I’ve been keeping an eye on my oregano plant, picking off leaves at the slightest hint of infection, and today I decided to just cut off all the existing long stems, to give the new growth the best chance possible.
Despite my earlier brutality, it seems to really be thriving, so I think it’ll survive this latest butchering. It seems much happier since I put it in its own pot — in my experience, parsley (which it was planted with before) has a root system like none other, so I think the oregano was probably gasping for a drink of water in the old pot. Here it is on the plant shelf:
I taped up the pretty paper today, but I have yet to do below the shelf (where the cats eat). I think the toughest thing about my new budget will be ignoring all the whims that flit into my head — all the little projects like this. They never cost much, but they do add up.
Speaking of budgets and whimsy (or ridiculousness), some paper equine friends:
The background is my March journal’s cover — a print of a photograph I took at Kew Gardens a couple of years ago. The horses looked on (encouragingly) while I totaled up the numbers and then stared forlornly into space (me, not them). See, it turns out I spent an average of $400 a month on food last year (just over that, actually). I’m going to have to halve that this year, at least.
A lot of the suggestions on the last post were to do with grocery shopping. Honestly, the idea of shopping only once a week (much less twice a month!) seems impossible to me. Even twice a week is stretching it — admittedly, mainly because I don’t plan THAT well in advance. But how do you buy enough bananas for a week without them being manky by day five? I’m going to have to replace some of the fresh fruits I buy (namely, strawberries and blueberries) with their frozen brethren, at least until the farmer’s market opens.
There’s also the fact that cooking (and eating) is my main hobby these days. That sounds sad, I’ve been told. On one hand, it’s a good thing, as I DO have to eat anyway, but on the other hand, it means I’m REALLY loath to rein in the spending. I know that there are changes and adjustments I can make, but from where I’m standing now, I just feel like I don’t splash out for particularly fancy things and I don’t waste very much either — so it’s hard to see where the corners are for cutting.
One thing I will definitely put an end to (as I tried to last July) is shopping as a hobby. Totally unacceptable. It should actually be easier now, as it’s not a matter of putting an end to a bad habit or feeling like I should direct my energy elsewhere. There just simply isn’t the money for it. It’s off the board, not up for consideration. There, glad we’ve decided on that.
I know all this isn’t particularly inspiring or light-hearted, but it’s something I can’t just pretend isn’t going on right now. I hope that by talking about the frustrations and asking for suggestions, that I really will change my behaviours (which, I have to say, have always been well within the limits of acceptable — if not stingy at time — just, it turns out, not within the limits of my budget).
So, here’s a question to end with, if you’ve got this far. Has anybody found a way to save money by shopping at ethnic supermarkets? Some things are obviously cheaper — curry powders and other relevant ingredients which would wind up as higher-price ‘specialty’ items in a regular shop. But are there other great deals to be found there?
Some of the best grocery shopping in Boston – the least expensive (by far!), the best produce, wide availability of ‘specialty’ international products – was at the Super 88, a chain of dingy looking Chinese supermarkets. I loved shopping there, once I learned to look past its appearance and some of the unusual products. They just didn’t spend the money to make the market conform to the Happy Suburban idea of what a grocery store is.
So yes, I have, and I’d recommend checking out the ethnic stores in your neighborhood – you’ll probably be very happily surprised.
Hello Anna,
I appreciate your sharing your budget woes with us, and sympathize, as well. My husband and I are constantly trying to find ways to save money.
It is interesting that in most of the books out there about frugality,
the first line of attack always seems to be the food budget. Some of the ideas they present are sound, like keeping a “price book”, or at least knowing which stores have the best price on certain items, and the idea that you should shop at more than one store, since no one shop will have the best price on anything.
But some of the suggestions make me shudder, like feeding your family 39 cents a pound chicken (Any chicken that’s being sold that cheaply was NOT raised humanely, and is going to be full of nasty chemicals that I, at least, don’t want my children to ingest),using powdered milk, or bulking up meals with TVP (Another thoroughly suspect “food” in my book). These might save money in the short run, but what are they doing to your health in the long run? Is it worth it if you end up with cancer from ingesting all those pesticides and chemicals and such?
If you don’t mind me sharing your “snobbery soap box”, I have to say that I think spending money on healthy, wholesome food for yourself and family is important, and shouldn’t be skimped on. We economize in other ways–second-hand clothing, keeping the heat set as low as possible, and wearing a sweater in the house, for example–so that we can buy organic, whole foods (locally grown, when possible). We have a membership to a CSA (including a “winter share” portion of root vegetables, potatoes, cabbage, squash and the like) So for about 10 months of the year, we’re able to get most of our produce this way. We grow some vegetables of our own in the summer, and when fruit is in season I buy extra and freeze it–various berries, peaches, and home-cooked applesauce.
I think you already do a lot of these things, using the farmer’s market and growing vegetables and the like. Maybe a little more advance menu-planning could help?
You’re spot on about stopping shopping as a “hobby”. That’s something I struggle with on a constant basis. I try to follow my mother’s advice, which is to ask myself “What will happen if I don’t buy this–will I die if I don’t own it?” Obviously the answer is almost always no. It’s not foolproof, but it does stop a lot of impulse purchases.
Anyway, I think you’re on the right track, and wish you all the best of luck! (She says jumping off her “snobbery soap box”, and pulling her wool cardigan more tightly around her)
I don’t know where you live, but I’m in San Francisco and I do the bulk of my shopping at the small Asian/Latino markets around here. The produce prices are usually way, way cheaper than at the big super market, which really helps if you, like me, don’t like to keep 5 pounds of bananas or tomatoes in the house at a time. The lower prices make it so I can go buy my veggie/fruit daily ration on a daily basis if I want.
As for spices, I have found they are cheaper at these places, but sometimes you are sacrificing quality. Are there any stores near you that sell bulk spices? That might be a good option for you. bring your own containers and fill them there. I know when I used to work at a food co-op we could get our bulk spices and foods dirt cheap… No one cared if the cinnamon wasn’t McCormick or if the oatmeal wasn’t Quaker.
Another simple money saver, if you can do it, is to forgo buying juice, sodas, etc. I mostly drink water (or tea, or coffee) and if I want something cold other than water, hey, there’s always iced tea!
Preparing meals in advance and freezing them is good, too. Like make a vat of soup and separate it into containers, and freeze for future use. But you probably do that already!
Anyway, that’s my frugal 2 cents.
Good luck!
I find that just about everything is cheaper at ethnic grocery stores, even the nonethnic stuff and staples like rice and flour.
More years ago than I want to remember, when I bought my first house, I had to go to monthly grocery shopping because I was only paid twice a month and the house payment took all of one check. Yikes! It was tough the first few months but eventually I got the hang of it. Now that I’m retired and on a fixed income, I need to re-learn those things because I’ve wandered away from that practice. It’s so easy to pick up a “few things” each time you go to the store, even if you are equipped with a list and good intentions.
I don’t use a lot of milk but my aunt taught me I could freeze milk. So I’d buy a gallon of milk, come home and put it in smaller (maybe pint) size containers and put it in my freezer so I’d have “fresh” milk all month for cereal, etc.
Do you have an Aldi’s store in your area? This is a discount grocery where you must bag your purchases, they don’t take coupons, etc. But they do have good buys on some things. Peanut butter is one of them, for example, costing only $1.29 for 16 oz as compared to almost $3 at the supermarket. I buy my bananas there. They carry Dole bananas and have them for something like 37 cents/pound. They come pre-packaged and I look for a package which only has about six or so bananas in it that are slightly green. They stay nice and finish ripening on my kitchen counter. That means I have bananas for a week. Aldi’s doesn’t have a lot of selection in some things but staples are routinely less expensive there and they do occasionally have special purchases of other things.
I think you can probably get the best prices on spices if you buy them at an ethnic market. The same is probably true for rice.
Menu planning is going to be key for you. As you can, buy staples to stock your freezer, fridge and pantry. Then you will be able to occasionally splurge on something you really want. Study the grocery ads so you can built your menus around the store specials.
Buying seasonal produce is less expensive than buying fresh imported produce.
I have a friend who shopped every three days. Then she broke her foot and I had to take on her shopping since she couldn’t get from her second floor apartment to the store and back. It was amazing to me how much money she spent on groceries. She easily spent twice as much as I did. When she complained about how much she was spending, I told her the best way to save money was to stay out of the store.
Take heart, spring is on the way and it won’t be long before you’ll be able to plant a garden and raise some of the fresh things you like.
If it makes you feel better, I’m still paying off last year’s income tax! That was probably the worst envelope-opening experience I’ve ever had, blech. I also spend a lot of money on groceries, because I figure that if I have to eat three times a day, I deserve good food! My best bet is menu planning and a once-weekly grocery shop. That’s not easy when you have to carry everything home from the store (no car, another cost-saving measure) but then again, when I pick up that bottle of iced tea for a special treat and notice how heavy it is, I’m more likely to put it back down again. I recently came across a tonne of good suggestions here via Mama Urchin. I keep telling myself that when the income tax is finally taken care of, I’ll save the money I’m not spending on food (or giving to the federal government) and buy something or go somewhere great. That’s a pretty good incentive, even if it’s way in the future. Good luck!
At one point when I was single there was a small grocery store in my neighborhood and I would shop several times a week. I think if you limit yourself, it doesn’t matter how often you shop. For instance, if you spend 50.00 a week on grocery, making two 25.00 trips or three 15.00 trips is the same. I would buy some fresh vegetables and fruit, maybe a few other things–when I tried doing a big grocery shopping trip I was just throwing out lots of rotton produce two weeks later, I just couldn’t eat it all.
With regards to ethnic markets, you might need to shop around. I live in a fairly large city, and if I go to the stores within the city I can save money, if I go to the suburban ones not so much. I go to the Chinatown stores for tofu, miso, produce and rice, Middle Eastern stores for pita bread, tahini, bulk legumes and spices. There is of course the convenient factor. My sister prefers to get all her shopping done at one place (she has six kids) so every two weeks they make a big trip to stock up. For me, at home and homeschooling two children, it’s an adventure to check out different places. You just have to be careful, because when I go to Chinatown it can be very easy to start buying other things I don’t really need and rack up the bill.
Some things I regard as “treats” and only buy once a month or so. You might also try incorporating a few meatless meals into your menu–bean and rice dishes can be very good and quite cheap.
Good luck–food budgeting can be very frustrating because we need to eat to survive and I think we deserve good food.
Donna — I’m a vegetarian, so I think it’s safe to say that I’ve got more than a few meatless meals on my menu! But thank you (and everybody) for the tips!
Get some ready-now bananas, and some green bananas. That way you can eat some now, and let some others catch up.
Do plan some meals ahead. Don’t do it by day and don’t be absolutely locked into it. (I mean, you have to allow for room to get creative with leftovers, right?) but figure out what kind of ‘big dinners’ you will do for then next two weeks. Whenever I do this, I spend about half of what I would otherwise. And then I do tend to get more creative. Oh, I’ll have this? The next night I could do this! Etc.
Hi Anna, I was just coming to see if you had any good suggestions for a yummy vegetarian sandwich place in Mpls since it seems that you have great taste in food! I am really bad about budgeting for food, but we do have really good luck with inexpensive ethnic stuff at Bills Imported Foods on Lyn/Lake and United Noodle off of Hiawatha in southeast Minneapolis. We also do a CSA with a fruit share.
Asian markets are a great way to get flavorful food for less. Since you’re vegetarian I would really focus on the veggie & condiment aisle. Even though I grew up eating most of those veggies, there’s no way I would recognize many of them by name. So if possible go to the library and get some asian cookbooks with pictures of ingredients, I do this when I’m trying to get stuff to make Thai or Vietnamese food. And on the condiment or sauce aisle you should find tons of concentrated soup bases in glass jars or powder form. I esp. like the tom yum one that is seafood based and it’s very economical as a little can go a long way. It’s a great base for soup with veggies + tofu or noodles. Good luck! ps. Plus for some reason tofu tends to be far cheaper in asian markets. Happy eating