I'm having this discussion at home right now. Kids grown just 2 of us but I'm asking the wife "is there way way to do this cheaper?" for example don't buy brownies buy the mix and bake 'em at home, same with other things that can be made from scratch. Scratch cooking is better health wise because you control what goes in, its just that people have become lazy don't want to cook. we both work but on the weekends things can be made. It has always been either you have time or money if you have time do things the long way its cheaper. The way to survive economic hard times is to change habits. I can always revrt to drinking cheap beer when I have to and I have a few recommendations, Yuengling Lager and Hamm's, but thats as cheap as Ill go LOL!
