As I mentioned in my resolution post I want to go a month without spending money on anything other than groceries. I want to do it because I think I can and I want to make sure I'm right. I also want to try to consume less. When I was thinking and praying about what areas of my life I need / want to work on, I kept feeling like I needed to simplify. I needed to slow down, spend more time at home and consume less. I want to have a simpler life. I'm hoping I learn that I can really get by without buying so much and I will hopefully think a little harder about the things I do buy in the future.
Ideally I would like to have a very streamlined house with fewer items but the items we have are things we absolutely love and use often. I think this month long 'spending fast' will be the great start to that.
It may not seem like that big of a goal from the outside, but as I started keeping track of the little things I buy, it started adding up. Things like fabric, restaurant meals, clothes for Calder and me, and decorative things for the house.
So, March is that special month. I vow to not spend any money other than groceries, gas, rent and utilities.
I'm actually going to up the ante if you will. I have been spending somewhere between $75 and $100 on groceries every week. That's a lot of money. I haven't been watching what I spend like I should and I don't choose a meal based on the cost. I want to change that. So, for the month of March I will also be spending $50 a week on groceries.
I'll keep you all posted as the month goes on. If you have cheap but tasty recipes, PLEASE send them my way. I'm not even sure where to start with this and I'm grocery shopping on Monday.
Anyone want to join me? It would be a lot of fun to have a 'spending fast' buddy.
Ideally I would like to have a very streamlined house with fewer items but the items we have are things we absolutely love and use often. I think this month long 'spending fast' will be the great start to that.
It may not seem like that big of a goal from the outside, but as I started keeping track of the little things I buy, it started adding up. Things like fabric, restaurant meals, clothes for Calder and me, and decorative things for the house.
So, March is that special month. I vow to not spend any money other than groceries, gas, rent and utilities.
I'm actually going to up the ante if you will. I have been spending somewhere between $75 and $100 on groceries every week. That's a lot of money. I haven't been watching what I spend like I should and I don't choose a meal based on the cost. I want to change that. So, for the month of March I will also be spending $50 a week on groceries.
I'll keep you all posted as the month goes on. If you have cheap but tasty recipes, PLEASE send them my way. I'm not even sure where to start with this and I'm grocery shopping on Monday.
Anyone want to join me? It would be a lot of fun to have a 'spending fast' buddy.
13 comments:
I would be your buddy in many things, but this sounds super hard. And $50 for groceries?! I spend way more than that ... Geez, I've been budgeting hard core since Jan. and it has surprised me what I spend on groceries! And on everything for that matter. Although I have been trying REALLY hard to be more frugal and careful and watching and tracking where our money is going. This is all because of student loans looming and stressing me out! But I shouldn't complain, we're so blessed with such a great job and we're so lucky! So good luck! I will say a little prayer for you that you will make it! I'm sure you will - you're so great at accomplishing your goals. Thanks for your great example. Lovies.
What an adventure! you can use that extra money for **Food storage**! And think of all the left overs that you will get to use up. You can do this. A chicken will make 3 meals when you have a small family. Carlee has saved us $$ by using coupons. It's amazing. Do keep us posted. HUGS and LOVE from the Simpson's
$50 for groceries?! Are your cupboards well stocked already? Our grocery bill seems to be skyrocketing so if you figure out any ways to get it that low, please post them. I'm brainstorming some cheaper meals--Tofu (we've just started eating it this year and we don't even hate it!), baked potatoes, tacos, crockpot stuff, chili, breakfast for dinner, egg bakes. Good luck! You're a creative genius so I know you can do it!
Wow! What an awesome challenge! I hope you can do it and report back how easy it was so that I will be inspired to do it, too :) I hate looking at how much I spend on groceries. Our eating out spending is very little, so I try to rationalize how large my grocery spending was each month. But I really need to pare it down. I like to cook meatless two nights a week by having a bean-filled meal or breakfast for dinner. I also only use one chicken breast or 1/4 lb of ground beef in all of my dishes. I have cut sweets out of my life for the past two weeks and found that I didn't have to buy many extra goodies at the store. Might help if you eat as many sweets as I do/did. Good luck!
Wow!! Congrats on setting such an ambitious goal. Actually, 2 ambitions goals. Are you factoring in non-food products as part of your grocery bill? I find that when I have to replenish laundry soap, shampoo, toilet paper etc that it has a big impact on the over all total. I'm sure you'll do a great job.
Love, Mom Wilcox
Sounds like a good goal! I think it's great you are trying to be more frugal. I try, but I think it would be really hard to spend $50 on groceries a week. Just my fresh produce alone is about $25! But I'm sure you can find cheap meals. Going vegetarian a few meals and using coupons will help. Good luck!
I'm going to be your budget fast buddy. Mostly, I'm just putting it out there so I feel more motivated. I probably already do spend about $50/week on groceries (I'm a coupon nazi), but we go out to eat at least one dinner and 2 or 3 lunches every week, so that's where it's going to kill me (especially since now I have to buy groceries for those meals). And, I think I'm going to have to skip Target altogether this month- that place is too hard for me. However, I'm going to have to make one huge exception- the twins' birthday is this month, so that partay is going to be a separate bill.
I'm so nervous, but it's already been one full day and I did great- I turned down an invite to in-n-out. That's huge!
I just read my comment, and it makes it sound like I'm already awesome at this budgeting thing. That could not be farther from the truth. It's just that groceries are one thing I've already tackled. I am a l w a y s buying random (impulse) clothing items for myself and the twins- at places like Target. I can't leave that place without spending $100, even if I just stopped by for a light bulb. So, this month is perfect for me. I figure if there's something I still want come April, I'll reward myself. Maybe that's not what you're going for, but I'm weak.
Yay! Lauren I am so glad to have a Spending Fast buddy.
I have the same Target problem. Seriously. For the longest time I didn't even think too hard about buying stuff because I knew it would be placed in the 'houshold misc. category' of the budget and not 'Cami's clothes' or 'random crap that Cami's seems to bring home' categories.
Congrats on making it through day 1. If I got invited to In-n-Out today I would have gone. I miss that place so much. Yummy. Good for you! You can do it!
I think this is an excellent idea. I feel like I always spend too much on things that aren't super necessary. I am also really impressed with your grocery goal. Good luck!
I'm in. I am not going to spend money on additional things this month. I have been trying hard to do this lately, and this will be an additional push. Thanks for the motivation!
Awesome! I'm so glad to have you join us Lorraine. It will be much easier with buddies. I can't believe it's only the 4th. It is going to be a long month.
whoa. i just saw this post after i plunked down like $250 at Costco this morning. And I didn't even buy detergent. I did buy diapers, though. It's too late for March, but I want to try this next month, especially since I'll be taking a leave of absence from work when we move to San Diego. Last year, I did something where I didn't buy anything except for produce and dairy for a month so that I would use up stuff in my pantry and freezer. It was super hard, but it felt good. And I haven't done it since. Look forward to your updates!
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