40% drop in grocery budget

[uummm]

Op great for you! I remember spending well over $1200 a month....Now I am a much more deliberate shopper.

I agree you can't compare to someone else...You don't know WHAT they are buying....
We are a family of 5, (21,17,12) plus 6 cats (they are included in my grocery budget money) and I spend $650 a month and after doing this for several years, having my budget at $25 a month for a year, I am happy with my $650 a month. I have changed what I buy learning just because it is cheap or free doesn't mean I buy it anymore. Just keep on trying and doing the best you can and you will get there.

[prairiewild]

Dont forget that some towns/states have stores that double/triple/stack coupons where others dont. So its really hard to base how good your couponing skills is compared to someone elses. Sometimes its not about what you know as much as it as to what you can do in your stores.

I don't have any stores that really double-well the rainbow will-but only 5 and if you spend $25. I hardly every use that. It's too much trying to hit that $25 in most weeks. Last week I had only 3 to double-2 were $1 and 1 was 0.75 Most of the stuff I did was through my regular grocery and target. It's not easy because I only buy organic milk for the kids and that's a 6-7$ hit each time. Any my spouse loves making these complicated dishes and it throws things into a tizzy! But when things go on sale-like chicken or beef - I do stock up and now I have a good idea on how much I should pay for things-so that helps alot.

Good luck on the couponing it does get easier