Food Budget Battle, Cont.

This month has been quite a challenge. I decided to do something a little different with my food budget. Since last month I went over my budget by a total of $35, I had $165 to spend this month so I went to the grocery store at the beginning of the month. I bought enough food to last till the end of the month. I spent a little over $100 leaving me with money to buy milk and maybe eat out at least once or twice the rest of the month.  However, this seemed quite a daunting task in the beginning because my friend’s birthday was the second week and I had two goodbye celebrations to attend before the month’s end. 

At first it seemed quite difficult to tell people I could not go out but it did get easier as the month progressed. However my first real challenge was to my friend's birthday week which was the second week in August. The good thing about your birthday week is that you can register with a lot of restaurant clubs and programs so that you can typically get at least one free meal every day of the week. However, it is not my week so I of course would have to pay for my meals.

By the end of this week I had made it through one goodbye party, an entire birthday week, one milk run and a trip to the state fair with about $10 left in my budget.  Now after Corn Fest, the second going away party, and a BOGO coupon for the Pizza Hut buffet, I am once again over budget, but at least not by $35. Only one week to go.

Comments

[Rachel]

Hi Angilina, I find it difficult, too, to say no when friends or co-workers ask me to go out. I don't want to miss out on the fun but now that my credit card is in the freezer, I literally can't pay for lunch out "just this one time" if the money isn't in my account. Sometimes I find that making smaller trips ($30 worth) to the grocery store helps - because I get to go to the store and spend money more often :)

[Kari & Darek]

Anglinia you are doing a great job. Finding a balance in a food budget takes time and practice. Keep up the great work!