grocery envelope?

**Russ** · 07-12-2010, 08:37 AM

What all is included in the grocery envelope?
I have somehow talked my wife into a set budget per month at the grocery store but I want to make sure it has enough. Do you include everything you buy such as TP, cleaning supplies, HBA's etc etc etc.

**Ceashels** · 07-12-2010, 09:24 AM

This came up at our FPU class last week. One woman had the impression that "my" breaking down the envelopes was too much. LOL.

We have groceries (food) and household goods (TP, Brita filters, etc) separated out. The main reason was because we buy bulk TP from BJ's so if it came out of the food budget it would (and has) reduced our grocery money too much for the 2 week period.

So Household goods only gets a little each payday but then only gets used occasionally.

**Greebo** · 07-12-2010, 09:32 AM

Crud - there's $20 more in our grocery envelope than there should be. I am on a half day (court today) and the budget committee approved me taking $20 for food today, and I forgot 3 mins later on the way out the door.

Too much going on..

**druthb00** · 07-12-2010, 09:38 AM

I split ours too, mainly because I "play the CVS game."

**Russ** · 07-12-2010, 10:04 AM

well, we shop at Walmart (I despise it) and considering this is our first attempt at an envelope, I'm thinking it will all come from one envelope.

It's a start.

**MaryCarney** · 07-12-2010, 10:23 AM

Well, you're not going to burn in FPU Hell for making it all one envelope. But - the envelope is technically for 'food' not 'grocery store' - as it would include all meals, those eaten and prepared at home as well as restaurant/ fast food meals.

I actually have three categories - food, household (TP and the like) and HBA (shampoo, deoderant). I tend to buy the household and HBA stuff only 3-4 times a year in a seperate trip, and therefore only buy 'food' with the 'food' envelope.

**Greebo** · 07-12-2010, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by MaryCarney

Well, you're not going to burn in FPU Hell for making it all one envelope.

Yes he will! Yes he will!!!

**Russ** · 07-12-2010, 10:51 AM

I'm thinking simplification here...

She's going along with the set amount and I don't want to make it more difficult to do this, so that's my reasoning.

I'm going to give her $XXX.00 per week for groceries, weather it's from Icky Mickys, Taco Swill or Walmart.

**frugalfriend** · 07-12-2010, 10:55 AM

I lump it all together, food, hba, cleaning supplies and tp. I don't buy so much of any of the latter three that it would make my food budget go over. Just easier for me this way. I do put eating out in a separate category - entertainment.

**ladykemma2** · 07-12-2010, 11:07 AM

well i get EVERYTHING from walmart so i have a line item in the budget called walmart

prescriptions, hba, household, gardening, food and the odd clearance clothing item if i can fit it in. 200 every two weeks.

**Russ** · 07-12-2010, 11:18 AM

interesting, maybe thats what I should do.

**Mom2-3** · 07-12-2010, 12:53 PM

I have grocery and household in one category. I go to Target, WalMart and Costco. At all of those places I can grab grocery and/or shampoo etc. I know for me, if it's complicated I won't do it. This is easy

**craftypam** · 07-12-2010, 12:55 PM

It seems like if you are doing all that shopping at the same store; why not use one envelope. I don't need h&b envelope because I'm stocked up on all those things.

**MaryCarney** · 07-12-2010, 04:31 PM

The reason I have HBA separate is becuase I buy stuff like shampoo by the gallon ($5-6) at the beauty suppliers - and like I said, buy only 4-5 times per year. That $$ isn't carried around in the envelope system, because I know when I'm planning that stock-up trip and I have it squirrelled away at home.

**piney** · 07-12-2010, 06:32 PM

I was having an envelope for food,groceries, and one for hba but it just make it more managable if i just add it all togeather.I have learned about how much i spend on food and hba and add it all togeather.