I use a formula of 200 pts of food per person...no more and I only buy the food that is on sale. I have five families and three of them are on the second level of remodeling and have all the special things (bbq pit, treadmill, etc). I am having to control my buying urges to get into the final level because I know that will increase their money. I also try to also select people that have jobs in the same room and build that room up as far as I can. I buy the little books that add to their rates, give them the green glove a lot and give them candy or fruit as a reward. I don't have money at the level some of these folks have lol, but I am managing to get the extras after they have worked so hard PLUS all future generations will have a fully loaded house and can concentrate on just making money lol~