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Why I Kept A Frugal Food Budget

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Frugal Food Budget at Le Pain Quotidien Photo
My grandfather and I sharing a not-so-frugal, but delicious, meal after 6 months of meticulous calculating.

In January, I decided to engage in the most cliche thing ever: I created a New Year’s resolution. December had been jam-packed with semester finals, travel, and holidays. Throughout that busy time, I wanted to track my food expenditures. It was an expensive month, as food expenses climbed well over $400.

Admittedly, it wasn’t the first $400-$500 month for food. I was a notorious spender in this category. It was a weak point. With the rationale that “everyone needs to eat and spend money to do so,” I let myself off the hook. I wondered, “If I spend $7+ on a Subway sandwich, how much could I really save by making my own lunch?” I didn’t think I could save that much.

Something clicked over the new year: I suddenly knew I could do better. Moreover, that savings could be redirected towards investments and savings. With December’s balance calculated, I set an extreme goal for January: $200. That number would include food and drinks — anywhere, everywhere, and for any reason (e.g., even birthday parties and celebrations).

I reported my results and efforts for six months. Each month was less than December, and I got exceptionally close to $200 in February. I cut back on meats, dairy products, and consumed more rice than ever. After that restrictive month, I realized that $200 might be more ambitious than I originally thought. It was challenging to publicly share that “failure” to reach a stated goal. I’m not one to leave a goal unaccomplished. But in trying so hard to reach this number, I briefly lost the original purpose.

A more frugal food budget was never supposed to be painful. I never intended to eat only basic staples mixed with a few veggies for multiple meals a day. Regrettably, that’s what happened. While I was getting closer to the $200 number, I was definitely feeling the hurt of this lifestyle change.

Cutting back on my food spending was to live simpler, save more, and reflect on the change. Both at the start and now, as I write today, I can realize these goals. But I needed to get some perspective before I could actually analyze what I learned.

Before I committed to reducing my budget, I had little appreciation for how much each swipe cost my budget. A $7 sandwich, $8 burrito, and $15 dinner with tip all seemed strangely equal. It was sustenance. Why care about one purchase?

Meticulously tracking my spending and putting the receipts into spreadsheets changed this thinking. I could (with terror) see the cost. While individual purchases had been necessary, the total spent was alarming. Creating a formal food budget and tracking balances allowed me to feel, see, and read that disconnect. It was a game changer.

See, when I started this journey, I had no appreciation for the “feel” of a food budget. How many sandwiches can I get and still maintain my budget? How much fruit can I buy? Can I afford the sparkling juice? After I had calculated these totals, I realized what, for instance, a $250 food budget actually looked like.

Today, I can self-monitor and reasonably predict my monthly total. I know what I can and can’t buy — what will regularly put me over the edge. It took three stages to get here:

1. Track a balance for a month
2. Create and live with a new budget for 6 months
3. Pause and reflect on the new balance

Those three stages can be applied to any budget desired, but were 100% necessary for food. It took time to actually get the feel. I thought it would be easier, but old habits die hard. I’d recommend that if you want to revolutionize a budget that you carefully track yours for about 6 months, as well.

For your entertainment, I’ve conducted an interview with myself to reflect on the process:

Interviewer: Hi Sam, thanks for joining me today to talk about your frugal food budget!

Sam: Happy to be here.

Interviewer: So, did you ever reach $200?

Sam: Sadly, no. I got really close in February. Otherwise, I was able to keep it under $300 quite regularly.

Interviewer: What was the hardest thing about cutting back?

Sam: Eating out feels convenient. Heck, oftentimes it is convenient. And I love trying new restaurants! There is a powerful trade off though, and that comes in sacrificed dollars, and ultimately, more time spent working to afford a larger food budget. That’s the vicious cycle I want to avoid. I’d rather not have the convenience of eating out with additional work. It’s important to build relaxation into my schedule, and if I eat out too much I actually hamper that effort.

Interviewer: Interesting!

Sam: Very.

Interviewer: Could you do better next month?

Sam: You know, that’s a good question. Just because I’ve decided to end the regular reporting of my food budget doesn’t mean I’ve ended my own efforts to save. Frankly, I’m interested in living well, under $300 per month, and being able to have the freedom to go on the occasional date and get a drink with friends, while still saving about $200 more per month than I used to.

Interviewer: Yeah, but if you’re spending nearly $300 on food some months, are you really frugal?

Sam: Ugh, I hate that question. I’m a work-in-progress. I’m hardly perfect. Frugality is a philosophical journey, and in my mind, has no destination. There is no final frugal line or defining organization that sets standards. You are your own standard. I believe I’m far more frugal now, but could always do more to save. Frugality comes in the lack of contentedness. I don’t want to accept that I’m financially set; rather, I’m eternally under construction.

Interviewer: Phew! Thanks for spending the time today, Sam.

Sam: My pleasure.

$200 Frugal Food Budget for May

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Korean BBQ Food

Why I reduced my food and drink budget

In December I sat down and said, “enough.” I needed to cut back on my food expenses. Seriously, it was embarrassing and hurting savings. Every month involved hundreds of dollars in restaurants, fast food, and snacks on the go. When I finally shared it with you all — the readers of Frugaling — I felt nervous. How would people react? It was one thing to spend the money privately, but to openly disclose it made me anxious.

As the year turned from December to January, I knew that I needed to change spending habits. It was time to start saving, cutting, avoiding, and scrimping here and there. Likewise, I wanted to avoid debt at all costs, and recognized that in the next couple years I’ll need to spend thousands in job interviews, moving expenses, and rent. I couldn’t continue spending like mad, and actually afford these future hurdles. To be clear, “affording” means spending money on something without debt.

There was little room to save on rent or educational expenses. Additionally, I had sold my car, gotten rid of insurance payments, and moved on from any semi-optional expenses. The only piece left was the food budget. Darn it, though! I didn’t want to cut back for years.

When I first started the journey, I picked a number. It was somewhat random, but I wanted something exceptionally challenging and possible. I needed to eat healthily, too. So, I chose $200. That would be more than a 50% decrease in my budget for food and drinks.

Here’s a review of previous months

Monthly Food Budget Chart

When January started, I holed up and tried to by some basics. But as the month continued, I realized I was severely underprepared and over budget. I wasn’t eating out frequently, nor was I buying lavish foods. Still, I didn’t know how to budget for this new level and ended up well over the line. Even though I had saved about $100 in one month, I knew I had more work to do.

Over the following months, I tried harder and even came pretty darn close to the tough goal. In February I was able to get within $12 of the budget through some serious cost-cutting and sacrificing. Frankly, I felt an internal pressure towards the end of the month. I knew I’d be close, and wanted the chance. My food stocks grew dangerously low and the repetition of the same foods night after night wore me down.

From then, my spending grew and it’s stayed above my $200 budget goal. It’s been one of the most frustrating parts of my budget and frugal goals. I know, understand, and see countless examples of individuals and families doing better. And there’s this guilt, as I’d like to live modestly. An expensive food and drink budget smacks in the face of that value. Plenty live on less. Plenty of live on less than they need. And I don’t want to live some lavish alternative life — above it all. I want to be in it. I want to feel the cuts.

The May food budget… Failure?

Now, I turn to May. Oh, May, you pesky month! This fifth month of my food and drink budget tired me. The middle of the month represented the end of my third year of graduate school. For us students, it was cause for celebration. And celebrate, we did.

Here’s a review of this month’s spending:

May Food Budget Table

Part of the graduate school tradition at the end of the year is to go out, eat, and drink. Soak up the momentary freedom. This can be a challenging environment to save in, but it’s challenging not to seek out these moments and live them up when you can. Busyness prevents many of us from congregating as large groups. These moments are unique and special. When possible, I tried to go without or only one drink, meal, etc.

Nonetheless, as the table shows, the final total was $247.37. While an incredible $200+ decline from when I started this journey, I still couldn’t meet the goal.

Looking forward and long-term tracking

Because I’ve shared my budget a few times before, it’s not quite as embarrassing anymore, as it is personally frustrating. I’ve seen great benefits from trying to save. Hundreds of dollars have been invested, which were previously squandered. I feel healthier and eat foods that suit my own body’s needs. I do feel like a more modest person, and constantly try to recognize that I’m still privileged to have a full meal. Many do not share that luxury.

Another piece that I’m appreciative of is the tracking. Now, I can look back on my spending and clearly see where it’s spent. There are clear totals. Month after month, I can create a better average of spending versus one month’s test. In fact, my average spending for these five months was $264.78. That’s amazing to me, as I’ve never spent this little since high school. More importantly, the average is what I want to continue to reduce.

My friends and family continue to ask about this food budget. “Will you continue?” they ask. “Are you still doing that food budget thingy?” Why yes, I will continue. And yes, I’m still doing that food budget thingy. Maybe for the rest of my life, too.

June will be a tough month, as I’m traveling much of it. I’ll track and share, but I might need to pass for some increased spending. Sorry Frugaling fans! I hope you’ll forgive me. In July I’ll hunker down even further and do everything in my power to save.

How have you been doing on your food budget? What snags and troubles have you experienced? What are your recommendations for saving more? How do you rope people into joining you for your food budget? What motivates you?

$200 Frugal Food Budget For April!

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vegetables on cutting board

We all need a catalyst, this was mine

On January 1st, I set out to reduce my monthly food budget. Quick estimates of previous spending were atrocious. I was embarrassed and it was definitely the weakest part of my monthly spending. Frequently, I’d be away from home — overcome with hunger — and get whatever I could find.

For anyone who’s struggled to restrain themselves from eating out, the convenience can be captivating. Busy lives offer a perfect excuse for spending the extra money, as there’s less to clean up and a quicker time to satiety. The gratification of fast food, restaurants, and quick junk feels good when you’re always on the go.

Those moments of, “Oh, just this once” or “I better get a quick something to eat,” add up. At least, they did for moi. In some months, every lunch was “out.” $6, $7, $10, and $12 here and there. $500-600 later, I felt horrific guilt. Everyone knows that eating out is expensive, and I was failing at this part.

Finally, I lit a fire under my butt and started the $200 frugal food budget experiment. At the beginning of the year, I was renewed with a sense of purpose to this test. I wanted to push my limits and find a way to hold myself accountable. Frugaling was the perfect place to share that journey.

fruits on cutting board

April food budget breakdown

As in previous months, I’ll share a complete list of days and spending. Everything food and drink-related is included — nothing gets spared. That means that if my good friend has a birthday party and I treat him to a drink, I’m putting it in here. My hope is to illustrate where much of my money goes each month, and to highlight obvious problem areas.

One thing you’ll notice about this month is a hefty increase in sweets and pizzas. From candy bars to donuts here and there, you might be shocked to know that I’ve been plowing through food — good and bad. I’m still trying to figure out what exactly is “causing” the cravings, but it might have to do with exercise levels.

I bike around 30-45 minutes per day and lift weights about 2 to 3 times per week. Together, the calories burned and needed muscle repair seem to be affecting my nutritional needs; in turn, my restlessness for certain carbs.

april-food-budget

Noticing emerging patterns

I have failed to meet the $200 food budget experiment every month thus far. This April I spent over $240 on food and drink. I feel embarrassed that I keep saying that, and I struggle to lower it much further. Even though I haven’t reached this goal, I’ve noticed consequences, which is often necessary before change.

Life’s ups and downs are directly correlated with my budget

This month was challenging for me personally. The first week of April often serves as a remembrance for someone who died by suicide. As I navigate that period every year, I try to honor that person’s life in whatever way I can. Interestingly, during this period of April, I was eating healthier options. Later in the month, some of the spending faltered as the stresses of school mounted.

Greater raw food intake

After listening to The New York Times’ columnist, Mark Bittman, speak about the importance of raw foods, I definitely incorporated more. From fresh fruits to vegetables, I sliced and diced my way through the month. While it certainly helped me save here and there, the time it took to prep all that food was challenging when graduate school’s demands heated up. That’s when I turned to more processed foods. Ugh!

Becoming a lazy vegetarian/pescatarian

Meats tend to be expensive. As a consequence, I tended to avoid buying any meats and made a lot of vegetable stir-frys with rice. The combination is frugal, and probably a healthier choice. Although, every now and then I defrosted a piece of salmon for some omega-3s and protein. A secondary reason for this lazy vegetarianism centers on this concept of eating animals. I’m finding it increasingly difficult to enjoy eating another lifeform — something that feels pain.

Exercise undeniably affects mood, food cravings

As much as I try to “be prepared” for the food/mood cravings associated with lots of exercise, I can’t seem to carry enough. I’m on the go all day — from school to work to the homeless shelter. I run and bike everywhere. Moving around all day necessitates a greater caloric intake, but also limits how much I can comfortably carry around. I’m not particularly interested in sacrificing my physical health and back for a frugal month.

Hundreds of dollars added to savings

This portion is the greatest consequence of the entire journey. Over the last four months I’ve socked away cash. In fact, I’ve been able to save about $1500-2000 this year already! While much of these “savings” are artificial, as I’ll need to spend about $1600 on on a summer graduate course, I wouldn’t have had that money if my old eating-out habits were still active. That’s revolutionary for me! I’m happier than ever about my ability to save.

Where do I go from here?

Looking forward, I’m concerned about the $200 food budget experiment. I want to reach this value that’s escaping me. At the same point, we are entering summer in Iowa and farmers markets will be opening up. I’m eager to support locals who are kicking butt and raising terrific produce. It tends to be more organic and cared for, as opposed to grocery store options. If I shop more frequently at the farmers market, I’ll cut down on waste, support local farms, and have better food, but I will have a harder time reaching $200.

At the heart of this internal struggle is a desire to be greener, healthier, and kinder to my environment. I want to care for the earth around me. From my increasing interest in vegetarianism to farmers markets, I want to assimilate these hopes into a frugal food budget.

But Walmart’s (insert your local big-box retailer here) big, bright lights are calling. The stores have “always low prices,” and the produce can often be cheaper than in small co-ops and shops. But what are the consequences? Does frugality compete or cooperate with socially and environmentally responsible choices?

My hope is that if I can prepare even more meals at home, I can justify the farmers market purchases. Additionally, I’m concerned about the amount of treats and sweets I take in. My goal in May is to find more foods that can fill me up, while also providing glucose (more rice, perhaps?).

As always, I’d love for you to join in! Your contributions, comments, and questions certainly help me reflect on my goals. If you’ve done it before and met the $200 food budget, how’d you do it? If you haven’t, why not try it this month?

Frugal Articles of the Week

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Reading Nook Photo

Every week I like to feature a few frugal articles that caught my eyes. Curl up in your favorite reading nook and enjoy. Hopefully these encourage you to live frugal lives!

The Stuff Paradox: Dealing with the clutter in the US by Jane O’Brien
Amidst massive income and wealth inequality, a growing movement of minimalists is rising. Their work bridges and breaks the traditional bounds of income levels. Now, anyone who’s willing to declutter and rid themselves of the unnecessary can join! This article catalogs a couple Americans who are working to do just that.

The Girl Who Saw Through the Illusions by Leo Babauta
Leo is one of the most popular bloggers on minimalism and simple living. His focus spans from meditation to family life. In this new style, Leo writes from a seemingly fictional stance to talk about how illusions influence how we see the world.

What Motivates You To Save? by Kate Dore
Frugality is usually something that just happens. People tend to choose a more frugal lifestyle because of small incomes, to cut down on carbon emissions, and/or to have a less cluttered home. But to start saving, people need to ask an important motivational, intention question. Kate perfectly conveys it!

In Pursuit of More Lasting Success by Joshua Becker
This article hit me. Joshua points out two extremes in today’s economy: 1) the focus on financial success, 2) the importance of working less. Both extremes can be detrimental. Joshua proposes an alternative, where working to help others becomes a major focus. Brilliant idea!

Why We Don’t Meal Plan by Mrs. Frugalwoods
Over the last couple weeks, I published how I’m reducing expenses and trying to get my food budget down to $200 per month. I’m having a bear of a time! Mrs. Frugalwoods makes it look easy, and they don’t even meal plan to save. What could be easier?! Her biggest recommendation seems to center on the role of buying bulk and unpackaged foods for a frugal budget.

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