This is a very interesting and topical thread for me. Until recently, since my husband and I work full time and I used to commute 2-2 1/2 hours a day, my dear MIL (who lives with us) would make dinner during the week. She is a simple cook, making alot of preprepared dishes like...... rotisserie chicken (bought that way) or pot roast (bought that way), twice baked potatoes (bought that way), but fresh sauted or steamed vegies, sometimes mashed cauliflower. Not too many salads during the week. She would go shopping once a week to get the things that she would plan to use during the week. This is the only financial contribution she makes to our household expenses. I am not sure what amount she spends. I, on the other hand, cook on the weekends. I spend some of my free time during the evenings dreaming and then planning what menus I will have over the weekend (a lot of the dreaming and inspiration coming from this site) and shop to accommodate those menus. I will invite family and friends to join us (I love to share the food I get to experiment with and create). So, for just the weekend more extravagent menu plans, I know I can spend up to $200.00 for the produce and other food stuffs needed....and not including the wine, spirits, etc. AND I do have a very well stocked pantry! You see where I am heading....We, together, are spending A LOT of money on food alone. And I haven't mentioned the amount of fresh herbs and produce that spoils and needs to be tossed. That is, however, only the first issue. Things are changing. My MIL has been having some health issues and has less energy. She will soon be unable to do any of the shopping or food preparing. Probably, also, unable to contribute anything financially to the household or towards the grocery consumption. SOOOOO....all of the ideas and sharing on this thread has been helpful since I need to rethink and replan for this new era in our lives. I will need to shop, plan and prepare not only for the more extravagant weekend meals (if that is a possibility) but shop, plan and prepare meals daily. I need these cost cutting ideas, suggestions for stretching preparations to include multiple meal plans, and accomplish all of this while not compromising my love of GOOD FOOD. Luckily, I now live closer to where I work, so my commute is significantly less. Thank you to you all for your great ideas!