Hi, I’m Mavis. I garden. I cook. I garden. I babysit chickens. I garden. I clip the occasional coupon. Did I mention I garden?
I’ve been known to grow a few tons {yes TONS!} of fresh fruits and vegetables in my very own backyard. But I’ve dedicated this year to downsizing, remodeling our house and installing a new vegetable garden. That’ll keep me busy.
I mean what else is a bored housewife living in high maintenance suburbia supposed to do? Oh I suppose I could kill time at the tanning salon or blow my money at a wine bar, but I’d rather squirrel it away for something cooler {filling your passport with stamps, anyone?}.
I’m not on this mission alone. I’m dragging my Handsome Husband, my daughter (The Girl Who Thinks She’s a Bird), my son (Monkey Boy), my adorable Puggle Dog, Lucy, along for the ride. {Seriously, Lucy is the best side kick EVER!} I also occasionally rope in my friends and neighbors (who’ve all suspected I lost my mind years ago, so they don’t even roll their eyes at me when I tell them what crazy plan I’m hatching next). Never a dull moment around here. Promise.
Lately, I’ve been a frequent guest on New Day Northwest. You can check that out HERE.
Or HERE are a few links to some recent media appearances.
Through the use of coupons, bartering, and my mad gardening skills, I’ve been able to shave a ridiculous amount of money off my family’s grocery budget through the years.
- In 2008 I spent $9,768 on groceries. An average of $814 a month.
- In 2009 I spent $7,584 on groceries. An average of $632 a month.
- In 2010 I spent $5,004 on groceries. An average of $417 a month.
- In 2011 I spent $1,198.64 on groceries. An average of $100 a month.
- In 2012 I spent $1,195.67 on groceries. An average of $100 a month.
- In 2013 I spent $2192.32 on groceries. An average of $182.69 a month.
- In 2014 I spent $1907.34 on groceries. An average of $158.95 a month.
- In 2015 I spent $1798.07 on groceries. An average of $149.83 a month.
- In 2016 I spent $2059.07 on groceries. An average of $171.59 a month.
- in 2017 I spent $2275.76 on groceries. An average of 189.65 a month.
- In 2018 I spent $2909.98 on groceries. An average of $242.50 a month.
- In 2019 I spent $2994.71 on groceries. An average of $249.56 a month
- In 2020 I spent $4785.20 on groceries. An average of $396.76 a month.
- In 2021 I spent $5500.29 on groceries. An Average of $416.69 a month. {Although I didn’t shop in October, November, or December of 2021
UPDATE: January 2022
Since I started this blog in 2009, how I save money at the grocery store has changed quite a bit. It’s gone from crazy shopping trips filled with double coupons and rebates and catalinas for free products where I could bring home several hundred dollars worth of groceries {for mostly pre package canned/boxed items} for pennies, to changing my strategy to buying in bulk and shopping local farm stands and low cost leaders at the grocery store.
And also, tossing in the towel a bit {like the last few years} and splurging on luxury items like fancy cheeses and artisan type foods just for fun.
And while we have drastically cut our food bill from where it was 14 years ago, saving money and gardening are not rocket science. You just have to have discipline and be willing to roll up your sleeves a little bit.
This year I’ve decided to go back to the beginning, and to the goal I had when I first started this blog and that is to eat simple, buy local, plant a garden and can as much food as possible this summer.
~Mavis
