 |
| Image Source |
January is No Spend Month at our house this year. We are doing it to bring our current spending more in line with our new one-income status and as a detox after the consumer-centric holiday season. Of course, buying less stuff will help us be more green and more resourceful as well. We usually spend about $500 on groceries each month. Instead, this month we will be budgeting to spend only $500 on all non-bill expenses including groceries, gas, household items, dining, entertainment, and yes coffee!
What We Spent
Last week we spent $165. This week we spent only $110. Thirty dollars went to gas. Since it’s only week two, we decided not to fill the tank all the way up. As always, $43 went toward our box of organic produce from our CSA, and I spent $28 at Whole Foods. That’s right. I made it out of Whole Foods spending under $30! Netflix got $9.
How We Did It
We started off the week eating a Salmon & Spinach Quiche. Eggs are a delicious and relatively inexpensive source of protein. It takes 3 1/2 eggs to equal one serving of protein, which costs us about 87 cents. Compare that to one serving of beef which costs around $1.87. The next day we had beef and lentil stew. Stew meat costs about half as much as steak, and if you put it in the slower cooker it will get nice and tender. Other low costs favorites are Cuban Green Soup and Quinoa and Black Beans.
What We Learned
What I realized this week was that we’re not just saving money by doing No Spend Month. I’m also saving an amazing amount of time. I only had six items on my grocery list this week. I was able to leave the house, strap BabyE into his carseat, drive to the store, grocery shop, check out in the express line, put the groceries in the car, go back into the store to find Baby’s hat that fell off, put Baby back in the car, drive home, and unpack the groceries all within 35 minutes! We have $225 left and over two weeks. I hope we make it!
I’ve just recently joined your blog, so you may already do this, but a good way to keep your meat oosts down is to buy local animals from local farms. I just bought a quarter cow (that I split with a friend…our family of four doesn’t eat that much beef…although the twins that are coming in June/July will most certainly change that) for $331.00. It’s grass-fed, organic angus with no antibiotics or hormones used. The farm is up the road from my home and I can stop in when I want. I also buy it directly from the butcher so I know the processing is done in a responsible manner. I’ll be buying a half a hog for $229 next week (also splitting that). If you go to http://www.localharvest.org you can find farms near you as well. Just thought I’d share what I know! We’re hoping to cut down to one income soon…once the twins arrive. I have been looking for other ways to cut down lately too! Thanks for sharing!
I have a friend who just did this. I would love to someday, but we don’t have room for a chest freezer in our one-bedroom. Do you think it would be way too big in a standard freezer that is part of the refrigerator? I think it’s going to be a must when BabyE gets bigger and we add more little ones to our family.
Congratulations on the twins. I’m wishing you a happy and healthy pregnancy. And thank you for joining my blog!
Is it a one bedroom house or apt? I ask because we keep one of our freezers in the garage to cut down on the cost to run ours, and the other is in the basement. Its too much for a regular freezer, but if you split a quarter three ways you might just make it fit. The other option is to go to that website I gave you and check and see if any of them will sell by the pound or by the cut. I know a lot of our farmers will, and our butcher definitely will. Good luck on the baby! And thanks so much for the well wishes! Is this your first baby?
It’s an apartment, so no garage. Thanks for the resource! I will look into it.
WOW~ You are amazing, very inspiring! I spend so much money on food. That is where all our money goes! I juice everyday, so lots of fruit and veggies for that. I dont buy anything from animals so most of our food is organic/local fruits and veggies! We went to whole foods today and spent 150$! And I will eat every last bit of all that food. And no I a not fat….lol! Good luck!! :)