Well, I have been conducting an experiment for a couple of week regarding buying most groceries with cash only to see what kind of effect it would have on my overall grocery spending. When I did all the shopping with a debit card, I went a little crazy, even while using a list and my expenditures could total up to $165.00 a week. With cash, I think it's like I know I am limited to a certain amount of money, so I am a little more careful with what I put in my cart. Even so, I actually stocked up on a couple of things, like dried beans, peanut butter, and cocoa. I am on a quest to stock up in anticipation of approaching winter weather or any tight budget times. Winters here have been mild the past year or two, but we always seem to have at least one bad storm and I thought it would be a good idea to keep some food on hand just in case. Well, back to my cash only grocery buying venture. In the past two weeks, my purchases have been $120.00 the Saturday before last and $100 last Saturday. Woo-Hoo! That meets my goal of $120 per week.
Well, I have about $24.00 left in checking now (allocating for 40.00 for mowing, but I don't think our mowing man will be coming by anymore this season). Our grass hasn't grown at all recently and will probably start to die off soon. So, if we still have it in the account on Thursday due to no mowing, I will send it to the credit card with the higher balance. Also, I am expecting a rebate of about $10.00 this week. It will go to the same credit card. I will not have anything I have to pay for this week until Wednesday when I have to buy some raw fruit for a fruit tray I am taking to a work party.
In my quest to reduce expenses, I have also been looking for tasty, and inexpensive to fix, recipes. I am also looking for ways to use stuff I already have. Here is my meal plan for the week.
1) Garbanzo Bean Salad (I add some chicken for a little more protein) - 2 lunch meals for me -
2) Pea Soup - The recipe says this is for 8 servings, but it looks more like 2 or 3 lunch meals to me - http://allrecipes.com/recipe/sweet-split-pea-soup/detail.aspx (already had dried peas and broth)
3) Leftover Ham and Bean Soup - 1 lunch meal for me - http://allrecipes.com/recipe/basic-ham-and-bean-soup/detail....
4) Mediterranean Kale Salad With Beef - 1 dinner meal for me and dh - http://allrecipes.com/personalrecipe/63344509/mediterranean-... - (already had onion)
5) Oatmeal with steva, almond milk, cinnamon, and ginger - 4 meals for dh and I - (already had oatmeal, stevia, almond milk, cinnamon, and ginger)
6) Eggs and Ham. Side of grapefruit. 3 meals for dh and I
7) Green Salad with turnip greens, chicken, sunflower seeds, tomatoes, carrots, apple cider vinegar, and olive oil - 1 meal for dh and I (already had turnip greens, sunflower seeds, carrots, and apple cider vinegar)
8) Green Salad With Chicken and Pecans - 1 meal for dh and I
9) mac & cheese - 4 meals for dh
10) tuna sandwiches - 3 meals for dh
November 4th, 2012 at 11:01 pm 1352070117
Jerry
November 5th, 2012 at 07:36 pm 1352144215
November 6th, 2012 at 09:42 am 1352194953
I always try to keep a full pantry and will do pantry challenges once every 3 or so months where I try to only buy milk and bread.