Savvy Budget

Day 43- Still Working the Plan

Challenge updates:
nickel challenge- slowed down- I need to pick it back up- Computer, computer, computer
Qtr challenge- 12/2000 I AM SO STOKED TO BE ON IT!!
Knee high Challenge- going ok
Decluttering Challenge- I need to get busier on this one
Shoe challenge- going ok- One of the 7 pair may have bit the dust- I am trying to salvage them, We will see. - rember I am trying to make 7 pair last all year, when I normally go through at least one pair a month. These 7 are also left over from last year, so this is going to be interesting. It could also be a significant saving.

I am cooking tonight, so that I and a coworker can eat tomorrow without eating out. I'll save her and me money.

I need to box up a few more boxes. I am going to my sister's house this weekend and I want to take a full car load to store and then sell. Plans for the weekend include going through another storage area and sort for using, selling and dumping. I am hoping to get through 10 more boxes this weekend. We are also going to start loading her van for the following weekends sale.

I funded 3 of my 4 weekly envelopes for gas. Tomorrow is payday and I will fund the rest of the envelopes. I will be set for February. I am going to stick to my envelope system. I will NOT spend out of my gas envelopes for anything but gas. Anything left over will go in the debt repayment fund. I am going to be debt free by the 4th of July.

I have two other envelopes. One is groceries ( $25) and the other is blow money ($25). I know $25 is ridiculously low. I have a FULL and overflowing pantry. I am dedicated to emptying this pantry. The plan is to save as much money as possible eating from the pantry and only buying essential items to fill out meals. Then when I am debt free and the pantry is empty, I will up my grocery allowance and start restocking the pantry from sales, coupons and bargain hunting.

I have also started a cookbook with frugal but tasty recipes. This will also help me accumulate a list of frugal items to stock up my pantry. By this time next year, I will have a great repretiore of tasty frugal recipes, meal plans and a full pantry. My savings for groceries next year is also expected to be significant.

I am considering developing a full month of menues that can be repeated each month. There will be allowances for varience but on the whole, all meals will be planned. I can see several benifits to the plan. I will already have healthy meals planned. I will know what items I need to stock up on when I can get the best price. I will also eliminate a lot of stupid purchases that never get used. I will also know which items are best bought in bulk. I like the idea of streamlining my grocery shopping and meal planning while saving money. Keep in mind that grocery spending is one of the most expensive but also the most controlable expense in your everyday life.

posted by Casper @ 8:37 PM