April Goal Update (better late than never!)
At the beginning of the year, I make a list of finance-related goals that I want to meet over the next 12 months. At the beginning of each month, I report on my successes or failures. If you're new here, you might want to read my original goals post, my February update, and my March update.
1) Eat Non-Cereal Breakfast 4 Days a Week
We're still doing great with this goal! Our cereal consumption is way, way down from what it used be (because, um, we used to eat it every single morning), and we've been eating a lot of whole wheat bread, yogurt, fruit, and oatmeal, along with some local eggs.
I do still think I could do better with planning ahead, though, and now that the weather is warmer here, I really need to get on the stick and make some granola. Because a steaming bowl of oatmeal is really not that appealing in 80 degree weather.
2) Start saving for a replacement van.
I guess I should edit that to say "continue saving" because we already started saving in January, and you can only start saving about one time (unless you stop saving, and I don't plan to do that!). As of this month, I have $807 saved in my van fund. I'd really like to be able to add more than $200 to that fund each month, though, and I think that after I buy my camera body, I'm going to funnel any of my extra income into the van fund.
3) Keep Quicken updated once a week.
Like last month, I give myself about half credit for this. I did keep it up better than I used to, but it wasn't exactly once a week.
I lose at keeping financial records. It's a good thing I'm better at actually paying bills!
4) Spend $80 a week on groceries whenever possible.
I'm actually going to scrap this goal, but not because I plan to go hog-wild. My husband and I recently watched Food, Inc., which, for a variety of reasons, re-motivated us to try to be responsible in our food consumption.
While I don't think that healthy eating has to cost a gazillion dollars, I do think that adding more local, real food to our diet is going to cost more than $80 a week. So, I'm going to give myself $100/week to spend and I'm not going to feel at all guilty about that.
From here on out, this goal will be something more like, "Spend $100/week on groceries and include as much real, local food as possible."
5) Save up for a replacement camera body by September.
Good news here! Due to some unexpected extra income, I think that I am going to have enough to buy my new camera body by the end of April or the beginning of May, and of course, I am very excited about that.
I'm shooting my first wedding at the beginning of July, and I'm really happy that it looks as though I'll have two camera bodies by then. For one thing, it made me nervous to think of shooting a wedding without a backup camera body, and for another, when I get my new camera body, I'll be able to keep my 50mm lens on one body and my 24-70 lens on the other, which means I can switch back and forth between lenses without having to actually take my lenses on and off. I think this will be very advantageous during a wedding.
So, it looks like maaaaaybe the next time I post a goal update, I'll have my new camera body in hand. 🙂
You'll have to LMK if you discover any exciting sources of local good food. That's on my list to do too.
What camera body are you buying?
I'm thinking I'm going to spring for the Canon 7D, which is the more expensive of the two options I was considering. But, I think I'll keep this camera body for a long while, so I don't mind spending the extra money. Plus, it's a tax deductible expense, because I make money with my camera!
Thanks. I recently purchased my first DSLR camera - a Canon EOS XSI and I'm having a blast with it. I recently finished a 6 week photography class and I've become obssessed - there is so much too learn. I think this is all the camera I can handle for now. Good luck with your new camera.
Hello. This is my first comment here. i found your blog while looking for frugal blogs.
I spend about $400 a month in groceries. We buy meat at a local meat market, we go there once a month and we budget this in the beginning of the month. Then we try to spend about $75 a week with out meat. Sometimes we go over that but sometimes we spend less too...it really just depends. We have a local farmers market, which I love in the spring and summer but in the winter it is not so good. I hope you are able to find something local that fits your needs!
I was happy to read about your increase in the food budget to try to include more local foods. I believe this is so important - looking forward to some posts about how you manage this on a budget!
My husband and I also watched Food Inc a few months back. It really makes you reconsider what you purchase and feed your family. I figure I'll pay a little bit more now so I don't have to pay in medical bills later. Real food doesn't come that cheap.... Great job on your goals!
My maman often says we spend so much money on food, but it's because we do try and buy healthy, fresh, and when possible local food. Good luck with finding some. Perhaps a trip to the farmer's market? They even have some meats as well as milk, cheese, veggies, fruit.
Yay for the camera! You take such amazing photos, and I know this will be a big help to you!
Yup, there are a couple of farmer's markets and produce stands near where I live, though I don't think they're open yet. I'm going to check and see.
You can always make cold oatmeal. The night before you simply put a serving of old fashioned oats in a bowl and just cover it with water or juice. Then cover the bowl, stick it in the fridge, and in the morning it will be soft. You can also add in dried fruit if you want. I used to do this a lot mostly just to save time in the morning.
Don't stress about the cost of local & organic. You can find a lot of deals (especially since things will be in season shortly). I find that I spend less in farmer markets because the farmers will cut deals when you buy from them consistently. Check this site for tips: http://tiny.cc/j14o7
Funny you mention wanting to buy more local, as I've been thinking the same thing! I think it has something to do with the beautiful weather we've had the past few days. I found this website and I think it will be very helpful:
http://www.localharvest.org/
Congratulations with your goals!
I, too, would like to know what camera you are looking to buy.
Also wanted to tell you that someone told me about your blog and since I started reading just a few weeks ago, you have inspired me to be more frugal in my own hom and life, and to eat healthier, too! So, thank you!
A big good morning to you.. how exciting to read your post.. I have shopped for the first time in my life at the local farmers market in my community. ( about 1 hr away) I have been 2 times now.
I loved the whole experience. You really have to watch you spending, but buying fresh is so exciting... I have always tried to shop the outside isles at the supermarket.. now I love going to farmers market, because for the most part it is all outside isle products, only fresh.
I tried your yogurt recipe last night. My daughter had it for breakfast with some granola and hemp seed on top (from the market) she really liked it. I have your sandwich bread dough rising and I am excited to have fresh bread for the weekend.
I am so glad I stumbled upon your blog.
thanks for all the tips so far.
Crystal.
If you think Food, Inc., will change you, read Michael Pollan's "The Ominvore's Dilemma." He goes into much more detail and spends a great deal of time with Joel Salatin - the "grass farmer" in Swoope, Va.
We watched Food, Inc., and came to the same conclusion. We HAVE to do better, even if it costs more. We are in the Pacific Northwest, so it's very easy to buy in to a local CSA or shop at a food co-op, but we are also planting a garden and buying laying hens. Small steps toward better stewardship!
Cheers to you on your goals.
God bless you,
Jennifer
I stinking LOVE Joel Salatin....I hope he stays true to his goal of staying small. I've read Pollan's "In Defense of Food", and liked it a lot.
You are lucky to live where you do...you west coast people have a lot more access to local food than we do here on the east coast.
I think he'll stay small - it's his "manifesto," and an extension of his own Christian worldview. He lives a few hours from my mom-in-law and next time we're on the EC we plan to drive down... perhaps on the chicken killin' day!
I think if he didn't go big after Pollan's "The Omnivore's Dilemma" that he's learned to resist the urge.
Forgot to mention, we tried making yogurt with your recipe and it turned out really well! My hubby is not a yogurt eater, but likes the homemade stuff because it isn't so stiff and gelatinous like the store-bought yogurt.
We serve ours in the Greek fashion, with a drizzle of raw honey and a couple of walnuts. I like to add ground flax meal and wheat germ, too, but it's wonderful without it!
Kristen,
Had to actually jump on the computer when I read this one! I'm not alone in commending you for your reconsidering your food choices. The health of our family as well as our environment is sooo important. I have found a great source of organic products at Azure Standard. Check out their website and consider buying from a co-op if there is a drop near you. It's a fun "community" too!
Best to you and your family,
Leigh
Ohh, good to see you, Leigh! I'm glad I inspired you to comment. 🙂
Hi Leigh! So happy to "see" you here!
I know...we miss her. She had to go and get all busy taking care of her kids....the nerve! lol
I still haven't set my goals for April yet! Hopefully I have something before the 15th approaches. I feel like I've been too busy to stop and think about myself.
Kristen, random question about your yogurt (you have a picture up!).
I bought some Stonyfield plain fat free yogurt, and packed it for lunch. I tried eating it and almost gagged. It tasted like a mix between sour cream and sour milk. I was not pleased.
Does your homemade yogurt taste better than store bought plain yogurt (if you know!)? How do you flavor it to taste better? I wanted to make my own yogurt using your recipe but now I'm afraid to, because I don't want to waste milk!
Yes, I think the homemade stuff usually tastes better. Stonyfield farm is sometimes super sour!
Whole milk makes a milder, firmer yogurt, and if you're nervous about trying the plain stuff, give the vanilla version a try (you add a cup of sugar and 1-2 tablespoons vanilla to the milk mixture). The vanilla version is SO good. You can also try mixing in fresh fruit to the finished yogurt or adding jam to a bowl of yogurt.
Thanks so much! Vanilla would be more up my alley I think. Is the 1 c. of sugar and 1-2 tbsps of vanilla per 1 gallon of milk?
I'll have to be brave and just go for it, and not allow myself to be scarred by the Stonyfield experience. I can't say that much for the people near me when I took my first bite though - I can only imagine what my face looked like! 🙂
Yep, that's per gallon of milk, so just half that if you're making a half gallon of yogurt.
Make sure you use a good starter...Dannon or Yoplait usually works pretty well, although I just made a batch with (horrors!) Stonyfield Farm as a starter, and it was really good. Better than the Yoplait, in fact! lol
I look forward to logging on and reading your post every day. I check it when I first get to work at 6:50 and then on my lunch break. It is so much fun to read. I am thinking about making your yogurt and granola to pack in my lunches.
Aww, I'm so glad. 🙂 I have fun writing it, and I'm always happy when other people have fun reading it! lol
Yes, once you've watched Food Inc. or started learning about big agriculture and the food industry, it's hard to go back. I think the additional $20 is well worth it to buy local and organic when possible.
Interestingly, when we started receiving a Community Supported Agriculture delivery last year of local, organic produce, I thought it was a bit of a splurge, but our overall grocery bill has gone DOWN. I think it's due to eating less meat and packaged products because of wanting to use up all the fresh ingredients.
As Erika mentioned, Local Harvest is a great resource for finding local Farmer's Markets and CSAs. The best part? It all tastes delicious!
Unfortunately, there are no CSAs open here. Boo. I did get on a waiting list for one, so we'll see....
this is an excellent list of goals 🙂 good luck with all of them! cute blog!
Great job on your goals. It is always a good idea to re-assess.
Hi Kirsten,
Congratulations on keeping to your goals so well. About the grocery budget, you are feeding a family of 6, I believe, on $100 per week which equates to $16.67 per person. That is already amazing! You may be able to do better than this at times, but given that you are dedicated to providing healthful meals with lots of variety in them, going below $100 per week may not be realistic unless you want to eat Kraft Dinner & canned beans for all of your meals. You go girl, you are doing awesome!
I too have a family of 6. While I have lived frugally at some points of my life, I've also slipped and fell hard at other times. At one point, I calculated that I spent $1700 a month on groceries and I know many other families with fewer children who have done the same. Our current budget is now $650 per month. (Groceries and household items) and two of our children are no longer living at home.
As for saving for the vehicle, a couple of points to keep in mind... I recommend you check out Dave Ramsey's website and his recommendations of how to drive a free car for the rest of your life.... and $20,000 is a lot to pay for a second-hand vehicle.
I bought a brand-new KIA for $24,000 (CDN) which came with a 5-yr, 100,000 km bumper-bumper warranty. The peace of mind that I would not have to outlay any extra cash for 5 years was well worth it.
Connie
I'm so happy that you're moving in the direction of more sustainable food!
My husband and I are also having a difficult time balancing the budget in groceries. We know we could spend less if we bought less organic and local food but I want to be purchasing more local and organic food. We are still beating our budget every month- that's helpful.
We're experimenting with growing our own chickens to see if its any cheaper raising and processing them ourselves- I must have ordered the chics right after I watched Food, Inc. for the second time! A bit impulsive on my part.
I am really looking forward to seeing more real, local food here! Maybe more vegetarian recipes, etc? Please? Thanks! Have fun with it all! 😀
While I don't often buy local due to time constraints, I do buy real food and your post makes me more determined than before. I've also found Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution to be a great incentive, even though I have no school age children.
OK, I am off to plan menus for the week! One will include your latest marinated chicken.
For all the local food advocates out there, I highly recommend "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" by Barbara Kingsolver. This handy book is about her year in the life of eating locally and the slow food movement. There are tons of resources in the back and the website http://www.animalvegetablemiracle.com/ is very helpful in finding local food resources. It is a life changing story that, once you've gotten the idea of eating locally, will encourage, inspire and educate you. Lots of laughs too!
I agree with your decision to add to your grocery bill in order to eat healthier. I cut out lots on groceries and buying, but refuse to pay less for healthy food that matters, such as good vegetables and fruits, etc. On some things it's just not worth it to try to save and spend less.