Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Budgetary Concerns
Lately I’ve been stressing about how much money I’ve been spending, how much money I’ve not been able to save, and how much money is not left over for me to use for my own personal purposes. I’ve made a considerable effort to curb my shopping, eliminate ordering alcohol at restaurants and prepare my lunches the night before so as to save the eight bucks I would have spent in the caf. All this to pinch pennies and save where I can.
All this, but to no avail. The expenses that are demanded by my lifestyle (salsa classes, manicures, waxing and blocks of imported parmigiano reggiano) outweigh the amount that I am paid out on a bi-weekly basis by the company I work for. The situation is not a good one, despite the fact that I pay out a reasonable amount to my 401k and savings account each month. Those funds are not to be touched, and so the balance in my checking account slowly but surely declines as I fill up my tank, buy groceries and….eat out.
There is the dilemma. Or, at least, this is the dilemma that I’ve attributed to this month’s expenditures. Looking at my statement, I’ve noticed that I’ve spent $212 on food over the last 30 days (excluding the food and restaurant checks that I charged to my dad’s AMEX when my parents came to visit). Granted, $212 over one month is far better that $40 a day, but is there a way to cut corners from the ~$50 a week average that I’ve racked up? The answer must be yes, because something has to give, and it’s not going to by my gym membership, hairdresser and occasional wardrobe purchase.
For the above reasons, today I am pledging to not spend a single dollar on food for one week. I will not eat out with friends (unless someone decides they would like to pay on my behalf) and I will not go to the supermarket (unless my sister goes and I can throw in an item or two), which means I am left to eat only that which is already in my kitchen (pasta, canned soup, jam, a tomato or two). I must defrost the meatloaf in my freezer, make sesame noodles from the spaghetti and peanut butter that are chillin in the cupboard (I’ll post the recipe), break out the Goya 16-bean mixture and make soup, pop open a box of Kraft macaroni and cheese and, ta da! – make some homemade cobbler from the frozen berries I’ve ignored for a while now.
I’ll keep you posted with my progress and keep a log of my cupboard and freezer adventures. In the meantime, however, feel free to call me up and ask me out to dinner (just know that we’re not going Dutch)!
All this, but to no avail. The expenses that are demanded by my lifestyle (salsa classes, manicures, waxing and blocks of imported parmigiano reggiano) outweigh the amount that I am paid out on a bi-weekly basis by the company I work for. The situation is not a good one, despite the fact that I pay out a reasonable amount to my 401k and savings account each month. Those funds are not to be touched, and so the balance in my checking account slowly but surely declines as I fill up my tank, buy groceries and….eat out.
There is the dilemma. Or, at least, this is the dilemma that I’ve attributed to this month’s expenditures. Looking at my statement, I’ve noticed that I’ve spent $212 on food over the last 30 days (excluding the food and restaurant checks that I charged to my dad’s AMEX when my parents came to visit). Granted, $212 over one month is far better that $40 a day, but is there a way to cut corners from the ~$50 a week average that I’ve racked up? The answer must be yes, because something has to give, and it’s not going to by my gym membership, hairdresser and occasional wardrobe purchase.
For the above reasons, today I am pledging to not spend a single dollar on food for one week. I will not eat out with friends (unless someone decides they would like to pay on my behalf) and I will not go to the supermarket (unless my sister goes and I can throw in an item or two), which means I am left to eat only that which is already in my kitchen (pasta, canned soup, jam, a tomato or two). I must defrost the meatloaf in my freezer, make sesame noodles from the spaghetti and peanut butter that are chillin in the cupboard (I’ll post the recipe), break out the Goya 16-bean mixture and make soup, pop open a box of Kraft macaroni and cheese and, ta da! – make some homemade cobbler from the frozen berries I’ve ignored for a while now.
I’ll keep you posted with my progress and keep a log of my cupboard and freezer adventures. In the meantime, however, feel free to call me up and ask me out to dinner (just know that we’re not going Dutch)!
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um b, i think this is a brilliant plan! i too have vowed to do this many times, but unfortunately have failed each and every time. just like i said i won't buy my latte everyday this week, just two times. i believe yesterday alone i bought two. (oops) i have a suggestion though that works for me. as i was leaving work today, i was wrapping up a 'to-go' box and one my sous chefs asks, what are you doing? and i respond "grocery shopping." he says "cool." working a restaurant has its perks. each day when i leave i take a piece of fruit for that night or the next morning and to prepare for my weekends, such as today, i took three bananas, two pears, a plum, and a pommegranate (?). i am broke as well b/c while i still get free meals each day, i LOVE to eat out and try new places. for example, my muffin consumption is a 'wee bit' out of control lately, so the love handles tell me. but yes, excellent plan! we must hear about it! and if you move close to me, i can swipe you some fruit too!! all organic - the more expensive kind! haha. mwah!
This means that we will have to engage in our ritualistic bonding via gym or salsa only...which means I need to make sure your ass is at the gym a lot. :-)
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