You and Your Budget, Me and My Budget

It’s been a long while since I mentioned me and my budget, so I figured heyy… why not do a post?

I’m literally on a very tight budget. Mr. Not So Paleo and I are both self employed and don’t really know what we have to spend week to week on groceries. One week it’s $100.00 the next it could be $20.00. Which is the main reason I started this blog, because I had to learn to adjust my budget accordingly and not  sacrifice my diet. I can’t that would be absolutley stupid to think I can’t do this just because I can’t spend hundreds of dollars a week on my grocery bill. Same goes for everyone else.. we can all do this on a tight budget. It just takes a little bit of creative planning and having some solid strategies. But I promise, you can do this, within in your budget.

So here’s the skinny on how I chow down:

• I only buy grass fed beef when and where I can. At my grocery store right now I can get a pound of beef for $3.00 {93% lean, and it’s even cheaper if I do 85%}. If I bought grass fed beef it’d be a minimum of $6.49 a pound. When you’re talking about roughly going through 5 lbs of beef in a week for two people, that’s a $15.00 difference, and a month that’s a $60.00 difference…. which is almost my electric bill or half our cellphone bill or our gas bill and a weeks worth of groceries. So I only do what I can when I can and I don’t stress out over it. So you don’t stress over it too ok? It doesn’t make you any less paleo, it doesn’t mean you’re cheating  It means you’re being really really smart with your money and doing what you can when you can, which is all anyone can ask {And I’d much rather you pay your electric bill than buy grass fed beef… can’t help it.. I’m a practical sorta gal}. And if anyone you know has a problem with it send them my way…I’m always game to explain my theories and little life tidbits.

• I buy frozen veggies all the freaking time. Frozen Veggies and I are bffls to the max. They save me money, I rescue them from a life in the grocery store…. it really is a beautiful thing. With my frozen veggies, I won’t buy them unless they’re a $1 or under, depending on how big the bag is. When they’re on sale, I buy them up. My freezer will probably have more then the grocery store some days… if the sale is that good. Why? Because when money is tight… I can just toss them and a pound of meat together and add some seasoning… and I’ve got dinner, for under $5.00 with leftovers for the next day. {Cheap meals + Not a Ton of work = The happiest Liz ever}

• I love eggs. You might have read my egg post from forever ago, but I talked about the many uses of eggs… I’m going to do a part two soon, because it the use of eggs and they’re epicness keeps growing and growing. But when there’s an egg coupon out, I tend to stock up a bit on eggs and either make a lot of mayo or egg salad or what have you. I love having hard boiled eggs on hand {they’re amazing to munch on if you split them in half and add a bit of mustard on top and a dash of cumin} and I tend to boil a bunch once a week and just have them for whenever I need them. You’d be surprised how having one of those suckers for a snack is just as filling if not more than a handful of nuts or a piece of fruit.

• I am the Queen of stocking up on EVERYTHING. Let me say that again, I STOCK UP on EVERYTHING. Toilet paper, paper towels, aluminum foil, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors,  you name it I’ve got it.. and I’ve got enough for a few months. Why? Because one day you’re going to run out of that aluminum foil in your draw and need a new one and you’re going to have to go to the store and spend freaking $3.00 for one… when you could have a month ago bought one for $1.50 instead and had it on hand when you needed it. See what I mean? You might spend a bit up front… but down the road you won’t even worry about it and the hows off affording it. I got paper plates for the summer BBQs in January because the nice high quality ones were on sale for $1.00/1 at Walgreens. Come summer time, that one pack will be around $3.00. See what I’m saying?

Heck I had a few extra Kerry Gold Coupons that expired today, So I bought 4 extra butters… they never have coupons or go on sale. It’s in my freezer… ready for when I need it, and I saved money buying it.

I even stock up on Mr. Not So Paleo’s Favorites {Pringles, Canned Soups, Popcorn, Frozen Foods, etc} so when he wants them they’re there.. and I’m not paying full price for it.

 

All of this and few other things are how I stay on budget every week no matter my budget for the week. When my weeks are tight, I know I have my stock up on veggies and meat so I only need to buy a few essentials and I’m good. When I’ve got extra money, I know to buy extra meat and veggies to make my life easier down the road.

And in case you haven’t noticed I hate hate hate paying full price. It’s not my idea of a good time. Don’t let it be a good time for you… take a minute and peek at your weekly circular and see what’s on sale and if there’s anything you could buy a few extras of … don’t go crazy and stock up on everything tomorrow.. I’ve built up my stock up of everything over the course of a year.. TAKE YOUR FREAKING TIME. Don’t go broke and be all “Liz told me to stock up” No.. stock up slowly.. little at a time when and where you can, you’ll be surprised how much money you’ll end up saving!