I decided that it’s time to take a look at my family’s monthly budget, and going forward, I’ll be setting the budget dollars accordingly.
In January we spent:
Groceries: $574.21
Groceries refer to food we buy at Target or Aldi’s as well as food from the grocery store.
Costco: $194
CSA: $136
Eating out: $170 — I want this total to come down. Way down. Dan and I are going to have to talk about this and see how to make it happen.
I’m pretty comfortable with setting my monthly budget as follows:
Groceries: $600/month
Costco: $150 (for food only; we spend between $150 and $300 on our Costco trips because we buy toilet paper, Kleenex, paper towels, diapers, and many bulk cleaning supplies at Costco)
CSA: $68, but this will go up this summer
Eating out: $100
This month, we are already up to:
Grocery: $130
Costco: $25
CSA: $34
Eating out: $100
See? We’re already at our eating out limit for the month! That is definitely the next area that Dan and I have to work on together. And it will take work! Packing him lunches, making sure he has healthy snacks at his office, and having something hot and tasty ready when he gets home. Of course, I can’t make him eat anything — he’s going to have to work on his own choices, too. Choosing a Greek yogurt or a handful of nuts instead of a fast food burger or a hot dog from the gas station across the street. He really has to learn to eat differently, and I know that’s hard for him.
What’s the best way to budget for you?
Let’s see how everyone else did!
* Emily Levenson
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* Test Kitchen Tuesday
* Acquired Tastes
* Fit Flexitarian
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* Katy Rank Lev
* My Inner Healthy
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* xox, b
* What da Health?
* Project Food Budget 2.0
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* That’s Just Me
* Eat Whole Be Vital
* Four Happy Violets
* Naturally {Un}refined
* Pgh Dad
* yogabeautylife
* Charmingly Modern
* NaMAMAste
* Six Dollars a Day
* Gluten-Free Vegan
Red Pen Mama 