So. About that budget. I think it’s time for an overhaul, don’t you?
People are always asking…. Does your grocery budget include toiletries? {No, becuase we don’t eat them} Does it include going out to a restaurant or take out? {No, because I’ve always put them in a different category}. What about getting a cup of coffee or a pastry?
So this year I’m going to do something a little different. Instead of having a separate category for date nights, take out, AND groceries, I’ve decided to group them all together {toiletries will still be excluded}.
That way you can get a better picture of what we spend on FOOD in GENERAL. Vacation food though, well, that’s still going to stay in my vacation budget. Because vacations in my opinion, are a vacation from normal life. Some people splurge on souvenirs, but we, we tend to splurge on cafe’s and bakeries instead.
Okay. So this is how our “food” budget for 2017 breaks down:
- $150 a month for groceries
- $100 a month for take out/date/restaurant meals/bakery treats
Easy peasy. Right?
The reason I decided to up our grocery budget from $100 to $150 a month was to take the mental pressure off trying to come in around $100 each month and then feeling bad that I wasn’t able to reach that goal. When really, with my days of extreme couponing behind me, was kind of a silly expectation to try and maintain. Although I still buy an occasional treat, as a family we are eating healthier than we ever have before. Which, is pretty awesome if you ask me.
We are also eating less meat than we did 5 years ago and most of last year our freezer was only filled at about half it’s capacity. It was a total waste from an energy {and financial} standpoint if you ask me. Which is why I plan to sell the extra freezer that is currently parked in our garage once I use up all the food and empty it.
As for our take out/date/restaurant meals/bakery treats budget? I think $100 a month is a pretty good amount for us. Last year, one of my goals was for the HH and I to get out of the house and go on a bunch of dates. Which we enjoyed, but a few times it felt like we were going out to eat at a restaurant just for something to do. Immediately after paying our tab I felt like I we had just wasted our hard earned money. There was no pleasure in the fact that we had just gone out and done something “special” because we were doing it so often.
Now I know there are tons of people out there who go out to eat/order lattes/get take out several times a week. But that’s not us. And I don’t want it to be either. So I’m hoping by being flexible and allowing ourselves $250 a month for food and meals out in general, it will all pan out to $150 a month on groceries/$100 a month on other meals/treats in the end.
And then there is the other reason for upping our grocery budget. For Christmas, The Girl and I were gifted 3 ah-mazing cookbooks from my mother:
I had put The Whole 30 on request at the library back in september and would you believe I was still #6 on the waiting list by the time Christmas rolled around? Seriously. I’m thinking it’s a pretty good book if everyone is keeping it the full 3 weeks they are allowed.
I want to eat healthier this year. I want to slowly move away from eating as many sweets as I currently am and reduce the amount of sugar I’m consuming in general. The Girl wants to eat better too, for health reasons and because she’s trying to qualify for the 2018 Boston Marathon. What you put in your mouth DOES MATTER. And this is the year we both want to finally do something about it. {And the boys? Well they will eat whatever is set in front of them because they’re too lazy to make anything else}. 😉
Don’t get me wrong… there will still be treats {remember my goal of visiting 52 bakeries this year?} but just less of them. The goal is to eat more whole foods and less junkity junk.
For the majority of last year I kept a food log and jotted down what I ate for breakfast, lunch and dinner each day. It was a LOT of work and felt like a total chore so as a result, I don’t think I’m going to do that again this year. What I will do though is continue to share some of the meals we are eating, post new recipes, and be better at showing you ways you can shave a little off your grocery budget each week.
Any questions? What do you think of my new grocery budget? What do you think about me putting our groceries and eating out all into one category? And how much do you think you spend each month not only at the grocery store, but on takeout, treats and restaurant food?
I’d love to hear about it.
~Mavis
P.S. For those of you with the iBotta app there is a $0.50 rebate for American Beauty pasta. It’s on sale at Albertson’s for $0.88 each so just $0.33 after rebate! Go fight win!
For those of you who don’t know, basically Ibotta is way to earn cash every time you shop. All you do is check the Ibotta app before you shop for product offers, bonuses, new store coupons. Then, simply upload a picture of the UPC code and your receipt and get paid {via paypal or gift cards} once your balance hits $20. Join Ibotta with this link {my referral code} and get $10! Trust me, it’s easy.
Aretha says
I think Forest Feast is a beautiful book. I work in a kitchen store, it was a pleasure to suggest it to people looking for a gift for their vegetarian gift recipients.
Love the style of the book as well as the ease of the receipes.
Lilypad says
I just had Forest Feast Gatherings from the library last week—the photos and her art work are stunning! We tried the sugar snap peas with Parmesan last weekend and my husband and son were fighting over the cheese/bread crumb topping. She has written two other Forest Feast books too. I have been a vegetarian for almost 12 years so I’m always on the lookout for new cookbooks and recipes.
Jennifer says
Putting your eating out with your regular grocery budget makes much more sense.
Another possible goal: buying as much as possible—honey, grain, veggies, milk, fruits, meat—from local farmers (whose names you know). Your budget would probably need to increase by another hundred or so, but you’d be thinking beyond just your pocket and more globally/locally/environmentally.
Jen W. says
I think your food budget overhaul is a great idea. Looking forward to seeing how it works out for you. We spend a ridiculous amount of money on food – but we’re doing our best to change it. I look to you for inspiration and you always provide it. Thank you!
Each year we add a little more space to our garden to change things up. This year I’ve been looking at your walking paths from your last house and current house for ideas. I love how you arrange your spaces! Less grass, more garden.
Whatever you decide to do with your blog topics, I’m here to stay. Keep being a fabulous human Mavis! And as always, thank you for your posts. I really do enjoy them. 🙂
Susan says
I just had a question about The Girl. Is she going to school here now? And I don’t see you mention your home on East Cosst. Do you still own that? Apologize if this was explained earlier…
Been following you for about 5 years, thoroughly enjoy your writing!
Mavis Butterfield says
The Girl is going to school on the west coast now. We still have our home on the east coast.
Jennifer Meyer says
Just a thought; before you get rid of your freezer think about if you will be expanding your garden this year (I think I remember you saying that you were) and will need freezer space for extra berries and whatnot that you didn’t grow last year.
vicki rossiter says
I agree with using the freezer for extra veggies and berries from the garden . I remember growing up we would go to my Grandma’s, she had a freezer full of veggies and fruit from the garden. Even pies she had made up. There was very little meat in the freezer.
Jennifer says
Also, chest freezers use minimal energy…. (We’re considering getting a second….if we butcher one of our steers.)
beverly says
Oh No …those books look so good! You hit me at my weakness, buying books. That is on my 12 goals for the year; Don’t buy new books for 2017. I have a ton!!! The one that caught my eye..Run Fast Eat Slow…was a real temptation. But how can I mess up on day two of my goal. I will hit the library! Love your blogs.
Jenell says
Love the new healthy eating aspect as I am currently trying to lose 50 pounds doing Nutrisystem/Weight watchers which costs me 319.95 a month. I know you are probably horrified by that, lol So I am very excited to see health recipes and weight loss here on a budget:)
Marcia says
I like the new grocery budget. I think it’s still pretty darned good.
I also keep a budget, sort of. I don’t include:
1. toiletries
2. vacation food (that’s vacation budget)
3. eating out (that’s entertainment)
4. school lunches (I have no idea what category that’s in, maybe “mom’s sanity?”)
5. protein powder (I put that in health)
So your $100 a month is probably close to ours for eating out. Of course, our grocery budget is a lot higher because I don’t garden or get Zaycon credits or Zaycon meat (they delivered to our town exactly once, and the nearest delivery town is 30 miles away, and on a work day). We came in at $6700 and change last year. $2000 of that is our produce box ($40 a week). I’m okay with that. We eat healthy and we eat a LOT of veggies and fruit.
Denise B says
I set a similar goal this year! I am allotting $266.00/month for groceries/eating out for two adults, and$50.00/month for toiletries, dog food, & paper products. I did a Whole30 a couple of years ago, and, although it was difficult for me, it did change some of my habits long term. It’s probably one of the most worthwhile ventures I’ve embarked on in recent years. I started the Atkins Diet on January 1, and it is closer to the way I eat, and so far, I think it’s easy. I really didn’t have to make any changes, other than cutting out carbs. Good luck with your goals!
Tejas Prairie Hen says
I always appreciate your honesty. Do the Boy and Girl still eat all their meals with you, or is the $250 a month just for you and your husband?
Mavis Butterfield says
Monkey Boy still typically buys a lunch when he works {I’ve tried to convince him it’s a huge waste of money}.
Marcia says
Eh, he’s young. I remember being that age. I cringe at the amount of money I spent eating out. There were days I ate out breakfast lunch and dinner. Oh, the money I could have saved.
Sonja C says
Hi Mavis, I have been reading your blog fairly regularly for a year now. I was drawn to your food budget. I know I will never meet that kind of goal, but I budget $100 per week which includes household, toiletries, per supplies, etc. One goal this year is to track what I actually spend and see how close I actually am. Any money in my budget that does not get spent will go to pay down debt.
Sarah says
That whole30 book changed our lives last year. We have a whole new way of looking at food. Because of whole30, we greatly increased our meat and poultry intake and were shocked at the health benefits; I lost 30#, husband lost 50# and our 4 and 7 year olds’ behavior dramatically improved. If you’re considering a whole30 I wouldn’t get rid of the freezer until you get through the book.
mary mcmahon says
Hi, mavis, my budget is $340.00 per month for food…that is $11.75 per day. We Never eat out but entertain a lot w/ fully cooked-from-scratch food. We do eat more vegetarian food than the average family. Some months we have leftover $$$ and others we go over our limit…bet you can guess which months are which. My budget hits that are the highest are staples like flour, rices, baking supplies etc and lots of fresh produce. We do grow some veggies. I will be interested to see how your new amounts work out. Mary in Cincinnati
Sarah says
I’m new to your blog and all I can say is I’m impressed. My grocery budget is nowhere near what yours is and we don’t even eat out. Your budget is inspiring me to see what we can do to lower our budget while still eating healthy.
Melissa in Victoria says
$250 a month is still better than most! So happy that you’re going to stick with the blogs, as there are my daily favourites and I’ve learned so much! Hang in there 🙂
Claudia says
You budget Bakery Treats….. You are my MOST FAVORITE PERSON EVERRRRRR! And that doesn’t even include you visiting x amount of real bakeries this year!! Thanks for an awesome blog!
Maxine says
I don’t care how much you spend if you could give ideas on eating more veggies I’ll be eternally grateful! And extra credit for easy and quick as we work full-time and have one kid on two travel teams, and school sports so no time on most weekends. We spend $100/week at the grocery store which includes toiletries. We have our milk delivered and sometimes also get eggs, butter and a few other items for about $20-$30 a week. (I don’t drink alcohol but I LOVE milk, so the glass jars make it awesome. My daughter and even her friends can taste the difference – so it’s a splurge I know.). We also buy a 1/4 grassfed cow twice a year but I’m not telling you how much that costs. When we eat out, about once a week, the only fast food we do is Chipotle, so we seek out real restaurants. We’d make an exception if we could find a good New York style pizza place. I’m looking forward to your bakery stops, just please don’t share the calories!
Mountain Mama says
We bought a whole cow recently and the beef price came to $2.39/lb and this included butchering. We bought a big in the spring with the meat cost at $1.89/lb. These beauties graze on luscious, green, WV mountains and the taste difference is phenomenal! The cost difference and the convenience of having it on hand speaks for itself.
We buy bottled milk as well and won’t buy anything else. A friend of ours provides us with eggs of various colors that are delicious and free.
I learned to can through the Dept of Natural Resources program “Becoming Outdoor Women”. You can learn multiple skills and it’s in 44 states. We watched YouTube videos to learn how to build raised beds and built three last year. We are planning four more this year. I am determined to decrease our outgo this year even more and started tracking the cost and the savings inspired by you Mavis. My hubby thanked you yesterday when I had saved $129 in groceries n personals with the use of coupons, sales, Ibotta, SavingStar, and checkout 51. I plan to use the cash back rewards for Christmas. My life has changed!!!
Tracy says
Since you have asked for input, here’s mine. I live on a budget, and I’m pretty good at sticking to it. At this stage of my life, I am also able to have a bit of flexibility and the world doesn’t end if I go a bit over or under each month. I realize that this is not the reality for many and am totally respectful of that; for some people, every single penny counts and going over $10 here or there simply is not an option. Got it.
However, while I very much value budgeting and am a good little saver, I’ll be damned if I’m going to let the actual process become a time consuming ‘thing’. I generally think life is managed by the law of ’80/20′, meaning I want to spend 80 percent of my time on the most important 80 percent activities. I track what I spend when I go to the grocery store and I’ll be damned if I’m going to scrutinize every receipt and break out every toiletrie separately, etc. If I did, I’d be at risk of spending 80 percent of my time on 20 percent of my activities. I love to budget, make it simple, don’t worry about capturing every single penny and don’t get obsessive about it. I’m all for saving, but not for letting OCD get ahold of me, or channeling anxiety into counting things. I have a simple chart with about 20 categories, including a miscellaneous column. I keep it in my top desk drawer and every time I spend money, I note the amount in the appropriate column and add it all up at the end of every month. The whole thing takes about two seconds a day. I just totaled all the monthly sub totals up for 2016 and can honestly say I know where just about every penny went, know what I want to adjust for 2017, and didn’t have to get all nuts about it.
I’m glad you’re giving yourself some wiggle room, Mavis. Life needs some unstructured joy!
Alecsandrina Variny says
I budgeted $200/groceries and $100/restaurant for myself and two teenagers. Including toiletries. I hope to make it as it got cut by $200 this year. But I always love a challenge. And I agree, vacation food goes under vacation budget.
Helen in Meridian says
Don’t throw our the cream of tartar tin. Dump contents and scoop a couple of tbsp of Cream of Tartar from the bulk section at WINCO. You can’t believe how much cheaper it is on cream of tartar to re-use that tin. Quickly scan your Whole 30 Book and take it back to Costco and trade for the newer Whole 30 Cookbook that just came out last month. I haven’t opened my pkg (we open a present a day but am still trying to figure out this new I-phone dh bought. We have never had Apple things, and it is different from my Samsung 5). I was able to get the Whole 30 for $1.99 or $2.99 for my tablet, thanks to one of your posts. Santa is bringing the new cookbook when I get tired of learning how to use my new phone.
Teckla says
Thanks, Helen for the “Duh, Moment!” So simple, but just never thought of it, although I am trying to buy my herbs and spices in bulk as much as possible. I have some generic plastic bottles that I use, but reusing the tins makes perfect sense. Love how ideas get shared on this blog with Mavis!
Mavis, I so enjoy all of the suggestions, ideas and tips that you share, plus all the comments. Have followed you for several years now and have learned so much. Keep being “you” and keep up the good work!
Danielle says
We probably won’t miss the “what I ate” posts and are ready to learn new Frugal tips!
Combining groceries and dining out into one category makes sense as “what it costs to eat.”. 😉
Kate says
Woman! It’s been too long. I took a vacation from blogland. 🙂 Are you doing a January Whole30? It can be a budget buster, but I agree with a previous comment. Doing a Whole30 permanently changed some of my habits… for the better! Can’t wait to follow along!
Natalie says
I love the fact that you set a goal, naked a plan and then reassess with honesty. This is real life blogging, not someone just posting lofty and unattainable goals which leave the reader scratching their head and wondering how the heck they could ever incorporate some of the bloggers ideas. Thanks for keeping it real. I always enjoy your writing.
Robin in SoCal says
Great blog so happy to see the changes you are making. Here is a resource for inspiration on a few recipes and ideas to head more toward a plant inclusive diet. I did their 2016 food challenge and loved it. Best of luck to all of us willing to change it up and commit to accountability. http://ucdintegrativemedicine.com/
Tiffany says
My husband and I are only on day 2 of our Whole 30 experience but so far its great! I definitely think you should check it out, especially if you want to eat healthier and lose a bit of weight.
Jen@FrugalSteppingStones says
Now that we are done saving money for my graduate degree, we are increasing our food budget slightly too, from $100/week to $125/week. We keep $100 for entertainment expenses and use that for meals out as well as activities like seeing a movie or going to a festival.
Christy says
I think your budget looks great! I think your goal of $100/month the past couple of years is inspiring.. maybe not always meet it, but you get close and it is impressive!.
I really need to do the same toward lowering our monthly grocery (and eating out) budget. Thanks for the inspiration!
Heather says
If you combined the recipes from all these new cookbooks, what would your new pantry staples look like? How much almond flour would you need regularly or chia seeds? I have gotten frustrated in making the changes bc I can never determine what a pantry for this type of eating should look like. If you come up with a good starter pantry, I would be interested to know what is in it and how much of each item.
Mavis Butterfield says
Oh that is a wonderful idea for a post!!! Thanks Heather. I will try to do that.
AJ @ FurtherJourneys says
I did a Whole 30 a few years ago, I learned a lot about how my body likes to be nourished. I felt guilty about all the meat though. I received Oh She Glows Everyday for Christmas, they are vegan recipes, but you would never know it, they are so full of flavor. She has some smoothie recipes and the salted chocolate one is amazing. I HIGHLY recommend the book, I think for me it is the next step in choosing the best diet for my body as it incorporates veggies in ways I never would have thought (example: Cashews food-processed into a cream and then added into the Golden Lentil Soup. Amazing.)