Well its June...

Well, yes it's June. Almost the end of June and I haven't posted in months. I have been thinking about whether I have been meeting my financial goals, and whether saving money on Groceries has anything to do with it.

For the most part, I have been able to stick to my plan for keeping the grocery bill under control. However, I went back to last year's records and realized I spent about he same amount last year. I guess I need to figure out what else I can do. I am actually spending a little more then I planned because I am trying to eat at home more. My husband and I have separate accounts and split the bills. He makes twice what I do so he typically has more left over at the end of the month. Most of what I make goes to bills and food. Not much left for me. In a way, I feel I deserve not to be left with much. I have to pay the price for bad decisions I have made.

Funny, I didn't make the decisions to make many of the purchases that could have waited and severely affected our way of life. I didn't get sick with a catastrophic illness, and still can't seem to understand that medical bills can ruin you. I just have to pay the price. I am married to someone who seems to blame me for everything in life he cannot afford. For goals not met. Our house is a disaster because things remain undone. There are three other adults who live with me and leave a mess behind them everywhere they go. A grown man who thinks his clothes and shoes belong in the hall by the back door, or in the floor by the closet instead of in the closet. A pile of clothes by the bed. He is just too lazy to pick them up.

Well in my quest for simplicity, I am slowly throwing things out the back door. Either by way of my SUV to the local Goodwill, or to the monster trash can in the back yard. One floor of our tri-level is a disaster. It smells and has concrete floors in places waiting for flooring to be replaced.

Well I have totally left my theme behind today. I will work on finding happiness in simplicity and try to remember to report back soon.

Off to Church, where I will try to forgive my messy family.

I am in mourning today. Well at least my checkbook is. I spent $104.00 yesterday at my local market. Ouch. Fortunately, its early in the month. The local chain I shop at runs a special every few weeks where you can purchase five meat products (they all have yellow dots on them) from a very nice selection of cuts for $19.95. There is not limit on the size as long as they have a dot on them. I took advantage of this twice in the past week. The ground beef alone is worth the trip. This store has their own beef grown on ranches out West and its very good quality. I rummaged through and found the largest packages. It was all 92% lean which leaves very little waste. I typically try to stretch my meat over a couple meals if possible. Got some great steaks and pork tenderloin as well. My point here is I need to buy very little meat over the next few weeks. I already had some in the freezer. This should last a while. Maybe I can actually come in under my budget goal for the month if I am careful. Well, I need to do my taxes. We should get a little back this year, but its going straight to my daughter's tuition. Easy come, Easy go.

Take care
Ronnie

I know, its been a couple weeks. I just returned from St. Augustine where I spent the weekend in an oceanside million dollar condo. I am fortunate enough to have friends who's parents spend the winter with the other "snow birds" who migrate south each January. Chip got to play golf and I got to walk the beach for miles with my i-pod. Now that I am back from rubbing elbows with the rich its back to my normal life. Its nice to see how the other half lives. I wonder what its like to live with out money worries. I wonder if that will ever be me. I hope so. I don't need much, especially not a condo by the sea. I just want peace of mind that my bills are paid and I don't have to constantly explain to my husband why I paid a bill late.

Until next time. Ronnie

I only spent how much????

Well, I took out my checkbook the other day to determine how much I had spent on groceries in 2007. I went through my register and carefully added up each weeks purchase. "Gasp" it was less then $4,000.00. Thats my goal for 2008! How in the world am I going to save money and pay off some bills if all I spend the same thing I did last year? Great, now what? That sick feeling started to churn in my gut again. I am never going to be free from my money problems. I guess its time to look at my bank statments. I need to see how many purchases I made with my debit card. Then I need to weed through my husband's statements and determine how much he spent for us to eat out. I will post the results soon.

I only spent how much????

Trial Run

I decided to go to the grocery store on December 31 for a trial run. I still have plenty of food in the house from the holidays and by virtue of the fact that we have eaten meals elsewhere during the past week. I decided that this week will not count. I headed out with no coupons and no list. Not a good idea. I spent a grand total of $47.59. Not bad. I had loyalty card savings of $15.12, so I actually purchased $62.71 in groceries. I was OK with that until I realized that I forgot cereal and milk. I don’t eat cereal but my husband does. The date on the milk in the fridge is today January 2, 2008. He won’t touch it no matter how many times I tell him that’s the sell by date. When I realized I forgot these items he made that assuming noise that I will have to go back and get it. Fat chance buddy. I have spent my max on food for the week. There is instant oatmeal and those free bagels I brought home the other day. I think you can manage to find something for breakfast this week. Until tomorrow.