What determines if you are a wise grocery shopper? I've decided that I could consider myself wise if I spent X% of my grocery budget on needs. I haven't determined what X% is yet. I might break it down like this:
- Spend 70% of my budget on needs/basic nutrients needed to survive or items your husband wants to have :-) Darn, I guess I better move coffee to a want. ($280)
- Spend 20% of my budget on wants ($80)
- Spend 10% of my budget on luxury items ($40)
Anyway, last week when I reviewed my grocery receipts to determine if each item was a want or a need, I realized that I needed to do this a few more times to see if I can figure out exactly why I'm running low on my $400 grocery budget. Perhaps it's because I kept buying coffee beans?!? That would be a luxury item at this point in my life.
Here's my list for this week:
- Bananas need
- yams need
- cucumbers need
- avocados *need (decided this is a need - awesome nutrients and good fat)
- cheese need (1 for the "pantry" as well)
- chicken thighs (this might be enough for two weeks worth of meat - let's hope so!)
- garlic need
- butter need YIKES! $3.29 that's expensive! My "good" butter from Azure (pastured cows) is $3.30.
- buttermilk want - want to make the family pancakes....don''t "need" those nutrients though.
- pears need
- organic spinach *need. Last week I noticed the price was $.50 higher than the previous week. This week suddenly the price has been rolled back $.50. Funny how marketing works!
- Bananas need
- celery need
- snow peas want
- romaine hearts need
- cilantro need
- carrots need
- tuna need
- relish want
- coconut milk want
- sour cream need for a recipe
- whipping cream *need for a recipe. Last week I decided that one would be a "want" and one would be a luxury. I believe I'm allergic to it so I won't be buy it as often anyway.
- clam juice and minced clam need for a recipe
- olives want
Let me know if you post your wants vs. needs, I'd love to check out your blog!
This post is linked to:
Money Saving Mom
Grocery Cart Challenge
I just wanted to say your idea about budgeting for your husband (but not telling him) is brilliant. If I do that then I'm not so stressed when he comes home with his "treats". Fortunately I don't drink coffee...but he loves Starbucks and gets his beans from there. I just do tea which is quite cheap in comparison.
ReplyDeleteAfter my next trip to the store I will let you know my wants vs. my needs. I think they will line up somewhat with you choose...but differ based on what is available locally.
Tip on the buttermilk: I use the last bit in the box, pour milk into the container and shake (I think regular whole milk would work although we use raw) and then pour it into a mason jar and leave it out on the counter for 24 hours. It makes new buttermilk for pancakes or waffles or just soaking grains for better digestion before cooking! I wasn't sure based on your post if you were allergic to dairy or just milk products. My middle child is allergic to pasteurized diary. Raw or cultured dairy create no problems.
I have a tip for you too for buttermilk -use 1 cup of milk and mix with 1 tablespoon of vinegar let sit for 5 minutes --buttermilk!!
ReplyDeleteCheap and don't tell anyone how you did it!
vickie
Well the Dave Ramsey plan is rice and beans and coffee "beans" I would include. Good job in trying to figure out the budget stuff. Just live like no one else so you can later live like no one else. I have been buying "extras" at cheap prices and donating them to the food pantry but I take that out of our giving budget. Look forward to reading more.
ReplyDeleteI think anything more than water (and possibly milk) is a want as far as items to drink. You can live without coffee, juice, tea, and soda. Water is a need. Milk is helpful and can fall into the need category.
ReplyDeleteAvocadaos always fall into the want category for me; they are just so expensive. Fruits and veegtables are needs, but if you buy what in season, you can meet those needs for less. A garden is also helpful in reducing those costs.
Here's my question: Where you put beans, nutrionally? Do they fit as a vegetable and a protein, or just one or the other? If I can only afford beans and rice, and a litle salsa, but I have no money for lettuce and mine isn't big enough to harvest yet, where do I fall as far as getting enough vegetables?
In my case a garden doesn't help reduce costs at all. I think I must be a lousy gardener! The tomatoes are worth it, but I spend more money on my garden than I would at the grocery store!
ReplyDeleteI would put beans (I'm assuming you meant black beans/pinto beans etc) in the carb category. Nutrient wise they are higher in carbs than anything. I'd buy spinach instead of the rice and lettuce!!!
I think each person would have a different idea of want vs. need.
I know my kids would put cookies down as a need.
Thanks for the buttermilk hints!
ReplyDeleteSharyl - your comment made my laugh! I love it!