I'm kind of ashamed to admit it, but my food expenses have spiraled out of control. I think it started as soon as I had my first child. I decided we all needed to eat better to live longer, etc. I also began to tell myself it was okay to opt for the convenience of prepared foods (read: chef made in the fancy stores, not boxed and frozen), shopping at one store out of convenience instead of finding the best prices at a few, as well as eating out more due to being to tired to cook, etc. Well over a year later, I took a look at my food bill, and it shocked me. So I asked around to some of my other organic food loving moms to see if any of them had conquered their food bills and I found a lot of them fed a lot more people, still cooking very healthfully, on a lot less. Usually around $100-150/week.
So, this is going to be my goal, similar to this link that was passed on to me, to do a $400 Grocery Challenge. That is, $400 in one month of spending.
I already know this will need to involve:
- Not shopping entirely at Whole Foods
- Planning meals better
- Reusing ingredients in the fridge and cupboards instead of always buying new ones!
- Forcing myself to eat the things in the fridge first instead of dreaming about what else I could buy and make
- Making and packing my husband's lunches
- Not buying any sweets or packaged snack food
- Maaaybe making my own bread? I don't know, I have a hard time figuring out if there are savings in terms of the cost of store bought vs. the time it takes to make the bread yourself
- Not freaking out if I go slightly over
- Eating veggies first. I notice if anything is going to get thrown out in my fridge from going bad, it's usually a vegetable.
I can do this. I pretty much already do.
ReplyDeleteRule #1: Only shop at Super Target. Rule #2: Bring a $100 bill with you grocery shopping. It will break your heart if you get to the checkout and have to fish for change or have to put the hundred back and whip out your debit/credit card. Also, are we taking ALL "groceries" for $400 a month, including vitamins, toilet paper, garbage bags? I got it down to $60 a week all included when I first quit my job. We're at about $120 a week all included now. With about $20 a week saved with coupons and about $15 a week saved with buying store brands. Who said you couldn't eat vegetarian/vaguely healthy on a budget?
ReplyDeletePS Love this post.
ReplyDeleteFood expenses are not really that hard to balance, at least per month. But if you are feeding a whole family, you must always see to it that there are certain points to consider. Buy only the right ones. Or better yet, if you're really out of control, you might as well have to consider hiring a financial advisor.
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