Sure, they&#x27;re non-optional in the sense that you will almost certainly have to pay some money for them. However, I can readily admit that I spend more on housing and transportation than I need to. Food is less clear; I know I can eat cheaper food, but I don&#x27;t want to compromise health. Eating out is rarely for the sake of simply getting food, so I don&#x27;t really count that in the grocery budget. It is entertainment plain and simple which is, by definition, largely optional.