I am on day two of the $30/week budget. So far so good, but I haven't really felt like shopping today or yesterday. I think that as the month moves on, it may become more difficult.
My co-workers and I got together so that Kat could teach Mariko and I how to crochet. Kat suggested grabbing pizza, but as we were all on a budget, I started thinking of cheap options. Then it hit me like a thunderbolt! Little Caesar's has hot $5 pizzas available all day everyday. Split 3 ways with tax, it was only about $2 each. Very nice. Pair that with the soda I already had stocked up on when it went on sale for $0.69/2 liter, and we were set.
My hope is that I will stumble across the secret to truly saving money. It isn't just about cutting back here and there, it's about making changes. It's about giving up on things that really don't matter than much anyway. I don't need new dress shoes, but look at where that $40 could go - toward a trip somewhere exotic! Or perhaps toward an evening out with friends. Either way, if I can go without, I need to do so for right now. This may be a bit trying, but I plan to make it through the month and maybe have a few dollars tucked away.
Saving in Seattle,
~K
Bless you, woman. I tried the $30 a week thing. It's hard, but so doable. I had to make sure I was stocked up on the basics before I could fully commit.
ReplyDeleteI bought lots of brown rice in bulk from the health food store; the brand packaged kind will cost you 5/lb whereas the bulk kind costs 2/lb. I also buy lots of dried beans (the bagged kind; you can buy those for dirt cheap and get SO much.) Since they aren't canned, you won't be eating any crazy preservatives. Also, I'll take having to soak a serving or two overnight over buying ready made servings for 2-3x as much ANY day.
I also started buying my produce at a Farmer's Market. So much cheaper. CouponMom.com is also a great way to save money at the grocers. Lots of interesting ways to save money.
Good luck!
Food seems to be the easiest place to save money - that and cable, perhaps. Those are the two areas where I will always scrimp. However, scrimping there, for me, typically means splurging elsewhere - i.e. shoes.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever heard the Carrie Bradshaw quote - "When I first moved to New York and I was totally broke, sometimes I bought Vogue instead of dinner. I just felt it fed me more." That is me to a T - minus the New York thing. :P