Since starting this blog, I've put pressure on myself to be the perfect frugal wife and mom. Wow. Why? So my blog posts would be more interesting to read, maybe. Then I thought, why only post the good stuff? Why not post the bad as well? I am an imperfect being. Might as well admit that.
I use this blog not only to share my frugal finds, great recipes, gardening experience, crafts, couponing etc but also to hold myself accountable financially. I have been trying, for a long time, to get my grocery budget down to $400 per month. It is a really big challenge for me. Where did I even get that number? I think that reading others' blogs, and seeing how low their grocery budget is, I decided to "keep up with the Joneses" so to speak. I do well with all of the other budget categories. I clip coupons, combine with sales, cook and bake from scratch and I make my dogs' food. {thats pricey}
Well, I'm Colorado Girl, and I am not perfect. I will accept the fact that my grocery bill is about $500 per month. I will no longer beat myself up over this. I think that my new grocery budget will be $525 per month. There.
This is my sunflower
This is my Hollyhock
This is my amazing bargain of the day: I received a free box of Idahoan potaoes. {I dont normally use boxed potatoes, but they are free} The coupon is in the new issue of All You magazine. The chicken sausage was reduced from $4.99 to $1.29. I had a coupon for $2.50 off of a purchase of 2 Foster Farms chicken pkgs....so only $.08! {total retail value for all three- $10.98!!!}
Have a wonderful weekend!
Ya know, I have absolutely done the same thing! I compare myself too closely with everybody else. For this family of 6 I've been trying so hard to get our budget to $400 a month. There's just no possible way. Not if we want to eat halfway healthy. I've finally accepted that fact.
ReplyDeleteYou did great on your shopping. I recently bought some of those idohoan instant potatoes for a church function recently, and I gotta say for instant, those are the best I've ever had. lol. Thanks for sharing your heart!
Blessings,
sara
I don't normally use the boxed potatoes either, but I keep a box on hand for my oldest son who is a mashed potato fanatic. He will make a bowl of those for a snack- not ideal but better than many other things he could want to eat.
ReplyDeleteI think your budget is realistic- and it seems that food prices just keep going up.
I like the fact that you're keeping it real. I get frustrated with those blogs where everything is always perfect. They never seem to have any down days, their children never whine and are always well behaved, they have the weedless garden and the spotless house, all while juggling chainsaws it would seem.
Keep keeping it honest.
Judy
Sara, thanks for your kind words. I used the potatoes tonight, and I have to admit they were pretty good! I'm so glad to hear that I'm not the only one comparing my homemaking skills against others'. That's encouraging, there's hope for me yet. :-)
ReplyDeleteJudy, thank you so much for your comments! I guess I thought that my blog posts should be all sunny and full of happiness at all times. It's hard to admit that you didn't reach a goal. I do wonder if some of the bloggers tell the truth regarding their budgets and spending. Hmmm.
ReplyDeleteI should say that I do actually have a weedless garden, my home is spotless, my kids never ever whine and of course I can juggle chainsaws...all while washing dishes and folding laundry. Hahahahahahahaha. Thanks for the laugh.