Project Food Budget: Week 16
Week 16! Seriously! I have been managing a food budget for four months.
One of my New Year’s Resolutions was to get our expenses under control. Not just food – pretty much everything. Being on a food budget has helped immensely. We haven’t sacrificed convenience or quality. I have just been smarter about how and when I buy things. I don’t clip coupons or shop circulars, but I have managed to stay pretty much on budget even without any kind of discounts or sales. That is probably because we don’t buy a whole lot in the way of packaged goods anymore. We still buy some, mind you, but, we don’t rely on someone else to make the majority of our food. It’s the old 80/20 rule at work: 80% DIY, 20% okay to splurge on someone else making it for you…
This week, things were back to normal around these parts. There was rain. There were deadlines. 2Chili questioned my Test Kitchen Tuesday meal choice. And, we spent our full budget. Ah, back to how it should be.
I went the lazy way out this week and bought everything from Amazon Fresh, even though Trader Joe’s is much cheaper for bananas, milk, and pasta sauce. Time is money, and this week, I needed more time than money! The nice friends at Amazon placed our groceries on our doorstep, and, life was good.
Goal: $75
Actual: $77.36
| Amazon Fresh | Qty. | Extended Price ($) |
| Organic Valley Milk, Fat Free, Half Gallon | 1 | 3.49 |
| Zucchini Squash, Organic, 1.25 lb Package (Mexico) | 1 | 2.99 |
| Shallots, Organic, 5 oz Package (United States) | 1 | 1.99 |
| Cherry Tomatoes, 1 pint (Mexico) | 1 | 3.89 |
| S&W Black Beans, 50% Less Sodium, 15 oz | 1 | 3.18 |
| Tia Rosa 8 Inch Premium Soft Taco Flour Tortillas, 10 ct | 1 | 2.89 |
| Walnut Acres, Tomato & Basil Pasta Sauce, Low Sodium | 1 | 5.19 |
| Gia Russa, Gnocchi with Potato, 16 oz | 1 | 3.69 |
| Baby Carrots, Organic, 1 lb Package (United States) | 1 | 2.29 |
| Tropicana Pure Premium Orange Juice 128 oz | 1 | $6.79 |
| Yellow Onion, 1 Large Onion (Washington) | 1 | $0.59 |
| Chiquita Bananas, 5 Count Bunch, Green (Ecuador) | 1 | $2.09 |
| Chiquita Bananas, 3 Count Bunch, Ripe (Ecuador) | 1 | $1.29 |
| $40.36 |
CSA Box – $37
Menu for the week:
- Monday: Cashew Cheese Ziti with Snap Peas
- Tuesday: Gnocchi with Zucchini Ribbons and Parsley Butter
- Wednesday: Leftovers
- Thursday: Teriyaki Chickpeas
- Friday: Out to eat night!
- Saturday: Some sort of bean burger and home fries
- Sunday: TBD
Budget Buddies:
- Emily Levenson
- Maria Marz
- Veggie Converter
- Dairy-Free Cooking
- Motor City Girl In the Steel City
- Veggie Burgher
- The Happy Cactus
- The Vegetarian Salmon
- Newly Vegan
- Always Sick and Tired
- Veggie on the Cheap
- MeloMeals: Vegan For $3.33 A Day
- A Guy, A Girl, And a Dinner Plate
- The Amateur Low Carb Flexitarian
- The Veggie Life
- Caroline Cain Holistic Health
- Under The Apple Tree
Have a great weekend!
