Pineapples to Pineapples

Over the weekend I checked my local grocery store for pineapples. They had smallish ones that didn't smell very sweet to my nose. They whole lot was pretty sad, but priced at $4.99/pineapple. No thanks. Yesterday, I stopped in at Whole Foods Market for a fruit fix and kabobs:

• Beef Top Sirloin Steak - $16.54
• Vidalia Onion - $1.31
• Red Bell Pepper - $2.89
• Cherry Tomatoes - $2.99
• Golden Pineapple (whole trade) - $3.99

$3.99?! I got two. One for kabobs and one for snacking. My WFM total was $27.72, which is a steal for six delicious beef kabobs.

Operation: Dinner In (April & May Recap)

April

Groceries: $451.33

Dining: $534.46

May

Groceries: $576.46

Dining: $419.31

Our April grocery spending decreased about 15% and our dining expenses about 9%. But, this month has seen 22%+ in our grocery costs. Without analysis, these numbers would make no sense.

In April, I shopped primarily at Super Target and Super Wal-Mart. I have almost completely stopped shopping at the King Soopers/Kroger near my house because their prices are consistently higher than Super Target and Whole Foods (for comparable organic items).

This month, I went back to Whole Foods specifically for the organic meats and fruits that we crave during the summer months. Last weekend, we grilled Buffalo bratwurst, which is a specialty item neither Super Target nor Soopers carries. Surprisingly, the price was no higher than a package of the name brand bratwurst.

I fully expect our food costs to climb over the summer because we love a good steak, fresh salmon, and we are fresh fruit junkies; I rarely think twice about spending $10 for a package of pre-cut fruit to snack on in the car. Add in trips to the Farmers Market where the prices are higher than WFM (I paid $6.20 for a basket of cherry tomatoes!), but where we go anyway for the atmosphere and to support local farmers, and you can see how our grocery costs quickly get out of hand.

Operation: Dinner In (March Recap)

Last month, I changed my grocery shopping strategy and I have noticed a few more dollars in our bank account. This month's food bill came to:

Groceries: $528.65
Dining: $581.30

As you can see, our expenditures for "dining" and "groceries" are nearly even, which is what I would like to see every month. Usually, the numbers are heavily weighted towards the dining category, but dining out has always been a large part of our budget because (a) we are lazy people and (b) ordering out/in is convenient.

I did not try Door to Door Organics this month and I probably will not until next winter because The Boulder Farmers Market opens this weekend; I can buy produce there well into the fall. Yes, the fruits and vegetables will be more expensive - and we tend to buy a lot when we go - but being at BFM is a great way to spend a Saturday morning.

Operation: Dinner In (February Recap)

Groceries: $1137.03

Dining Out: $406.40

Our food costs are still high, but within the "normal" range for us. I think some of the increased cost is attributable to rising fuel costs, which in turn influences food costs. For example, we live in a landlocked state that does not produce a crop year-round. Consequently, we pay a premium for fruits and veggies that must be transported from other countries and/or states. But, I'm not going to stop buying fruit. Instead, I complain and pay the increased price.

I did make one small change to the way I grocery shop. I stopped doing all my shopping at Whole Foods. Now, I only go there for certain things (Sonoma Chicken Salad, Gruyere cheese, etc). The upside is that I still spend roughly the same amount of money on food, but we get more of it, which means groceries last longer and I go to the grocery store less often. Hopefully, the March numbers will reflect my new shopping strategy.

Aside

I think $1500/mo. on food is excessive and I'm starting to feel a bit consumeristic because I know there are people out there whose food spending is a third of ours. Heck, there are people out there whose mortgage payment is less than what we spend on food and - well - that just seems kind of off.

So, internet, I need a little help. Well, some feedback, validation, or whatever you want to call it. I want to know: How much do you spend on food? Because I need to know if we're normal or just insane foodies.

That's right. I want you to crack open your wallet, gather up your receipts, run a Quicken report and spill. Leave me a comment for all the world to see (anonymously is ok). A spending breakdown (dining & groceries) would be lovely.

Operation: Dinner In (January Recap)

Daily trips to the grocery store and lack of time (see previous post) are a budget killer:

Dining: $559.67
Groceries: $856.28

This month, I resolve to get back on track with weekly meal plans and explore dinner take-and-bake options.  I have some leftovers for Monday and Wednesday, but I really need to plan - and shop - for the rest of the week.  

Monday: Texas Chili

Tuesday: Sage Pork Chops, Asparagus, Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Wednesday: Mom's Chicken Noodle Soup

Operation: Dinner In (December Recap)

Operation: Dinner In was not a complete success. My plan was to boost our grocery spending from $500/mo to $700/mo and eliminate dining out. I planned weekly menus and shopped for groceries accordingly, but house guests and breakfast at Lucile's a few too many times wreaked havoc on our budget. Here is the food spending breakdown (all numbers are exact thanks to Quicken):

• Dining - all food purchased at a restaurant or other eatery (like Dairy Queen) goes in this category: $506

• Groceries: $971.69

This month I stuck closer to the grocery budget ($693.84), but dining totals are still pretty high ($444.59) and we're going to Aspen this weekend so I expect to spend at least $150 more for food.

I may be able to reduce that number if we pack our own lunches. Still, I'm worried our overall dining totals will stay high until I graduate and have more time to cook family meals. I can become hyper-vigilant about planning meals over the weekend, but I know me, and I know I will succumb to laziness. But, if you have suggestions for how I can stay true to my budget while balancing kids, work, and school, please let me know!

Operation: Dinner In

As of November 30, we've spent $10,116 (~$919/mo.) on food. If our spending stays the same in December, we will easily exceed $11,000 for the year, but that's not even the worst part. Approximately 55% of our spending was done at restaurants because I was too tired, lazy, or busy to cook at home. The madness has got to stop because money spent at restaurants would be put to better use elsewhere in our budget. So I have a new plan.

No, we're not going to stop eating, but we are going to drastically reduce how much restaurant food we consume. I think bumping our grocery budget up by $200 to $700 per month and planning meals one week at a time will make a big difference in how and where we spend money on food.

I put the new plan into action today. This week's planned meals:

• Italian Sausage and Wild Mushroom Risotto (there are leftovers!)
  
• Roasted Chicken with Winter Vegetables
  
• Wild Salmon Chowder
• Honey Glazed Chicken with New Potatoes
• Hearty Crab Bisque
  

We also got some cheeses, snacks, fruits and items for sack lunches. Total spent: $165.71 at Whole Foods. I think we're off to a good start.