I eat rice almost everyday, so I have switched to brown rice instead of white. Also, I've taken to throwing some oatmeal in the rice when I'm making it for added nutrients and heart-healthiness.
I'm pretty sure General Mills will abhor my following answer, but oh well. I prefer to NOT slash the quality of the food I buy but I try to buy it locally or from the source to yield greater savings. I do mind daily caloric intake, and I'm one of those infamous high fat/low carb eaters...it keeps the weight off, I feel awesome, and my cholesterol's surprisingly good.
1. I eat meat, eggs, and fish regularly in my diet. I buy meat locally (pref. grass fed) or fish wild caught at Trader Joe's. The eggs I buy local (pastured) when available. To save on the meat, I like to buy whole chickens, organ meats, use the bones for broth, and also eat the skin. I render beef tallow and cook with it. I buy local Amish butter - the stuff is divine.
2. No grains. Minimal to no legumes. NO SOY. I'm sure using these as fillers would help my budget, but then i'll feel like crap and probably look the same.
3. LOTS of veggies fresh from the farmer's market. This yields some big savings. Some fruits, mostly berries. I like to buy the organic ones frozen. Sometimes I buy frozen veggies if they're on sale.
4. No junk or processed garbage.
5. Spices, condiments, and olive oil in bulk. I like to make dressings and sauces from scratch.
6. Dairy products - I'm trying to minimize them in my diet. I'd really like to switch to raw dairy, but it is somewhat cost prohibitive.
7. I'm not a snacker. I eat bigger meals comprised of more calorically dense foods (dietary fats, protein). it's less bulk overall. Keeping track of portions stretches the amont of meat consumed.
8. I basically give the middle finger to fad diet products and dietary "supplements" - I used to buy a lot of this crap and learned my lesson - it's crap. Avoid it. The only supplements I take are a high quality fish oil and vitamin D3.
I try to cook from scratch most of the time. I stock up on meat when they're super cheap (chicken, ground beef at $0.99) and always check the "quick sale" bins at the supermarket. I also shop at multiple stores, using the weekly sale fliers to determine which store I visit that particular week. My favorite place to get produce is at a local indoor farmers market called Henry's and at Persian/Asian markets. It's amazing how cheap beef is at Korean supermarkets :)
I keep my pantry and freezer stocked so in case I feel like something different, most likely I already have the ingredients. To make sure I don't take short cuts and eat out during the week, I do prep-work on weekends. For example, I trimmed sugar snap peas this past Saturday and store them in a ziploc/reusable container. I rinse vegetables just before cooking them.
I also pack lunches. I use bento lunch boxes I get at a Japanese discount store, and make sure I pack 2-3 boxes at a time so I get a break from packing them.
Our grocery/toiletry/cleaning supply (basically anything I can get at a grocery store) budget on a monthly basis is $130 and we live in Orange County, CA. It's certainly not the cheapest place to live in and grocery prices can be quite high. I've been a coupon enthusiast since 2008 and we have been able to not only feed ourselves but others in need and our friends as well.
Jeremy, tx for comment. I see what you mean about the challenge to always create something better. The combinations are seemingly endless. It is almost a little overwhelming, when you consider the possibilities. Then, there is the satisfaction of having done it yourself.
They just laid off 1/2 of our workforce because too many people were calling to "downgrade" their service. For those of us that are left. We took a 35% paycut.
In all seasons except winter, I forage. In the parks, nature areas, and at properties the local university owns, I've picked morels, puffballs, black raspberries, and blackberries. One property had so many blackberries they were drying up on the vine--I know we picked hundreds of dollars worth. The university has several persimmon trees, and I scavenge the fruit as it falls when perfectly ripe. I don't have the patience to crack walnuts, but those are available too. We always make sure picking fruit is permitted before we go foraging.
Whatever you mean by "investing in numbers," it isn't easy. And the part of the point of the article is asking that very question: "did Goldman do anything wrong?" Investing isn't the time or place to hold a company accountable for what we think they did right or wrong—this isn't politics.
It's about making money and if you think Goldman is a good investment you would "vote with your dollars."
We cut down on our meat consumption and put in a garden. Also, with our improved eating babits, portions are smaller and junk food is out, leaving room in the budget for a few more organic/whole/natural choices.
You CAN eat healthy on a budget if you work at it. There are coupons out there for organic foods. I get my fruits / veggies in season at the local farmers markets, and freeze what doesn't get eaten for non-season! Ask for gift cards to your favorite natural/organic grocer for occasions, split the share of a co-op with a friend!
I keep it simple. I drink only water, which is basically free. I drink a glass or two before each meal because sometimes our brain mistakes thirst for hunger. I then start out each meal with loads of vegetables for digestive purposes. I also try to eat a good amount of fiber-rich foods. I do eat meat, which stretches the budget the most but grilling a couple of chicken breasts isn't too bad. Simplicity is the key. Clean simplicity.
Funny you should ask! I wrote a post about this on my site womenatforty.com after watching Food Inc. It wasn't easy, but it wasn't that hard either. I'm blessed to live close to a farmers market and food coop, and I cut way back on meat. I undterook a $25 a week healthy food challenge and have pretty much stuck to it for the past several months. Here's the link to my original post - http://womenatforty.com/2010/01/my-25-a-week-good-food-experiment/
Cook from scratch. Processed foods are full of refined starches and chemical that are not healthy. Make your own versions of pasta roni, rice aroni. Make mashed potatoes from real potatoes instead of a box. Pizza does not have to be ordered from Dominoes or come from a box in the freezer. It is a great family project to make pizza dough from scratch and top it the way you like it. Instant foods are not always faster and they are usually not as healthy as home made things. Instead of filling up your shopping cart with bags of chips and prepackaged meals, fill it up with flour, and brown rice and yeast. You can bake or make anything you need. Don't buy the pre mixed drinks or soft drinks. Buy bags of tea and brew your own iced tea. Add various flavors to your tea if you like. Pick up a juicer at a garage sale and make your own juices. When you make it yourself you control what goes into the food and the quantity you make. You will save money on the ingredients plus you can make less food and not have all the leftovers in your fridge. For a family of three we have cut our grocery bill in half using this appoach. We shop every two weeks and only put about half the groceries in the cart that we used to put on a weekly basis. It is the best way to eat healthy and to save money
GO VEGETARIAN! Fresh fruits & veggies from the local farm stand and bulk grains from markets are all super-cheap.
Also, buy as few pre-made foods as possible - make as much as you can at home instead. Invest in a soy milk maker for $100 (make a gallon of soy or almond milk for about $0.25) instead of paying $3/half gallon. Make pesto for less than two dollars instead of over four for an overly-salted tub of pre-made...
I have planted my first small garden this year. I have tomatoes, pole beans, spinach, lettuce, cauliflower and broccoli so far. This weekend, I will be planting red potatoes. Some things I waited too long on, but the winter garden should do so much better after my learning curve. :) The tomatoes are looking awesome and the beans are getting really tall. Can't wait until they are ready!
I buy from bulk bins, cook at home, and I don't cook with meat very often. If I do use meat, I will use it more as a flavor enhancer: a single pork sausage in sauce or stew (along with tempeh or tofu as the main protein), a few slices of bacon in a bean, pasta, and vegetables dish.
I get fruit from trees in our neighborhood (I always ask first!) and make jam. I never throw bread away -- I make croutons, pudding, squash stuffing, etc. with any leftovers. I make my own probiotic kombucha and kimchi instead of buying the expensive store versions or probiotic supplements.
An important point. The Achilles Heel of any consumer is being drawn in to all available spending opportunities without being mindful to larger goals. Frugal folks get a bad rap for being cheap when, in reality, we are just focusing our goals in a different (sometimes not obvious) direction.
I use cooked whole wheat on a regular basis. I often substitute it for part of the cooked ground beef in a recipe. It cuts down the grease and increases the fiber and nutrients. My favorite recipe made this way is tacos. To make using wheat on a regular basis I pre-cook it the crock pot. 10 cups of water + 4 cups of whole wheat x 8 hours=12 cups cooked wheat berries. Then I divide it up into freezer bags. I use these with ground beef, in salads and even in salsa. Many people are skeptical until they try it. I also plan meals around oatmeal, beans and brown rice. These ingredients are very cheap and so much better for you than prepackaged dinners.
Of course, the garden with canning or freezing will stretch the dollars. Buy on sale if at all possible. Reduce meat portions in your cooking, i.e. Chili with beans can be made with 1/2 the amount of meat, or less. Cooking from scratch is critical in saving money and improves your eating habits. We avoid food with additives and no processed foods. The most important part is balanced meals in reasonable portions. Veggies are allowed without restriction. Eating out at lunch time is cheaper and smaller portions than the dinner menu.
I eat rice almost everyday, so I have switched to brown rice instead of white. Also, I've taken to throwing some oatmeal in the rice when I'm making it for added nutrients and heart-healthiness.
Ooh a lot of people hatin' on meat here. NOT I!
I'm pretty sure General Mills will abhor my following answer, but oh well. I prefer to NOT slash the quality of the food I buy but I try to buy it locally or from the source to yield greater savings. I do mind daily caloric intake, and I'm one of those infamous high fat/low carb eaters...it keeps the weight off, I feel awesome, and my cholesterol's surprisingly good.
1. I eat meat, eggs, and fish regularly in my diet. I buy meat locally (pref. grass fed) or fish wild caught at Trader Joe's. The eggs I buy local (pastured) when available. To save on the meat, I like to buy whole chickens, organ meats, use the bones for broth, and also eat the skin. I render beef tallow and cook with it. I buy local Amish butter - the stuff is divine.
2. No grains. Minimal to no legumes. NO SOY. I'm sure using these as fillers would help my budget, but then i'll feel like crap and probably look the same.
3. LOTS of veggies fresh from the farmer's market. This yields some big savings. Some fruits, mostly berries. I like to buy the organic ones frozen. Sometimes I buy frozen veggies if they're on sale.
4. No junk or processed garbage.
5. Spices, condiments, and olive oil in bulk. I like to make dressings and sauces from scratch.
6. Dairy products - I'm trying to minimize them in my diet. I'd really like to switch to raw dairy, but it is somewhat cost prohibitive.
7. I'm not a snacker. I eat bigger meals comprised of more calorically dense foods (dietary fats, protein). it's less bulk overall. Keeping track of portions stretches the amont of meat consumed.
8. I basically give the middle finger to fad diet products and dietary "supplements" - I used to buy a lot of this crap and learned my lesson - it's crap. Avoid it. The only supplements I take are a high quality fish oil and vitamin D3.
I try to cook from scratch most of the time. I stock up on meat when they're super cheap (chicken, ground beef at $0.99) and always check the "quick sale" bins at the supermarket. I also shop at multiple stores, using the weekly sale fliers to determine which store I visit that particular week. My favorite place to get produce is at a local indoor farmers market called Henry's and at Persian/Asian markets. It's amazing how cheap beef is at Korean supermarkets :)
I keep my pantry and freezer stocked so in case I feel like something different, most likely I already have the ingredients. To make sure I don't take short cuts and eat out during the week, I do prep-work on weekends. For example, I trimmed sugar snap peas this past Saturday and store them in a ziploc/reusable container. I rinse vegetables just before cooking them.
I also pack lunches. I use bento lunch boxes I get at a Japanese discount store, and make sure I pack 2-3 boxes at a time so I get a break from packing them.
Our grocery/toiletry/cleaning supply (basically anything I can get at a grocery store) budget on a monthly basis is $130 and we live in Orange County, CA. It's certainly not the cheapest place to live in and grocery prices can be quite high. I've been a coupon enthusiast since 2008 and we have been able to not only feed ourselves but others in need and our friends as well.
I really love your blog! I have a friend who found some great tips on this website!
http://www.financetips101.com/
The DISHWASHER! No way!! Thanks, Kevin!
Jeremy, tx for comment. I see what you mean about the challenge to always create something better. The combinations are seemingly endless. It is almost a little overwhelming, when you consider the possibilities. Then, there is the satisfaction of having done it yourself.
I work for Comcast...
They just laid off 1/2 of our workforce because too many people were calling to "downgrade" their service. For those of us that are left. We took a 35% paycut.
Get 2 slices of budget and slap some healthy on there; Healthy on Budget sam'ich!
Eating oatmeal or a cooked grain in the morning. Drinking water, planting some veggies.
In all seasons except winter, I forage. In the parks, nature areas, and at properties the local university owns, I've picked morels, puffballs, black raspberries, and blackberries. One property had so many blackberries they were drying up on the vine--I know we picked hundreds of dollars worth. The university has several persimmon trees, and I scavenge the fruit as it falls when perfectly ripe. I don't have the patience to crack walnuts, but those are available too. We always make sure picking fruit is permitted before we go foraging.
1. We don't eat out (often).
2. We split a CSA share.
3. We eat vegan.
4. We found a local bulk-buying club for dry goods and joined with a neighbor, which means we split the cost of picking up the food.
5. We grow our own veggies.
6. We buy fresh produce every other day and only what we need for 2 days, so it doesn't go bad.
7. We pressure cook and freeze large bathces of dried beans.
8. We don't eat processed food.
9. The only bread or fake meat products we eat are made in our house.
10. We eat dinner together every night without distractions.
Whatever you mean by "investing in numbers," it isn't easy. And the part of the point of the article is asking that very question: "did Goldman do anything wrong?" Investing isn't the time or place to hold a company accountable for what we think they did right or wrong—this isn't politics.
It's about making money and if you think Goldman is a good investment you would "vote with your dollars."
We cut down on our meat consumption and put in a garden. Also, with our improved eating babits, portions are smaller and junk food is out, leaving room in the budget for a few more organic/whole/natural choices.
You CAN eat healthy on a budget if you work at it. There are coupons out there for organic foods. I get my fruits / veggies in season at the local farmers markets, and freeze what doesn't get eaten for non-season! Ask for gift cards to your favorite natural/organic grocer for occasions, split the share of a co-op with a friend!
I keep it simple. I drink only water, which is basically free. I drink a glass or two before each meal because sometimes our brain mistakes thirst for hunger. I then start out each meal with loads of vegetables for digestive purposes. I also try to eat a good amount of fiber-rich foods. I do eat meat, which stretches the budget the most but grilling a couple of chicken breasts isn't too bad. Simplicity is the key. Clean simplicity.
Funny you should ask! I wrote a post about this on my site womenatforty.com after watching Food Inc. It wasn't easy, but it wasn't that hard either. I'm blessed to live close to a farmers market and food coop, and I cut way back on meat. I undterook a $25 a week healthy food challenge and have pretty much stuck to it for the past several months. Here's the link to my original post - http://womenatforty.com/2010/01/my-25-a-week-good-food-experiment/
Cook from scratch. Processed foods are full of refined starches and chemical that are not healthy. Make your own versions of pasta roni, rice aroni. Make mashed potatoes from real potatoes instead of a box. Pizza does not have to be ordered from Dominoes or come from a box in the freezer. It is a great family project to make pizza dough from scratch and top it the way you like it. Instant foods are not always faster and they are usually not as healthy as home made things. Instead of filling up your shopping cart with bags of chips and prepackaged meals, fill it up with flour, and brown rice and yeast. You can bake or make anything you need. Don't buy the pre mixed drinks or soft drinks. Buy bags of tea and brew your own iced tea. Add various flavors to your tea if you like. Pick up a juicer at a garage sale and make your own juices. When you make it yourself you control what goes into the food and the quantity you make. You will save money on the ingredients plus you can make less food and not have all the leftovers in your fridge. For a family of three we have cut our grocery bill in half using this appoach. We shop every two weeks and only put about half the groceries in the cart that we used to put on a weekly basis. It is the best way to eat healthy and to save money
GO VEGETARIAN! Fresh fruits & veggies from the local farm stand and bulk grains from markets are all super-cheap.
Also, buy as few pre-made foods as possible - make as much as you can at home instead. Invest in a soy milk maker for $100 (make a gallon of soy or almond milk for about $0.25) instead of paying $3/half gallon. Make pesto for less than two dollars instead of over four for an overly-salted tub of pre-made...
Shop ads, clip coupons, cook from scratch, join a local food co-op, buy in season...
I have planted my first small garden this year. I have tomatoes, pole beans, spinach, lettuce, cauliflower and broccoli so far. This weekend, I will be planting red potatoes. Some things I waited too long on, but the winter garden should do so much better after my learning curve. :) The tomatoes are looking awesome and the beans are getting really tall. Can't wait until they are ready!
I'm learning to make healthier things from scratch, such as soymilk and tofu. I am also eating less meat, so that saves money, too.
I buy from bulk bins, cook at home, and I don't cook with meat very often. If I do use meat, I will use it more as a flavor enhancer: a single pork sausage in sauce or stew (along with tempeh or tofu as the main protein), a few slices of bacon in a bean, pasta, and vegetables dish.
I get fruit from trees in our neighborhood (I always ask first!) and make jam. I never throw bread away -- I make croutons, pudding, squash stuffing, etc. with any leftovers. I make my own probiotic kombucha and kimchi instead of buying the expensive store versions or probiotic supplements.
An important point. The Achilles Heel of any consumer is being drawn in to all available spending opportunities without being mindful to larger goals. Frugal folks get a bad rap for being cheap when, in reality, we are just focusing our goals in a different (sometimes not obvious) direction.
I use cooked whole wheat on a regular basis. I often substitute it for part of the cooked ground beef in a recipe. It cuts down the grease and increases the fiber and nutrients. My favorite recipe made this way is tacos. To make using wheat on a regular basis I pre-cook it the crock pot. 10 cups of water + 4 cups of whole wheat x 8 hours=12 cups cooked wheat berries. Then I divide it up into freezer bags. I use these with ground beef, in salads and even in salsa. Many people are skeptical until they try it. I also plan meals around oatmeal, beans and brown rice. These ingredients are very cheap and so much better for you than prepackaged dinners.
Of course, the garden with canning or freezing will stretch the dollars. Buy on sale if at all possible. Reduce meat portions in your cooking, i.e. Chili with beans can be made with 1/2 the amount of meat, or less. Cooking from scratch is critical in saving money and improves your eating habits. We avoid food with additives and no processed foods. The most important part is balanced meals in reasonable portions. Veggies are allowed without restriction. Eating out at lunch time is cheaper and smaller portions than the dinner menu.