Location: firmly planted in the postmodern pastoral economy
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I'm up for it! We did so well in February, met our goal, reduced our bill by over 50% from January (January was just a crazy month).
My goal for this month is $280 on food/toilet paper/cleaning stuff.
I count supplements, vitamins, and shampoo etc separately and don't really have a goal, but will be keeping track to see what I spend on these items. My son has cystic fibrosis and takes several different supplements which cost $$$.
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I am so in on this. We did SOOOO bad this month - so, gotta start over! I always count all my store-bought goods in my totals, since I am buying it all togetether. I definitely will spend on $100/month on vitamins that have been prescribed for me (only thing my insurance will cover is Folic Acid, so I pay a whopping $2 a month for that LOL).
I need to plan well this month. We went shopping two times recently - and when we got home today we had nothing I could make easily for dinner (I've got AF so bad dh is concerned & waiting on me LOL), so we ended up ordering out. How sad is that?
I REALLY think I need to look into once a month cooking for dinners - I think it may be the only thing that works for us......
Right now I will set my goal at $400 - minus the supplements for me. (hey, I've got 4 kids who are homeschooled - they eat a lot! LOL!)
Count me in. My budget goal is $250.00 for the 4 of us and 1 puppy. That amount includes everything even my vitamins and supplements, which run about $35.00 per month.
I think this month I'm going to keep my receipts to see what I spend, meat, organic dairy, produce, junk food, pet food, bulk items, cleaning supplies, and paper and plastic. It would be great if I could cut back some more.
Wow, I so want to do this, but I don't have a clue what my goal should be! Our food budget is the one place that we don't scrimp at all and I know we go way overboard with it. I'm sure even my "cheap" budget would be way more than it should be. Hmm, I'll have to give this some serious thought!
j
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Jamie, wife to Joe, momma to Lauren (1/27/02) and Tara (2/3/05)
If you know how much you currently spend, make a goal of cutting back $50 for the month. It's not a huge thing, but it'll help you see where you CAN cut back. Then next month challenge yourself to cut back a bit more. You need to find a total where it works for your family. You want to be frugal, but frugal doesn't mean deprived. Playing with numbers for a few months, reducing it, stocking a pantry and freezer will help. If you buy just for the week, not planning ahead you end up spending way more.
I'm trying to convince dh to give up cola, but he shrugs and says it's cheaper than beer (and he's right..lol). We'll see. My goal is quite low, only because I spent a wad of cash to by a 1/4 beef and 1/4 pork, but that'll last us nearly a year. I also have been hoarding groceries. A girlfriend is a refugee from Bosnia where they went without, and she's terrified of her girls going hungry. I've learned her bad spending habits, but I quit that. She'll spend 4-500 every 2 weeks. I did a couple of times, now my pantry is very "plump". So we will be eating from the pantry and freezer for quite awhile yet.
Location: Wrapped in the Loving Embrace of My Family
Posts: 5,492
Seriously tight month here
On top of my insurance not covering a birth center birth or a doula my washer also decided to go to appliance heaven this weekend so things are going to be very tight here for awhile.
Luckily I have a very well stocked pantry and a full freezer so I should only have to buy fresh fruit, veggies, and milk.
I intend to spend no more then $125 this month on food, cleaning supplies, and dog food.
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Bobbi Jo
17.5 pounds till SMEXY!!!!!!!!!!!
Today I will cherish myself, love myself, nurture myself, and take one more step towards achieving my goals!
My last photo was a facade. This is what I normally look like!
3/1 Spent $35 which included 10 rolls of t.p.
3/2 33.26 at co-op (included fair trade coffee, some organic produce)
Total $68.26
My goal is going to be $300 this month, up from $200 b/c we have an exchange program guy w/ us for 3 weeks, and will also have houseguests for 4 days this month.
Last edited by Lydiasmomma : 03-02-2004 at 10:19 PM.
hee-hee - okay, I didnt make it. But by choice. I am getting a lot of deals, so doing a lot of stockpiling. And still- we will spend maybe $600 (my goal was $400). We usually spend over a thousand! AND eat out a lot cause dh loves to go out. This month we have only gone out to eat once I think? Dh tried to convince me to go out today, but I convinced him to eat at home instead
So, we did save a lot of $ We could have made it for $400 - or less - but it just wasnt worth it this month! (and yes I know the month isnt over - but I'm done paying attention to how much I spend cause I went over budget but I am happy with it!)
Last edited by ~*~Seeking*Simplicity~*~ : 03-19-2004 at 09:20 PM.
Location: Stuck in the neverending cycle of cleaning
Posts: 2,382
I'm in. I haven't spent anything on groceries yet.
My goal is $200.00 for 4 people, 1cat, 1 dog. We eat meat...but I have so much stuff here now, that I probably won't get much this month.
Mar2 - 9.51 for lard, eggs, chocolate chips, flour
Mar 3 - 25.37 take out pizza(I was terrible ill this afternoon, nauseous, dizzy, so dh "cooked"..lol.. by dialing the phone. I had a simple meal planned but he wouldn't do it)
Mar. 5 - 15.00 lunch out with girls
Last edited by mamannaturelle : 03-06-2004 at 01:24 AM.
Location: Stuck in the neverending cycle of cleaning
Posts: 2,382
I still haven't spent anything yet. I am going to Sam's Club on Monday, though. (mil has membership, so I have her do 2 separate orders, and I don't have to buy a membership) But I think I have to get cat food before then.
Does pet food count
I told dh that I need only $200.00 cash for groceries this month.
I am going to try to have us live off only $200.00 a month for awhile. I am sure we will go over that, though. Since we will buy meat about every other month.
Dh complains we don't eat enough steak, but then when I want $$ for groceries he complains, so he will have to get used to eating more chicken
I think I am going to try menuing this month. Seeing as I went to the bread-thrift store last month, I don't need to go for at least another 2 weeks. I got SO much bread the last time, that is in our freezer. When they have good deals, I stock up!!
So far, I haven't spent anything on groceries this month. We ran out of bread so I made 6 loaves yesterday. We have 1 gallon of milk left so I'm sure I'll be going to the store sometime soon.
I'm really working hard to not spend a lot on anything this month. We are saving towards the Celtic fair in a few weeks so we can have extra $$$ so we are eating out of our pantry for now.
I haven't been in this forum much, and started browsing... why wasn't I looking 
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