My personal goals:
1. To get my finances to the point I'm tything properly.
2. To gain lightness.
I'm finding these goals go hand-in-hand but can I be effective in both areas? I met some friends for a playdate today and we talked about grocery shopping, restaurant eating and how we're all managing our budgets. One of the things I shared was experimenting with my grocery budget. Mark gets paid every two weeks so instead of shopping for two weeks right at the beginning of the pay period, I've started to divide the grocery money, in cash, each DAY. (If I don't shop that day, I rollover the cash into the next day. I do this especially if we're shopping at Sam's Club.) I started this about 3 weeks ago and it's working out GREAT. Because I am limiting my shopping to the cash, I shop for specific items I really need, I'm staying on budget, we've cut our restaurant eating WAY back, I'm not running out of specific food before the next pay period and I've stopped taking our money for granted. (It is a whole lot tougher giving away cash than it is a debit card!) At the playdate, I shared that I'm trying to see if I can get away with budgeting $100 every TWO weeks for groceries. Pretty ambitious for a family of three, right? I'm on a mission, people! I'll tell you, we had $50 this past week and we're right on target! Here's what I DIDN'T anticipate: A good friend at the playdate asked, "Yes but are you eating in a healthy way?" Reflecting on what I've been eating, I can't completely say yes. I do my best to keep fruit in the house, I eat whole grain bread, I'm definitely eating less and my whole family is on Juice Plus+. I still gravitate toward the junk though. I still have trouble getting my veggies in consistently. When I think of what I want to fill my bowl with it's most always carbs and protein.
My friend, Nikki, is letting me check out a cookbook for veggies and I'm excited to see what it's all about. I'm also curious to see how this is going to effect my aggressive budget. Health is not kind to people who are watching their money. Is it right that you can get 12 Little Debbie snack cakes for less than $2 but it's that much for 1 or 2 servings of fruits or vegetables? That's a bad scene, baby.
Meaningful Movement: 30 minutes on lower body machines at the gym, 10 minutes with the Shake Weight, 15 minutes Leslie Sanson
Foods that Fit in a Baby Bowl, Day 26:
-1/2 breakfast pizza
-3 baby carrots
-3 pita chips with sun red pepper hummus
-salad: apples, lettuce, broccoli salad topping (dressing, broccoli, raisins, green onions), slivered almonds, croutons and Asian salad dressing ---this was SO GOOD! I seriously could've eaten this all day long!
-soup: wild rice, cream, cheese, chicken, mushrooms (1/2 a baby bowl) and a mini blueberry muffin
-salad (see above)
NOTE: Starting with the carrots, I didn't stick with my 20 minute rule. This was eaten during playgroup and I didn't want to have to go back to the table every 20 minutes. (Thanks, Nikki, for the delicious food!!!)
-corn dog with ketchup and mustard
-banana and peanut butter smoothie
NOTE: I didn't wait 20 minutes with these last two too. I looked at the clock about 4:30 and realized I had 30 minutes to eat before my fast started. I threw this down my neck and took the last bite at 4:58.
-Lenten fast: dinner
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Well I have not kept track the last three days. I have not been good. and I am sorry to report this. I will pick back up tomorrow and look forward to better accountablity.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Toni
No worries! I'm here whenever you're ready to pick back up!! *hugs*
ReplyDeleteI like this because the bottom line is: FAT IS CHEAP. Fast food is cheap...it's fat. My grocery bill last month was $1,700.00. Yes, that includes 2 active young men but I don't buy fat. I buy "good" cuts of meat..lean. I fry nothing. The kids mimic me. They eat well. They are trim and fit. It is a financial sacrifice now to set them up for success for the rest of their lives. A simple banner, a hand-painted sign I made sums my theory up: EAT to LIVE = NOT live to eat.
ReplyDeleteIt's a lifestyle. When we go out, I've never ordered soda and have never bought it. When we go out now, the kids will order tea, milk, water...they can choose what they want but never developed the taste OR HABIT to have the soda. Again--it's a lifestyle of health = I have NEVER HAD A CAVITY! Gannon, Taylor and Reagan HAVE NEVER HAD A CAVITY. That is exceptional considering Gannon spent 5+ years in braces and Taylor spent 3+ years in braces.
Marianne will reap what you sow and sow what you reap. It goes both ways. She is the ultimte product of what you do now...she will do and be same. That is a heavy load and big pill to swallow.