This week I only spent $18.63 at Weis…I did the majority of my shopping at Aldi! I spent an all time high of $63.61 there, which makes a total of $82.24. At first I was majorly annoyed that I’d gone over my $80/week goal for February, but then I remembered that I was $5 under budget last week. So, I’m actually still $2.25 under budget for the month of February. Whew!
Next week’s shopping will be a bit of a challenge, as we’re having a birthday get-together here(for Mr. FG and Zoe, who share a birthday), and I’ll have to feed a lot more people than I usually do. I really want to be able to stick with my $80, though…I will have to think creatively!
For breakfast this week, we’ll have oranges, bananas, muffins, oatmeal, cold cereal, bagels, and granola(not all on one day, obviously!). Lunch will be a combination of leftovers, whole wheat bread, yogurt, baby carrots, and fruit.
Here’s what we’re having for dinner. Depending on how things go, I might have to throw another green salad in there one night, as I have three big romaine hearts and a big bag of spinach to use up.
Saturday(we had our Valentine’s meal last night, so tonight we’re having a meal of the kids’ favorite foods)
- BBQ Chicken Pieces
- Buttermilk Biscuits(in heart shapes, of course)
- green salad
- fresh strawberries
Sunday
- Buttermilk Waffles
- OJ
Monday
- Ham Steaks
- green salad
- homemade rolls
Tuesday
- Tortilla Soup(which has vegetables in it. 😉 )
- cornbread
- apple slices
Wednesday
- Fried Shrimp
- fruit salad
- garlic breadsticks
- a chocolate cake in the shape of a fish(Zoe adores all things fish!)
Thursday
- Ham and Cheese Panini(made with leftover ham from Monday)
- fresh pineapple
Friday
- Deep Dish Pizza
- green salad
Kristen
Tuesday 17th of February 2009
Kiki, we're a pretty thin family overall, although we're not very short. My husband is six feet and I'm 5'8". However, my children are a LOT younger than yours are...my oldest is only 9! So, it makes total sense that you're spending more than I am. You guys probably just need more food than we do, and someday when I have four teenagers, I'm sure I'm going to need to spend a lot more!
Don't hate me, but yes, the $80-$100 a week includes toiletries and cleaning stuff. =P But, I've been shopping frugally for going on 12 years now, and I wasn't nearly this good at it back when I began. You should feel proud that you're saving $40-$50 a week...that's certainly nothing to sneeze at, and I bet you'll manage to shave it down farther the more you practice. Plus, one day your nest will be a bit emptier, and you won't have to buy so much food.
Keep up the good work!
Kiki
Tuesday 17th of February 2009
Kristin, I keep trying to cut the food budget back and every week it is shrinking by quite a few dollars. I used to spend around $200, and now have it down to about $160-170( I have 2 teen aged boys well over 6 feet who eat like truck drivers and still are very thin, and 2 little girls active in sports and eat and eat and growing like weeds). My question is this: When you say you spend $80 at the grocery store, does that include stuff like toothpaste, pet food, kitty litter, laundry soap, shampoo, tylenol, and feminine products and the like? I've been including that in my budget. If you're spending the $80 on just food I can kind of understand, but if you're counting in all that other stuff, forget it, I just can't do it. You are a superwoman. You're a tiny little thing right? I noticed on your Old Navy dress you're a petite person, are your kids and hubby too? a I'm 5'10, my husband is over 6 feet, the boys are and I think the girls are gonna be very tall some day too. We're all think, exercise a lot and consume a ton of very healthy calories too. I'm pleased with saving 40 or 50 dollars a week from what I used to spend. That's almost $200 a month I'll be leaving in the check book to put toward college costs in the not to distant future. You are an inspiration.
Kristen
Tuesday 17th of February 2009
Oh, Julia and Small, just so you know, your comments did not make me rethink whether or not I wanted to blog. While you offered opinions different than my own, I felt like you were polite and kind about it, and so I didn't feel offended by what you said.
It was Rona's comment, about the bad habits in my kids that made me feel that way. I don't know Rona, as she's never commented or emailed me before, so who knows, perhaps Rona was trying to be polite and kind as well...the internet makes it difficult to interpret these sorts of things, and it takes skill and practice to communicate kindness using only a keyboard. Heaven knows that when I first starting talking to people on the internet, back in 2001, I had a lot to learn about tact and kindness.
And of course, I need to learn to respond to criticism and correction with humility(even when the criticism feels unkind)...it's my pride that makes that hard.
At any rate, I do want my readers to feel free to comment and speak their minds...I just want people to remember that a real person with real feelings is behind the blog, that's all. Julia and Small, you both seemed like you remembered that. and I'm appreciative. :)
Kristen
Monday 16th of February 2009
Oh, that's not as impressive as it sounds. I have a mill, and so all I have to do is turn it on, pour the grain in, and out comes the flour. lol
And yep, you've got a few years on me...I'm 30(although, I'll be 31 in April).
Although I'm not able to buy a lot of organic food, I do help the planet by not buy a lot of prepacked, processed food. Also, I recycle faithfully, I compost, I use rags and washcloths instead of paper towels, I buy used stuff instead of new whenever possible, and so on. So, I'm not a completely hopeless case. :P
Julia
Monday 16th of February 2009
I'm so impressed that you grind your own flour, that is just something I can't see myself doing. It's a good idea to ask around about local chickens that are well-cared for, as you plan to do. Every little earth-friendly and animal-friendly bit helps, it truly does. As Stacey was saying above, we need to look at what we are doing as a society and find a way to make it better. That you are blogging about your choices and your experiences makes you a part of the solution. As for husbands, mine doesn't like lentils at all either, so we never eat those. He eats vegetarian at home, and then whatever he wants when he's out. He does get a budget-busting expensive steak to grill now and then, but treating oneself is an important part of life so I encourage him to do that. I think it's better than eating hamburger every day, as I was forced to do when I was a child! Also I have to say, I am a huge hypocrite and if I'm out in the world and there is cake of any kind, I dig right in even though I know it may have eggs in it. Cake is my drug of choice! I am not good with criticism either, I am the daughter of a very critical German and have never felt good enough. I admire you for putting yourself out there and doing your blog. I am almost 42 and still dealing with these issues---from the look of your picture, I'd say you are MUCH younger :-) so be proud that you are doing the work on yourself while you are young enough to reap the full benefits. Take care, and my best to you and yours. And thanks for not yelling at me for posting vegan stuff on your blog, hah. :-)