I spend a lot. We budget $275 a week, and there's never any $$$ left at the end of the month This amount also includes household spending on pet supplies/food, cleaning products, personal care products, etc.
Now in my defense, there are six of us, and our kids' ages range from 16 to 20, I am really feeding six adults. We always pack lunches for work/school and we rarely eat out/do take out (as in, only once in the last twelve months!). We lead active lives and like to prioritize our health.
We buy the best quality we can afford, and buy very little processed food. No mac and cheese, no canned soups, no quick side dishes of rice, no juice boxes, no granola bars, no bottled water. I have found that this makes a big difference.
I don't shop around at different places - the store I frequent is very good at price matching other store's sales, and it saves me driving all over the place to save a dollar or two.
I plan out meals for the week based on the protein source that's on sale and/or what I have on hand, then I make a list of what's needed, and I shop according to the list. I rarely divert from this list, unless I find an exceptional deal on something that I know I would have to buy later in the month. When I plan the meals, I try to use my crockpot/slow cooker as much as possible. Lunches are usually leftovers for adults and wraps, raw vegetables, fruit and nuts or cheese for the offspring.
I love the challenge of creating healthy, delicious meals within the spending budget!