First of all, congrats on the credit card bill...I am constantly struggling with that one.

It is okay to feel down and out....let yourself feel that then get back up and dust of those dancing shoes!

Sorry to hear you are so down. Hope the counselor gets through to your husband, this is alot for one person to have on their shoulders.
Chin up and this is your blog, you can be however you want on it. Know there we are there for you.
Anne

Firstly, I wish the consellor had thumped your husband! I am so sorry you are having to cope with the stress and anxiety virtually on your own. As for the grocery budget, I can't help there, we spend over $1,400 a month on groceries, for a family of 7 ! Amazing, but true.

Hi Hopeful,
It sucks that you are going through so much right now.
I feel the same way sometimes when it comes to writing in my own blog, so I can definitely relate.
Things have to get better soon. I just know they will!

PS. I spend about $75 - $100 a week on food for my husband and me so that's about $300-$400 a month for 2 adults. And I usually cut coupons and go to Costco or something like that to save some money.

Hi Hopeful,
It sucks that you are going through so much right now.
I feel the same way sometimes when it comes to writing in my own blog, so I can definitely relate.
Things have to get better soon. I just know they will!

PS. I spend about $75 - $100 a week on food for my husband and me so that's about $300-$400 a month for 2 adults. And I usually cut coupons and go to Costco or something like that to save some money.

I must eat a lot because I spend about $325 a month on food for a family of one. I even shop the sales and occasionally coupon too. Those are Indiana prices. I don't know how much more expensive food is in New Jersey.

I'm a long time reader delurking to say that grocery thing is really hard to gauge. I spend $400+ for one person, but I'm not a coupon cutter, I buy a lot of organic food, and I tend to shop where it's easy to park over where the prices are lower. $550 for 3 sounds reasonable to me.

Like Anne said, this is your blog and you should write what you want!

When my step-daughter lived with us we probably spent about $560 a month...between 130-140 a week. Now, that its just the 2 of us we spend about $120-100.

Keep in mind its not just food..its toiletries, cleaners, paper products. Keep your eyes open at Pharmacy circulars. They usually have great deals on toilet paper and paper towel and sometimes even coffee. I clip coupons and try to shop at cheaper stores..Market Basket and Hannafords. Before we owned a house....I didn't think twice about spending! Scary!

Things will get better. Try and stay positive!

I really enjoy this blog - but am sorry about your troubles. Like PastaQueen, I spend about $320-350 a month for a family of one - and like PastaQueen, on Indiana prices! I'm going to get in trouble for saying this, but if I were in your shoes I would consider not feeding my husband. You might consider buying food just for yourself and your child, and tell your husband that he who doesn't work doesn't eat!

Thanks all,
That was really helpful.

Holy crap Ann, that cracked me up! Because that's exactly what I told him! I seriously did tell him we have to let our daughter eat first and operate as though we can barely eat the minimal.

Too funny!

Hey- I am for about $100/week for groceries for 2 adults, and in that figure we're talking A LOT of meat. My husband only eats meat, basically. I shop sales, and stock up when things are lower priced. I buy the big trays of meat and freeze remaining portions. We don't eat a lot of prepared foods (no frozen dinners etc). I got really facista on our grocery budget last year when I realized that ends were not meeting and have since relaxed a little. You shouldn't focus on what's "normal" for others, nor should you drive yourself crazy to save 25 cents. But do keep in mind that each 25 cents adds up. Some strategies could include making a specific list and only shopping by it (and a lot of grocery stores post their sale prices online, so you can find the best prices that way).