2011 Grocery Budget Reduction Challenge

**bumplett** · 12-29-2010, 11:30 PM

January - $500 - includes everything; humans, pets, hba, etc.

I loooooove Whole Foods, just can't afford it.

**peanut** · 12-29-2010, 11:43 PM

Originally Posted by madhen

peanut - Mmmm....Korean food...I hope you are getting a taste of some of those care packages!!

Yes I am!

She cooks a Korean meal about once every week, sometimes more. I create my menu plan and then work around her schedule. She's in university and very busy, so it is often a cook-as-she-can arrangement.

**madhen** · 12-30-2010, 11:48 AM

I have decided to incorporate my grocery and pet budget, just to make it easier on myself. That said, my target is going up from $300 to $400 for January. I will not be including hay/pellets/chicken food, but I will be including food for the parrots, finches, fish, bunnies, and dogs.

**momof2boys2005** · 12-30-2010, 03:04 PM

I'm in!

Currently I'm spending easily $600/month (I'm sure more because of quick grabs I do for things like extra milk, cream, bread etc...) and I plan to knock it back to $300/month.

This will cover everything- food, cleaning supplies, paper products, bird food, crab food and soon to be cat food. I think it could be doable and I'm excited to try!!!

Starting February 1st it will only be DS#2 and I at home...DS#1 is already living with other students and the tennant I currently have is moving out Jan 31 and I have no intention of getting another!

**momof2boys2005** · 12-30-2010, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by madhen

I have decided to incorporate my grocery and pet budget, just to make it easier on myself. That said, my target is going up from $300 to $400 for January. I will not be including hay/pellets/chicken food, but I will be including food for the parrots, finches, fish, bunnies, and dogs.

I too have finches and two lovebirds! What kind of parrots do you own...I'm sooooooo jealous!!!!!!!!!

**thesightofoneself** · 12-30-2010, 03:06 PM

i need to lay off the fast food. its killing my budget. i think i might do a no fast food challenge for january.

**madhen** · 12-30-2010, 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by momof2boys2005

I too have finches and two lovebirds! What kind of parrots do you own...I'm sooooooo jealous!!!!!!!!!

I have an African Grey Parrot, four mini-macaws (two yellow-collared and two Hahn's), five budgies, and a mixed aviary of Lady Gouldian, society, owl, zebra, and spice finches.

**Labontet** · 12-30-2010, 04:35 PM

I am going to try to use $100.00 per week to start. This will be for 2 adults. It will definately include HBA and household paper supplies.

I feel so stressed in coming up with an amount because I do not want to fail my goals. I have to just "give it up" and jump in and put one foot in front of the other and TRY. If I do not succeed, I need to quit stressing myself and readjust as needed.

**madhen** · 12-30-2010, 04:45 PM

Originally Posted by thesightofoneself

i need to lay off the fast food. its killing my budget. i think i might do a no fast food challenge for january.

I have a very easy and quick potato recipe, if you need one, tsoo. It uses whole-grain Dijon mustard, so it has a nice bite to it. I'll have to go back and check, but I *think* it is vegan. It is definitely vegetarian.

**mimijolene** · 12-30-2010, 05:02 PM

With my new love for couponing

I hope to be at $300 including HBA and cleaning supplies. Wish me luck!

**peanut** · 12-30-2010, 05:40 PM

Madhen: I had no idea you had that many birds! It must sound lovely at momof2boys2005's and your place.

Nice to hear birds year round.

Mimijolene: wtg on the couponing! Hope it works well for you.

thesightofoneself: {{{Hugs}}} Fast food is a hard addiction to kill. I use nuts and frozen grapes to kill the cravings...and natural popcorn with nothing on it. Though some people prefer spices to nothing at all on their popcorn. I also found setting up a once a week baking day to bake healthy muffins, bread, etc. really helped. When I was rushed or in snack mode I actually had a healthy choice available.

bumplett: I agree...I'm cutting back on organic stuff because frankly, we can't afford it. I also get tired of the song and dance routine they give people. A lot of foods are organic by nature, and don't need any slick advertising campaign and doubling of price because the label 'organic' was slapped on the product. Maple syrup is one of them. I smile every time I see the organic label. Wild blueberries is another. Oh well. If people want to pay double for the labeling that's their choice.

I forgot to say my grocery bill this year will include HBA. We just don't spend enough on that stuff to keep it separate.

**madhen** · 12-30-2010, 05:51 PM

I don't know about lovely. Five large parrots yelling for breakfast doesn't exactly sound melodious.

The finches and budgies do sound cool, though, and I can tell when their automatic lights go on, because they all start to sing at once.

**HappyMama** · 12-30-2010, 06:07 PM

Originally Posted by peanut

M

bumplett: I agree...I'm cutting back on organic stuff because frankly, we can't afford it. I also get tired of the song and dance routine they give people. A lot of foods are organic by nature, and don't need any slick advertising campaign and doubling of price because the label 'organic' was slapped on the product. Maple syrup is one of them. I smile every time I see the organic label. Wild blueberries is another. Oh well. If people want to pay double for the labeling that's their choice.

I forgot to say my grocery bill this year will include HBA. We just don't spend enough on that stuff to keep it separate.

Hi Peanut,

I know you are in Canada, not sure if our laws are the same but just thought I would mention about maple syrup. If some buy organic here it usually is because many of certified organic farms still have to adhere to stricter regulations concerning lead in equipment, types of filtering agents, and bans on chemical defoamers. Many producers use chemical defoamers in their syrup , or take barrels of unsellable maple syrup and mix it with enough of good to make it be able to pass to sell. If they use it for health ( Maple syrup B), they don't want that in there. I buy from a farmer I can trust and don't always buy organic just wanted to address in case any might be interested.

I am in for 500.00 a month for 4, this is a good amount for me to stock up with and buy most of my organics etc ( I can buy in bulk usually for pennies on the dollar), as well as supplies for my soaps, teas , pet food .

**ladybug96** · 12-30-2010, 08:36 PM

Originally Posted by krbshappy71

Isn't there anywhere else nearby to get the groceries? Or do you just prefer the one-stop shopping of Target? I'm in Loveland, I use King Soopers for groceries and Target for household. Sometimes dollar store has good deals too on both food and stuff.

You know where I'd love to blow my budget? Whole Foods....man its a good thing we don't have a Whole Foods in Loveland yet.

I NEVER went to Target before my son was born but for some reason we just end up there now. We have a King Soopers and Safeway in Brighton that we used to go to all the time and I was so good with my list and coupons. I just need to get better and stay away from Target - I don't need any household stuff for a while - its not in the budget!

**peanut** · 12-30-2010, 09:18 PM

Happy Mama: I guess 'organic' does mean something to Americans then. Here we have very strict regulations on lead in anything related to food. It just is not allowed. Maple syrup here comes straight from the tree, collected in stainless steel pails. It's filtered. But when I went to see it made it had nothing chemical added to it. Just pure maple syrup. Mind you, I always buy "Pure 100%" maple syrup. Otherwise they can add corn syrup to it to extend it.