You spend how much on food every month?!
Last month I ventured into the unknown and created a food and drink budget. Yes, this frugal guy had created a budget in prior months, but time after time, I was over $400 per month. It was ridiculous and hurting my chances to stay out of debt.
Working 60 to 80-hour weeks made me tired, cranky, hungry, and constantly on-the-go. I was stressed, and had all the symptoms of having four positions: counselor, student, instructor, and writer.
I’d frequently feel hungry and be without food, which was a recipe for disaster. Preparing lunches was a mental hurdle, as I would constantly procrastinate to avoid it. I spent way too much money on fast food (i.e., salad bars, Subway, etc.).
Even when I packed snacks and lunches, I blew through it and bought more. I was hungry and I let that natural desire overpower my frugal side.
Individual and social pressure to make a change
Frankly, in the frugal community, $400 per month for a single guy’s food and drink budget is embarrassing. Cue the chortles and disdain. But perhaps I can circumvent and prevent a potential audience-led diatribe by saying, I want to own it.
I was failing to properly save in this domain. Something had to be done.
Then, I saw an article by a fellow personal finance blogger, Laurie, of The Frugal Farmer. She explained how her family of four spent about $215 on food for one month. My cheeks reddened. Here was an entire family doing a better job than this one guy.
After that article, and in the face of a new year, I decided to set my own goal for January: $200 for all food and drinks. If they could do it, why couldn’t I?
This isn’t going to be easy, is it?
So, in January, the month of resolutions, I decided to embark on this new budgetary goal. Like a Messiah warrior preparing to do battle, I wanted to defeat this budget buster.
Pulverize! Demolish! Obliterate!
I thought, “This should be easy enough. I’m a single guy, and don’t have fancy meals. Yes, I have some allergies, but that shouldn’t affect my shopping much.”
Four days passed before I went to the grocery store. The trip came in just over $74. I remember my buddy asking me whether I could make it the rest of the month.
“You only have $125 left, then,” he said.
My reply was cool and nonchalant, “Well, I actually spent a bit of money on food while traveling back to Iowa from Colorado, and went on a date the other day. In total, I’ve spent $125.”
He smiled and shook his head. And I stubbornly stayed optimistic. Little did I understand, it wouldn’t take me long to cross that $200 line.
Timeline of my busted food budget
For the purposes of this month experiment, I took day-by-day notes of what I had purchased and why. The following is a timeline of purchases and inside look at how I totally failed.
Day 1: $8.05 (McDonald’s breakfast, drink later in day)
Day 2: $12.19 (Dinner while traveling)
Day 3: $0
Day 4: $103.35 (Breakfast date and groceries)
Day 5: $0
Day 6: $2.28 (Coffee)
Day 7: $5.04 (Coffee date)
Day 8: $0
Day 9: $0
Day 10: $0
Day 11: $52.53 (Bar date and groceries)
Day 12: $0
Day 13: $6.34 (Groceries)
Day 14: $4.92 (Snacks)
Day 15: $0
Day 16: $10.40 (Groceries)
Day 17: $54.38 (Groceries)
Day 18: $0
Day 19: $28.42 (Groceries)
Day 20: $0
Day 21: $0
Day 22: $0
Day 23: $0
Day 24: $45.82 (Groceries)
Day 25: $0
Day 26: $28.97 (Groceries)
Day 27: $0
Day 28: $0
Day 29: $0
Day 30: $0
Day 31: $0
Total: $362.69
What the heck did I buy?
Generally, I have a simple diet. The one caveat is that I’m on a modified gluten-free diet (low FODMAP) for IBS. Let me tell you that if I break away from these dietary restrictions, my intestines quickly fall apart and I’m lethargic, gassy, dyspeptic, and cranky. When I can follow the highly restrictive, plain diet I feel better. The consequence is that I have to buy some more expensive gluten-free items to feel healthy.
Breakfast foods
- Cereal (rice or corn-based)
- Oatmeal
- Eggs
- Turkey bacon
Lunch foods
- Gluten-free bread
- Turkey meat
- Sliced cheese
- Mustard
- Lettuce
- Peanut butter
- Jelly
- Spinach
- Carrots
- Cherry tomatoes
- Bell peppers
- Balsamic vinegar
Dinner foods
- Frozen salmon
- Rice
- Frozen vegetables
- Gluten-free pasta
- Tomato sauce
Snacks
- Potato chips
- Gluten-free pretzels
- Bananas
- Grapes
What went wrong with the budget and plan?
After I read Laurie’s article, I was amazed by their depression-inspired goals and budgetary constraints. Even though they weren’t able to keep it under $200, either, they were remarkably close (~$215).
I wasn’t anywhere close to my goal. There were various potholes and hiccups that I never expected when I first started this experiment. Here’s where I got tripped up:
Single, but dating
While I’m a single guy, on occasion I’ve been known to go out with women. I know, mind-boggling! Despite major movements and momentum in the dating world, men are still expected to treat for first dates oftentimes.
I went on a few dates this month, and that cost me $48.81. Ouch! That’s nearly a quarter of the total budget I started with.
There are various solutions to this problem: choose more affordable locations (i.e., coffee shops), stop dating, and/or pay for my own meals/drinks.
Fresh vegetables
After completing this experiment, I looked back at Laurie’s article to see how much vegetables cost her family. All I found was pasta sauce and potatoes. Clearly this had benefited her family’s budget, and reduced their total spending.
Despite vegetables accounting for much of the spend this past month, I refuse to budge on this aspect. Vegetables are low in sugar, high in vitamins, and incredibly fibrous. They’re too healthy to cut down or out.
One solution I could begin to adopt is buying more loose-leaf lettuces to make my own salad mixes. Also, I could likely buy more canned vegetables.
Gluten-free/low-FODMAP
The last problem I noticed was that my special diet restrictions caused my budget to balloon. Whereas a frugal-friendly loaf of bread (w/ gluten) sells for about $1, the gluten-free/FODMAP-friendly Udi’s white bread costs about $5. Additionally, the loaves are about half the size. In total, Udi’s gluten-free bread costs about 750-1000% more.
Similarly, pretzels can be purchased for about $1-2 a bag. But the gluten-free versions cost about $3.50. Over and over again, the dietary restrictions affected my ability to stay under that coveted $200 mark.
The solutions are more difficult to find on this front, too. Ideally, my body wouldn’t react like gluten-laden products were an intruder. Ideally, I could eat tons of legumes (beans) and bread products. I would have far more flexibility in saving and scrounging. The best I can come up with is to plan for meals and try to use rice more often than gluten-free pastas or breads. Rice is always cheap, and just so happens to be the most common food worldwide.
Reframing failure as lessons learned
Have friends and family behind you
When I first told my friends, they all expressed curiosity about how I’d do it. The budget was large in its smallness — it spoke louder than any sentence I could write. Pricelessly, my budget announcement and sharing brought people in and many wondered how they, too, could participate.
Self-compassion for “failures”
During this month, I overspent my budget by $162.69. That’s shocking, embarrassing, and a bit disheartening. I’m disappointed in my own perseverance, resolve, and planning.
Fortunately, I use “failure” casually. Research suggests that when people respond to these “failures” with self-compassion they can better correct future actions. I don’t actually see this month as a failure; rather, inspiration to keep working at my food budget and continue to find ways to reduce the spending.
I want to get to $200.
Sometimes frugality — to the extreme — isn’t healthy
Frugality in food tends to overemphasize the reduction of fresh vegetables and fruits and supplementation of carbs like bread and pasta. While these food choices feel filling, keep budgets happy short-term, and provide the base of many frugal meals, they can have negative health effects. Starches and carbs tend to lead to excess weight, as they are processed comparably to sugar in the digestion process.
Instead of sacrificing my long-term health for short-term financial gains, I look forward to making a truly healthy budget. Don’t get rid of the vegetables!
Food budget challenge — take 2!
January just ended, but I’m already signing up for another month of this experiment. This time I want you to join me!
If you’re already at $200, I’d love to hear how you do it. If you can’t imagine reducing your food and drink budget to $200, let’s try together. If you’re not sure you want to reduce your food budget, why not?
Who’s with me?
I’m in! I’m married, so shopping for two will double the budget to $400. My first thought when I read this was that you might want to set up a separate dating budget, so it doesn’t impact your food budget (or vice versa). And I’m with you on the fruits and vegetables. We started making smoothies last week, as part of an effort to be more healthy in general and help my husband’s eczema in particular, so I’ve been shopping around for inexpensive fruits and veggies. So far our best finds are Aldi, especially their sales, and an international foods market. Since I started trying to bring down our grocery costs six months ago, we’ve gone from spending over $700 to averaging around $500, but it went up a little last month ($535) with the added vegetables and some food we made for parties. We’ve stopped eating out completely. For snacks, my husband likes granola bars. Carrying something with you might help with the hunger-inspired splurges. Good luck!
Anne,
Happy to hear that you’re joining the $200 challenge (X2)! Keep me posted along the way and I’ll do the same. 🙂
You’re right that the dating budget might benefit from being in a separate budgetary column. At the same point, those were for dates that specifically included food and/or drink. I want to keep myself as honest as possible.
It sounds like you’ve done incredible work to reduce your food budget already. Well done! Thanks for the tips, I’ll use them this month for sure.
Best of luck,
Sam
I’m up for the challenge too! I agree with the comment above that the “dating” budget should possibly be separate.
I also wouldn’t say that you “failed” you still came in lower than you normally did.
Do you have Aldi’s up there? I can fill up a cart for about $50.00. They are starting to carry gluten free also.
Good luck!
Sherri,
There’s an Aldi’s. It’s a bit of a distance, and without a car, might be difficult to get there. Nonetheless, I’ve heard plenty of good things about Aldi’s, and I’ll have to check it out ASAP. Thanks for the heads-up about them carrying more gluten-free food! That’s awesome news!
Glad to have you in on the challenge!
Sam
I’d like to see an explanation for how to spend less than $200 (try closer to $150 a month on low sodium (less than 2g per day) microwavable, or open and eat food that matches with texture requirements of a 6′ 2″ man with autism and adhd who can’t cook simply because it’s either stare at the cooking food dead on for what seems like hours while starving or walking off to do something else which means that you’re going to notice the fire before you remember something was cooking, that doesn’t require much work to EAT (apples are more work to get the edible part off of than they’re worth), and will allow me to never ever ever be hungry, meaning that the serving size needs to be about 3 times normal people, unless I want to be flat out starving and contemplating hunting and devouring people in an hour. I can’t figure out anything that’s not either eat only once a day, or avoid eating altogether.
I think that if you’re trying to cut your budget literally in half, you’re going to have to plan for at least three months (maybe more) of figuring it out! You have to search out your triggers (why do you overspend on food?), your needs (gluten-free, etc), and spend time brainstorming solutions to those problems (ah! I buy a muffin at the coffeeshop every day; what can I have available to me at 2 pm that will be cheaper and *will actually prevent me from buying the muffin* — this is the part where it takes time to arrive at a solution, because it might turn out that having carrot sticks and hummus around is just not going to prevent you from the muffin buy, whereas experimentation might demonstrate that a couple pieces from a good chocolate bar will. Not that I have personal experience with this or anything.) On the practical specifics, can you eat brown rice? It’s more filling and healthier than white. I agree with you that moving away from high-priced GF products is going to help this budget a lot. You can make big pots of rice and just portion them out day by day (it reheats well in the microwave) to reduce the PITA factor. Instead of sandwiches, try rice bowls (same ingredients, but over rice.) As far as dating goes, I’d be straight-up with these women. “I’m a grad student. I won’t be poor forever, but right now I’m trying hard to keep within my means. Can we do coffee instead of the bar?” Honestly, if they don’t respond well to that you don’t want to date them. Also, personally, I always at least offer to pay my share. If the guy is obviously poor (actor, student) I actually insist. If he’s better off than me I usually make only a token protest and just let him pay, though 🙂
C,
These are wise words. What’s difficult is that every semester is different. By the time I spend 3 months figuring it out, it’s radically different. For instance, by next fall, I’ll likely have moved to new training sites and parts of campus. That makes for some challenging long-term planning. But I like what you’re suggesting here. What I can do is go back mentally and financially to see where I’ve tripped up and what usually gets me.
In many ways, I didn’t restrict beyond belief last month. When I crossed over $200, I recognized that line but didn’t stop spending. I wanted to see how I could do, reasonably. Then I crossed $300, and it hit me, I have a lot of work to do.
Knowing triggers and time periods of hunger is crucial, you’re absolutely right. For February I’ll be carrying snacks and all sorts of goodies on my 12-hour days.
Love your line. It’s honest, vulnerable, direct, and it also owns the situation I find myself in. Although, I don’t even won’t to allude to the future, which might include more financial freedom. I don’t particularly want to collect and build more as I age. Minimalism and frugality will be vital pieces for life — regardless of income levels. Hope that makes sense!
Your advice was great, C! Thanks so much. Hope you’ll check back in to read more along the way.
Sam
This month you tracked your expenses and that’s really important. You know your triggers now and you can start coming up with solutions to YOUR issues. This month will be better!
I would second grouping your dates wtih your entertainment budget instead of your grocery budget. There are plenty of free and memorable date ideas out there too if you’re looking to mix things up.
We’re a couple with a toddler and our budget for the year is $303/month. We have no dietary restrictions and we get fed twice a week at the in-laws (with leftovers), so our budget should be lower. In January we were over by $50, but we’re tryin to make that up this month, so we’re with you! (for $253, not $200)
I found another grocery bill. We’re in for $215. This will be a fun challenge this month!
Emily,
Yay! I’m so glad to hear you’re on board with this month’s experiment!
You’re exactly correct, knowing triggers is a vital step to correcting the problem areas.
When it comes to grouping dates into another budget, I’m hesitant. That sort of feels like cheating the experiment — especially when it might be food and/or drinks. I’m undecided on this part, but will definitely talk about it next month.
You got this!
Sam
I’m joining you. Last month I set a grocery budget of $500 for my husband and I. We came in at $608. Since I want to continue eating healthy I am going to again set a budget of $500 and try again. I didn’t keep track of what I bought, but no there were at least two canisters of coffee – which we are cutting back on in February. Good luck to both of us.
Savvy Working Gal!
I’m happy to hear it! Let’s do this. I believe we can. 🙂
Keep us all posted, and I’ll do the same.
Sam
I like many of the suggestions offered already. I would add: plan your meals ahead of time whenever possible and buy items with those meals in mind. Buy in bulk (in which case you could spread the cost over 2-3 months for those items, since they would last longer), look for sales, consider buying frozen veggies (better than canned at least!) when cost is better. You might also buddy up with 1 or more other people who want to buy in bulk and split the cost. This may help especially with gluten-free items. Good luck!
Debbie,
As a single guy, I like the idea of buddying up to try and save. Buying in bulk — in Costco fashion — could be difficult, though. I don’t have a car to drive all that distance, nor do I have a membership. But when it comes to regular purchases that’s a great idea!
Thanks for commenting,
Sam
I HIGHLY recommend investing in a breadmaker and some bulk ingredients from Amazon.com. You can make gluten-free and paleo bread for a fraction of the cost if you order the specialty flours in bulk. You can also get a lot of other dry goods for super cheap on Amazon and either split them with another gluten-free friend or freeze them.
Another tip for saving money on lunches is to completely stop buying lunch meat. It is SO expensive. I will usually cook some extra of whatever I am making for dinner and slice the leftovers cold for sandwiches (or make chicken salad with grapes, celery, and almonds)
My family of 3 spends about $75 a week on groceries and we eat mostly lean meats, fresh fruits and veggies, eggs, yogurt, etc. We don;t have gluten sensitivity, but I try not to eat a lot of it anyway when we can have more healthy options!
I;m joining in with a budget for one person at $200. I generally include food in with my spending allowance for the month and have been running at about $250 to $300. I am vegetarian, but do eat gluten. Some of my inexpensive buys are Amy’s lentil vegetable soup. It’s two meals for me with a little brown rice, avocado, or garnish Trader Joes has 99% fat free bean burritos that I top with avocado and yogurt ranch dressing, and I also enjoy their spelt risotto and asian vegetable rolls. I think the TJ items do have gluten though. I also like brown rice bowls with healthy margarine, soy sauce, or olive oil and veggies. I add beans, soy, or egg for protein. And, I often make Italian bowls or Mexican bowls which are like burritos without tortillas which are like burritos without the tortilla. Sauteing is really easy too. White beans and greens with garlic are great, but you can throw in just about anything. And lastly, I occasionally make a Vegan Smart pea protein shake for a late dinner, especially if I have over eaten during the day. That runs about $1.50 for a meal.
About the dating, coffee is a great star. The idea is to spend time together so you could then offer something like a walk, volunteering together, going to see something beautiful or unusual in your area, etc. Often, the women who are open to these things are good partner material.
Linda,
Wonderful to have you joining me!
I wish I could have more lentils and legumes. They’re inexpensive and wonderfully frugal meal components. Awesome protein! Unfortunately, I have a very difficult time digesting them as they’re high-FODMAP foods. Wish I had a Trader Joe’s around me! Ugh! Miss TJ’s.
Please keep us all posted along the way.
Sam
I’m right there with you bud – and feeling pretty good going over my January budget this morning… I have also given up gluten/wheat products recently, and am feeling so much better. I also felt that as a single guy I was spending way too much on food, especially when i start with a relatively simple diet to begin with. I used my crock pot 4 or 5 times in January, and this was a big success — roasting chickens and doing ground turkey/cabbage meals that would deliver 5-6 meals each. My food budget had been $232 (based on averages from recent months and wishful thinking). I was really happy to come in under budget at $215! I do see a couple things in your budget that sent up red flags — I agree with others that you need a separate category for dating costs. I would strongly recommend getting away from the pricey gluten-free products (I use none). Definitely more rice, and more cooked potatoes for starch would help to fuel your carb needs. Instead of the pretzels, try tortilla chips – they’re less expensive and really solve my snack foods cravings. I buy packaged peanuts and granola bars at the Dollar Tree, and they fill in the gaps nicely too – and really help with the budget! I buy only unpackaged lettuce and just tear and wash what I need each time I make a salad (and I always add some cubed ham and grated cheese to those, as well as whatever other veggies I desire, so I’m keeping the protein going). Frozen veggies steamed are a lifeline for me too, and a big bowl of those with cottage cheese or rice are a favorite meal too (strongly encourage you to stay away from canned anything – way too much sodium – that was making me feel awful too). I’m hoping to dip below $200 this month, and feel that I can actually do it with a little more time spent on cooking – again, that crock pot is really a useful tool… Good luck!
Tod,
Your pro-gluten-free suggestions were awesome!!! This is what I needed to know to diversify my food options, while staying frugal. You’re absolutely right that some cooked potatoes will greatly lessen my food budget costs, and provide plenty of carbs for energy (which I need — constantly exercising). Also, good point about buying tortilla chips over pretzels — way cheaper and still filling. Should’ve done this a while ago!
Good point about staying away from sodium drenched canned foods. Definitely will avoid them. Based on your comment and other’s advice, I’ll stick to frozen veggies. Then I can season as desired.
You’re so close to $200! Best of luck getting there.
Sam
hey thanks Sam! Think I forgot one last rec – tuna salad (or salmon or canned chicken (I know, sometimes I go for easy over best) for lunch. Again, dollar store great for these, add a little relish and mayo – eat with tortilla chips. Good protein & carbs, and lunch for about $1.50 or so 😉
Another El cheapo snack idea is popcorn. Buy unpopped kernels. Put 1/4 cup in a brown paper bag fold down inch sized fold a few times microwave on high for 2mins or until 1-2 pops per second. Serve! (Or add toppings and serve)
Make some up in the morning before work to take. Or even better if you have a microwave at work, make everyone jealous with the smell!!! (Smells like the cinema)
Larissa,
Love me some popcorn! Another wonderful idea. 🙂
I frequently make mine on the stovetop, and then microwave some butter to drizzle over the top. Yum!
Sam
Great suggestions! You also may need to up your fat intake so you won’t feel hungry all the time! Avocado, butter, olive oil are a healthy source of fats, and contrary to “common” belief, fat does not make you fat. Fat will make you feel more full.
I agree with others that your dating meals should be moved over to entertainment. I believe all meals eaten out should go under entertainment. Our household budget for two is $400/month. That also includes light bulbs, dish soap, shampoo, wax paper, etc. so on food we probably spend $375.
I’m also a single person and I’ve recently also been on a quest to lower my food budget from more than $500/mo to “as low as possible”. My food budget includes provision for vitamins/supplements (which averages out to roughly about $45/month if I’ve calculated correctly) which I take mostly by choice because I wish to optimize my health and energy levels, although I have some relatively minor medical concerns I’m treating with diet and supplements as well. Over the past two months, I have been transitioning to a plant-based, gluten and dairy-free diet. I eat as many fresh vegetables as possible, including juicing them and have eliminated most refined sugars.
Last week, my grocery spending was about $45, including the weekly prorated amount for the vitamins/supplements and I think I can keep this up. How can I do this? Juicing my vegetables twice a week produces nutrient-rich plant fuel for my body which keeps my energy levels up more than eating refined sugars or carbs which cause me to crash and have the urge to refuel. I have cut out most coffee from my diet (a tough one because I love it, especially $5 lattes) but find I don’t have the urge to drink it as much with my new plant-based diet. I drink green tea in moderation. Cutting out refined sugar has had a similarly energy-sustaining benefit. The vegetable pulp from my juicer is made into vegetable patties or vegetable soups, surpluses of which are kept in the freezer for later use. Not only has my current diet change produced noticeably more sustainable energy levels but I am thinking more clearly as well which has a positive effect on my ability to budget my money.
The catch? Right now, I am spending huge amounts of time in my kitchen prepping food and on my computer researching new menu items that suit my dietary preferences. I am finding that with the passage of time I am becoming more efficient. I am fortunate to have this time currently to use in this way and it is an investment in my health and future well-being.
With different life circumstances come different priorities for our time and energy, which can be challenging when so many things seem pressing. I am hoping to be able to sustain the food changes and budget changes I am making over time and competing needs for my energy. I remind myself often that I can move forward in rebuilding my financial and bodily health, one inch at a time.
All the best to you Sam and thank you for your honesty in your blog.
Laurie,
Thanks for your thoughtful comment. It means a lot to me that you’ve shared a method that’s working for you!
It sounds like through a variety of nutrient sources — mostly plant-based — you’re getting everything you need. That’s great to hear!
I’m glad you mentioned that lots of time is spent in the kitchen preparing these items. For me, time is constantly a challenge. It’s difficult to have enough time to do elaborate pre-cooking or preparation. But I still think I can work my way down to $200! 🙂
All the best,
Sam
Great post and comments! I strongly agree with other commenters on making dates a separate line-item in your budget. If you categorize, it would go under social life or entertainment or even giving 🙂 – it has little to do with just feeding yourself.
We are a family of four with school-aged kids, and I’ve worked hard to get our food budget down to $350 per month. On top of that, my spouse and I have a separate date budget, and another line item for treats and drinks (beer, coffee, etc.).
I wish that everyone had a discount grocery store near them like the awesome one we have in our town – (eshsdiscountgroceries.com) – and maybe you do, but I know without a car your options are limited. And if you don’t have a yard to grow a vegetable garden, and don’t have extra time for home food preservation, or a big fridge or freezer so you can stock up when you find something on sale – it’s harder to eat good healthy food and keep your budget ultra-low. So don’t be too hard on yourself! But have fun with the challenge. I know I do 🙂
Julia,
I’m not sure if I can do it!!! Haha. I don’t want to cheat my readers and self from including all food/drink line items. If I’m paying for food — date or not — I want to include it. Now, if I go ice skating or something, I’m not going to include that! 🙂
Thanks for noticing the car-less lifestyle that I lead. That definitely changes my options and timing. Often I shop with friends, but it can be hard to save as much as going to a truly discount retailer — you’re right.
Your encouragement is awesome to hear! Thanks so much.
Sam
There are some great suggestions in the comments! Just to second a few…
I suggest you make a big pot of brown rice once/week — you can freeze portions or just eat over the course of a week.
Can you eat beans? I use my crock pot once/week to cook up a bag of dried beans (extremely cheap protein). My favorites are black beans, red kidney beans, and white beans. I also make lentil soups and dal (Indian lentil soup) in my crockpot — one batch = multiple meals, which I often freeze in individual servings. These cost less than 25 cents/serving and are very healthy and delicious.
My husband has celiac disease, so we went through the same phase of buying GF bread-like products. Eventually, he realized he could live w/o the breads — he uses brown rice or corn tortillas as a “vehicle” for fillings.
You hit on this — you can buy a head of lettuce and take the 10 mins to wash and spin it dry. Keep it in a ziploc baggie in your fridge and use it all week — this is FAR cheaper than buying pre-bagged lettuce mixes.
I suggest frozen vegetables over canned. No sodium — and much healthier and fresher. My grocery store runs a constant special on its house brand of frozen vegetables — big bags of basics like corn, spinach, peas, broccoli are often $1 each. Look for the kind that are just vegetables — no sauces w/ questionable ingredients.
One area where I don’t buy store brands is cheese — I splurge on good quality cheese, but use it sparingly.
As multiple folks mentioned, dating doesn’t really equal food — perhaps create a second category in your budget? I like the idea of a coffee date — the second date could be a delicious dinner you made for your new friend?
Great ideas Bette! Loved your last idea – my husband used to cook for me when we were dating, and I loved those meals together – which continued after we were married. Cooking together and for each other is something we really love to do. (I’m eating his pancakes for breakfast right now!)
Bette,
Thanks so much for your thoughtful comments! Wow, you have some great experience and advice.
Brown rice is definitely a good consideration. From what I understand, it has more fiber per serving, which might fill me up more, too. That’s a great suggestion! As for beans, I can’t really handle more than a small handful unfortunately. They cause intense intestinal distress that I don’t like to mess around with. Haha.
You’re right — having a “vehicle” is key. Rice or corn tortillas would be perfect! Thanks for the ideas. 🙂
Hope you’ll follow along with this month’s experiment to see how I do!
Sam
Just a thought…would it be possible to find a cart of some sort? With the risk of looking like a nerd, it could definitely benefit you and allow for some bulk purchasing. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Aosom-LLC-Wanderer-Cargo-Luggage-Bike-Trailer/27363088
I realize that may not be feasible with your budget, but purhaps craigslist would have one available. You may even be able to set a small amount aside each month. I think in the long run it would really help out.
The only way I have been able to keep a $200 budget with my husband and I has been through Aldi. I cook everyday (crock pot is my best friend) and we are able to keep everything very healthy! We do not have any dietary restrictions (so I feel for you on that) but we save so much when we make snacks or come up with alternatives that are natural (carrots, hummus, homemade granola/trail mix).
My husband is very sensative to sodium so I am very limited on anything premade or the frozen “just add water” options. No bueno. However, this isnt healthy anyway! So it has forced a cheaper and healthier lifestyle for us both.
Also, I have replaced a lot of the pasta style meals we love with quinoa. Quinoa, along with rice, are pretty much the most boring food ever in my option, but add some salsa, spices, cilantro etc…the possibilities are ENDLESS and great for keeping you full and happy 🙂 And Aldi now carries quinoa!! Woohoo for savings. I also believe it is GF. Best of Luck to you, Sam…you have chosen a great challenge but you CAN do it, you WILL get there and you will be so PROUD of yourself 🙂
I’m in! Though modified. I plan to use this new month of February to monitor and track what I currently spend on food so I have a baseline. Years back when the marriage ended and single parenting began, I tracked every dollar. I saved receipts, categorized spending, documented all. Kept it up for a few years until crisis mode ended and I realized we would survive. I am now a single ’empty-nester’ with employment challenges and a couple cats. So I’ll be in the sidecar, a step away from the main track, cheering you all on.
Anyone else here at a similar life stage?
Morles,
Happy to have you participating in the experiment with all of us! Yay!
Yes, you’re absolutely approaching it in the right manner. Start tracking meticulously if you can, and then you’ll be ready in March to slice/dice and save big!
Thanks for your encouragement. 😀
Sam
We eat mostly gluten free… Eliminating gluten around Mini Maroon’s first birthday stopped the recurring ear infections. We use corn tortillas as a bread substitute ALL the time. I never buy the gluten free breads because of the cost factor. Tortillas lend themselves to microwaving the insides – and who doesn’t love a warm sandwich! Rice cakes are also a great way to get an open-faced sandwich option. For veggies, don’t cut them out! Frozen is great and can be a little cheaper. But the added benefit that you don’t have to worry about spoilage and waste. Or choose to only buy the produce on sale at the time. I have moved to this approach. Requires a little creativity, but very doable and easy on pocketbook! A weekly produce run for our family of three is roughly $20-$25. Good luck! Looking forward to February’s results!
Mrs. Maroon,
Thanks so much for your comment and insight about gluten-free living. Between rice cakes, tortillas, and frozen vegetables, you’ve given me some great food for thought. 🙂 I’ll definitely be incorporating more of these items this month!
All the best,
Sam
PS. Just thought to write my best tactic — I ONLY buy what’s on sale! This is a completely different mindset and requires flexibility — leading to, for example, my current stash of 8 boxes of Triscuits b/c they were 2/$3 and I know I’ll use them over the next few months. Further — I’m not having mushrooms this week b/c they were expensive — but I’m having lots of bell peppers b/c they were cheap. Romaine was on my list but I bought red leaf lettuce instead b/c it was half the cost. Etc.
BTW, I’m living for two years in a studio apt in a strange city, w/o a car, for an exciting job — I’m recreating my grad school life, at age 57, LOL. I’m with you!
I feel like you could include YOUR food or coffee on the date but not your dates food. Put your dates food or drink in the “date” budget (the same as the ice skating etc. that you mentioned). I agree that a crock pot is key. You can cook a big pot of soup in not much time and eat it over rice or take it in a thermos to have for lunches. Even if you have a little freezer you can freeze some of the soup so that you do not get sick of the same all week. Cook chicken in the crock pot when it is on sale, cut in pieces, and freeze flat in bags. When you want to you can throw a bag in pan, add your vegges, and some sauce for flavor and have a quick stir fry. Just keep trying new things and you will get there. Having a freezer is key and if you don’t have one you may consider buying a small compact one. It will save you a ton in the long run. Because you can cook a couple hours a week and freeze in individual portions to pull out and throw in your lunch bag all week long. You can freeze rice too!! Good luck!
Donna,
Thanks for your date budget ideas. That’s a fair point. I’ll have to think about! 🙂
As for freezing meals, that’s a good suggestion. I’ll definitely keep you posted.
All the best,
Sam
My mom is a celiac so I know that the gluten free options are definitely much more expensive than the regular versions. As for the specific bread example you used, yes it costs more, and by volume you get less, but gluten free bread is usually a lot more dense so it’s much more filling from my experience. But we’re talking about costs here in which case it does cost a lot more, and most people probably wouldn’t eat half a sandwich or half a piece of toast…. So yeah that will make it more difficult for you.
But have you considered that your dates should go into the entertainment budget instead of the food budget? Yes you are getting food, but the primary focus of the date was entertainment, not spending money on food. It’s also not like you can really invite someone over for a movie and a casual night in during the beginning stages of dating.
I actually was about to post about my food habits soon myself, I know that I can easily go under $200 a month but I also know that I’m not eating very healthy compared to others. It’s something where the healthier I eat the more I tend to spend, it’s kind of a shame it usually ends up that way.
Zee,
You’re absolutely right that there appears to be an inverse relationship between health and affordability. That correlation doesn’t make much sense, other than that seems to be how our agribusiness system is set up — prioritizing grains and corn products. The old food pyramid still rules our farming and industry interest.
I’d love to see how you keep your food budget so low! Please let me know when you write about it.
Sam
Hey Sam, I finally did write up about my food budget. It was less of a food budget attempt than a strange financial experiment to see if I could simply stop eating for a while. Yes you read that right, I gave up food. I simply wanted to see if I could not eat for a month, and now that I’m almost there I’m probably going to maintain parts of this new diet just because it’s convenient and well balanced (especially compared to my old diet)
http://www.work-to-not-work.com/2015/02/my-soylent-experiment.html
My budget for groceries is already under $200, but that’s all I have, so I don’t have a choice. I agree with Anne that smoothies are a cheap, nutritious breakfast option. I freeze berries that are over the hill, buy frozen fruit at Dollar Tree, and always keep some yogurt and milk or orange juice on hand. Places like Grocery Outlet are great for canned goods, although you have to check the expiration dates.
Take your own coffee to your coffee dates or order water with lemon. Starbucks is a game changer for your budget.
I buy meat in bulk and cook multiple meals one day a month and freeze in individual sizes. It’s a great way to have a wholesome, quick meal at the end of a long day and it’s easy to fix rice, pasta, or a vegetable to go along with my dinner. I tend to stick to hamburger meals such as spaghetti, meatloaf, and meatballs with gravy, but you can substitute these things with turkey burger. Chicken also freezes very well.
I think preparation is key. Spend time on the weekend making a fresh salad and cutting up vegetables to take on the go. Good luck!
My family of four spends about 300 a month. We shop at Walmart using the competitors’ sale ads to get the cheapest price – it is called price matching, and it is a game changer in keeping a low food budget. We also don’t buy meat or dairy since they’re so expensive. we eat a lot of rice, oats, and potatoes. But we are lucky and don’t have food issues.
Sarah,
Thanks for highlighting some ways to save! You mention two key areas that many can save: meats and dairy. Both of these areas can sometimes lead to excess spending — you’re right on about this part. I tend to avoid meats, but still buy frozen salmon for health reasons (i.e., high omega-3 volume).
Sam
For my family of 7 I’ve got it down to $400k Per month. It took me awhile to figure out healthy ways to low Our food budget to what it is today. So give yourself time to figure it out.
My best tip is try incorporating a cheap ethnic food into the miX. For example for breakfast I make eggs and plantains or Yucca (which costs $.33 each). By incorporating this food into our diet, I am able to save money but still eat healthy. And my kids get to try new foods from different places.
Another tip that helps me save money is to make meals from different parts of the world. I looked around and found cheap healthy recipes from poorer nations that I make for myself and my family like a dish from Africa that is steamed Butternut squash & peanut butter Mashed together, which is a much in make for myself.
Eating the way I have has not by saved me money but it helped with losing weight and combating my illness. I hope these tips are helpful. Keep working at your budget and you will reach your goal.
Sam,
You are very wise beyond your years, and I like your honesty. I remember, in my younger years, friends and families kept reminding not to let “other people” know that I am living a frugal life.
As an ER nurse, we have a saying, “If U.S. bans alcohol and fast food, ER will be out of business.”
(1) It is smart of you not to short change your consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables of “different colors.” You are investing in your future health…preventing heart disease, cancer, autoimmune disorders…etc.
(2) To save $$ on food, I usually cook a big pot of soup, with tons of frozen vegetables, little bit of meat (neck bones…), some brown rice, then add some flavor (from Minestrone to curry flavor, to Thai Tom-Yum, Vietnamese Pho…to Mexican salsa flavor). I get all the food groups (complex carb, protein and vegs), and they are healthy and filling.
(3) Today, I have no shame telling people that I get all my clothes and nurse uniforms from the local thrift stores (Goodwill and Salvation Army are actually pricier). I usually go on Mondays when everything is 1/2 price. Now, my college sons are doing the same thing. A name brand suit jacket costs $7.50. Who can beat that?
(4) Turn off heat and air-conditioner all year round (here in GA). “Reality is the perception of the mind.” Our bodies will adjust quickly if we are young and healthy.
(5) What kind of gifts I gave to my kids when they were growing up? I bought them “experience.” We did a lot of overseas travel and ate all kinds of exotic foods… By the time they were 20 and 18, they had touched all 7 continents of the world.
Good luck Sam.
Hopefully by the time you are 50 like me, you will have 37 countries under your belt….;-)
I decided to do an honest assessment of my January food spending over the weekend and the numbers were ridiculous, I’m embarrassed by how much I spent. While I’m trying to reel it in, I’m certainly not going to go the $200/month route. I refuse to give up fresh fruits and veggies. I too have seen Laurie’s meal plans and while I give her major props, for me and my priorities, it’s not worth the trade off.
Lots of good advice there. We are trying to help our daughter and bf to learn how to eat more cheaply: they shopped hungry, bought pre-packaged foods and didn’t even try own-brands, for instance.
I am not in the US but imagine the constraints are pretty similar. Instead of canned veg, I would go for large packs of frozen where you remove just what you need from the package and store the rest in the freezer, it’s almost better than “fresh” veg that has been transported and sat around for days as far as vitamins go…obviously you need a freezer, though. Same goes for taking advantage of special offers on fresh goods or mark-downs at the end of the day. However, I always have canned tomatoes to hand, that makes sense.
Dried garbanzo beans are far more frugal than canned, well all dried beans I guess! And not really that much more work, you just have to remember to soak overnight. Definitely whole lettuce/salad greens rather than pre-chopped stuff, too. Can you buy unpackaged dry foods and grains (see Zero Waste’s app for availability) that also work gluten-free? Can you bake your own bread (very easy!)?
Something that I’ve noticed with younger people here is that nobody seems to realise that veg is seasonal, so to buy it out of season is going to be expensive (maybe different in the US that covers more climate range?). I would also guess that your family on a super-low budget with no veg is growing and preserving their own. Personally, if I have only potatoes, carrots and onions I can already think of a number of things to do with them… for me, those are staples for lean times!
How to Cook a Wolf by MFK Fisher is fascinating if you’re at all foodie – it refers to an earlier time when food and electricity could be scarce so there are good tips for the frugal in there!!
A good blog for cheap food ideas (vegetarian) is Life after Money, a retired English lady who is very frugal.
I’ve been wrestling with food spending over the last few years, and I’ve resolved it by putting more emphasis on cheaper bulk staples combined with better preparation in order to the get the most nutrition out of them and making absolutely everything from scratch, alcoholic beverages included. Having taken up intermittent fasting, I’ve also begun to realize that my hunger is partially conditioned by how frequently I’ve been eating, so I’m never in a position where I’ll settle for a restaurant meal or something ready to eat from a store.
Aaron,
I really love your point about fasting and modifying this sense of hunger, too. That’s an incredible variable that I think many people overlook. Great idea! I often find that with periodic fasting — quarter to half of a day — my stomach tends to feel better. Although, the consequence can sometimes be reduced energy, which can be very problematic with my 12-hour days. :/
Thanks for your comment,
Sam
I’ve just found your blog (love it!) and stumbled across this post. I embarked on a huge spend-less-on-food resolution at the start of the year too. We are a family of two+ adults (i’m 7 months pregnant) and a five year old. Our budget is $400 a month. I blew it in January, but I WILL reign it in this month!
I’ll add my voice to the chorus of separating date spending. My husband and I have a separate budget category for meals out. Absolutely report it if you’d like to keep the transparency, but I wouldn’t lump it together with grocery spending.
My husband is gluten free, and we we use things that are naturally gluten free for the most part. He snacks on corn tortilla chips – with cheese melted on top or salsa on the side. He does get a loaf of gluten free bread when I find it on sale for half off. It freezes well so you can always pick up two loaves and freeze what can’t be used in a reasonable amount of time. He takes salads for lunches or homemade soup. Chicken, brown rice and vegetable soup is filling and a nice warm meal for these cold winter days! We do use brown rice pasta which we find for a good price at Trader Joe’s. If you are able to get to the Aldi near you I’ve heard they have reasonable prices on gluten free pasta as well.
I agree with you that fruits and vegetables are a must, and I wouldn’t sacrifice those for the sake of a budget either. Buy what is in season, and buy only what you know you will use. Frozen veggies are a great option and are often found at a reasonable price.
Good luck with your budget this month – I’ll be following along!
oops…too long haha! (part II)
Lastly, when my husband and I were dating…he was pretty broke. haha! But it was the best way to get to know each other!! It forced us to go for a hike/walk/adventure instead of spending on a movie where we didnt get to know each other and walked away no closer to each other than when we entered. He did cook for me (most romantic thing ever) and I realize some of these ideas may be a bit intimate for a first date, but I would definitely aim towards the breakfast/coffee dates and if they make it pass that, make them dinner 🙂
I agree with previous comments, though, the right girl is going to be reasonable and appreciate your honesty and responsible approuch to finances. She is out there…:)
Great post and I love that you analyzed exactly why you weren’t able to stay on track with your $200 goal. I spent more than that when you factor in my going out to eat, but I usually only spend about $120 on groceries each month for 1 person (but I do feed 1-2 more people for lunch most days since my dad and brother work in town too). Will be interested to see how Feb goes for you.
Kayla,
Thanks for sharing your own budget for groceries. That’s an impressive figure — $120 — depending on how often you eat and how expensive those times are. 🙂
For February, I’m looking to greatly reduce every areas of spend: groceries, dates out, eating out, and drinks.
Wish me luck,
Sam
Last year I spent an average of $190/mo to feed two, one of whom (me) is gluten-intolerant. I gave up on bread, bread products, and pasta. We do rice, corn tortillas, spuds, sweet potatoes, millet, and beans, beans, beans. I do beans or rice in the pressure cooker. Having a pot of rice commits me to stir fry (supper and lunch), fried rice, and maybe a rice casserole. The beans freeze well in empty deli containers, so we don’t need to eat four quarts of the same flavor in a row. I buy both grains and beans in the 25 lb bags at the co-op, for a 10% discount. We have a couple folks to dinner most weeks, and feed them what we eat.
Dates don’t have to involve food. Hiking? My first date with my husband involved hike along the river and a thermos of hot and sour soup.
Hi there, new to your blog, but I’m absolutely subscribing.
You’ve gotten some advice above about recipes and ingredients, but I think the bigger picture issue is that shifting your budget that dramatically is something that will have a long tail to it. A pantry and freezer stocked exclusively on sale items will lower your per-meal-costs. And it takes a lot of work.
You basically always need to buy the lowest price that an item is available for. You can’t just decide “hey I feel like salmon!” and walk into the store and buy salmon at whatever price they’re selling it for that day.
But, if you do go to the store, and cans of tomatoes are on a great sale, and you know you’ll always need cans of tomatoes, and you know you can’t find it cheaper anywhere else, you need to be ready to drop like $30 on tomatoes. (and haul it home). So that $30 shows up as a huge price one month, but saves you money over time. The next time you need to reach for a can of tomatoes, you can grab one that cost you $0.50, instead of one at the grocery store at $1/ea.
That kind of shopping, in aggregate, is how you’ll get to lower monthly prices.* It won’t happen in a single month.
To do all of this, you need to know what price you should pay for things, how long they’ll keep, how much of it you’ve got at home, and what is the cheapest at what stores are around you. It might sound crazy, but I’ve been known to stop into a different grocery store in a different part of town just to comparison shop, even if I don’t need to buy anything. But I can note if what I’m buying is the best price it can be.
Spices, legumes, nuts, and some fresh produce are way cheaper at my local Indian market. Rice, cereal, frozen fish, cleaning products, are cheaper at costco. Chicken breasts are cheaper at one particular grocery store, but everything else there is more expensive.
And after you’ve got your shopping as efficient as possible, when you sit down to plan your meals, you can estimate the costs of fresh items you’ll buy this week plus you can reach for some low cost pantry items, and some items in the freezer and plan the defrosting into your week. (phone reminders are great for this). That is how you’ll get to $200 a month. (plus or minus your area’s cost of living).
And by the way, aside from the costco runs, I do all my grocery shopping on foot. I bought a granny cart. Specifically the VersaCart. That way I won’t ruin the savings on cans of tomatoes on chiropractor co-pays instead. Do be prepared; everyone will think it’s a stroller.
* Just to note, this kind of shopping isn’t going to be possible for those with very restricted incomes, or living paycheck-to-paycheck. But thats a bit of the difference between being frugal and fighting to survive poverty. Just want to acknowledge the great advantages this gives people, like me, who already have privileges.
Alexandra,
This is by far one of the most exciting meal planning comments I received. Thank you so much for your detailed analysis and advice!
Additionally, I’m appreciative that you’ve pointed out the distinction between surviving amidst poverty and reducing your meals through frugal shopping. There’s a big difference — one allows you to buy in bulk when it might be cost effective.
Awesome to hear! I’ll definitely be using some of your advice this month.
All the best,
Sam
Interestingly enough I had decided to track every single purchase I made in January long before I saw this post. I would have been well under $200 for food if I did not get the flu and spend way too much money on convenient food to eat while sick. In my blog I listed not only what I ate, but my other expenses for the month too. I would like to cut my total expenses even farther than I have, I’m wondering if $500 a month total expenses would be possible for me. You can see my blog post here describing what I spent, I also linked to this post in it! http://falling-off-the-wagon.blogspot.com/2015/02/where-did-all-my-money-go-in-january.html
Chikara,
Thanks for sharing your own writing and experience trying to get below the illustrious $200 food budget mark. Looks like we are both working very hard to get to this goal. I wish you the best of luck. Please keep me posted. Eager to hear how you do for February!
Sam
I can’t remember if anyone mentioned Aldi store to you or not. I don’t even know if you have them near you or not. But here is a link to an article that I read today and some gluten free items that they have .http://dontwastethecrumbs.com/2015/02/11-frugal-gluten-free-foods-to-buy-at-aldi/
Sorry – I’m a month late, but I have to chime in… I met my now husband a few years ago. He drove the oldest, clunkiest looking car (but clean). I know it’s shallow, but it made me wonder if we were in the same ‘league’ so-to-speak with salary. The car wasn’t a problem, but men in my experience haven’t been all that great with making less money in previous relationships. Well, I’m glad I hung in there. He simply refused to have a car payment or wither his money away on what was truly just a mode of transportation. Finding a kindred spirit with similar financial goals really sparked my initial interest. I believe I’ve read that you don’t own a car, but the point is there are women out there that will appreciate your approach. Kudos to you!
Thanks for your support, Renee! Means so much.
When I first sold my car, I was scared about the social ramifications. Now, without a car, I embrace the social ramifications. I don’t want to be like everyone else with regard to stereotypical judgment via material wealth. That’s just not for me! 🙂
Sam
I cannot stop to laugh and slap at myself while reading this. I should be ashamed, but for the past 10-14 years I didn’t follow a budget. Landed a job that paid basically for my living and well my check “was” free for me to just dine, drink, travel and shop.
Now that I am in the process of buying a house this budget thing has come and slap me on the face.
See, I used to spend about $1,200 in just FOOD, this is going eating out most of the time, when it come to grocery shopping I am TERRIBLE because in any given day I will spend about $30-$50 per day at the grocery store and that is not including my dinner.
But now I have to downsize to $200 – $300 per month —– HOW THE HELL I AM GOING TO DO THIS 🙁
Maybe eating bananas the rest of my existence is the answer.
My budget is $200 for 2 PEOPLE. I think I’m going to die, also add in that I’m recovering from an eating disorder, so I need to eat more. I DONT think its possible, but it has to be.