Stocking Up

I recently made a trip to Costco.  Overall, it was a pretty conservative trip in terms of purchases... most of the items were items I use all the time in baking or cooking.  However, due to the types of purchases made at Costco - the volume (and cost) was pretty high.  It has sort of thrown the "10 dollar day" plan for a loop.  I've decided to keep tracking things as I have been - just to see what happens.  It would be neat if it starts to level off.  I suspect it might.

Buying in bulk is the oft promoted way for saving money on food costs.  Judging by my costco membership and my referencing of stuffed cabinetry.  I obviously subscribed to this method as well.

It's a good method.  Many things have a shelf life of much more than two weeks... "the usual shopping cycle", so if I find them on sale, or can buy them at costco (lower per unit price), then I can really stretch my dollar.

Obvious things I buy in bulk are:
noodles, crackers, cereal bars, flour, sugar, canned tomatoes, olives, canned beans, dried beans evaporated milk and sweeted condensed milk - most of these items have a shelf life of a minimum of 2 years - some of them a lot more.

Some not so obvious things I buy in bulk are:
mayo, ranch, ketchup and other condiments - these items are refrigerate after opening... you can store them on the shelf until then and they often have a shelf life of a year or more. 

Some items I buy in bulk - because of the invention of the freezer:
meat, vegetables, other frozen foods (duh!), bread (yes - you can freeze this - but I do keep my quantities on this smaller than other things) and tortillas (same as bread)

This the list of things I buy in bulk or for storage, but other people make other choices.  I'd be curious if there is anything you depend on from your storage. 

Saving money this way suits my personality.  I have half a dozen dishes I could whoop out of food storage at any moment, and to be honest I get a perhaps weird sense of security out of this.

There are risks with this method however, as food does expire.  Also, many fresh foods are healthier as well (though not always the case).  If I were to stock more than I could use by the expiration date - this would not be a practice in saving, but in losing.    Loss of foods that have expired.  It's important that I mention this is just not a loss to my budget, but a loss in terms of environmental resources as well.  Resources were used to create the food, package the food, move the food to wherever you bought it from.  If these are wasted; I waste those resources too. 


Do you "stock up"?  Are you careful to avoid over stocking?  Do you freeze anything interesting (such as bread)?

Cheat-zilla!

So remember when I made claims of eating for 10 dollars a day and how easy peasy it would be. 

Well somehow between buying wine for parties, treating friends and oh um... treating myself.  I am more than a little behind on my $10/day plan of attack.  If you like numbers check the "10 dollar day" tab.  Right now, I am not a huge fan.

Anyway, I thought about wiping my slate clean and starting at square one, but then I thought better.

I going to give myself the rest of 2010 to catch up.   

So what to do:

Cutting the Crazy: My crazy schedule of work doom will end this wednesday - when I will return working normal human amounts.  I think doing this will help cut the crazy and allow me to make more food at home.

Holiday Mooching: I figure I should get a lot free food over the holidays, and err.. why not take advantage ;)

As always, I'll let you know how it goes. 

My thoughts on goals

Earlier this fall, I created two goals.

1) Eat for less than 10 dollars a day. 

2) Run in the Drumstick Dash 10 K on Thanksgiving Day. 

In one I was successful, and in one I was not. 

If you have been following along on the 10 dollar day tab - you probably already know the answer to this, but I'll answer the question anyway. 

I forfeited on the Drumstick Dash 10K. 

so yes, I kicked myself a few times.  ... but I think the more important question here is "Why?"

The reality is - Goal #2 was completely out of sync with my life right now.  For some reason I thought I could still train the same way I did for the 10 miler, even though it was going to be freezing outside - I was still working 50 hours a week and I didn't have any real plans to get a gym membership.  I maybe got out once a week - twice a week tops!   I waited until the day of the race to decide, which was the coldest thanksgiving we have had in 25 years!!!  I realized that a cold day to be skiing was probably a day that I didn't want to be running.  Or at least that ended up being a great excuse - because honestly I didn't want to go at all, even if it had been nicer out.  (I think I would have though - or at least I get to say that). 

Goal #1 on the other hand completely fits my life right now.  I found an easy way to manage it (online spreadsheet - easy to access), and in general it's incredibly achievable.  I've barely had to modify my life at all. 

Essentially, both goals were poorly conceived.  Goal #1 has been altogether way too easy.  I haven't had to stretch at all, in many instances it has encouraged me to eat fast food (so much money available! ahh!) instead of putting a "nix" on it.  While on the plus side, it has helped me to keep a record of what I'm spending (in not just the food department) - I think this goal was overly easy.  Goal #2 while seemingly easy at first - became "nearly impossible".  I think both of these goals could have benefited from a slight modification.  Maybe eating for $8 or $7 a day could have been enough to put the pressure on to avoid fast food.  As far as the race - there were options that were shorter (5K or 8K) and warmer (later in the day).  This would have been a whole lot less pressure and probably more fun orientated; while still managing to keep me in shape. 

The point of this post is that while achieving goals is important; making good goals in the first place is a critical step in the process. 

An update post

I realized that it has been over a month since the last time I posted, and since I am somewhat lacking in really thoughtful interesting things to say - I thought I could just do a quick update post on well - my life.  Between my two jobs I have been working close to 50 hours a week.  It's not so bad, and it seems like I get ample time to enjoy life as well, but certain things do slip through the cracks.  Namely, this blog.  Partially this is because I am tad perfectionistic about what I post, but also "lazy butt-ness" factors in.  Also - a rant - I have been having issues with my computer which directly affect how easy it is for me to get pictures up on here.  I don't like to do "wall o text" blogs, so I also choose to blame: computer issues for the time being.  Anyway, I haven't forgotten about my little ol' blog and I hope to come back (with vengeance) to this part of my life when my life slows down a titch.

So - some updates.


10 Dollar Day 
Yes, I am still doing this.  Yes, it does involve way more fast food than I would "prefer", but umm... I really don't mind.  You can stalk my spending here.  One thing I will say is that I may need to lower this daily allowance in the not so distant future.  Not sure what to exactly.  Not sure I will be able to make it equally as catchy... but I am sure if you've read this blog for long you know I enjoy a good challenge. Especially in the food spending department. 


Cooking
Actually, I have been cooking quite frequently (just not blogging about it).  Some interesting stuff too.  There was a Asian-esque goulash that failed to marvel, but also a stew that turned out quite nicely.  Additionally, an apple cabbage salad that probably deserves it's own post.  I also attempted to make bread in a bread machine (borrowed), which was a flop - but I am still blaming the bread machine.  After all, I can make bread without one.  


Running
I am currently "training" for a 10K called the Drumstick Dash.  Finding time to run though has been uber challenging.  I get out at least once a week, but need to be going about 3 times.  Hopefully, I can pick up the pace in time, or at least not finish last.

Personal Life
Umm... yeah. Ok - so this deserves it's own post as well, and maybe one day I'll get there.  At this point though I will say that I am moving in a good direction, but the road is a little long and rocky. 

A Confession

First some housekeeping - I decided to link the spreadsheet where I am keeping track of my food budget with the site.  It's on the tab that say "10 dollars per day." This way I don't have to report uninteresting posts that tally where I spent what.  You can just follow along whenever you please.  Of course, when something interesting happens I will blog about it.

Anyway, with that, I must share something else.  Since I do talk about eating healthy once in a while and similar positve life choices from time to time, I feel it's important that I get this off my chest.

It's a confession.

I LOVE FAST FOOD.

... and I know it's filled with drugs, dipped in cyanide and causes most forms of cancer.  I know that chicken nuggets used to be a large pink glob of chicken guts which was then dipped in ammonia, and I know the health value is between zero and none.    

I know.

So don't try to fight me on this, because I already know and I am guessing it won't help.  I already decided I'm okay with it.

I'm not here to defend it, but I am okay with it because it because:

I usually bypass dessert,

I don't buy candy or other junk food,

I try to choose "healthier" options. 

I don't over eat - as in I rarely order the "meal deal". 
and when I'm at home - I mostly avoid overly-processed foods.

__________

We all choose different ways to be healthy or "not healthy" as the case may be.  I have an easy time giving up cake and brownies, but when it comes to Chicken Burritos for $0.89.... I am powerless.

There is a lot I am not saying here - talk about industry practices, poor messages to children, and highly questionable meat sources... and I know I am not doing any of this justice (but perhaps I will speak to that in the future).  

The point I am making here is balance.  The media has turned fast food giants into veritable monsters against humanity (and while some of this is deserved) a lot of it is just looking for blame.  The nutrition facts have been out for a long time, no one forced anyone to eat anything.  Yes - they made it cheap and availible, but is that so wrong.  It was always and still is cheaper to cook at home, albeit more time consuming. 

Running for my Life!

I signed up for the TC 10 mile not quite 3 months ago.  I did not buy new tennis shoes, I did not follow a running plan and I did not significantly alter my diet.

I just fell in love with running.

I find when I spend too much time thinking about tennis shoes, gel and training regimines - something is lost in that, and I don't enjoy it in the same way. 

I know others who swear by all those things (because I do talk about it).... and there's definetly more than a few good arguments for me to adopt some better practices. 

Perhaps I should buy some new tennis shoes, instead of using the ones that I can't remember when I bought them, and probably aren't suited for running. 

Perhaps a new training plan would increase my speed and help me stay on track.

Perhaps

But. I don't really care. 

Mostly, I run alone, often times without music, because running is for me.  

A lot has happend in my life recently, and I find running gives me that perfect time to think. 

1 year ago - I lost my job

3 months ago - I ran my first 5K,

1 week ago - my husband moved 2000 miles away. 

1 day ago - I ran farther than I have before - I ran 10 miles. 

In the last year I have lost a job, probably a husband, and about 10 lbs. 

In the last year I have gained a new better job (2 of them technically), some of myself back, and a legitamite excercise routine. 

It's hard to say what the remedy or life formula is.  What we should do or what we shouldn't.  There are tips and guides but very little of it seems to be universal.  If there is something, then I reccomend not looking to this blog for that anyway. 

Recently though, I was told to "follow my heart", and for something like that I have to be told.

So first I have been trying to find my heart...

Running 10 miles was interesting.  It stunk for a while at first.  I've been fighting a cold, and I woke at 5AM, and I am only a morning person when copious amounts of coffee is involved.  However, somehow around 3 miles the cold lessened and I kept going - and oh by the way there was a half-cup of coffee involved at the beginning of this race. 

Running in a major race is filled with excitement - lots of cheering, lots of people watching.  All of the water stations were sponsors by organizations (mostly local companies).  Around the 6 mile mark Target was sponsoring a station and there was something about the music playing or the barage of red t-shirts or maybe the fact that I was really running in a 10 mile race that caused me to choke up.  Aparently, I can't run and cry well, so it didn't last long, but that's when the feeling sunk in.  I am running for my life.   

When I saw the finish line, and I knew I had made it - I teared up.  A lot has changed in my life - things have been torned down, and things have been built up.  For me finishing this race was that secure feeling that I can be okay on my own.  I can run 10 miles.

Stats: I came in at 1:56:23 - my goal was to beat 2 hours (check!).  It's actually a faster pace then how I ran my first 5K - so kind of neat to see the (slow, but realized) improvement


Thanks to everyone who has had some part in all of this -friends, family and readers. Certainly, I can do things on my own, but it's nice to have friends and family there for support too. Also, lending a listening ear - that's what I like most - thanks for reading.

An Apple A Day

About a week ago they had a sale on apples at Cub - $0.99/ lb.  Tis the season.  Never quite sure what a deal on Apples really should be, but I was attracted to mini-paper bags they were selling them in and put them in my cart.  As an aside, I'd love to make it out to an Apple Orchard this month, but my free time is minuscule and chances are I won't have the time and until the snow flies. 

So I bought apples.  A pretty big bag of them.  I don't know quite what I was envisioning with them, but basically they have become my go to food.  It's so easy.  I just grab one whenever I am feeling hungry and lazy at the same time, which (ahem) is quite often.  So this got me thinking - Apples are probably the healthiest thing I can eat that fits the grab-n-go model.  Not to mention they are affordable and delicious. 

It seems like the old adage "An Apple a Day ..."- doesn't only keep the doctor away (which is an expense) it's a easy/frugal/healthy option "as is".  
    
To the Apple!

An update: 
I have been crediting myself $10 everyday, and have only purchased two things: $1.00 for a bag of popcorn because I was "starving" at work.  $5.78 for Taco Bell dinner, because you know it had been almost a week.  So that puts my current balance at $33.39

The coupon detail came from both of my primary grocery stores recently - Cub and Costco.  So I will be looking forward to planning a trip that doesn't go over my budget. 

Thoughts for you

What's a reliable/frugal/healthy - grab in go food that you always turn to?  I can' think of anything better than an apple, but that doesn't mean you can't.