I took a hiatus while I got settled, which was probably stupid because I spent exorbitant amounts of money in the interim. I thought I'd be ok, but it turns out I really need this blog and this community to keep me on track. You all inspire me to stop acting like an idiot.
My short-term sublet is up in a month, but I signed a lease today for a new apartment. It's a 5 bedroom (I'm only renting one room, of course), and I just dropped $3,700 on my security deposit and first month's rent. OUCH. From there, the rent is $1250/month. Believe it or not, this is a steal for my neighborhood.
My greatest fixed expense, then, will be rent (along with transportation ($89/month unlimited Metro Card and tuition $500/month). Unfortunately, I am a big spender when it comes to groceries. I can't help it - if I see truffle oil, goat cheese, or fresh pulled mozzarella, I have to put in the cart.
I need to start eating like the pauper I am. Right now, I spent about $75/week on groceries for myself alone. This is not cool (particularly since I also go out to eat a lot). I need to cap it at $50.
My first project will be creating a menu and a lifestyle that will allow me to eat with that kind of budget. Any ideas welcome. I don't even know where to begin...
Eating cheap - um, what's that?
July 26th, 2010 at 08:54 pm
July 26th, 2010 at 11:22 pm 1280186537
First off - are you wasting food?
The $75 isn't terrible (not great but not terrible) unless you are pitching out much food. If you're pitching out rotten produce that is definitely $s out the door that you can't afford.
And is your refrigerator stuffed to the gills?
Capping your food $ would be much easier if you can remember at the time what you actually have. Nothing like the sinking feeling of buying goat cheese when you already have goat cheese.
Do you have recipes that you can kind of treat like a little black dress and accessorize? For instance, when it gets hot like this its salad, salad, salad. You got your leaves, if you have goat cheese that's nice but if you don't not a deal breaker?
Do you also have recipes that you can go to if your food is a hair old? Not rotten but you know you'll have to use it or lose it within a couple of days. For instance, I have roasted veg with tahini sauce, or olive oil. Works very well with cauliflower, carrots, onions, potatoes, green beans... you get the idea.
Finally, I know that in my neighborhood grocery x is cheaper for cheese, grocery y has a sale on produce, grocery z has bulk (but do the math on the bulk - I've found orzo pasta for $2.25/lb in the bulk bin, $1.75/lb in the box on the shelf), etc. Research! For me this was actually the fun project. Ha ha!
July 27th, 2010 at 02:17 am 1280197043
I think the biggest saver in regards to meals is planning, portions, and also having backup meals for when you're feeling slack. If you're by yourself, I suggest making double amounts and freezing a meal for later on when you're busy.
If it were just me I didn't have to worry about DF, I'd eat steamed rice and vegetables with soy sauce and toasted sesame seeds nearly every night.
July 27th, 2010 at 04:27 am 1280204863
But we have pulled back and eaten for cheaper when we needed the budget to catch up. Our way is to plan a menu of easy meals using cheap(er) ingredients, then make a grocery list and stick to it. Another way (I've never tried it, but SA site owner Jeffrey does it and writes about it on grocerycouponguide.com) is to buy what's on sale and then make meals around that. Either way, the Internet is your best friend, because you can find recipes that match your level of skill or expertise without buying a bunch of cookbooks, as well as matching the ingredients you have.
Cheap meals in my vegetarian household usually start with a base of whole wheat pasta, or potatoes, or bread, or rice/grains. Then add vegetables, beans, soy/fake meat products, cheese and/or sauce. I realize that most people are freaked out by carbohydrates, so it may not work for you.
One thing you could do to help yourself stick to a plan is to write one indulgent item on the grocery list every week. Maybe that one treat would be enough of an outlet for your gourmand side.
July 27th, 2010 at 03:17 pm 1280243824
I think you're right that planning is going to be the biggest saver. Making a menu right now.
July 27th, 2010 at 03:42 pm 1280245364
I also do my grocery shopping on-line -no more (well, fewer) impulse buys and I can check the sale flyers and use coupons. Good luck!
July 27th, 2010 at 06:01 pm 1280253702
I'm a long term lurker on this site but I thought I should give you some advice for saving money on groceries in NYC - Trader Joe's! I have been living in New York for several years and I only discovered the joy that is TJs last year. Since I've started shopping there the variety and quality of my grocery orders has increased and by grocery bill has gone down - both by a LOT! There is one in Union Square and a new one just opened up in Chelsea, and I believe they are opening one on the Upper West Side soon. I am only familiar with the Union Square location as it was the only one until a couple of weeks ago. It looks crazy when you first get in there - the line usually wraps around the entire store! In fact although I had gone a time or 2 years ago but never went back because of how crazy busy the store is. Give it a chance though as the line generally moves fast and you won't get better prices on food in NYC (I do hear that Fairway has good prices but I don't live on the Upper West so I've never been and can't comment). A tip for getting out as quickly as possible: get everything you need from the middle of the store first and then try to get produce/meat/cheese/dairy when you are in line (only works for the +12 item line though as that is the line moving by these sections). Once you've been there a few times you should be familiar with the layout and where everything is and it should be a breeze!
July 27th, 2010 at 10:10 pm 1280268601
on a side note, lots of blogs on here have a Meal Plan or Food category that they post under, so you will probably get some good ideas from those, too.
July 29th, 2010 at 03:01 am 1280372469
I love Trader Joe's and there's actually one opening up on my new block so there ya go. Right now I go to Fairway (I live up here for the next month) and it IS amazing.
August 13th, 2010 at 05:06 pm 1281719200
Jerry