Last month it really helped me to keep track of what I spent and be held accountable. My goal is to spend under $175 for the month (including sundries).

2/2/04 Co-op $7.00 (including $2 for a snack. :rolleyes: )
2/5/04 bulk foods store $19 spices, ton of cheese, loaf of bread (d'oh!), 4 packs frozen broccoli, rotten onions. :rolleyes:
2/6/04 Co-op $12 (fair trade coffee) (ok, and a snack too. :o )
2/7/04 Instead of coming home for dinner, Dh decides to just sit in the shop and drink. $10 for his friggin beer.
2/9/04 $12 at local convenience store for bread, ham, bananas and treats. Mommy is sick.
$100 on eating out, and co-op.
2/19/04 $5

TOTAL: $165

I'm in for this month. My usual budget is $600, and I often go over that *gasp*. My goal for this month is to spend 20% less, or a maximum of $480. If I make that goal easily then I'll try for another 20% cut (from the original $600), so that will be $360 for March.

I made my meal plan for the month, and tonight I'm making a grocery list. Tomorrow is my day for grocery shopping.

Peace,

Kimberly

Okay...I am going to jump in and do this too. Last month I started a new diet of all whole foods and my food bill jumped a TON..usually $400 a month for family of 5, but it went to $1000 last month:eek: so, I was quite horrified!!! But I think I figured out why and what needs to change...so needless to say my goal is to keep under that $400 for the month of February while still eating all the wonderful food I have been eating on my diet.

Okay, what I have spent so far...and I am not too thrilled...

2/5--$151.68...this was for stocking up on dry goods and soy milk as the pantry was quite bare
2/5--143.45...this was the same thing at a different store...and 3 days worth of produce
2/7--20.91...few days worth of produce
2/9--23.90...stamps and some produce

I'm in. Today I spent $16.00 on party supplies for Kyle's bday party at school and a few other things for home.

My goal is $200.00 for the month.

Would it be alright if I join in too? I really need to get a grip on my spending.

So far I have spent 18.23 on a few basics like milk, bread, juice, etc...

I think my goal for the month will be 450.00.

I'm trying to do the same thing I did for last month's challenge. I'm going to limit myself to one trip to the grocery store and try to eat from our current pantry stock as much as possible.

I'm with Kimbermama, that is about how much we spend and I am trying to gradually decrease it. I did last month by .17, seriously dh and I looked in quicken and did a comparison and that was the difference.

I thought I did well but we were sick last week and got take out twice so we blew it there. I am applying new strategies and the meal plan has helped so much.

I shopped yesterday and spent $130, needed some herbal stuff to fight this awful cold and my sportea special order so that blew a lot but I don't need to spend anymore this week and probably just some produce etc next sunday. Having a grocery day every week helps me better see how much I am spending.:thumbsup:

I'm in.

My budget is set at $350.00 per month.

I've already spent $37.38 on organic milk, chicken sausage, shampoo and deoderant.

Lori

I'm in, too. Our spending last month was totally out of control - over $600! That included herbs and toiletries, etc. Our average last year was $340 according to Quicken.

According to our budget we are at a max of $280, or $70/week. Plus diapers and supplements. I will list those here anyway just to see what we spend. I just spent money on a co-op order for toiletries, we only order every couple of months.

Ok.

As of 2/21, Groceries so far: $236.79

Toiletries/diapers/cleaning/herbs (not counted toward $280, but since it is a big reordering month it would be nice if my grocery budget came in low to help pay for this): total as of 2/21 - $105.21

~$35 for co-op order (will last 2 months) (includes zinc lozenges, rest is toiletries)
$60.21 for supplements: 3 months of vit's for me, 6 weeks for kids, two new supplements for Jacob (inositol and chewable DHA's)
$10 on overnight dipes

I am going to try to keep it under $200 this month. Most of that won't even be on food because I need to buy dog food ($28), softener salt ($20), and dishwasher detergent ($10). I get all these things at Sam's Club because that is the only place that I can find the type of dog food (no bone meal, ash, etc...) that I want at a price I can afford and then I pick up the other things because they are cheaper. Unfortunately I also need to pay my yearly membership so there goes another $35 from the food budget.

So, I haven't even gone shopping yet and have already allocated over $90 of my food/ animal/ household budget for the month. I also bought some themed napkins and cake plates on clearance for the boys b-day parties (we use regular plates, cups, etc... for everything else) so I have spent $7 so far and then my milk today will cost another $7.50.

Here's what I spent today:

HFS
6# organic apples 5.98
7# bananas (not organic) 3.36
organic cucumber 1.49
1# organic tomatoes 2.69
1/2 gallon Silk soymilk 2.89
Earth Balance margarine 2.49
16 oz. walnut oil 3.99
organic chamomile tea 3.39
veggie salami slices 2.25
7th Generation baby wipes 4.65
Total: 33.54 (includes tax)

Trader Joes:
Candles 1.99
organic frosted flakes 2.49
2# organic sugar 2.59
Kashi TLC crackers 1.99
2 boxes apple cereal bars 3.18
organic pesto 3.69
12 oz. Mediterranean shredded cheese blend 3.29
2 cans sliced black olives 1.58
1# fresh albacore tuna steaks 7.44
1# organic carrots 1.39
honey wheat pretzels 1.39
whole wheat pita bread .79
dish soap 2.09
12 rolls recycled TP 2.99
3 rolls recycled paper towels 2.99 (will last me all year)
Total: 40.66 (includes tax)

I spent $25.95 ordering loose tea last night, so I am at $100.15 so far. To me the tea is a total luxury but DH wants it. I hadn't planned on it when setting my budget, but I'm going to try to fit it in. Likewise, my organic chamomile tea from the HFS wasn't a necessary purchase.

The makings for pizza really add up. I use the pesto to make 3 pizzas (1 a week over 3 weeks). I split the cheese between 2 pizzas. I use one can of olives per pizza. I also buy a red pizza sauce that makes 4 pizzas for $1.65/can. I make my own dough, which I will estimate at $1.00 for 2 pizzas. So it runs me $7.41 for 2 pizzas each week. Cheaper and yummier than take-out pizza. It serves as 1 dinner and 1 lunch.

There are a few items I am working to eliminate, such as the cereal bars, but DS#2 eats them in the mornings before the rest of us get up. I'm going to try a few recipes for homemade breakfast bars to see if he likes those. I also bought 2 snack food items (crackers and pretzels) for the boys. I am leaving them in for this month, but if I can't come in under budget they'll have to go.

Peace,

Kimberly

UPDATE
$42 at the Rainforest Cafe' yesterday... $12 at Wendy's... $64 at Fred Meyers for a stock up and produce run... $3 for Taco Bell... $4 for Coffee ($8, because I think I have done it twice), $16 at Costco, and $3.74 for an Orange Julius today at the mall. (Oh and I am going to throw $15 in there for Safeway, because I know that I have sent Don to get Motzerella once, and probobly for something else another time I can not remember)

Total?? $175.74... Don took the kids to McDonalds when I was out for my b-day with my dad... it was $13. So total is $188.74... :) Yeeeheee! ... and that includes eating out five (six with McD's) times. WOW... I have to admit I feel really achomplished! :D

OK FURTHER UPDATE: (2/27)
$14 for Sushi, $60 at Trader Joes (I took things back to Ikea so we could get stuff at TJ's), and Don went out to lunch his two nights at work.... about $10.

TOTAL is: $272 for the entire month (including eating out). I am sure we will eat out on monday for my uncles funeral.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I AM IN!!!!!

I ate out last night to Indian food for our Imbolic celebration and it cost $12... that is it so far.

Love Val

I want to join in too. So far we have not spent anything this month. I always go shopping on the 6th of the month. Right now we are not eating organic, but we are thinking about a garden. Let me tell you a little bit about us so that maybe you guys can help us get a handle on our spending.

We are a family of 10, 2 adults and 8 kids. One of which is an infant(2mos.). We alotted 900.00 for food each month. The kids do eat alot. DH is trying to eat more veggies. The kids love them. We try to vary what we eat so as not to be in a rut. We only eat chicken and turkey. For the most part I shop at SuperWal-Mart (no flames please). I can get the most for my money. DH is going to take over the grocery buying and we will see how things go from there. DH will be shopping at a small family owned store and has checked toe sales papers. Any help will be most appricated. Thanks.

I want to do this too. I just started writing everything down the other day. I had a lot of what we spent last month, but am missing a couple of big reciepts.

SO, this is the first month I will get everything written down, and, honestly I have no idea what I usually spend--how awful is that?!

I need to write down stuff too...
Went grocery shopping yesterday for the month. Spent $194. Spent $37 on formula/water. Spent $120 at Target on gatorade (sick dh), misc, and a new littermaid. Ours just broke :(. 4 cats. Still need to get a bag of frozen burritos and I'll have to go back out later in the month to replenish milk/salad etc. Oh.. dh spent $95*2 for car parts - his windows have been broke for >1 year!!. Ugh. Grocery wise we did good..the rest is adding up though...

Okay, I am gonna do this - as of today :)

We already spent over $200 last week -groceries, toilet paper, cleaning stuff, plus a bunch of supplements that I NEED (as in told by Drs I must take them the rest of my life LOL - cant cut them out to save $) & a pricey tincture dd threw into the cart when I wasnt looking....

but this week should be pretty easy.... all the remaining food from last week, plus we have to use up all the wheat products in the house ASAP, as babe definitely has a wheat allergy, so even though i ignore my own, we are all going off it for her. We have a LOT of stuff to eat through! LOL

I have 4 adult sized appetites and one 3 year old to feed.

Feb. 8 I spent $92 at Trader Joes. Misc. food.

a couple days ago, I spent $35 at Safeway on misc. food

My monthly total so far, for groceries only, is $236.79.

We are well on target to being close to budget or under budget of $280. Of course it helped that my mom was here this week and paid for all our weekly groceries. And we ate well. :D

How is everyone else doing?

well, we have done BAD! I'm not even keeping track! Gave in to craving too much!

edited for privacy

I updated above... I think that I did really well becuase I was able to stock up when we had our tax return last month. So I had next to nothing to buy but oatmeal, jasmine rice, and crasins bulk, and then we got WIC stuff and produce. That was all we needed. I have had great dinners too...

Fritatta with cayenne pepper/onion corn bread
Penne with cheese sauce and sour dough bread
Corn beef and cabbage with red potatoes
Chicken stew and HM bread
Creaps with Peach sauce and maple syrup
Cottage Cheese Pancakes and eggs
Hamburger gravy, mashed potatoes, salad, and HM bread
Orential Chicken salad
Stir fry
and more... I just don't remember... but the ones I do remember are the best you know? But we ate well.... that was more my point. lol...

Love Val

It looks like everyone is doing really awesome! I did my big shopping trip for the month yesterday so I'm all done for Feb. I think I actually spent more this month, but I think I spent more wisely. I didn't think to keep details of I everything I bought, but I spent $80 at the grocery store yesterday and avoided a lot of the junk food that I bought last month. I had to take the little people with me though, and I think if I had been alone, I could have spent less. Before that, I spent $25, $9 and $30 through a co-op (well, I'm not sure if we're technically a co-op - we're three or four people splitting organic produce and cheese - I'm not sure what's the best way to refer to us....) for produce, cheese, milk and yogurt. So if my math's right, that's $154 for the month and I have enough of everything to make it to March. That doesn't count DH making two trips to the store for junk food and snacks. I know one time he spent $40, but that included a pair of shorts for himself so I'm not sure how much was actually spent on food. And I don't know how much he spent on the second trip. But either way, he's really messing up my grocery budget. :rolleyes: