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Update on my "How much should I spend on food?" thread

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by ClutchCityReturns, Oct 12, 2007.

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  1. ClutchCityReturns

    ClutchCityReturns Member

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    I made a thread a couple of months ago asking how much I should be spending on food every month. Back then I was spending about $550 just on food. Here's the thread.

    http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=133367

    So, immediately after posting that and listening to everyone's suggestions and encouragement, I began my mission to eat cheaper.

    From mid-August to mid-September, I spent $133 on food, and from mid-September to mid-October I have spent just $126.

    The money saved gave me the financial confidence to go ahead and finally purchase an HDTV, and from now on (until I move out) I will be able to throw nearly $900 into my savings every month. I can't believe I made the change so quickly.

    I completely cut out eating lunch with my coworkers, I don't buy snacks when I stop at gas stations, I try to eat at home, I buy items by almost strictly by unit price and not by brand, and if I get fast food I use the dollar menu and try to keep it under $3 (plus tax).

    I just wanted to post this to prove that it can be done, in case anyone else is in the same boat as I was. You won't believe how much extra money you free up from your paychecks!
     
    #1 ClutchCityReturns, Oct 12, 2007
  2. macalu

    macalu Member

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    box of mama noodles - $5.

    put some vegetables and meat in there, you got yourself a good meal for a week.
     
    #2 macalu, Oct 12, 2007
  3. SWTsig

    SWTsig Member

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    this thread should prevent me from going to jimmy johns for lunch today.

    but it wont.
     
    #3 SWTsig, Oct 12, 2007
  4. pirc1

    pirc1 Member

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    Good for you :D
     
    #4 pirc1, Oct 12, 2007
  5. rhadamanthus

    rhadamanthus Member

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    Two (serious) questions:

    1) What kind of food are you eating at home?
    2) Is this seperate from booze?
     
    #5 rhadamanthus, Oct 12, 2007
  6. professorjay

    professorjay Member

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    Congrats! Another problem solved by the Clutchfans BBS. It's like Ann Landers here, except it's less helpful...and a little bit more sarcasm.
     
    #6 professorjay, Oct 12, 2007
  7. Manny Ramirez

    Manny Ramirez The Music Man

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    I know what you mean. I shouldn't go out with the wife tonight to Carraba's Grill and catch a movie; I mean, after all, Game 1 of the ALCS is tonight and we have plenty of food at home. Yet, I feel that I don't get to spend much time with my wife or at least as much I would want to spend, so we are going out.
     
    #7 Manny Ramirez, Oct 12, 2007
  8. mc mark

    mc mark Member

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    ^^^ Probably a boring game anyway! ;)

    Good on ya manny!
     
    #8 mc mark, Oct 12, 2007
  9. WildSweet&Cool

    WildSweet&Cool Member

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    WOW! How do you feel about the changes?
     
    #9 WildSweet&Cool, Oct 12, 2007
  10. OldManBernie

    OldManBernie Old Fogey

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    Congrats on the change. I wonder what happened to CHI, he definitely was spending way too much money.
     
    #10 OldManBernie, Oct 12, 2007
  11. Lady_Di

    Lady_Di Member

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    Yeah, 3K per month? Good god!
     
    #11 Lady_Di, Oct 12, 2007
  12. vlaurelio

    vlaurelio Member

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    doesn't quite up add for me

    are you making more money now or are you cutting back on anything else aside from food?
     
    #12 vlaurelio, Oct 12, 2007
  13. Blake

    Blake Member

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    I think he is still living at home
     
    #13 Blake, Oct 12, 2007
  14. pirc1

    pirc1 Member

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    Oh he cut back to 2800 a month now :)
     
    #14 pirc1, Oct 12, 2007
  15. SWTsig

    SWTsig Member

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    jimmy johns was awesome.
     
    #15 SWTsig, Oct 12, 2007
  16. ClutchCityReturns

    ClutchCityReturns Member

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    Nah, nothing tricky about it. I was able to save about $350-400 a month before the changes, I was just including that in the "nearly $900" total.

    As for what I've been eating at home...

    I bought a George Foreman grill, which I love to death. That was the first step. I am a big fan of fish fillets which only take 4 minutes on the grill and are only 43 cents per fillet. Usually 3 of those and some chips on the side makes for a decent meal for about $1.50. I also do spaghetti, sandwiches, ramen noodles, bananas, chicken pot pies (44 cents) and the occasional frozen dinner (there are some good spaghetti ones for only 84 cents).

    For the first month I kept every meal, including snacks, on an Excel spreadsheet down to the penny. It really kept me on track when I could look at it and say "damn, 2 days ago I spent $6.78 on dinner...I really need to cut back on cost the next few meals".

    I also don't feel any less full than before because it's not about eating less food, it's just about buying less expensive and only cooking what I know I'll eat.
     
    #16 ClutchCityReturns, Oct 12, 2007
  17. aeroman10

    aeroman10 Member

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    GF Grill is great....I hate cleaning it though
     
    #17 aeroman10, Oct 12, 2007
  18. ClutchCityReturns

    ClutchCityReturns Member

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    Really? I clean mine every few uses and everything seems to come off quite easily. Maybe the non-stick surface wears off over time...?
     
    #18 ClutchCityReturns, Oct 12, 2007
  19. pradaxpimp

    pradaxpimp Member

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    There's still meat on that bone. Throw that in pot, add some broth, Baby i got stew goin'.
     
    #19 pradaxpimp, Oct 12, 2007
  20. ClutchCityReturns

    ClutchCityReturns Member

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    [​IMG]
     
    #20 ClutchCityReturns, Oct 12, 2007
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