Joseph: I agree with you. However, jakob wrote “if a new couple does their weekly food shopping for PACKAGES of food for weekday & shabbos it shouldnt come to be more then approximately $60 a week.”
Even if one cooks and bakes and prepares everything at home, ~$60/week is low. Here is a small shopping list (using Brooklyn prices and having things on sale):
1 packages chicken legs
(4 – 6 per package ~ 5 lbs)” 2.19/LB 10.95
1 lb chicken cutlets
(3 lb package divided)” 3.99/LB 3.99
Gallon milk 5.00
2 bottles soda 1.25/bottle 2.50
8 oz cream cheese 2.99
8 oz butter 2.50
2 dozen eggs .99/dozen 1.98
small rye bread 1.50
5 lb flour 3.00
sugar 4 lb bag 2.00
1 loaf gefilte fish 3.99
2 heads iceberg lettuce
1.29/head 2.58
3 slicing tomatoes
.89/ LB 1.11
3 cucumbers 3/$2 2.00
2 green peppers .99/LB 1.99
Bottle Rashi Wine 4.59
4 cans tuna fish 1.25/can 5.00
30 0z Jar Mayonnaise 3.99
Total 60.66
Notice – no dips, snacks, fruits, cake, spices……..
Yes $60/week is a low figure.