I am so happy I made it through the first week. Honestly, it was hard. I hope this gets easier. How was your week Lauren? Lorraine?
I went to a fabric store yesterday. Playing with fire, I know. I went with a friend of mine to help her pick fabric for a dress that we're making. This dress, actually. It is my favorite Columbus fabric store. They are celebrating their 2 year anniversary and had tons of fabrics 20% to 50% off. That was by far the hardest part of the week.
Groceries
I went grocery shopping for the week on Monday. I took a calculator with me and just dialed in $50 and subtracted each item as I put it in the cart. That was hard when I got to produce, but I just estimated. I ended up spending $33.86! Can you believe it? I was shocked. I tried really hard to use the food already in our cupboards and veggie drawer in the fridge. I think the first week will be the easiest since I have the most food in my cupboards to choose from. To answer Madeline's question, I don't have a super well stocked pantry. In fact, since I knew I would only be in Columbus for a year I purposely didn't stock up. I hate moving food. So, I do have some, but nothing compared to most people.
I needed walnuts for the delish recipe this week, so I went back to the store and impulse bought a box of Cheerios. So, add another $5.34. Final grocery total for the week: $39.20.
I've decided the money can't roll over from week to week. Once the week is over I get a new $50 allowance and that's it. So, it will be harder as the month goes on and my pantry decreases.
Week 1 Menu
Monday: Salmon Pesto (leftover pesto served over Salmon and rice. Delicious, easy and cheap)
Tuesday: Dinner at the Judge's house
Wednesday: Leftover Salmon Pesto
Thursday: Chicken Curry over Rice
Friday: Leftover Chicken Curry
Saturday: Ann's One Pot Potato Soup (I doubled the recipe and froze half for later in the month. This is our favorite soup recipe)
Sunday: Leftover Potato Soup
I'm still looking for cheap but tasty recipes. Please tell me your favorites.
7 comments:
Wow, I'm impressed! I need to learn some better grocery shopping habits myself. I have a few really good cheap soup recipes if you're interested - but I'm not going to go downstairs right now to get them, so if you want them, remind me later :).
I did ok. I did my shopping at Coscto, so I went over. But I did need diapers and that's $40 right there. I also had to get a TB test ($20) for a parent Ed class I'm taking and we grabbed dinner Friday night because we were on our way home from Disneyland (which was free- we have passes) and were too starving to make it all the way home. Other than that, I did well and to be honest, it feels great. I hardly missed Target! I have a couple of leftovers in the freezer and I used one this week, and just pulled another out for tomorrow. I'm on a roll!
Oh, and p.s. I didn't tell Greg that I'm doing this. It's going to be the best surprise I've ever given him. So... it's kinda hard to skip going out to eat altogether. I figure I'm ALWAYS the one to suggest it, so I just need to be one step ahead of him, and it shouldn't be too hard.
Yeah, I can't shop at Costco. I spend $200 per trip and never leave with all the stuff to make a meal.
I love that you are keeping it a surprise for Greg. I bet he'll be thrilled. Jason was pretty excited when I told him my plan.
I'm so impressed! I went on a spending binge this week and thought of you the whole time! I kept telling myself not to buy much but it made me want to buy more. Normally I'm not so impulsive. My new-found sewing hobby is taking its toll on the budget :) And, yes, Kins is getting better with wearing dresses. Perhaps because I put her in them more?!
Way to shop Cami! And Calder is so cute getting so big!
Go Cami & Lauren & Lorraine, you can do it!!
I think this is really cool! I'm jealous - financial self discipline is not our strong suit at the Johnson household. At this point, I'm not sure if I CAN change! (I sound like a drug addict) Keep posting about your success - maybe you can convince me! One cheap/easy meal I do is a yummy spicy chili - pretty simple, but we love the spiciness and it makes enough for a few meals. YOU'RE INSPIRING! :o)
Post a Comment