Wednesday, April 13, 2011

goals, part 1

So I totaled up our grocery store expenditures from March 1 through yesterday, to see how we're doing. Frankly, there's plenty of room for growth!  I am reading all of Money Saving Mom's posts about shopping at CVS to try to learn how to score toiletries for free, because I do include toiletries and diapers and such in my grocery budget.  So learning to reduce my costs on those items leaves more room for food!

Some things that HAVE gone well this past month: I discovered Amazon's Subscribe and Save program.  I am absolutely thrilled with the deals I got on Luvs diapers, Pampers baby wipes, and Nutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, 15-Ounce Tubs (Pack of 2). Angel Food Ministries continues to be a huge help to our efforts to keep our grocery bill in check.  Our local farmers' market starts up in May, and my fabulous SIL has inspired me to check it out.  I'm definitely excited about that.  I have a rain check to score a great deal on whole wheat pasta at Kroger as soon as they restock.
 
Our downfall?  We eat out way. Too. Much.  When I am tired, when my head hurts, when I don't feel good, that ends up being an easy (but expensive!) option!  My husband is far too understanding and sweet for our own good!  I'm trying to come up with better back-up plans.  This is going to be absolutely crucial for us.

I am also using a book I got for Christmas to develop a "migraine wellness plan." I'll post more about that  as I get the kinks worked out.  However, if you happen to be a fellow headache sufferer, the book is The Migraine Brain: Your Breakthrough Guide to Fewer Headaches, Better Health.

I read on another blog that the USDA or some other such group estimates that a family of four will spend $500 a month if they are following a "thrifty" plan.  If I understand correctly, this is JUST the cost of food at home--I don't think it includes toiletries or eating out.  I am pleased to say we spend WAY less that that.

I did have a "creative cuisinery" moment yesterday that I am quite proud of.  I needed to go grocery shopping, but it just didn't happen.  So I was frantically searching for something we could have for supper.  I had no flour, no milk, none of my usual go-to items.  But I found a recipe for "Kusherie" in my More-With-Less Cookbook (World Community Cookbook) (highly recommend it, by the way).  It's an Egyptian lentils and rice dish.  It turned out great (Sarah especially loved it). So there's hope that I can improve as time goes on.

For the record, we spent $279 total on groceries, diapers, toiletries, etc. from Mar. 1 through Apr. 7.  That averages out to about $69.75 per week.  I would actually be very pleased with that total if it weren't for the eating out that we did on top of it!  So here's to making improvements next month.

P.S. In the interest of full disclosure, the links are affiliate links.  If you click the link and end up purchasing the item, I will receive a small kickback.  And lest you think that I'm suddenly going to start cluttering up the blog with affiliate links, never fear.  I will only link to things I really and truly love, and it will be rare.  This is probably the only time you will see three links in one post; I was mainly trying to get things set up and make sure it was working properly.

3 comments:

Tara said...

Thought you'd want to know that the coconut oil link isn't working. I am interested in checking that out though and would love for you to get a kickback, so I hope you can get it to work later. :)

I think you're doing great on your goals! I need to check out CVS too if there is a way to get free toiletries! Thanks for the info :)

Unknown said...

Rats! I've had such a hard time getting it set up and working, and I thought I'd FINALLY gotten it figured out! :-p Guess not, though. Thanks for telling me--I'll have Nelson look at it tomorrow.

(The coconut oil is SO GOOD. Incredible scent of fresh coconuts, It beats the organic expeller-pressed oil I bought at our local health food store!)

Unknown said...

I *think* the links should be working now!