Hmm... it's been a month since I've even checked in here. I became quickly overwhelmed by way too many ideas and changes at one time.
So, here's to a fresh, new start. Still sticking with the same plans, but staying better focused and in charge of my goals.
I'm currently behind (oh so behind) on my cleaning, behind on grocery shopping, and, quite obviously, on blogging. The next post will be much more positive and focused; at least, that's the plan!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Groceries at Jewel
I did a really lousy job at Jewel yesterday, but I used what coupons I had to get the basics I needed for meals this week, and then some.
Dannon yogurt was on sale, plus I had coupons, so I stocked up ($.34/cup, not great by any means, but the best I could do at the time.) Typically I don't even buy the stuff (high fructose corn syrup is on our no-no list.) But sometimes I need something quick and easy to give the kids (and myself), and now the our little guy is eating mostly solids, I wanted something easy to feed him for breakfast. Hopefully I'll be making all our yogurt soon, and we'll just be having smoothies each morning. Until I can find a good price on frozen fruit, that's been put on hold.
Altogether, my grocery bill was lousy... $75. I felt like throwing up when I left; hopefully I am done shopping for awhile, except for stockup items, a few basics that I still forgot (like skewers for our shish-ka-bobs), and the items that go bad/run out easily. Next week's headliner will be pork, so I'm already trying to start meal planning for that one.
Total Grocery Budget Left: $2304.75
Dannon yogurt was on sale, plus I had coupons, so I stocked up ($.34/cup, not great by any means, but the best I could do at the time.) Typically I don't even buy the stuff (high fructose corn syrup is on our no-no list.) But sometimes I need something quick and easy to give the kids (and myself), and now the our little guy is eating mostly solids, I wanted something easy to feed him for breakfast. Hopefully I'll be making all our yogurt soon, and we'll just be having smoothies each morning. Until I can find a good price on frozen fruit, that's been put on hold.
Altogether, my grocery bill was lousy... $75. I felt like throwing up when I left; hopefully I am done shopping for awhile, except for stockup items, a few basics that I still forgot (like skewers for our shish-ka-bobs), and the items that go bad/run out easily. Next week's headliner will be pork, so I'm already trying to start meal planning for that one.
Total Grocery Budget Left: $2304.75
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Meals for Week of Jan. 4th
Here's the dinner menu for the week. I don't use days because when I do, it always seems to get screwed up somehow (sick kid, late hubby, etc.) Instead, I just plan certain meals that we will be eating over the course of 5 dinners.
Our Chicken Roaster that I made this evening will serve as the meat in these meals. Meat is used sparingly, but if I run out (or realize we can't eat the one I overcooked), I will stop by the local store and pick up a pre-cooked one for about $5.
Meal 1: Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup (using Rachael Ray's Chicken Noodle Hold the Soup recipe, but my husband prefers it with broth after all.) Side: loaf of homemade bread.
Meal 2: Chicken Tostadas I've successfully made tortillas in the past, but think I may need to purchase shells in order to make these. Side: Tortilla chips and guacamole (my tot refuses to eat most veggies but loves guacamole, so I like to offer it to him when I can.)
Meal 3: Cranberry Pear Chicken over Fettucini (I'm modifying a Weight Watchers recipe to include pasta to make it more filling.) Side of frozen veggies.
Meal 4: Grilled Chicken and Veggie Kabobs with Tzatziki sauce (did I spell that right?) Side of homemade pita crisps.
Meal 5: Chicken Pot Pie chicken, carrots, peas, celery, potatoes, and onions inside a tasty crust should make a nice, filling meal, with no need for a side. Dessert: Jello!
Why only 5 meals instead of 7? I do my the majority of my grocery shopping on Tuesdays, so Sunday and Monday nights are usually quick, easy dinners. Either we throw in a pizza, make ramen noodles, or have leftovers (which is very seldom.) Maybe someday I'll become better at planning ahead, but at this point in time I can only handle planning 5 dinners at a time, so that's what I do.
Our Chicken Roaster that I made this evening will serve as the meat in these meals. Meat is used sparingly, but if I run out (or realize we can't eat the one I overcooked), I will stop by the local store and pick up a pre-cooked one for about $5.
Meal 1: Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup (using Rachael Ray's Chicken Noodle Hold the Soup recipe, but my husband prefers it with broth after all.) Side: loaf of homemade bread.
Meal 2: Chicken Tostadas I've successfully made tortillas in the past, but think I may need to purchase shells in order to make these. Side: Tortilla chips and guacamole (my tot refuses to eat most veggies but loves guacamole, so I like to offer it to him when I can.)
Meal 3: Cranberry Pear Chicken over Fettucini (I'm modifying a Weight Watchers recipe to include pasta to make it more filling.) Side of frozen veggies.
Meal 4: Grilled Chicken and Veggie Kabobs with Tzatziki sauce (did I spell that right?) Side of homemade pita crisps.
Meal 5: Chicken Pot Pie chicken, carrots, peas, celery, potatoes, and onions inside a tasty crust should make a nice, filling meal, with no need for a side. Dessert: Jello!
Why only 5 meals instead of 7? I do my the majority of my grocery shopping on Tuesdays, so Sunday and Monday nights are usually quick, easy dinners. Either we throw in a pizza, make ramen noodles, or have leftovers (which is very seldom.) Maybe someday I'll become better at planning ahead, but at this point in time I can only handle planning 5 dinners at a time, so that's what I do.
Eating on a Budget
I've decided the goal for 2010 will be to stay under $2500 for our family food budget. This basically gives us $200/month, or $50 per week for groceries (including baby formula), plus an extra $100 to spread throughout the months. I already know the most difficult part will be not wasting money when traveling, as we often pick up fast food for the kids and ourselves when we visit family or do mini-outings. Another obstacle is convincing my husband to stay within the plan, which means no more eating out during work. Still, I think with careful planning we'll be able to accomplish our goal.
Here's an example of how quickly the money can go, though.
Starting budget: $2500
Jan. 4th: returned from vacation, ordered pizza and wings for dinner: $36.50
Jan. 5th: Walgreens for breakfast items (hadn't bought groceries yet after returning from vacation): $10.15
Jan. 5th: J is sick, needs few items (apple juice, etc.): $15 (receipt was higher, but other items were purchased)
So before even doing grocery shopping, I'm already down $61 and change.
SO... grocery shopping began tonight. I hit Target for a few misc. items that I had coupons for (no food, but I got 5 Buddies soaps for $.03 overage!) I did buy formula, though, so that is $13.60 (give or take pennies.)
Then I headed to Dominick's. The best deal I had was the Nabisco deal they have going on right now; it's buy crackers in sets of 5, receive $5 off, so the final price is $1/box (except Ritz, which are $2/box.) However, a while back I had come across a great Nabisco coupon, which was buy 4, get $3 off. My final cost ended up being $5 for 15 boxes of Triscuits, Wheat Thins, and Ritz (just one box, since the price was higher, but I know the kids'll be happy.) Can't complain at 33 cents a box! I also picked up Cheerios at a good price, milk, eggs, veggies, some produce, and a few other items. My initial receipt total was $102, and with coupons it ended up at just over $44. Not the most perfect, but for someone just getting back into the game after a year off, I was very pleased. I had to take the truck, as our garage door broke yesterday, so I didn't have room for the remainder of my shopping. Tomorrow I plan to hit Walgreen's and Jewel (for the actual items on this week's meal plan.) I made a chicken roaster today, forgot it was in the oven, and overcooked it by a good 40 minutes at least. All dinners this week are based on the chicken, so I'm hoping it isn't too dried out! Otherwise, I may be forking over a few extra dollars for a new chicken in order to get dinners accomplished!
Total Budget Available: $2379.75
Here's an example of how quickly the money can go, though.
Starting budget: $2500
Jan. 4th: returned from vacation, ordered pizza and wings for dinner: $36.50
Jan. 5th: Walgreens for breakfast items (hadn't bought groceries yet after returning from vacation): $10.15
Jan. 5th: J is sick, needs few items (apple juice, etc.): $15 (receipt was higher, but other items were purchased)
So before even doing grocery shopping, I'm already down $61 and change.
SO... grocery shopping began tonight. I hit Target for a few misc. items that I had coupons for (no food, but I got 5 Buddies soaps for $.03 overage!) I did buy formula, though, so that is $13.60 (give or take pennies.)
Then I headed to Dominick's. The best deal I had was the Nabisco deal they have going on right now; it's buy crackers in sets of 5, receive $5 off, so the final price is $1/box (except Ritz, which are $2/box.) However, a while back I had come across a great Nabisco coupon, which was buy 4, get $3 off. My final cost ended up being $5 for 15 boxes of Triscuits, Wheat Thins, and Ritz (just one box, since the price was higher, but I know the kids'll be happy.) Can't complain at 33 cents a box! I also picked up Cheerios at a good price, milk, eggs, veggies, some produce, and a few other items. My initial receipt total was $102, and with coupons it ended up at just over $44. Not the most perfect, but for someone just getting back into the game after a year off, I was very pleased. I had to take the truck, as our garage door broke yesterday, so I didn't have room for the remainder of my shopping. Tomorrow I plan to hit Walgreen's and Jewel (for the actual items on this week's meal plan.) I made a chicken roaster today, forgot it was in the oven, and overcooked it by a good 40 minutes at least. All dinners this week are based on the chicken, so I'm hoping it isn't too dried out! Otherwise, I may be forking over a few extra dollars for a new chicken in order to get dinners accomplished!
Total Budget Available: $2379.75
Monday, December 28, 2009
Dave's In Charge: Baby Steps 0-2
We read Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover a year ago (well, probably even long than that), but we are only now at a point where we are really ready to commit. Here are the steps we are beginning with. Step 0.1 seems to be the biggest hurdle of all; just tonight, as I was driving and realized I was out of gas, it was only because I didn't have a credit card available that I didn't stop and charge a fill up. It was a very short distance trip, but one that we won't be having to pay back with interest!
Expanded Baby Steps 0-2
Pre-step 1:
0.1 Commit to never borrow again (maybe for a house, but that is all.)
0.2 Get on same page as spouse
0.3 Do a written budget
0.4 Temporarily stop retirement contributions
0.5 Get current on the basics: Food, Shelter, Utilities, Basic Transportation
0.6 Get rid of any toys that will keep from completing snowball in 12 months.
0.7 Cut lifestyle luxuries (extra phone, internet, cable, etc.) if they prevent from reaching EF $1000 within 3 months.
0.8 Get current on all bills.
Once those are completed:
1. Save $1000 baby emergency fund.
1. Chop up credit cards.
1. Get health and life insurance for anyone earning living income.
1. Get rid of car payment that cannot be paid off within 24 months.
1. Raise insurance deductibles if possible. Go with minimal required coverage.
1. Make a will.
1. Get long-term disability insurance.
Then:
2. Do debt snowball; pay off debt, one at a time, in order least to greatest.
2. Take a vacation only using cash (no EF.)
Just like a diet, it's really easy to find excuses and reasons to not make this work. Instead, we are striving to challenge ourselves to really take charge of our own lives. Dave backs his advice with biblical reasoning; God's Word has a multitude of verses that talk about His views on finances, debt, and borrowing. Basically, it comes down to us no longer wanting to be slaves to the lender. (Check out Proverbs 22:7 if you aren't sure what I'm talking about.)
With that in mind, we are doing all it takes to make 2010 our turnaround year. And as my goal to learn to be a diligent housewife, one of my wifely duties is to learn to properly manage our finances. What about you? Where do you stand financially? Are you a slave to the lender as well? Do you reach for the credit card in order to put gas in the vehicle, or have you already committed to taking the short distance route in order to remain the commander of your own money?
Expanded Baby Steps 0-2
Pre-step 1:
0.1 Commit to never borrow again (maybe for a house, but that is all.)
0.2 Get on same page as spouse
0.3 Do a written budget
0.4 Temporarily stop retirement contributions
0.5 Get current on the basics: Food, Shelter, Utilities, Basic Transportation
0.6 Get rid of any toys that will keep from completing snowball in 12 months.
0.7 Cut lifestyle luxuries (extra phone, internet, cable, etc.) if they prevent from reaching EF $1000 within 3 months.
0.8 Get current on all bills.
Once those are completed:
1. Save $1000 baby emergency fund.
1. Chop up credit cards.
1. Get health and life insurance for anyone earning living income.
1. Get rid of car payment that cannot be paid off within 24 months.
1. Raise insurance deductibles if possible. Go with minimal required coverage.
1. Make a will.
1. Get long-term disability insurance.
Then:
2. Do debt snowball; pay off debt, one at a time, in order least to greatest.
2. Take a vacation only using cash (no EF.)
Just like a diet, it's really easy to find excuses and reasons to not make this work. Instead, we are striving to challenge ourselves to really take charge of our own lives. Dave backs his advice with biblical reasoning; God's Word has a multitude of verses that talk about His views on finances, debt, and borrowing. Basically, it comes down to us no longer wanting to be slaves to the lender. (Check out Proverbs 22:7 if you aren't sure what I'm talking about.)
With that in mind, we are doing all it takes to make 2010 our turnaround year. And as my goal to learn to be a diligent housewife, one of my wifely duties is to learn to properly manage our finances. What about you? Where do you stand financially? Are you a slave to the lender as well? Do you reach for the credit card in order to put gas in the vehicle, or have you already committed to taking the short distance route in order to remain the commander of your own money?
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