Comments on: Time for a New Budget http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/01/31/time-for-a-new-budget/ Simple Living... Frugality... Gardening... Cooking From Scratch... Knifty Knitter Projects.. And More. Sat, 6 Sep 2008 03:10:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: lightening http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/01/31/time-for-a-new-budget/#comment-3587 lightening Sun, 03 Feb 2008 06:11:24 +0000 http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/01/31/time-for-a-new-budget/#comment-3587 Maggie - well done!!!! KNOWING what you're spending is such an important step in this whole process. Keep at it. Sometimes it takes a while to see the fruits of your efforts but if you keep at it, it will definitely happen. And quite possibly keep happening. It has so far with me. Thanks for sharing your progress. :) Kate - I think there's always a new tip that can be learnt. So many ideas out there! $400 a month is definitely good. I know I could cut ours more (because we still have treats etc) but right now I feel we have a nice balance. :) Cat - absolutely!!! I always find it easier not to spend when I have a REASON. Especially a fun one like that. :) Marita - I always kept nappies separate from my groceries (in terms of tracking). Everyone does things differently. They certainly are expensive. Unfortunately the money from nappies starts to go on sports, more expensive clothing and more food...... at least it has for me!!! Although I do still have one in Dry Nites (again, not counted in my grocery budget). As for the caravan - pity you weren't in SA as we are going to that caravan show. We know which van we want and have a good price - just want to check to make sure nothing new has come out that we like better before actually signing on the dotted line. :) Maggie - well done!!!! KNOWING what you’re spending is such an important step in this whole process. Keep at it. Sometimes it takes a while to see the fruits of your efforts but if you keep at it, it will definitely happen. And quite possibly keep happening. It has so far with me. Thanks for sharing your progress. :)

Kate - I think there’s always a new tip that can be learnt. So many ideas out there! $400 a month is definitely good. I know I could cut ours more (because we still have treats etc) but right now I feel we have a nice balance. :)

Cat - absolutely!!! I always find it easier not to spend when I have a REASON. Especially a fun one like that. :)

Marita - I always kept nappies separate from my groceries (in terms of tracking). Everyone does things differently. They certainly are expensive. Unfortunately the money from nappies starts to go on sports, more expensive clothing and more food…… at least it has for me!!! Although I do still have one in Dry Nites (again, not counted in my grocery budget). As for the caravan - pity you weren’t in SA as we are going to that caravan show. We know which van we want and have a good price - just want to check to make sure nothing new has come out that we like better before actually signing on the dotted line. :)

]]> By: Maggie http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/01/31/time-for-a-new-budget/#comment-3578 Maggie Sat, 02 Feb 2008 22:53:33 +0000 http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/01/31/time-for-a-new-budget/#comment-3578 Ligthening, The moment of truth...I did the grocery shopping this afternoon. Note to self NEVER go for groceries in the middle of the afternoon on a Saturday. Go before 9 am and you have the store to yourself, go after lunch and you're fighting the hungry hoards. So how did I do? I plan to write a more detail synopsis on my blog later today, but for the moment, you can be the first to know...I had budgeted $150 CND for 2 weeks worth of groceries, which is $167.09 AUD. That works out to 75$CND/week or $83.54 AUD/ week. And yes, for one person. Plus Buddy the cat. I did really well I think....$151.71...that includes the taxi fare home :) Buddy's things were about 13$, $9.00 were non-food products, and some items will undoubtedly end up in the donation bag for the Food Bank -- our local Food Bank recently experienced a fire and lost 33 TONS of food. I also try to buy organic, whole wheat, brown rice, low-in fat items. The 1 piece of 'junk food' was an organic chocolate bar. One final thought...I'd been living off of my stockpile for the last month so lots of items were purchased to replace those that were used. Needless to say, I wont be going hungry! The goal for the next shopping trip is to aim for 60$ CND/week or 66.83$ AUD/week. Time will tell! Ligthening,
The moment of truth…I did the grocery shopping this afternoon. Note to self NEVER go for groceries in the middle of the afternoon on a Saturday. Go before 9 am and you have the store to yourself, go after lunch and you’re fighting the hungry hoards.

So how did I do? I plan to write a more detail synopsis on my blog later today, but for the moment, you can be the first to know…I had budgeted $150 CND for 2 weeks worth of groceries, which is $167.09 AUD. That works out to 75$CND/week or $83.54 AUD/ week. And yes, for one person. Plus Buddy the cat.

I did really well I think….$151.71…that includes the taxi fare home :) Buddy’s things were about 13$, $9.00 were non-food products, and some items will undoubtedly end up in the donation bag for the Food Bank — our local Food Bank recently experienced a fire and lost 33 TONS of food. I also try to buy organic, whole wheat, brown rice, low-in fat items. The 1 piece of ‘junk food’ was an organic chocolate bar.

One final thought…I’d been living off of my stockpile for the last month so lots of items were purchased to replace those that were used. Needless to say, I wont be going hungry! The goal for the next shopping trip is to aim for 60$ CND/week or 66.83$ AUD/week. Time will tell!

]]> By: kate http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/01/31/time-for-a-new-budget/#comment-3546 kate Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:24:55 +0000 http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/01/31/time-for-a-new-budget/#comment-3546 OH I am off to find your posts on the grocery budget.. I thought we did well at around $400 a month... but I'd love to know how you do it better and with your growing kids! OH I am off to find your posts on the grocery budget.. I thought we did well at around $400 a month… but I’d love to know how you do it better and with your growing kids!

]]> By: Cat http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/01/31/time-for-a-new-budget/#comment-3535 Cat Fri, 01 Feb 2008 07:40:51 +0000 http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/01/31/time-for-a-new-budget/#comment-3535 A caravan is a GREAT reason not to spend!!! Good work on getting the grocery spending down so low as well :) A caravan is a GREAT reason not to spend!!! Good work on getting the grocery spending down so low as well :)

]]> By: Marita http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/01/31/time-for-a-new-budget/#comment-3527 Marita Thu, 31 Jan 2008 22:12:26 +0000 http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/01/31/time-for-a-new-budget/#comment-3527 I can't wait to get my girls out of disposable nappies. They add $50 a fortnight to my shopping bills. You thinking of an onsite caravan or one to tow behind you for holidays? I worked for the CIA (Caravan Industry Australia) Victorian division for 5 years and if you are looking for the towing kind of van I can highly recommend going to their caravan shows to check out the different types available. Might even be able to swing you free tix to the show at Caulfield if you want to travel to Melbourne. :grin: I can’t wait to get my girls out of disposable nappies. They add $50 a fortnight to my shopping bills.

You thinking of an onsite caravan or one to tow behind you for holidays? I worked for the CIA (Caravan Industry Australia) Victorian division for 5 years and if you are looking for the towing kind of van I can highly recommend going to their caravan shows to check out the different types available. Might even be able to swing you free tix to the show at Caulfield if you want to travel to Melbourne. :grin:

]]> By: lightening http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/01/31/time-for-a-new-budget/#comment-3525 lightening Thu, 31 Jan 2008 21:23:09 +0000 http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/01/31/time-for-a-new-budget/#comment-3525 Joy - indeed the year has only just begun! Mostly I seem to be finding staying under $100 is getting easier rather than harder so stick with it!!! Every dollar you save still counts too. :) Yes, we paid out our mortgage. Some through being rather frugal and paying extra and some through selling a couple of investments to lower our overall debt level after some rough years on the farm. It alters our long-term plans a little but it's still nice to know the house is paid for. Maggie - remember that a budget can need to be a little bit flexible, especially at first as you're adjusting to what different categories really cost you. Tracking is the best way to save money though! And makes a realistic budget in the future much easier to set. Yes we do have a vegie garden and hens (although the hens we currently have haven't started laying yet - fingers crossed it'll be any day now). Definitely keep us posted. I love hearing how others are going with this kind of thing. :) Joy - indeed the year has only just begun! Mostly I seem to be finding staying under $100 is getting easier rather than harder so stick with it!!! Every dollar you save still counts too. :) Yes, we paid out our mortgage. Some through being rather frugal and paying extra and some through selling a couple of investments to lower our overall debt level after some rough years on the farm. It alters our long-term plans a little but it’s still nice to know the house is paid for.

Maggie - remember that a budget can need to be a little bit flexible, especially at first as you’re adjusting to what different categories really cost you. Tracking is the best way to save money though! And makes a realistic budget in the future much easier to set. Yes we do have a vegie garden and hens (although the hens we currently have haven’t started laying yet - fingers crossed it’ll be any day now). Definitely keep us posted. I love hearing how others are going with this kind of thing. :)

]]> By: Maggie http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/01/31/time-for-a-new-budget/#comment-3514 Maggie Thu, 31 Jan 2008 14:02:33 +0000 http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/01/31/time-for-a-new-budget/#comment-3514 I too have actually started to keep track of my spending for 2008 and Feb 1 is my kick off date. This could be highly entertaining to see if I am able to stick to a budget -- your 100$/week grocery is inspiring, especially considering you have more than 1 mouth to feed! If you can do it for 5 mouths than I should be able to use that as a benchmark for just me and the cat. We'll see. Granted you have a veggie garden and hens (?) Don't have that here :( Will keep you posted! Cheers, Maggie I too have actually started to keep track of my spending for 2008 and Feb 1 is my kick off date. This could be highly entertaining to see if I am able to stick to a budget — your 100$/week grocery is inspiring, especially considering you have more than 1 mouth to feed! If you can do it for 5 mouths than I should be able to use that as a benchmark for just me and the cat. We’ll see. Granted you have a veggie garden and hens (?) Don’t have that here :( Will keep you posted!
Cheers,
Maggie

]]> By: Joy http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/01/31/time-for-a-new-budget/#comment-3512 Joy Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:47:51 +0000 http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/01/31/time-for-a-new-budget/#comment-3512 Oh well done for still coming in under $100! I need to update on how I am doing... not under $100 yet, but the year has only just begun! Does "done and dusted" mean you are mortgage free? That is fantastic! Saving for a caravan is a great idea - you can come and visit us :) Looking forward to seeing more posts about grocery savings, lv, Joy Oh well done for still coming in under $100! I need to update on how I am doing… not under $100 yet, but the year has only just begun! Does “done and dusted” mean you are mortgage free? That is fantastic!
Saving for a caravan is a great idea - you can come and visit us :) Looking forward to seeing more posts about grocery savings,

lv,

Joy

]]> By: lightening http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/01/31/time-for-a-new-budget/#comment-3511 lightening Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:02:05 +0000 http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/01/31/time-for-a-new-budget/#comment-3511 Thanks Tracey. My apologies for not being able to remember this, but have you been reading long? Last year I started to write a series on reducing the grocery budget. There are some links in my sidebar to the posts in that series. I intend to resume writing that soon. Won't be tomorrow but fingers crossed, next Friday. :) You're right, things are going up and to be perfectly honest, I keep expecting my spending to increase but so far it hasn't (phew! lucky me). The vegie garden is certainly helping in that regard though. Thanks Tracey. My apologies for not being able to remember this, but have you been reading long? Last year I started to write a series on reducing the grocery budget. There are some links in my sidebar to the posts in that series. I intend to resume writing that soon. Won’t be tomorrow but fingers crossed, next Friday. :) You’re right, things are going up and to be perfectly honest, I keep expecting my spending to increase but so far it hasn’t (phew! lucky me). The vegie garden is certainly helping in that regard though.

]]> By: Tracey http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/01/31/time-for-a-new-budget/#comment-3510 Tracey Thu, 31 Jan 2008 10:35:16 +0000 http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/01/31/time-for-a-new-budget/#comment-3510 You are so inspiring. I'd love to know more about how you manage your spending. I assume you grow some of your own veges, but what else do you have in place? Veges only make up a tiny part of my grocery-spending. Everything just seems so expensive, even without those little luxuries we all love. Keep up the fantastic effort, and good luck with the caravan-saving! Definitely a worthy goal! You are so inspiring. I’d love to know more about how you manage your spending. I assume you grow some of your own veges, but what else do you have in place? Veges only make up a tiny part of my grocery-spending. Everything just seems so expensive, even without those little luxuries we all love.

Keep up the fantastic effort, and good luck with the caravan-saving! Definitely a worthy goal!

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