It Was Just Like New Year's Eve

The All You Grocery Challenge has started.



I went shopping on Sunday.



I actually feel a little guilty. I didn't go shopping to get a head start on the challenge. You know, stockpile. My husband and a friend were hanging interior doors, and I went in search of lunch for them and something for dinner. Something quick and easy because I was painting and grouting. We are on countdown to getting the house ready to receive some very important guests. Guests who deserve to have bedroom and bathroom doors.

I spent way more on this trip than I had planned. Looking back, it was just like New Year's Eve... indulge, because the diet starts tomorrow! But if anything, it really was a lesson on what I need to do to be successful in this challenge. And it's the same basic sage advice that has been bestowed on the masses through the generations:

Look both ways before crossing the street.

Wear clean underwear because you never know when you will be in an accident.

Use a grocery list to shop and stick to the list.

Week one of the challenge has started. I already know that tomorrow's meals will come from the pantry. Or the freezer. And the garden. I can't forget the garden. And given that I have so much squash... I am already rethinking my dinner menu for tomorrow. I think it will involve squash.

Getting a Game Plan

I've been thinking about the best way to tackle this All You Grocery Challenge. A lot. Like when I went to the grand opening of Sprouts Market and tried to decide between two russets at 69 cents a pound or a 5 pound bag of russets for 1.99 or so. Given that the premise is that I have $50 a week to spend (or will as on Monday), it should be a no-brainer. The bag of taters has a lower cost per pound. But I thought about waste... would I really use all the potatoes before they sprout eyes and turn soft? Where is the money savings in that?

As I think about my game plan, I find myself thinking about the rules. One in particular: You can use stockpiled food to supplement your weekly budget. The challenge starts on a Monday. I would think that a lot of people shopped on the weekends. I normally do. I could rush out and buy loads of stuff to stockpile, but that somehow feels like cheating. I want to rely on the things I already have "stockpiled." Yes, I went shopping today. Spent about $35 dollars at Sprouts, but I was able to pick up ribeye steak for 4.99 a pound and cheddar cheese for $1.77/lb. And I got a resuable bag of goodies for being one of the first 200! Gotta love free!

So, how am I going to approach this experiment?

1. I could (and should) plan a menu. But it has been a very long time since Tuesday was Taco night in my household. Come to think of it, Tuesday never was taco night in my household. I think growing up we had tacos on Fridays, or Wednesdays, or whatever days. If there is one thing I have learned, it is that I can say "let's have such and such for dinner" in the morning, but by the time I get home from work, a frozen pizza or a short drive to one of our favorite diners is much more to my liking. So my menu plan needs to have a Plan B as well as a Plan A. Perhaps a C too.

2. I need to carry cash. It is way too easy to disregard how much money is spent when you swipe that debit card. A few things here, a few things there. It adds up. Plus cash would allow me to give my hubby "an allowance" for his coffee or breakfasts out.

3. One word. Coupons.

4. Another word. Sales. There are several markets within a 10-15 minute drive. Some of the specialty/ethnic markets offer great values on produce. What produce I need to buy, that is. Which leads me to another word:

5. Garden. Our garden is really starting to produce. I have a bunch of squash I need to parboil and seal for freezing (I am glad that I don't have to count the price of the Food Saver!) Let's see, there is also eggplant and cucumbers. Oh, and squash! And I can't forget the squash... all EIGHT varieties of summer squash.

Don't ask.

The exitement of having a garden may have made me temporarily insane. Either that, or I must really, really lkie squash!

Back to Business

It has been 2 years since my last post. So many times I had thought about blogging about our house hunt. Especially when we had looked at what seemed like a bajillion houses and signed so many offers that I thought my hand would fall off. Then I thought about blogging about becoming a new home owner and a DIYer... not to mention the joys and frustrations of living in a house that has been in a constant state of remodel for nine months. And that baby is no where close to being born! Maybe I will touch on this in another post on another day.

What brings me back to blogging?

A challenge.

Not a challenge to blog. A challenge to spend no more than $25 per person per week on groceries. This includes eating out AND Starbucks. It's the All You Grocery Challenge.

That's 25 bucks a person. A whole 3.57 a day! 3.58 on Sundays. Some people spend that much a day on coffee! Not me. I only spend about two-thirds of that. Maybe.

Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, coffee... all for $3.50ish. At first it sounded do-able. When I broke it down, it sounded a bit... hmmmmm, scary (for the lack of a better word). But now... well, it's challenging!

But this is a challenge I am up to meeting! It will require a complete, and I do me COMPLETE change in how I do things now. It is so easy to grab a bite out rely on conveniece food. One time I looked at how much we spent in one month on just restaurants and Starbucks... it was EIGHT TIMES what this challenge allows. Whoa. I will have to go back to planning meals and clipping coupons. Of course, I also need to get my husband (THE Starbucks fanatic in our household... he goes so much they GAVE him a special Starbucks Gold Card) to cooperate. I am blessed, though, because he is supprtive. I am sure that he will be game!

I know I need to develop new habits. The amazing thing is, there are people that limit themselves to this kind of budget ALL THE TIME! I figure if they can do it, so can I!

So, this blog will serve as my record of the adventure that awaits. Let's see what's in store!