It is a busy, busy week for everyone in the family. DH and Wyatt are going to a camp in at the museum with the boy scouts. This seems so cool. Like night of the museum but without the t-rex playing fetch (I hope). I'll send them with the camera so they can take lots of pics. Also the blue and gold banquet is this weekend too. I'm sad I'll miss this one, but mommy needs some girl time.
Abby will spend the weekend with grandma and grandaddy getting spoiled I'm sure. What fun would it be going to grandma's without getting spoiled?
And last there is mommy! Mommy will be having a wonderful time at the beach with the ladies from church for our annual retreat. I'm very excited about hearing our speaker who will talk on the book of Ephesians.I love the women we are going with and every moment I get to spend with them is one I enjoy.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Are you ready?
Well after talking to a few of my friends, I think that we will start our 6 wk challenge on March 1st. It certaintly will be a challenge though. For us the 50% weekly reduction in total grocery/personal care spending is $25 per week. But... at the end of it we will have an extra $150. So what to do with it? I have a few ideas floating around and all of them seem great, but what would a good steward do with this extra $? I won't count my chickens before they've hatched but I know that I can do this. My DH is also very excited and has full confidence that I can pull this off. Gotta love a supportive hubby, I know I do! So more to come on this after week 1 of the challenge. So happy saving!
Saturday, February 21, 2009
My six week challenge
So this has been on my mind since I read the $1500 per yr challenge. What challenge could I do? How much more could I save on groceries? Well this is what I've come up with. I will reduce our grocery budget by 50% for the next 6 wks. Our current budget is $50 per wk, so that would be $25 per wk as my goal. It will still be a challenge though. I am hosting our mommy and me group at my house and my whole family another time for Abby's second birthday. I am quite competitive so I'm sure that we can do this. The question will be what will I do with the extra $150 we will save?
Now just a few things I want to tell you first so I can be upfront with everyone. I have a well stocked fridge and freezer. My DH hunts and so I always have venison in my freezer. I have recently stocked up on other meats that have been on sale as well. Everything that we have though was accumulated from our regular budget. I did NOT splurge before this so I could make it. The pics in my previous post are what I bought this week before starting and I kept at our budget. Also we eat a meat, vegetable, and usually a starch at every dinner. Lunch is different because we are all at different places during the day. My DH and son are packed a lunch daily so no spending there. Abby and I are mostly at home during the day, but our lunch always includes some type of meat, and at least a fruit. Breakfast is usually very small. None of us care for it much but we do make sure everyone eats something at the start of their day. We do not eat out very often, but in the effort of full disclousure we eat at our church every Wednesday night. So one dinner every week is taken care of. We also host a dinner group on Sundays at our house and it works like at potluck for the most part.
So how will this work? I guess I'll update every week with how much I've spent and saved from our normal budget and what the cumulative totals are for the 6 wk challenge. I think I might see if a few of my friends will join in-it's always more fun when you can share it with someone. So look at your budget can you reduce it 50% for 6 wks? If your budget is $100 per wk and not $50 like mine don't worry, just try to reduce by 50%. You'll be suprised what you can do! So go get started and HAPPY SAVING!
Now just a few things I want to tell you first so I can be upfront with everyone. I have a well stocked fridge and freezer. My DH hunts and so I always have venison in my freezer. I have recently stocked up on other meats that have been on sale as well. Everything that we have though was accumulated from our regular budget. I did NOT splurge before this so I could make it. The pics in my previous post are what I bought this week before starting and I kept at our budget. Also we eat a meat, vegetable, and usually a starch at every dinner. Lunch is different because we are all at different places during the day. My DH and son are packed a lunch daily so no spending there. Abby and I are mostly at home during the day, but our lunch always includes some type of meat, and at least a fruit. Breakfast is usually very small. None of us care for it much but we do make sure everyone eats something at the start of their day. We do not eat out very often, but in the effort of full disclousure we eat at our church every Wednesday night. So one dinner every week is taken care of. We also host a dinner group on Sundays at our house and it works like at potluck for the most part.
So how will this work? I guess I'll update every week with how much I've spent and saved from our normal budget and what the cumulative totals are for the 6 wk challenge. I think I might see if a few of my friends will join in-it's always more fun when you can share it with someone. So look at your budget can you reduce it 50% for 6 wks? If your budget is $100 per wk and not $50 like mine don't worry, just try to reduce by 50%. You'll be suprised what you can do! So go get started and HAPPY SAVING!
February Week 3 grocery trips
Right Side
Left side
EverythingSo a few of my friends are wondering what do I spend my $50 per wk budget on. Well here it is. I actually will go over by $1 because I haven't bought milk yet. As you can see I buy bread, eggs, and at least a few fresh produce items(this time it was only potatoes) every week. I still had some fruit left from late last wk that will last us until shopping day again. I bought more meat than usual. We have a Sunday night study group that meets here every wk and it was my turn for the main dish. Also diapers were on a good deal again so I bought 3 pkgs(only 1 is in the pic).
Totals before: $161.35
Total OOP: $47.22
Savings of : $114.13 or 74%
Living on $1500 for a year?
Okay so I was sent a link to this lady's blog about living on $1500 a year for groceries, personal items and co-pays and of course I was intrigued so I checked it out. I'd offer the link but I think the blog has since been removed.
First of all her family of four drinks 5 gallons of milk per week-WOW! Just that cost alone is over $600 in a year. She has already spent over $400 and we aren't even done with February yet. So unless something drastically changes it doesn't appear as if she will make it. She does say that she started with a fully stocked pantry, which I believe is a must even if you weren't trying to do her challenge. I wish her well and even if she doesn't make it, as she points out it still helps her be more aware of her spending habits.
I think that I'd like to do my own challenge, but I'd like for it to be more realistic. I keep a fully stocked pantry and a well stocked freezer so I'd already be setup for success in that respect. I agree with her that we should all be good stewards of what God has provided for us, and I'd like to see how much better our family can be.
First of all her family of four drinks 5 gallons of milk per week-WOW! Just that cost alone is over $600 in a year. She has already spent over $400 and we aren't even done with February yet. So unless something drastically changes it doesn't appear as if she will make it. She does say that she started with a fully stocked pantry, which I believe is a must even if you weren't trying to do her challenge. I wish her well and even if she doesn't make it, as she points out it still helps her be more aware of her spending habits.
I think that I'd like to do my own challenge, but I'd like for it to be more realistic. I keep a fully stocked pantry and a well stocked freezer so I'd already be setup for success in that respect. I agree with her that we should all be good stewards of what God has provided for us, and I'd like to see how much better our family can be.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Rolly Pollies
So we had an amazing time yesterday at Rolly Pollies with our mommy group. This place was like kid heaven(and mommy's too-after the nap Abby took). It was full of cool things to do like a mini roller coaster, a bounce castle, an inflatable slide, a tumble track, and who could forget the pit(certainly not grandma-we had a fun time trying to get her out). In addition we got to spend some great time with grandma, cousin Emily and many of our friends. We can't wait to go back!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
