Making progress on groceries, spending , etc......finally!

**acox68** · 01-24-2010, 07:49 PM

Well, I've been doing better with the grocery expenses....not GREAT, but better. We used to spend around $100 per week on groceries just for the two of us and the past few weeks I've spent around $55-65. It's a GREAT improvement though...I can remember spending that much on one meal with our spendthrift friends a few months ago! So, yay on the improvement!

We both go to school.....DH goes to school full time and works his computer/network business on the side. I work full time and go to school on Tuesdays/Wednesdays from 6-10 p.m.

We used to make most things from scratch when DH wasn't in school and didn't have a job, but now that our schedules are hectic, it is harder to do so. So, that is probably why our grocery bill is a bit high...we do make meals on the weekends and try to make enough for the week so we don't have to eat too much in the way of ready-made foods.

Also, my allowance money is stretching further which is great. DH gives me $20 a week and I can use that for whatever. The first two weeks, I spent it all. However, last week I had $5 left over! I'm going to try and save up my money so I can go to a nice consignment shop or get in on a good sale or clearance items at Lane Bryant (I wear a size 22 pants and 18/20 blouse, so it's hard to find things that look good on me).

I can't say it's been EASY per se because I was used to spending $ on whatever I wanted. That would have made us lose the house though. I can say that I feel proud of myself though and feel better about myself. Being a spendthrift didn't make me ANY happier in life.

The one thing that has helped the most is planning our meals out for the week.....lunch and dinner mostly because breakfast is easy to figure out....we just each fend for ourselves for breakfast. Anyway, we have been doing this faithfully for about a month and it's become a good habit. We don't always stick to it 100%....some days we might have to improvise or move things around, but it's there as a guideline and we usually stick to it. I base my grocery list around what we need to make the meals for the week, breakfast items, a few treats, and other sundries.

I'm so glad that things are improving for the better. My goal is to have all credit cards paid for and no debts before I get done with school. It is TOTALLY doable!!! Then I'll just have my student loans to pay and by that time the house should be paid down a great deal.

OK, sorry for rambling.......just wanted to share what was going well for me. Thank you for listening!

Andrea

**rowdy35** · 01-24-2010, 08:34 PM

awesome job Andrea !! I am trying to cut back on grocery spending too !!

do you ever use a crock pot? You can buy cheaper cuts of meat and make stew or soup in it while you are at work the food cooks. I find it's a big time saver for my busy schedule and also saves money too.

**Imarachne** · 01-24-2010, 08:34 PM

Thats great--baby steps will add up. Good for you ! I'm taking those same baby steps !

**jas** · 01-24-2010, 08:50 PM

Doing great keep it up!

**Debbie-cat** · 01-24-2010, 09:11 PM

Great job! Keep it up!

**ruderring** · 01-24-2010, 09:23 PM

Keep it up you can do it!!! You have a great attitude and that's a huge part of it.

**NikoSan999** · 01-24-2010, 10:01 PM

Congratulations and good luck. Sounds like you are getting a handle on getting things together. Best wishes.

**Vanilla** · 01-24-2010, 10:09 PM

That's very encouraging.

**acox68** · 01-24-2010, 10:13 PM

Thank you all for your kindness and support. It's been a bumpy road with finances all my life.....not because I never made money (I've worked since I was 13), but because I didn't know how to handle it, I guess.

My mom used to always encourage me as a teenager to not spend every last cent of my hard-earned money on frivalous things. Now that she has been gone for 2 years, I can really see where self-reliance and self-sufficiency are SO important....and how she was right. I just didn't want to listen.

You all are so wonderful....I want to do even better without making myself feel deprived. I'm finding that is a fine line to walk.

(((HUGS))) back at you ALL!!!

Andrea

**tervsforme** · 01-24-2010, 10:42 PM

Great job! Every small step helps. You'll do well with that great attitude!

**frugalfranny** · 01-24-2010, 11:57 PM

Sounds like you are doing great! Keep up the good work!

Cook lots at one time and use your freezer to freeze items for later use.

**shoiji** · 01-25-2010, 12:36 PM

You are doing great. Pretty soon not only will it become a habit, but you will be wondering about why people spend so much money on certain things.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 01-26-2010, 06:57 PM

I'd say that you're doing wonderfully! Any improvement, no matter how small it may seem, is better than no improvement at all.

We still hit the bumps in the road, but now the bumps are extremely noticeable and very far in-between. We also try harder the next time and stick with is as much as possible.

I think you're doing awesome.