Month: August 2012

Project Food Budget / My Healthy Food Budget: Aug Month 10 / Week 4

Project Food Budget Weekly total: $86.95
Month End total: $404.71

My healthy budget goal is to eat seasonal (local if possible,) home-cooked meals while sticking to a $400 monthly budget for all food including groceries, dining out, entertaining, vitamins/supplements, and gardening.

There’s two of us eating (mostly) 3 meals per day. My husband occasionally eats take-out lunch at work, & that $ comes out of his personal cash stash.

August – Month Ten, Week Four – End of Month

This week, I spent $86.95, for a monthly grand total of $404.71 for August.

Dining Out: $8.51
Entertaining: $15.18
Groceries: $63.26

Month End Details:

Dining Out: $55.99
Entertaining: $51.05
Groceries: $297.67

Even though I’m a tad over this month, I’m quite pleased. There was $50 in entertaining expense, so taking that into consideration, my budgeting was excellent!

Plus, I spent $30 for 50 lbs of tomatoes. Yes, even though I’m growing loads of tomatoes, I truly don’t think there is ever enough!

I’m canning, oven-drying (dehydrating), and freezing (raw & cooked); I still think that I’ll have to eventually purchase commercially canned tomatoes but I’m hopeful I can hold off for many months!

Spending Details

Market Basket $7.38: lemon juice, bananas, 5lb sugar (yes, sugar!), kosher salt

Local Farmstand $8.07: Peaches, carrots, carmen peppers, lettuce

Hannaford Grocery $5.49: Wine (sale) and bananas

Wilson Farm $42.32 (large farm store): Bargain! 50 lbs of 2nds tomatoes ($30), dozen corn, zucchini, bell pepper, scallions, parsley, green beans, peaches

Week of Meals

  • Thursday: Baked casserole with eggs, brown rice, cheddar, garden eggplant, celery, scallions, garden tomatoes, garden beet greens
  • Friday: Leftover baked egg rice casserole from last night
  • Saturday: Family party for lunch, pizza for dinner
  • Sunday: Pasta with sauce of tomatoes, garden eggplant, celery, bell peppers, garden jalapeno
  • Monday: leftover frozen takeout Chinese food
  • Tuesday: Bread pizza with leftover sauce and cheddar cheese
  • Wednesday: Pasta with garden eggplant, tomatoes, roasted tomatoes, scallions, green beans, & parsley

Want to Join the Project Food Budget?

project food budget

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If you’d like to participate, get the details and let Emily know you’re on board!

Here’s who else is budgeting this week:

Project Food Budget / My Healthy Food Budget: Aug Month 10 / Week 3

Project Food Budget Weekly total: $99.50

My healthy budget goal is to eat seasonal (local if possible,) home-cooked meals while sticking to a $400 monthly budget for all food including groceries, dining out, entertaining, vitamins/supplements, and gardening.

There’s two of us eating (mostly) 3 meals per day. My husband occasionally eats take-out lunch at work, & that $ comes out of his personal cash stash.

August – Month Ten, Week Three

This week, I spent $99.50, with a monthly total of $317.76. That leaves $82.24 for the rest of August.

Dining Out: $29.46
Groceries: $70.04

I was a little lazy this week regarding dining out. Twice in one week, which is unusual for us; In reality, we actually spent $60 for dining out, but I offset a portion of the expense with some extra cash we received, so my budget wasn’t affected too badly. The positive spin is we each had leftovers that I put in the freezer for next week when I’m feeling “lazy” again!

Speaking of NOT being lazy, I am getting ready for my first “canning” adventure. (Canning supplies are NOT included in my food budget.)

I already have a case of regular pint jars from Amazon ($16), but picked up 3 more cases from the local True Value store: regular pints ($7), wide-mouth pints ($8) and regular quarts ($8) along with 2 cases of regular lids ($1.29ea) – great prices, and a lesson learned to wait for sales when buying canning jars and lids! The sales associate talked me into getting the wide mouth pints, stating I could return them at any time if I found that I didn’t need them. But they will be good to have on hand.

I also am expecting the $20 Progressive International Canning Essentials Kit to arrive on Monday from Amazon.

I decided to go with a higher quality canning kit, instead of one of the cheaper alternatives because the plastic looks more durable and heat-proof and the lifter seems a lot easier to use.

I considered the Kuchenprofi 18/10 Stainless Steel Funnel but I wanted to make sure that canning wasn’t just a faze for me. It’s still in my shopping cart, so if I need to upgrade, I’ll buy it later.

Grocery Spending Details

Market Basket $16.54: Watermelon, bag o’ California Hass avocados, bananas, So Delicious coconut milk, Applegate Farms chicken deli meat, premade Greek pasta (I was hungry for lunch, grrr)

Meat CSA $13.09: Baby back ribs (Luckily, products from the Meat CSA are paid in full, so technically no real money is actually spent, but I apply the cost to my budget as we consume it.)

Boston Hill Farm $11.05: Found a new (to me) farm, they are also at the Andover Farmer’s Market. Definitely would purchase from them again! Dozen corn, green bell pepper, onions, peaches & nectarines

Whole Foods Market $25.86: So Delicious coconut milk (sale), Big tub o’ salted cashews grown in USA (sale), 12 pack Organic Valley 1% milk (sale), Kerrygold cheddar (sale w/ coupon), Galia melon (sale)

Ocean State Job Lots $3.50: (2) Dececco pastas

Week of Meals

  • Thursday: Baked egg casserole with quinoa, garden beet greens, garden eggplant, & scallions
  • Friday: Pork baby back ribs, corn on cob, and salad with raw garden cabbage, garden tomatoes, & garden cukes
  • Saturday: Dining out
  • Sunday: Garden tomato sauce with garden eggplant, onions, celery, pepper, and garden jalapeño over pasta
  • Monday: Leftover eye round beef & veggie stir fry (celery, scallions, garden eggplant, garden cabbage, garden beets, garden beet greens) over bulgur
  • Tuesday: Dining out – AGAIN! But the good thing is we each have a meal of leftovers stored in the freezer.
  • Wednesday: Bread pizzas and veggie salad

Want to Join the Project Food Budget?

project food budget

It’s never too late to join the Project Food Budget!

If you’d like to participate, get the details and let Emily know you’re on board!

Here’s who else is budgeting this week:

Project Food Budget / My Healthy Food Budget: Aug Month 10 / Week 2

Project Food Budget Weekly total: $68.76

My healthy budget goal is to eat seasonal (local if possible,) home-cooked meals while sticking to a $400 monthly budget for all food including groceries, dining out, entertaining, vitamins/supplements, and gardening.

There’s two of us eating (mostly) 3 meals per day. My husband occasionally eats take-out lunch at work, & that $ comes out of his personal cash stash.

August – Month Ten, Week Two

This week, I spent $68.76, with a monthly total of $218.26. That leaves $181.74 for the rest of August.

Dining Out: $18.02
Groceries: $50.74

This was a good week!

I’m excited that our vegetable garden is really working.

Crazy amounts of eggplant and tomatoes, with fresh oregano, basil, and an occasional jalapeno pepper make a great slow-baked sauce to freeze for consumption during colder months! Pickling cukes are yummy for my lunch and for homemade pickles! I’ve picked a couple of my red cabbages too.

Next year, I will try to weigh all my harvests, but for now I’m taking photos, for keeping track, but I have no doubt that my garden is helping us save a ton on our budget!

For one example, I’ve been checking prices, and a 1/2 pint of sungold tomatoes are selling for $5 at the local farm store. I’ve been harvesting at least 1/2 pint+ every other day! What a savings! That’s not even including the red cherry tomatoes or my large beefy tomatoes!

Spending Details

Meat CSA $15.88: Eye round roast (Luckily, products from the Meat CSA are paid in full, so technically no real money is actually spent, but I apply the cost to my budget as we consume it.)

Local Farmstand $8.00: 2 dozen jumbo eggs & bell boppers

Wilson Farm (local large farm store) $8.12: Dozen corn on the cob, 2 large bunches of scallions, leeks, green beans

Trader Joes $18.74: (2) bags o’ peanuts, pecans, feta cheese, quart of whole milk, organic raisins

Week of Meals

  • Thursday: Eye round beef with corn on cob
  • Friday: Eye round beef tossed in with garden tomatoes, garden eggplant, celery, peppers over grains
  • Saturday: Birthday party
  • Sunday: Oven roasted garden tomatoes, garden eggplants, dads garden bell pepper over pasta
  • Monday: Soup with leftover frozen eye roast, green beans, leeks, garden cabbage, garden tomatoes, garden jalapeño pepper in homemade veg stock over brown rice
  • Tuesday: Leftover soup with leftover frozen hotdogs sandwich
  • Wednesday: Homemade pizza on BBQ grill with feta, garden tomatoes, & garden basil

Want to Join the Project Food Budget?

project food budget

It’s never too late to join the Project Food Budget!

If you’d like to participate, get the details and let Emily know you’re on board!

Here’s who else is budgeting this week:

Project Food Budget / My Healthy Food Budget: Aug Month 10 / Week 1

Project Food Budget Weekly total: $149.50

My healthy budget goal is to eat seasonal (local if possible,) home-cooked meals while sticking to a $400 monthly budget for all food including groceries, dining out, entertaining, vitamins/supplements, and gardening.

There’s two of us eating (mostly) 3 meals per day. My husband occasionally eats take-out lunch at work, & that $ comes out of his personal cash stash.

Aug – Month Ten, Week One

This week, I spent $149.50. That leaves $250.50 for the rest of August.

The first week is always a bit higher. I needed some basic pantry items from iHerb.com. Love that store!!! We also hosted a big pot luck party for DH’s previous co-workers. Fun!

I have high hopes that it’ll be a good budgeting month.

My veggie garden is starting to REALLY payoff, I feel so sustainable! hehee Between the tomatoes, pickling cukes, beets, and eggplant, I yielded my first red cabbage! Exciting! I hope I can keep growing well into the cooler months!

Entertaining: $35.87 – bbq potluck party at our house
Groceries: $104.17

Spending Details

iHerb.com $39.71: Bob’s Red Mill 7 grain hot cereal, Frontier organic dried rosemary, (2) Bob’s Red Mill whole wheat flours, Lundberg short grain brown rice, California Olive Ranch Arbosana oil, and Simply Organic Madagascar vanilla extract

Whole Foods Market $26.11: Bragg’s organic apple cider vinegar, organic plain yogurt, organic half & half, canned organic tomatoes, organic fruit spread, Jarslberg cheese, organic champagne grapes, cantaloupe, organic bananas, and organic celery

Meat CSA $11.96: Center cut pork chops (Luckily, products from the Meat CSA are paid in full, so technically no real money is actually spent, but I apply the cost to my budget as we consume it.)

Local Farmstand $10.07: blueberries, yellow squash, & peaches

Market Basket $11.29: (3) jars salsa, King Arthur white flour

Whole Foods Market (2nd trip) $9.46: Organic champagne grapes, local peaches, organic bananas, and cantaloupe

Week of Meals

  • Wednesday: BBQ pork chops with leftover brown rice topped with sautéed garden tomatoes, spring onion, celery & garden eggplant
  • Thursday: Late lunch at parents. DH had toast broiled with swiss & tomatoes
  • Friday: Stir fry with garden eggplant, garden cabbage, garden tomatoes, scallions, garden beet greens, celery, summer squash over barley topped with fried egg
  • Saturday: BBQ pot luck at our house
  • Sunday: Sautéed garden tomatoes, garden eggplant, celery, scallions, & garden cabbage over brown rice
  • Monday: Garden potatoes, onions, garden beets topped with fried eggs & salsa
  • Tuesday: Homemade flatbread pizza with swiss, salsa, garden tomatoes & homemade pickled onions
  • Wednesday: Leftover frozen hotdog sandwiches with homemade pickled cukes & onions, with a side of sautéed garden eggplant, bell pepper, scallions, celery

Want to Join the Project Food Budget?

project food budget

It’s never too late to join the Project Food Budget!

If you’d like to participate, get the details and let Emily know you’re on board!

Here’s who else is budgeting this week:

Project Food Budget / My Healthy Budget: July Month 9 End of Month

Project Food Budget Weekly total: $37.42 Monthly total: $417.39

My healthy budget goal is to eat seasonal (local if possible,) home-cooked meals while sticking to a $400 monthly budget for all food including groceries, dining out, entertaining, vitamins/supplements, and gardening.

There’s two of us eating (mostly) 3 meals per day. My husband occasionally eats take-out lunch at work, & that $ comes out of his personal cash stash.

July – Month Nine, Week Five – End of Month

This week, I spent $37.42, ending the month with a grand total of $417.39.

I won’t squawk about the extra $17.39 I spent!

My week (on Thurs) started with very good intentions, and then DH told me the farm was out of jumbo eggs. Sooo instead of replanning, I caved & my budget of $20 was blown to smithereens with a $17 take out purchase!

But I recovered by using a local farm store’s Groupon coupon that I was saving for August! Whoo hoo! $30 in groceries for only $15.29.

And then Saturday, we splurged on two Friendly’s 3-scoop sundaes. I had a BOGO coupon that I couldn’t resist using! Hey, it was only $5 for both, so bargain!

Dining Out: $22.13
Groceries: $15.29

Monthly Totals:

Dining Out: $99.07
Groceries: $318.32

Spending Details

Wilson Farm (large local farm store) $15.29: pint of local blueberries, local summer squash, local spring onions, NJ (not organic) peaches, local green beans, dozen local corn, local scallions, (2) dozen jumbo local eggs, bananas, and local half & half – used my $30 groupon!

How it Breaks Down by Store

(Groceries & Entertaining Costs Only)

Whole Foods $95.30 (30%)
Market Basket $55.70 (18%)
Trader Joe’s $48.23 (15%)
Meat CSA $35.58 (11%)
Wilmington Farmers Market $27 (8%)
Farm Stand $18.27 (6%)
Seven Acres Farm $17.50 (6%)
Wilson Farm $15.29 (5%)
Amazon.com $5.45 (2%)

Week of Meals

  • Thursday: Take out
  • Friday: A Feast: corn on cob, sauteed green beans, eggplant & scallions topped with fried eggs & salsa
  • Saturday: Soup with homemade beef & veg stock with fresh summer squash, eggplant, & green beans served over tiny pasta
  • Sunday: Whole grain coconut caraway pancakes
  • Monday: Turkey bacon stir fry with green beans, garden eggplant, garden beets & greens, yellow squash over brown rice
  • Tuesday: Leftover freezer beefalo tomato pepper sauce with pasta

Want to Join the Project Food Budget?

project food budget

It’s never too late to join the Project Food Budget!

If you’d like to participate, get the details and let Emily know you’re on board!

Here’s who else is budgeting this week: