I’m having a really hard time trying to decide what to do next year. I mean, do I want to continue trying to spend one hundred dollars a month on groceries?
The obvious answer would be yes. After all, why on earth would I want to go back to spending $400, $600 or even $800 a month on groceries if I was able to go an entire year spending only $100 a month?
But then again, if I were to cut myself a little more slack, the HH and Monkey Boy could eat Doritos and drink Coke a Cola on a whim, The Girl and I could hang out at Panera and our family could go out to eat in real a restaurant more often rather than going to the Costco food court for a weenie and soda.
We could be normal. We could throw our money away like regular people and I wouldn’t have think about it constantly.
We could eat Kentucky Fried Chicken. I could pay $4 for a box of Girl Scout cookies. I wouldn’t have neighbors bringing dead animals to my door wanting to barter their catch of the day for a few cans of free soup or Hamburger Helper. I could pay $5 for a tube of Crest 3-D white toothpaste for my crappy British teeth instead of using the free toothpaste of the month I picked up at the grocery store with double coupons.
I wouldn’t have to roll out of bed at the crack of dawn to find the best deals. I could give my fingers a vacation from clipping coupons. I could stop bringing pasta salad to potlucks and I could happily pay full price for Hidden Vally Ranch dressing.
I don’t know. I don’t know what I want to do. Do I stay on the same path or walk down a different road?
Would paying full price make me happy? Or would it make me crazy?
What do you think?
Do you think I should do it again? Do you think I could go lower? Or do you think I should start paying full price again for everything like a a normal person?
Jen CD says
I think you should go LOCAL.
Alexis says
If I were you I’d go 200 a month, then you could have the best of both worlds! You have a special talent and it’d be a shame to waste it, but life should be enjoyed eh? Definitely interested to see what the verdict is.
Jennifer Jo says
Ooo, I like Jen CD’s idea.
Kathy says
Jen CD’s idea is good!
I look at it this way, there was a time where my family had to eat beans & rice 4 days a week due to money problems, and only bought them at the massive deep discount stores. Now we shop at the local grocery store, and even though the meat is 10 cents more a pound, it’s going to a local family that we know…. My food bill is higher, but I’m comfortable with it, and if need be, we can still eat beans & rice.
Kari says
NEVER PAY FULL PRICE! I think you should still use your amazing talent to get the best deal possible, but increase your budget slightly. Even an increase of 50-100/month would give you the cushion to eat out and enjoy more! BTW, you are such an inspiration. Thanks for sharing your journey with the rest of us 🙂
Carolyn says
I like a combination of the two ideas posted above. Increase your budget by $100 but stay local.
desi says
I think you have done an awesome job this year. What talent you have and the ability to save so much money is awesome. Maybe you could use another $50 a month though so you can buy your bread and milk plus some splurges and being able to eat out. I know for me personally I have noticed what other people are willing to pay for their food and I’m not willing to give away my money like that, I have other plans for it. For those wanting you go go local maybe there is a nice farmers market around that $15 bucks a month could go towards or whatever. Some may say that shopping at Albertsons is not local but to me I’ve gotten to know my cashiers and without all of us shopping there they would be without a job. What did you do with all the money you saved this year? Sorry about writing a “Book” for you. 🙂
desi says
I’ve had a thought, rare hehe. You should do whatever meets the needs of your family and makes you, the HH, and the kids happy.
You Can Call Me Jane says
Wow. Good question! The first thing I thought of when I read the title of your post was your garden. What about increasing your monthly food budget so you don’t have to live like a crazy person, but focus on how much money can be saved by growing your own? For example, weighing your crops and comparing the cost to what you would have paid in the store for that same produce (local or otherwise). I know a garden isn’t feasible for everyone, but I think it would be really fun to watch- you could tally on the side the cost of growing vs. buying at the store, etc. I’ll stop rambling. I can’t wait to see whatever it is that Mavis has in store for us this year!:-)
Misty says
I say keep saving!! I agree with Kari’s comment above..LOL
Down This Road says
keep saving! maybe with a goal of more donation to the food drive at school, or just the local food bank, or something on that order. keep up the great work!
nancy says
Funny that you ask this question because I was wondering what you would plan for 2012! I like several of the above comments – – never pay full price, increase your budget to give yourself some breathing room, and go local. Whatever you decide to do, I’ll be following you 🙂
Tina says
I would love to see you continue for 2012. It inspires me to keep saving!
Laura L says
Since the cost of food keeps climbing, I think you could allow yourself a bit more per month–say $25 to $50 more–at least. Maybe you could do the $100 per month for the first quarter, and see how your purchasing power compares with last year’s. It might give you the direction you want to go for the rest of the year. My hat is off to you! It’s not an easy task.
Qathy says
Uh, your “crappy British teeth”? (Oh, I beg of you, as I’m ROFL, please explain).
Heather says
I love all the ideas, but go with your gut (and your families), it seems to have never steered you wrong so far. Plus, it might be a riot to hear about your adventures when you actually do “splurge!” Either way, we all will be cheering for you!
(PS. Does it mean that you would have to change your blog name then?)
Robin says
You’ve done an amazing job this year. I’m sure it wasn’t easy walking the fine line btwn sticking to $100 a month and making your family happy. Now that you know you can do it perhaps its time to strike a balance with the HH and crew. I know my daughter and I love having lunch just the two of us at Panera every once in a while. I say take advantage while you still have them at home and the crew still want to hang out with you. Bribing my 16 year old with lunch at his favorite taco shop keeps me in the loop sometimes on things he has on his mind that just haven’t come up during the normal craziness of every day. Dinner out as a family without having a discount coupon is also very nice once in awhile. Take care, Robin in SoCal
Lynn says
Your blog, along with the “FabulesslyFrugal” blog, has helped me so much this past year. I began the coupon journey this past year and have learned so much from you. I also love reading about your gardening adventures as well. My personal goal is to live on $250.00 per month for food/paper goods/toiletries. That is more than 1/2 of what my family and I were spending. I would love to go lower…but with having a full-time job, I just cannot take as much time as I would need for couponing…if I want to also have a life with my family.
Whatever you decide…I am sure to follow your blog. I too am a gardener and a Pacific Northwesterner…so we have a bit in common! Happy New Year to you.
Heather S. says
Didn’t you do the only local before? I thought I remember when reading back on your old blog that you did everything local for a while. I think that we would all still be impressed if you gave yourself a little slack – like $150/month or something like that. And that would allow you a little splurge room. I can’t imagine that you would let it all go… You seem to love traveling and I’m sure if you went back to your old grocery spending ways, you wouldn’t be able to do it as much. In doing this, your family is probably so much better off without eating out (and without the doritos and coke), and you are offering them so many great opportunities with being able to see so many places. Either way, I think your super funny, love reading your blog, and can’t wait to see where or what you do next!
Emily says
I also vote to go more local, and/or less packaging. We spend about $450. per month for our family of four, and I’d love to see a lower budget but still local/organic/homemade (which is our general food philosophy)!
Challice says
You have done FABULOUS! Be very proud of yourself. I have tried this so often but havent been able to accomplish this.
Insofar as should you continue… why not? I would give yourself a bit of leeway for the splurges like doritos and whatnot but would it really be an extra $100 a year? I personally wouldnt know because most of the splurges you mentioned have wheat and my family cant have that. 😉
I have learned a lot from your blog. A friend of mine barters all the time with me. Back and forth we go. Its been fun!
Melannie says
I would love to see you inventory your stockpile so we know your starting point and then list how you use it along with the items you buy through your weeks menu’s.