Comments on: Menu Plan Monday: My First $100 Challenge Meal Plan

By: The Week In Review: June 13, 2009 | A High And Noble Calling

The Week In Review: June 13, 2009 | A High And Noble Calling — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 11:22:33 +0000

[...] Monday I shared our Budget Menu Plan and answered a readers question about reaching out to others with your [...]

By: Joy @ Frugal Menu Mamas

Joy @ Frugal Menu Mamas — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 21:25:08 +0000

Our family used to spend $400 a month on groceries plus $50 for toiletries. We are a family of 4, 2 being preschoolers. I have got it down to $400 total for groceries and toiletries. I am so impressed you are doing $400 for your family! We are always trying to get our’s down too, so keep up the HARD work!
Joy @ Frugal Menu Mamas´s last blog: Freezer Friday-veggie edition…..

By: Tracy

Tracy — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:54:48 +0000

Living in South Africa it is difficult to compare our spending with yours so I try to compare it other moms and wives here willing to talk to me about how much they spend.

I am always shocked if I come across someone who doesn’t know how much they spend. Even if you are not financially challenged and regardless of the economy, not knowing where your money goes is crazy. Strangely enough, many say they have no idea how much they spend….they just put in on the card and their husbands pay the bill!

I budget 3000 South Africa Rands for groceries each month for our family of 4. This includes all food, toiletries, cleaning products, pet food (for our 16 pets) and pool maintenance chemicals. Directly converted, this is $300 (US). We don’t have coupons here. Compared to other families we know living in our area, this is less than half of what most of them spend. Some of them spend MORE than this every WEEK!

My inlaws spend more than double our budget just on food for the 2 of them, no pets, and they eat out 2-3 times per week.

For me, its all about providing healthy nourishing meals for growing appetites using frugal recipes, clever portion control, shopping with the sales (including stocking up on things when they’re cheap) and making sure I have tasty, inexpensive treats on hand to keep snacking from breaking the budget.

Keep working on that budget, Stephanie. It gets easier with practice, promise!

By: Emily Kay

Emily Kay — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:06:39 +0000

ok, does your $100 include household items/toiletries? We are starting the $400 dollar a month budget for a family of 5 this month, too. We are including all household items, including diapers! We went a little over, too...it is HARD! I am glad to see how you are doing it-that helps me! Thanks! OH, and your menu looks GREAT! Emily Kay’s last blog post..Garden Update ************************************* Stephanie says: Your right, it is hard! Impossible? I don't think so. Our budget does include toiletries, which I can get usually for free or very inexpensively at Walgreens. I have a pretty good stockpile going so I don't think I will need much this month besides toilet paper. I don't have any littles in diapers any longer, however I have seen lots of ways you can score diapers very cheap! Hope that answers your question!

By: Ticia

Ticia — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:43:24 +0000

We spend $200 a week with 5, but we also have 1 still in diapers and twins that wear diapers at night. This also buys the occasional household item like lamps. So, it's not just food. Ticia’s last blog post..I SO want to win this

By: Millie

Millie — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:35:02 +0000

Your menu looks good. I love that you are doing the FCH lessons. Millie’s last blog post..Menu Week of June 8

By: Michelle

Michelle — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:24:02 +0000

I'm impressed, as usual! Michelle’s last blog post..Rock Stacks

By: momstheword

momstheword — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 02:35:24 +0000

At this point, I don't even know anymore. I really have to relook at our budget again! I have not been keeping a tight track as I need to. momstheword’s last blog post..MAKING YOUR HOME SING MONDAY: IT'S ALL IN THE DETAILS

By: susieshomemade

susieshomemade — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 01:49:09 +0000

Yummo! susieshomemade’s last blog post..Update

By: Debbie

Debbie — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 01:39:53 +0000

I think your $100 a week sounds pretty good. We spend $192.50 a week and that is for a family of 8. We do not split out toiletries so that $192.50 covers everything from shampoo to toilet paper to eggs. We do always buy beef in bulk once a year, and a lamb, and sometimes we raise a batch of chickens to slaughter -- meaning that I don't always have to buy meat. In my family, we are definitely carnivores! Debbie’s last blog post..Miscellaneous Spring