We got up early and had my uncle take us up to the Irvine Train station. We caught the train to LA and then from LA to SLO. It was a long trip. We were all tired and missed dad and wanted to be home. Enzo had a little meltdown in LA Union Station while I was checking bags. I could not do anything to soothe him and I could not walk away because we were in line. Brother, I do not want to do that again. Other than that they were angels on the train. We got home and they hugged dad and did not let go for awhile. So sweet.
We got home and I took a two hour nap, much needed. I had to go to the store last night because I would not have a car until Tuesday and the house was bare. So I ended our 28 days of nothing at 6:00pm.
This has been much harder than last year and I am not sure why. Maybe because we were on such a tight budget and then to get extra money, it was burning a hole in my pocket. When I say burning a hole I mean there were things that we really needed and I felt obligated not to get them because of my 28 days. I ended up buying the fabric and I am glad I did because it was a deal and we need clothes for Kira.
I reevaluated our food budget and changed it to $400 month and considering all the changes we did in our diet I totaled our food to $421.18. I spent $183.26 on other essentials other than food at the stores. Considering what we bought, I feel good about it. I am excited to see how eating a plant based diet changes our grocery costs. I am going to shop weekly so that I do not waste anything by buying to much.
Spending: Nothing
Menu:
Breakfast:
Smoothies and rice bread toast
Snack:
Clementines
Lunch:
Tomatoes-Enzo
Dried Mango-Kira
rice crackers
Snack:
Almonds
Mango
Clementines
Dinner:
Roll-ups and fruit
Wow! I can not believe this month is over. I have learned a lot and have been humbled too. I will probably do it again next February and maybe tweak a few things.
Thanks for coming along on the journey. Hope you were challenged or encouraged. Let me know what you did, if anything.
Showing posts with label Budget. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Budget. Show all posts
Monday, March 1, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Day 23
We took the train down and it was a long but good trip. Enzo had woke up at 3:30am and did not go back to sleep until 5:00 and I had to wake him up at 5:45 to leave for the train station. He was really good up until we hit the Santa Ana station two stations away, the last thirty minutes. I tried to get him to relax and try to nap a little but that did not happen. Of course on the car ride home he was out. He napped for about thirty minutes (I did too) and we were all happier. They were so excited to be at Mimi, Papa and Aunt B's house. We went to Wal Mart(I will discuss in a moment) and when we got home Aunt Barabara was home. I told the kids Aunt B was home and Kira says "She is my favorite...my favorite B." So sweet. When we were in the car Enzo looks around and said "Where is Andy?" I said "Do you mean Papa Andy?" He replies "Oh yes, Papa Andy" They are so darn cute. I finally got then down for bed, we were all wound up.
It is always nice to be at my second home. We are having a play date with friends tomorrow rain or shine.
So you are wondering Wal Mart huh? How did she survive Wal Mart? Well with flying colors. My relatives came to visit and they did not bring enough luggage. So I went to Wal Mart and pick up some "luggage" wink, wink. I only spent $7.37. I went in with blinder on and was focused to get to where I needed to go and get out! It was so hard at first because we walked right by the toy section and I thought for sure the kids would want something and ask. Nope, not even a sigh. They were great. I definitely love roaming around Wal Mart or Traget and just see what is new and what I could possibly want, because if I needed it it would be on the list, right? Anyways, I was good and went in and out.
This was a harder month than I thought it would be. I have really struggled with buying stuff. Especially when our tax return came in. I am going to admit and show my humanness. I went to the fabric store and bought fabric. Everything was 50% off and that is why I am going to justify it. I sat there and actually applied my monthly budget to everything and it fell in place but I was feeling guilty. I bought fabric for Kira's Clothes-2 dresses, Cloth Napkins, zipper for my new dress and fabric for another wedding gift. I guess I felt like it was not essential but everything but the gift are. Kira is growing and we do not get hand-me-downs like we are blessed with Enzo. So I have decided to make her 2 playtime dresses. This girl loves dresses. Instead of buying paper napkins I have changed to cloth napkins and I love it. I just throw them in with the kitchen towels and go. I love using cloth napkins I feel like we are having a fancy dinner every night. Well, I am sorry that I did not tell you all when I did it. I guess I felt justified and I do but I felt like I let you down.
Okay enough with that, let's talk menu.
Spending: $7.37 at Wal Mart
Menu:
Breakfast:
Smoothie
I actually drank 1/2 cup of coffee because I was so tired but it did not taste good so I did not finish it.
We grazed and ate every hour or two the whole train ride on
Bananas
Clementines
Banana Chips-treat
Cashews
Dates
Tortilla Chips
Water
Juice
Dinner:
Kids were not hungry
Kira ate a banana
I had Nutty Veggies and Rice
Snacked on crannberries and banana chips while writing this.
I am exhausted and I am going to bed, Goodnight
It is always nice to be at my second home. We are having a play date with friends tomorrow rain or shine.
So you are wondering Wal Mart huh? How did she survive Wal Mart? Well with flying colors. My relatives came to visit and they did not bring enough luggage. So I went to Wal Mart and pick up some "luggage" wink, wink. I only spent $7.37. I went in with blinder on and was focused to get to where I needed to go and get out! It was so hard at first because we walked right by the toy section and I thought for sure the kids would want something and ask. Nope, not even a sigh. They were great. I definitely love roaming around Wal Mart or Traget and just see what is new and what I could possibly want, because if I needed it it would be on the list, right? Anyways, I was good and went in and out.
This was a harder month than I thought it would be. I have really struggled with buying stuff. Especially when our tax return came in. I am going to admit and show my humanness. I went to the fabric store and bought fabric. Everything was 50% off and that is why I am going to justify it. I sat there and actually applied my monthly budget to everything and it fell in place but I was feeling guilty. I bought fabric for Kira's Clothes-2 dresses, Cloth Napkins, zipper for my new dress and fabric for another wedding gift. I guess I felt like it was not essential but everything but the gift are. Kira is growing and we do not get hand-me-downs like we are blessed with Enzo. So I have decided to make her 2 playtime dresses. This girl loves dresses. Instead of buying paper napkins I have changed to cloth napkins and I love it. I just throw them in with the kitchen towels and go. I love using cloth napkins I feel like we are having a fancy dinner every night. Well, I am sorry that I did not tell you all when I did it. I guess I felt justified and I do but I felt like I let you down.
Okay enough with that, let's talk menu.
Spending: $7.37 at Wal Mart
Menu:
Breakfast:
Smoothie
I actually drank 1/2 cup of coffee because I was so tired but it did not taste good so I did not finish it.
We grazed and ate every hour or two the whole train ride on
Bananas
Clementines
Banana Chips-treat
Cashews
Dates
Tortilla Chips
Water
Juice
Dinner:
Kids were not hungry
Kira ate a banana
I had Nutty Veggies and Rice
Snacked on crannberries and banana chips while writing this.
I am exhausted and I am going to bed, Goodnight
Friday, February 19, 2010
Day 18-28 Days of Nothing
I was motivated to get things done today and almost accomplished everything. Except laundry, maybe tomorrow.
Kids are feeling good and noses are running from detoxing from dairy. Kira is having better BM's and Enzo is happier. We are grazing more throughout the day and I think his blood sugar levels are staying more even. We are eating every two hours and I think we will have to continue with that to make him stay happy.
I am having to reevaluate of food situation and be prepared for eating this way. I know I feel so much better eating this way and it is easier. We have a smoothie or fresh fruit for breakfast. Snack on fruit throughout the day. Have a large plate of veggies and hummus for lunch a little bit of cooked veggies. Snack more on fruit between mealtime. For dinner we have been doing salad and baked potatoes or cooked veggies too. I love that the kids like the same thing over and over and it makes it easier to plan food.
I am trying to give them two options for snacks, clementines or bananas.
I found out our neighbors orange tree no one is picking it. I picked about ten yesterday and there are about thirty to forty more waiting to be picked. I am going to get a ladder and pick them today. I cut off the peel and put in the fridge. I figure if I have a too many I will blend and freeze it like oj. What a cheaper way to add to our smoothies.
Spending: Trader Joe's $39.01 Fruit and veggies
That brings our total grocery spending to $293.60
Well I am over by about $114. That is a lot and I am bummed but like I said we were not planning on having dietary issues. So there you go unexpected expenses, to funny.
Hopefully next month I can be more exact on my budgeting. I think we might have to up the grocery allowance but in the long run we won't be paying for health bills because we are healthy for our diet/eating lifestyle.
** I have changed my monthly allowance for food to $400, it is more realistic and everything I had read says so. updated 3/1/10**
Menu:
Fruit Smoothie and I have been using less than normal on the fruit and adding ice to make it go a little farther.
Snack:
Clementines and Bananas
Lunch:
Veggie Faces with hummus
Tomato soup and two corn tortillas each kid
Snack:
nuts and bananas
Dinner:
Salad and Baked Potatoes with Broccoli.
Red Bell Pepper sauce and Hummus on potatoes instead of sour cream
I actually have lost a little weight. I was not meaning to but it is always a nice bonus. I miss my coffee, more for the ritual of it, smell, taste and warmth. Not so much having any caffeine withdrawals but missing the ritual.
Kids are feeling good and noses are running from detoxing from dairy. Kira is having better BM's and Enzo is happier. We are grazing more throughout the day and I think his blood sugar levels are staying more even. We are eating every two hours and I think we will have to continue with that to make him stay happy.
I am having to reevaluate of food situation and be prepared for eating this way. I know I feel so much better eating this way and it is easier. We have a smoothie or fresh fruit for breakfast. Snack on fruit throughout the day. Have a large plate of veggies and hummus for lunch a little bit of cooked veggies. Snack more on fruit between mealtime. For dinner we have been doing salad and baked potatoes or cooked veggies too. I love that the kids like the same thing over and over and it makes it easier to plan food.
I am trying to give them two options for snacks, clementines or bananas.
I found out our neighbors orange tree no one is picking it. I picked about ten yesterday and there are about thirty to forty more waiting to be picked. I am going to get a ladder and pick them today. I cut off the peel and put in the fridge. I figure if I have a too many I will blend and freeze it like oj. What a cheaper way to add to our smoothies.
Spending: Trader Joe's $39.01 Fruit and veggies
That brings our total grocery spending to $293.60
Well I am over by about $114. That is a lot and I am bummed but like I said we were not planning on having dietary issues. So there you go unexpected expenses, to funny.
Hopefully next month I can be more exact on my budgeting. I think we might have to up the grocery allowance but in the long run we won't be paying for health bills because we are healthy for our diet/eating lifestyle.
** I have changed my monthly allowance for food to $400, it is more realistic and everything I had read says so. updated 3/1/10**
Menu:
Fruit Smoothie and I have been using less than normal on the fruit and adding ice to make it go a little farther.
Snack:
Clementines and Bananas
Lunch:
Veggie Faces with hummus
Tomato soup and two corn tortillas each kid
Snack:
nuts and bananas
Dinner:
Salad and Baked Potatoes with Broccoli.
Red Bell Pepper sauce and Hummus on potatoes instead of sour cream
I actually have lost a little weight. I was not meaning to but it is always a nice bonus. I miss my coffee, more for the ritual of it, smell, taste and warmth. Not so much having any caffeine withdrawals but missing the ritual.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Day 4 -28 Days of Nothing
My dryer is hooked up and have been doing laundry since last night. We had an electric dryer but this house has only gas hookups and I have been without a dryer since we moved in. I borrowed my neighbor's last week for four loads. It helped and I did the necessities but sheets needed to be changed and before I knew it I was twelve loads deep! AHHH! We don't even have that many clothes but it was all of the bedding, rugs, table clothes and napkins, cleaning rags and such that have been piling up.
I am in the process of switching to a paper free kitchen. This means cloth napkins, cleaning towels etc. Instead of paper towels and paper napkins which are expensive and not to mention the trash that they make. I like it better. I have cloth diapers that are leftover from the kids, that I used for basic wiping up messes. I also have quite a few red napkins that I had from past restaurant jobs that never made it back, Sorry. The kids like them better and actually have asked for them when I have handed them the paper ones. Fine by me.
So there is a little more laundry than usual and hopefully I will get it all done tonight. I have been good and putting them away as I go. This normally does not happen, I will be good and fold it all but put it in a basket and hope that it will put itself away, I guess. Then it never makes it there and ends up shuffling from the basket to the floor and back into the basket to be washed. I am trying.
Spending: $5.37 for toilet paper and dish soap. I was so excited toilet paper was half price at Albertson's.
Menu:
Cold Cereal-Kira
Hot Cereal-Enzo I take boiling water and add rice flour to make "cream of rice"
Frozen Homemade Waffles and coffee (me)
Snack:
Ants on a log
Lunch:
Grape Tomatoes
Bean Burritos and sour cream
Tostadas(me)
Snack:
Popcorn
Dinner:
Baked Potatoes and Salad
My neighbor has a great little garden and keeps on giving me Arugula. I love it.
I just add a little to my romaine lettuce and it makes the best salad.
I am selling the rest of my cloth diapers tonight for $45, sweet as.
I had some one call about my espresso machine but when I returned her call, she did not call back. Craigslist is sometimes annoying because people are so flaky. Oh well I should not complain, I sold one item. I also just got my Dave Ramsey Book in the mail and I am starting to read it tonight.
Also Eric is almost done with our taxes. Looks like we will get a nice return. We get an $800 credit just for having a jobs last year, really?!?
I am in the process of switching to a paper free kitchen. This means cloth napkins, cleaning towels etc. Instead of paper towels and paper napkins which are expensive and not to mention the trash that they make. I like it better. I have cloth diapers that are leftover from the kids, that I used for basic wiping up messes. I also have quite a few red napkins that I had from past restaurant jobs that never made it back, Sorry. The kids like them better and actually have asked for them when I have handed them the paper ones. Fine by me.
So there is a little more laundry than usual and hopefully I will get it all done tonight. I have been good and putting them away as I go. This normally does not happen, I will be good and fold it all but put it in a basket and hope that it will put itself away, I guess. Then it never makes it there and ends up shuffling from the basket to the floor and back into the basket to be washed. I am trying.
Spending: $5.37 for toilet paper and dish soap. I was so excited toilet paper was half price at Albertson's.
Menu:
Cold Cereal-Kira
Hot Cereal-Enzo I take boiling water and add rice flour to make "cream of rice"
Frozen Homemade Waffles and coffee (me)
Snack:
Ants on a log
Lunch:
Grape Tomatoes
Bean Burritos and sour cream
Tostadas(me)
Snack:
Popcorn
Dinner:
Baked Potatoes and Salad
My neighbor has a great little garden and keeps on giving me Arugula. I love it.
I just add a little to my romaine lettuce and it makes the best salad.
I am selling the rest of my cloth diapers tonight for $45, sweet as.
I had some one call about my espresso machine but when I returned her call, she did not call back. Craigslist is sometimes annoying because people are so flaky. Oh well I should not complain, I sold one item. I also just got my Dave Ramsey Book in the mail and I am starting to read it tonight.
Also Eric is almost done with our taxes. Looks like we will get a nice return. We get an $800 credit just for having a jobs last year, really?!?
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