Why do you think budgeting is an issue specifically for frum families any more than any other community?
I take issue with lack of logic in our community in this particular area, they're the gold standard for family life, civility, morality and what not, so it does irks me that we fall behind in that aspect. It's not just with grocery shopping. It's spending on simchas, weddings, brand names, *country* and the like.
I do believe that we have a bigger issue than other communities. The driving reason for that is the tight knit communities we live in so it's monkey see monkey do. Communities in the Bronx aren't copying trends from Palm Beach, but in our circles we live door to door. If cured fish and jerky is the new trend by kiddushim then slowly but surly you'll see it all over. While many aren't falling for the luxuries of others, the majority do feel they need the same comfortable "necessities" the others have.
and here comes Dan's favorite thread