Food Consumption Around the World

I love when synchronicity presents itself in my life, and this week with my new found interest in saving money, and also adapting our diet to be gluten and dairy free, this post was sent to me from a friend in America.

The article originally appeared in Time Magazine and you can read it in full here. I found it very enlightening and as I was saying to my friend in relation to eating vegetarian, I'm not an evangelist, I think its more about being respectful about food, and not wasteful. So here's the post (the photos are the work of Peter Menzel Photography) which is what each spends in a week on food:

Italy: The Manzo family of Sicily.
Food expenditure for one week: 214.36 Euros or $260.11

Germany: The Melander family of Bargteheide.
Food expenditure for one week: 375.39 Euros or $500.07.


United States: The Revis family of North Carolina.
Food expenditure for one week $341.98.

Mexico: The Casales family of Cuernavaca.
Food expenditure for one week: 1,862.78 Mexican Pesos or $189.09.

Poland: The Sobczynscy family of Konstancin-Jeziorna.
Food expenditure for one week: 582.48 Zlotys or $151.27.


Egypt: The Ahmed family of Cairo.

Food expenditure for one week: 387.85 Egyptian Pounds or $68.53.

Ecuador: The Ayme family of Tingo.
Food expenditure for one week: $31.55.

Bhutan, Himalayas: The Namgay family of Shingkhey Village
Food expenditure for one week: 224.93 ngultrum or $5.03.

Chad, Africa: The Aboubakar family of Breidjing Camp.

Food expenditure for one week: 685 CFA Francs or $1.23

Because this was an American article, everything is converted to dollars, and unfortunately the UK was not represented. I suspect however, that the average UK family table would look very similar to the US one. Our own expenditure I would say falls somewhere between the Polish family and the Egyptian family in terms of food represented. We spend on average £60.00 per week not including any alcohol, which we try to keep in moderation and to the weekend, so that might come to an additional £15 pounds. Unfortunately I put away this weeks groceries before writing this, so I couldn't be asked to drag it all out and photo it!! I may do so next week just for fun.

I find it very shocking indeed to see how the expenditure pares down when you leave the more westernized countries, how the absolute basics are all that's available. And what's with all the soda in so many places??? I can't stand the stuff!!

Obsessed with Saving!

Yes I seem to be getting obsessed with saving, which isn't a bad thing.. but perhaps its the influence of living in penny-pinching Yorkshire! I know many people who get a bit of a high off shopping, and I can't help but feel that most marketeers know this, and that's why the phrase 'retail therapy' was invented. Its not good therapy if it sends you spiralling into debt. Saving and bargain hunting also provides a similar high and as necessity is the mother of invention as they say, it has been more necessary lately for me to tighten the belt. I'm lowering some regular outgoings in hopes of balancing the need to move and pay a higher rent. If I can cut some costs, then those savings will be applied to the rent. Its a necessary evil.

Thus, I have now cut our phone/broadband monthly bill in half, by switching to TalkTalk. That's not an advert for them, but after checking on most of the leading ones available in my area, they were the cheapest and also held the best customer service ranking. In my endeavors I have found this site, MoneySavingExpert which is packed full of tips and well thought out advice. There's a section on where to look for freebies, some of which will be arriving in my post very soon. Also from this site I discovered TopCashBack which is free to join and you can earn discounts in the form of cash back when you shop through this site. I haven't used it yet, but plan to when I have to order my printer ink, as the company I use is on there. That was one pleasant surprise, there are lots of big name companies participating, so its not a time waster. ASDA and Tesco are on there, and there's a list of free things as well. Its all for the UK only though, sorry if you're reading from somewhere else. It pays to search about on the internet as we can all benefit from some savings!!

Frugal Gifts

I love what Melanie over at Bean Sprouts has written about calculating your hourly wage, and buying gifts and other items. This is something I think about often, and particularly as I consider going 'back to work' options. For me then, it is a case of how much of my life energy do I wish to exchange for money, and how much is it worth versus time away from my children?

Running my own business is the direction I'm heading in but that also takes time, a lot of time, and energy so I'm not too sure just yet. I still want to work with my hands and within the holistic healing field, so training is still on the cards, of course that also requires money.. which is in short supply at the moment (for us anyway!). But then there's Facebook.

Wha?? Yes -well since becoming somewhat addicted to it, and discovering one 'application' after another, the Christmas Tree one has been the most fun by far. It allows you to put up your virtual tree, and send (and receive) free gifts to any of your friends, as many gifts as you want..virtual of course. But what fun, as there are so many to choose from, from ipods to wine baskets, to dates with Johnny Depp. They will automatically open on Christmas Day. And aside from paying for my internet access and electricity, well, I don't have to expend my life energy to choose and share some gifts with friends!