I am changing the rules because this is my blog and I can if I want

I am no longer going to include all my toddlers soymilk in our grocery budget. When I began this challenge I new she had special nutritional needs but I had no idea she would need 4 or more cartons of milk that cost almost $4 each every week to stay healthy. Her health is a concern to me and to my pediatrician because of her food issues and I am not willing to compromise on her milk for the sake of my budget so I will no longer include her milk which cost us between $12 and $16 a week. I do not consider her soymilk groceries but medicine at this point.

On a side note I am including all my husbands snacks in my budget. I set up up a snack budget for him but have changed my mind. All my husbands snacks are included in our $50 weekly food bill.

How's it Going

I am starting to realize that I need to learn to cook. I have expermenting with this recipie for flour tortillas at Hillbilly Housewife and getting pretty good at baking them. Tortillas are something I can never find cheap enough at the grocery even with coupons.

How's it Going

I am still struggling to get my budget down to $50 dollars a week. I did not think it would be quite this hard. The problem I seem to have is deciding when to buy the good deals and when to let them go. There are some things I may just not be able to afford on this budget.

My new tactic is to make a list before I go shopping and check my new pantry to be sure what I am buying fills an actually need. We have yet to waste anything I have bought but how much Chef Boyardee are we really going to want to eat? No matter how cheap the cans get with my coupons spaghetti and and sauce will still be a cheap options as well.

How's it Going

Well I have come to several conclusions as I continue to come in over budget.

• I need to stockpile more when the price is rock bottom.
• Do this I will have to overspend some weeks and know that I will make up fo rit on the slow weeks.
• I need to be buy lots of junk to keep the husband out of the store!
• I need to get more coupons.
• I need to do a better job getting all the deals and making a second trip if neccessary.

I think it can still be done and intend to average $50 a week as the sales calm down. I also plan to eliminate the husbands snack budget by the end of the year.

How's it Going, Tuesday

I think it's going great but I am concerned we are down to our last 6 boxes to cereal. The freezer is looking low on meat and produce is really becoming a big challenge. I am also over budget from week 2 but the sales were to good this week to catch up. I am not expecting much the next to weeks unless we get the Kroger Mega Sale. I am actually hoping for some slow weeks can I spend money on produce and meat and hunt out some marked down bread for the freezer.

Husband is complaining we are out of ice cream, soap he likes (bought this at the dollar store), Jif (bought this for full price-painful for me) and he complained but my attempt to make the meat last longer. I think meal planning will help with his complaining.

Kids would like more produce (got some this week) and chicken fingers and pizza rolls (got these too).