Gardening in High Heels

cultivate a beautiful life

Back on Budget

Holy crap, it’s July.  Well into July.  When did that happen?  I had all of these lofty goals for 2015, like write one post per month for Pittsburgh Craft Beer Network (hey at least I got June’s post in under the wire) and get my investment portfolio together.  At least no goal is exempt from me being like, “Yeah that’s not happening right now.”

Sticking to a food budget is hard, but I love the accountability with Project:Food Budget

Something I am sticking to is a budget, though.  I really have Emily Levenson and Project:Food Budget to thank for that.

After not buying anything three weeks ago, I had to stock up a little bit two weeks ago.  And then I didn’t go to the store again last week.  I thought the first time not shopping was an anomaly, but I guess not.

I knew that because of the holiday weekend, I wouldn’t need to purchase anything the week leading up to the 4th of July and just rely on the generosity of the BBQers to provide a big meal in the middle of the day for me.

Is that wrong?   Or smart?  I’m not quite sure.  But I can assure you, if you invite me over to dinner, I won’t sit there and use you for the majority of my nutrition for the day.

Unless I just haven’t gotten my lazy ass to the store that week again.

So again, we have a no-budget recap week.  (I didn’t get last week’s post out when I did go shopping the week before.  The total bill was $55.51, a total savings of $24.68 thanks to a lot of weekly specials and Giant Eagle-issued coupons.  When I subtract non-food purchases, I came up with $46.22.  $3.78 under my $50 total.)

I’m finding there are two things that I’m learning here.

1. I love saving money.

2. I really hate shopping when I have to stick to a budget.

I love watching the total go down and down and down the more coupons I scan.  I do that for online shopping, too.  I put everything I want into my cart and then take things out based on their price after the sale (who can turn down a $3 t-shirt??) and the total that’s worth it for me. $50 for 4 dresses, a pair of shoes, and 3 shirts?  Done.

But I haaate having to shop with a budget.  I know it’s the best way to do it because there are no surprises.  And it’s easier to manage money when you have a predictable budget for bills/utilities every month.

I just really feel like I can’t add fun little things to my cart because it’s wasteful and eating up space for something useful in my budget.

Emily did warn about this when I was prepping myself for the project; she advised to add a treat within the budget so you aren’t feeling deprived.  I’ve tried doing that, but I’m losing the sense that it’s a “treat” because I’m still thinking about the total at the register.

So I’ll purchase a bag of chips for myself or some hummus (both items I never get) but I use a coupon so even though it’s a splurge, I’m not being totally cavalier.  Maybe that’s where I’m going wrong.

Also a treat isn’t so guilty-pleasure when you still have to cook it.

How do you handle feeling deprived when you’re budgeting?

Don’t forge to check out these budgeting babes and see what’s working for them: Emily Levenson / McGinnis and Bean / Rainaldi.org / Red Pen Mama / Erra Creations / Seeking White Space / facepalmmama / Gardening in High Heels / Melissa Firman / Copy & Post / Rachel Olive Miller / Shea Lennon / Warm as Pie

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  • I totally hear you. That’s why I splurge on things like gummy worms or cookie butter chocolate bars. Something that’s just for me because I want it.

    I also wonder what would happen if you shifted your thinking about budgets—transforming it from the current “I have to go without” belief and turn it into something more positive. What do you get to do because you’re staying IN budget with the foods? Does it allow you to buy another t-shirt? Do you get to go out and have an extra beer with friends? Whatever the flip side of the “I’m going without” belief is, will be a big help.

    Besides, you are a freakin’ budgeting badass when you put your mind to it. I am super impressed with what you’re able to do each week. 🙂

    • I love the idea of putting it into perspective of what I’m gaining by saving a little verus what I can’t have.

      And thank you! It’s super fun to get creative with food again.

  • Erica G

    Hi! This is my first stop on your blog and my first week back on Project Food Budget. I loved your post! I struggle with how to make my budget posts fun to read, and you are good at it. Happy to be on this journey with you.

    • Thanks Erica! I so appreciate you stopping by and commenting. I’m excited to see how your style evolves throughout this project and get to know you, too. 🙂

  • Ha, I totally hear you on not feeling like it’s a “treat” when you have to cook it and when it still has to fit in the budget. Could you assign yourself some “fun” money to use each month, that can be towards food or something else, whatever you want? I don’t know–I struggle with that too, but I’ve had to stick to a grocery budget for so long that it’s just second nature now. (Not that I don’t have my bank-breaking weeks, for sure!)

    • I love the idea of fun money that I can choose to spend on a treat. That would so help because I wouldn’t feel guilty for taking away from the food budget. Thanks for the idea 🙂

  • red_pen_mama

    For me and food budgeting, this is where my farmers markets purchases come in. The food is so good and so fresh that even though it’s in my budget, it feels like a splurge. 🙂

    • That’s so true! Plus, you’re supporting local economies so you feel extra good about it. And fresh veggies are so much better than what you buy at the store.

  • Kristin Delaney

    Yes! I find when I focus too much on the budget part of the budget, I get stressed and judgmental and panicky. I’ve been trying to think of it as a guideline, not something I can fail at, but something I can hopefully achieve. It’s not easy, but getting easier!

    • That’s such a great way of looking at it, Kristin! You can’t fail at buying groceries because it is a necessity, but you can have a target to stick to. Love it!

  • I actually love budget shopping. But it drives Bennett crazy. So he doesn’t let me go with him to the grocery store anymore.

    • I don’t think it gets better than seeing the total go down, down, down. And when you get to see the ‘amount saved’ at the bottom and you’re like boom, bow down to the master!

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