January 6th, 2008
This year has definitely started off better than last year. I finally have some goals set. I have given myself some parameters within which to operate. Watching Jane4girls and her $800 a year grocery budget really made me start to think about setting goals and how to reach them. So, for this year, I have made some goals. I will not call them resolutions, those are just made to be broken, kind of like diets.
First and foremost, each month I will have a written budget for that month before the month begins! Ala Dave Ramsey, spending every dime on paper. Sticking to that budget 100% and if something has to change, knowing that I will have to move it from somewhere else (another category). Any money left over at the end of the month will be moved to savings.
I have started a savings category for bills that will come occasionally, like car insurance and property taxes and will take them out monthly so there is not a problem (read:panic) when they are due.
Things like car maintenance and clothes and furniture replacement....these all need to be funded, but just a little at a time. And, I will keep an emergency fund that is truly designated just for that. A true emergency.
Now on to the food budget. Right now, I'll admit, I am a little chicken. I have it set higher than I think I need it. I set it at $300 a month for our family of four. (2 teenage sons, dh and myself) We do have a fair amount of things stockpiled, but I have not been keeping track of anything for the last 2 1/2 months and I want to make sure we are in good shape before I lower it. Does that mean I will spend that much? I sure hope not! :shrug7: I am aiming a lot lower. I just have to get dh back in the habit of not running to Walmart and overpaying for cokes.
This year has definitely started off better than last year. I finally have some goals set. I have given myself some parameters within which to operate. Watching Jane4girls and her $800 a year grocery budget really made me start to think about setting goals and how to reach them. So, for this year, I have made some goals. I will not call them resolutions, those are just made to be broken, kind of like diets.
First and foremost, each month I will have a written budget for that month before the month begins! Ala Dave Ramsey, spending every dime on paper. Sticking to that budget 100% and if something has to change, knowing that I will have to move it from somewhere else (another category). Any money left over at the end of the month will be moved to savings.
I have started a savings category for bills that will come occasionally, like car insurance and property taxes and will take them out monthly so there is not a problem (read:panic) when they are due.
Things like car maintenance and clothes and furniture replacement....these all need to be funded, but just a little at a time. And, I will keep an emergency fund that is truly designated just for that. A true emergency.
Now on to the food budget. Right now, I'll admit, I am a little chicken. I have it set higher than I think I need it. I set it at $300 a month for our family of four. (2 teenage sons, dh and myself) We do have a fair amount of things stockpiled, but I have not been keeping track of anything for the last 2 1/2 months and I want to make sure we are in good shape before I lower it. Does that mean I will spend that much? I sure hope not! :shrug7: I am aiming a lot lower. I just have to get dh back in the habit of not running to Walmart and overpaying for cokes.
Oops, forgot to check in!
Posted 09-24-2008 at 10:42:09 AM by kmmmom
So, I have neglected my poor blog. How's it going? Well, the budgeting is getting easier. Sticking to the budget has gotten easier (for the most part) 
I found that I was having trouble sticking to the $300 budget for food and actually was spending all my restaurant budget and my personal blow money on eating out because I didn't have the right food in the house.
So, I upped my grocery budget to $400. I am keeping a log of my grocery purchases on another site and let me tell you, when I know that every penny is being accounted for on an open site, suddenly every penny is being counted! I have 1 week left and I still have $82.16 left to spend (or save). I'm actually in pretty good shape as I have most everything I need for the rest of the month.
I also ordered from Angel Food Ministries. I've never ordered from them before, but out of this months budget, I spent $51 and will get a box with 7 days worth of meals and a second box with 5 more dinners already cooked. Hopefully these will be good and the family will eat them. If all goes well, I'll order a couple of boxes from them next month and slowly I should be able to bring my grocery cost more in line.
Life is good!
I found that I was having trouble sticking to the $300 budget for food and actually was spending all my restaurant budget and my personal blow money on eating out because I didn't have the right food in the house.
So, I upped my grocery budget to $400. I am keeping a log of my grocery purchases on another site and let me tell you, when I know that every penny is being accounted for on an open site, suddenly every penny is being counted! I have 1 week left and I still have $82.16 left to spend (or save). I'm actually in pretty good shape as I have most everything I need for the rest of the month.
I also ordered from Angel Food Ministries. I've never ordered from them before, but out of this months budget, I spent $51 and will get a box with 7 days worth of meals and a second box with 5 more dinners already cooked. Hopefully these will be good and the family will eat them. If all goes well, I'll order a couple of boxes from them next month and slowly I should be able to bring my grocery cost more in line.
Life is good!
Total Comments 5
Comments
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What a coincidence I just received an email from a friend about Angel Food Ministries and showed it to my sister and her husband and I think we both are going to order from them. I too am hoping that they are good...Posted 09-24-2008 at 05:18:38 PM by Bev71
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What is this Angel Food Ministries?Posted 09-25-2008 at 12:08:33 AM by mom2Isaac -
Hmm, I used to run AFM at our church. The food is, um, all processed. The meat was... well we ordered a box and ate the cookies. Everything was offbrand. I really don't think it was worth the money. The "extra's" you can add on to your main order are better. But, still. You can do better by sticking spending $25 on coupons and getting the food on sale.
Just my opinion. I know quite a few who like it.Posted 09-25-2008 at 04:27:46 AM by BigDog -
I would have to agree that when I ordered angel food once and the quality of some of meats was less than desire just my honest opinion!Posted 09-25-2008 at 10:33:08 AM by jordonwilliamson - So, I upped my grocery budget to $400. I am keeping a log of my grocery purchases on another site and let me tell you, when I know that every penny is being accounted for on an open site, suddenly every penny is being counted! I have 1 week left and I still have $82.16 left to spend (or save). I'm actually in pretty good shape as I have most everything I need for the rest of the month
What is the site you use to keep track of your spending?Posted 09-29-2008 at 11:12:25 PM by jfergie05
