions (e.g: not fatty American amounts of food). So, a good bit less meat/meal that I used to eat. I can eat a half chicken in one meal, but I feel like shit now when I do it.

roasting a chicken over potatoes and carrots leads to a really heavy meal--consider those potatoes are covered in the ~ton of butter and fat roasting from the chicken. So....maybe not the healthiest, but I don't need to eat so much of that.

 

[zinfamous]

Let see, $200 for 30 days in a month = $6.66 per day or about $2.22 per meals if you eat 3 meals per day or $3.33 per meal if you eat about 2 meals a day like me because I don't like to get up early for breakfast.

It is doable but you have to plan ahead for groceries items on sale and to cook at home. I know I did it because I just look on my BoA credit card statements (I use it exclusively for groceries because of the 2% cash back) and for the last few months, all statements were less than $200/month or so.

Yeah, I was really vigilant and kept a spreadsheet that I updated almost every evening with receipts, down to the item, pretty much.

"groceries" = food. anything else I buy at the grocery store isn't food, so it gets tabulated somewhere else. I tend to suck at breakfast: coffee and a banana, sometimes also yogurt and granola, haha, so that helps keep things super cheap.

But I don't really keep up with this anymore. I did that for a about a year and a half, and was really rigorous about it for most of that first year. It was the first time in my life that I really paid attention to spending and it was all just an exercise in discipline. By the way--it's relevant here because that is also when I applied for this credit card in the thread topic (I got the 100k points by Paypaling rent money as "Services"). It worked...at that time, anyway. I don't think they allow much from Paypal now.

My food budget now is pretty terrible, but I retain the habit of keeping an eye on how much I spend on all sorts of things. I still save a ton each month.

 

[purbeast0]

huge difference between roasting it (about 3 meals for me alone), and stewing it = tons more meat and almost 3 pints of broth for all sorts of meals. I didn't say--at least I don't think I said--that it is the entirety of x meals, but that it provides for x meals.

The other thing....I definitely don't need to eat as much as I used to/just learned to eat proper portions (e.g: not fatty American amounts of food). So, a good bit less meat/meal that I used to eat. I can eat a half chicken in one meal, but I feel like shit now when I do it.

roasting a chicken over potatoes and carrots leads to a really heavy meal--consider those potatoes are covered in the ~ton of butter and fat roasting from the chicken. So....maybe not the healthiest, but I don't need to eat so much of that.

I mean I literally could eat a whole rotisserie chicken myself in one or two sittings. I'll get one for dinner and my wife and I finish it easily for one meal.

I'm also not a manlet.

 

[Maxima1]

Let see, $200 for 30 days in a month = $6.66 per day or about $2.22 per meals if you eat 3 meals per day or $3.33 per meal if you eat about 2 meals a day like me because I don't like to get up early for breakfast.

It is doable but you have to plan ahead for groceries items on sale and to cook at home. I know I did it because I just look on my BoA credit card statements (I use it exclusively for groceries because of the 2% cash back) and for the last few months, all statements were less than $200/month or so.

For example, I wait for chicken on sale such as $1/lb. for breasts or legs or thighs or $1.5/lb. for pork loin and veggies such as cabbage for $0.50 or less per lb., tomatoes for $1/lb., celery for $1 a large pack, carrots for $1 or less per lb. and so on. Healthy and good for the wallet. I am down to 180 lbs. as of yesterday. I will be happy when I am down to 170-175 lbs. range. I think my perfect weight would be around 165-170 lbs.

You don't even have to wait on produce prices if you have Middle Eastern stores around. I love getting giant romaine heads 2/$1.

 

[Exterous]

So I just signed up for the United card that you can get 65k points on, expecting to get automatically approved, and I didn't get automatically approved. I wanted to use the card to book a flight shortly but now it will take longer.

Is there any number I can call and talk to someone about why there was a delay that could potentially speed the process up? I called the main Chase number but all they could tell me was the status.

I'm guessing it didn't go through immediately because we just refinanced though.

Try the Chase reconsideration line 1-888-270-2127. Might be you have a lot of outstanding credit with them already and just need to use some of that for the new card. You can also ask if they can expedite shipping. They may or may not do that and if they can it may or may not be free. (varies by company and card and maybe even based on rep)

 

[Exterous]

Also some of you guys have expensive food tastes. Our average weekly grocery shopping trip for 2 is ~$40 with a monthly Sam's Club trip of ~$100 for meat and bulk foods. Lots of fresh fruits and veggies and very light on any processed foods. Granted some of that is from the low food cost in MI but still that's without trying very hard and I'm definitely not a manlet

 

[purbeast0]

Try the Chase reconsideration line 1-888-270-2127. Might be you have a lot of outstanding credit with them already and just need to use some of that for the new card. You can also ask if they can expedite shipping. They may or may not do that and if they can it may or may not be free. (varies by company and card and maybe even based on rep)

Just called and they were closed. I'll call back tomorrow to see if they are open tomorrow.

I don't have any current cards open with Chase right now so I don't think that's it for this time being.

 

[MtnMan]

I pulled up a report on my financial software for Sam's, Costco, and local grocery stores for last year. $400/month for us, including paper products, detergents, etc., etc. We eat good, virtually zero process or canned foods. Fresh or frozen vegetables. We don't waste food, we buy virtually no snack food, chips, etc. No cereals, which seem very overpriced for little to no food value.

 

[zinfamous]

I mean I literally could eat a whole rotisserie chicken myself in one or two sittings. I'll get one for dinner and my wife and I finish it easily for one meal.

I'm also not a manlet.

well yes, you are a beast. I definitely don't exercise as much as I should or do anything physical that requires loads of calories. My calorie load goes to brainwork, I guess, which can be a drain at times.

 

[zinfamous]

You don't even have to wait on produce prices if you have Middle Eastern stores around. I love getting giant romaine heads 2/$1.

the local South/Central American/Asian marts around here are super cheap, and it's also the only place to get any kind of quality produce...with actual choice. Imagine that.

I find food in MD to be horribly expensive and also dogshit quality. Still, that budget was when living here. I bet I could have lived on ~$120 or less per month when living in Berkeley, CA, if I had the same sort of discipline. Food is super cheap there and, of course, of greater quality compared to most of the US (everything else is horribly expensive...but food is both really cheap and very, very good). I consider my area a food desert. It almost is, but maybe not officially. It definitely feels like one, though.

 

[Exterous]

Just called and they were closed. I'll call back tomorrow to see if they are open tomorrow.

I don't have any current cards open with Chase right now so I don't think that's it for this time being.

They might only be open during the week. Maybe 5/24 or application questions? Well anyway good luck

 

[purbeast0]

They might only be open during the week. Maybe 5/24 or application questions? Well anyway good luck

I don't think it's 5/24 because last year when I did that with my wife's application it was denied instantly and I called and they told me that was why. Then a month later it went through fine.

 

[deadlyapp]

We really went off on a tangent here lol but yes if you're eating / stewing whole chickens and eating large amounts of beans and rice, then I can understand why your budget can be so low. Organic chicken breasts are like 8.99/lb at Costco, my wife and I will easily eat an entire pack (usually about 4lb) a week. We usually will do about 1lb of organic beef, also about 9/lb. Eggs are cheap, egg whites a little less so. We rotate our carbs, so sweet potatoes, rice, sometimes bread, etc.

We do about 600/mo at Costco, another 100-150/wk at normal grocery store.

 

[ponyo]

I spend lot on grocery. How much I don't know because I don't keep track or budget. But it's a lot because I enjoy food and buy some expensive stuff. But I'm also a hoarder so I buy if I see a good deal and stock up. So how much I spend doesn't always equal what I eat for that month.

I used my Chase points to book Delta flight to Cancun for May and booked a room at JW Marriott Cancun. It's our 20th wedding anniversary. I wanted to take my wife somewhere and Mexico is about the only international destination that's open right now that doesn't require negative Covid test to enter and is not a hassle to travel to. We're both getting our second vaccine shot next month so we should be good to travel without too much worry. Plus, there's Hermes boutique store in Cancun I can take my wife to which I know my wife will like. So while Cancun wouldn't be my first choice during normal times, it will have to do until the world opens back up.

 

[purbeast0]

I spend lot on grocery. How much I don't know because I don't keep track or budget. But it's a lot because I enjoy food and buy some expensive stuff. But I'm also a hoarder so I buy if I see a good deal and stock up. So how much I spend doesn't always equal what I eat for that month.

I used my Chase points to book Delta flight to Cancun for May and booked a room at JW Marriott Cancun. It's our 20th wedding anniversary. I wanted to take my wife somewhere and Mexico is about the only international destination that's open right now that doesn't require negative Covid test to enter and is not a hassle to travel to. We're both getting our second vaccine shot next month so we should be good to travel without too much worry. Plus, there's Hermes boutique store in Cancun I can take my wife to which I know my wife will like. So while Cancun wouldn't be my first choice during normal times, it will have to do until the world opens back up.

Have you been to Cancun before? It's tons of fun but it's definitely more party centric and definitely super American there.

 

[brianmanahan]

this thread is now about eating lentils

i spend like 400-500$ a month on groceries/eating out for just myself

feel free to mock me

edit: also i have amassed 170k points on my CSR but have absolutely nothing to spend them on because no travel

i decided to keep the CSR this year because the gas credit, doordash credit and passport credit pays for the whole annual fee

 

[purbeast0]

this thread is now about eating lentils

i spend like 400-500$ a month on groceries/eating out for just myself

feel free to mock me

edit: also i have amassed 170k points on my CSR but have absolutely nothing to spend them on because no travel

i decided to keep the CSR this year because the gas credit, doordash credit and passport credit pays for the whole annual fee

We have 185k points in my wife's Southwest RR account and I'm her companion the rest of this year.

In my account I have like 40k (we used points recently to book trip to Puerto Rico in August) and she's my companion the rest of this year. I'm waiting for a decent SW signup deal to happen and I'll get one for myself. That's why I went and signed up to the United card today since the SW ones aren't very good right now.