Comparatively, I’m a spendthrift
Just when I get to a point where I’m satisfied with what we’re spending for food and household expenses, I find something like this: a blog written by a woman who buys the same for a family of 4 on an annual budget of $800. $800 per YEAR, I said. Criminy.
Now, we’ll never eat the way they do, at least not with me convinced that most carbohydrates, consumed regularly above very small quantities, aren’t healthy. I don’t see myself ever becoming comfortable with tying up a grocery line doing transaction after transaction to build up a free stockpile. I’m not ready to start trading coupons online or paying for a clipping service. If I’m not prepared to make those changes, it’s not possible to reach this level of extreme saving, but I can still strive to do the best possible within my comfort parameters.
I’ll tell you this: it feels great to know that I probably never have to pay more than a few pennies — if that — for shampoo, conditioner, bodywash, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, hand dishwashing detergent, or cereal again. We have sufficient stockpiles of these daily use items that I can turn up my nose at anything but the best sales with matched coupons. [Example: I could have purchased 2 boxes of Special K cereal yesterday at $.50 each (B1G1 sale plus B1G1 coupon, up to $3.99) Normal price at Rite Aid was a ridiculous $4.99/box. That may have been a wonderful reduction in price, but with over a dozen boxes of cereal downstairs, I’ve set my personal price limit at $.25/box for something my family really enjoys and $0 for a cereal they’re willing to try or will give away.]
Now if I could just find cheap, good quality meat and free Coke Zero, we’d be set!
