food budgeting
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Final Check-In: Reverse Meal Plan Makeover
Well, I went the entire month of October using the Reverse Meal Plan method created by the amazing Melanie Anderson over at Six on A Budget! Here’s my final check-in from the last two weeks of October. The week of the 15th -20th I spent $119 at Ralphs. Below is a pic from October 27th, showing I spent $63.27 at Ralphs. Not shown is an additional $60 I spent at Aldi that same day, as I decided to split my shopping between the two stores. So, I’d say my average weekly grocery spending was between $100 – $123, which, feeding a family of 8 and a cat, is pretty awesome!…
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Reverse Meal Plan Makeover: First Check-In
It’s check-in time! A couple of weeks ago I was inspired by blogger Melanie Anderson and committed myself to a “Reverse Meal Plan Makeover” for the month of October. Well, today is my first check-in, and boy do I have some things to share. Let’s start with my first grocery excursion at my local Ralph’s: Note, I did my first round of shopping on Sept. 29th (a Saturday) and counted it toward my first week of October. I usually do my weekly grocery haul on Saturday mornings. Total spent: $119.07 Savings (Coupons, Clearance/Sale items, etc.): $33.09 For me, this wasn’t bad! I would usually spend $160 – $230 on a…
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My October Reverse Meal Plan Makeover
What would you do with an extra $500 per month? An extra $1000? For me, I would do a lot. I could save it for emergencies, or aggressively pay down debt…or heck, just go on a family vacation or not have to worry about a major car repair. I took a hard and serious look at my budget, and one area where I was bleeding money but didn’t think I had any control over was my monthly grocery bill. Food is essential! We need to eat to survive! I’d tell myself as I’d fill my basket with assorted goods and end up paying $1200 – $1600 per month. However, what…
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Is Eating Healthy Really Too Expensive?
Whether you’re living the keto life or just eating healthy, one of the challenges is doing it without breaking the bank. As a mom of six, you won’t see me running around in upscale grocery stores buying organic mushrooms handpicked by unicorns. I’m looking for deals, and I’m looking for tasty meals I can cook for the family. And, yes, on weekends or Friday nights when I’m exhausted, I’ll grab a pizza or In-N-Out burgers. But… It adds up, especially if you live in a high cost of living area. In July, my monthly grocery expenses were up to $1500! Whoa. What? Looking at my bank statement, I questioned why…
