There’s been times I’ve spent 30-40 dollars for the whole month, much less a week. There’s only one of me (in the past there was a cat too, but she’s now in kitty heaven), but even so, $40 for a whole month is a stretch, but I’ve done it. One set of my relatives (2 person household) gets about $180 a month in food stamps, and their freezers are stacked with food. I must admit to some jealousy, as I scrape by. Actually, now I’m hungry. Am going to forage for food now.
I do notice a HUGE difference when I do the grocery shopping (using lists, coupons, menus, a plan) and when my wife does it (when she’s flying by the seat of her pants, tired, stressed, PMS-ing, hungry, etc.) A huge difference.
Don’t ever walk into a supermarket if you’re hungry.