Sunday, January 26, 2014

Of cars, meals and budgets

I realized that since I should be buying a car here shortly (well, 1-6 months), I really need to start looking at what's out there.

It boiled down to the not-very-strict list below. First, they all share these specs: 4dr, AT, A/C, cruise control and automatic doors and windows, 2008 or newer, $8~$10k in price with less than 60k mi.

- Hyundai Elantra
- Honda Civic / Fit
- Nissan Versa

I've seen some thus far, and some that really make me want to jump at the deal. But for now, I'm taking a screenshot and saving it. The right one will come.

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People seem very amused or curious when I tell them that I only cook once-twice a week and have that for dinner every day until it runs out 3-4 days later. That's probably a leading force to such a small food budget --coupled with my lack of appetite. I've only spent about $45 since last paycheck and I still have plenty of food to go through. I may have to buy more lettuce for lunches, but that'd be all until Feb. I really don't think I could pull this off if I had a partner or a dependent to take care of. It's "boring", but it doesn't bother me.

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I was also very interested a few months (or years) back as to what would happen when I have enough money saved up to pay off all debt in one single swing. Proud to report that I am sticking to my payment schedule instead of "borrowing" money from other goals/savings accounts. Even though such borrowing would not really make a difference or slow my plans. I will confess it's hard to fight back the thought of paying it all off..

Hope everyone had a good weekend. I had a great resting weekend, and I am not looking forward to Monday. But who does?

10 comments:

  1. Good for you! :) I'm the same way with food... I tend to eat the same thing a lot, mind you mine is due to a tonne of food allergies, but as long as it's healthy, i'm good. lol!

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  2. Since my health scare in April 2013, I have, except while on vacation and a few other times, had the same thing for lunch every. danged. day.
    The go-to lunch is a turkey or chicken breast meat sandwich on nutty bread with a bit of mayo and green leaf lettuce(and tomato when you can grow them yourself).
    It's healthy and fills me up and saves me from having to make decisions about that one thing each day and saves me from putting something far worse into my mouth on a whim. Ok....get your minds outta the gutter now....hehehe

    It's been 10 months now and I am not tired of it....yet. lol

    I am getting where I am cooking larger portions of a food on purpose and then we eat on it all week. Sometimes it's 2 days worth, sometimes it's as much as 4 days worth. We don't mind eating leftovers at all and it saves me slaving in the kitchen every day. I am a good cook but it's not something that THRILLS me to have to do.
    I am too spontaneous or something to do that once a month cooking though since I don't want to be dictated to what to eat for a whole month because it's in the freezer.....either that or my 2 small freezer compartments just can't hold enough food to do the OAMC deal.

    I spent $300 this month for 3 people. I NEVER thought I'd be able to spend so little on food in a month and still eat well. But it can be done.

    I can see how you can only spend $45 a month for 1 person, especially if you aren't having to buy all kinds of spices, sauces, condiments, etc. for different kinds of dishes. Limiting dishes also limits all the peripheral foodstuffs you end up buying.
    And if the average American were to cut out all the crap they buy at the grocer that isn't food(you know.....chips, drinks, snacks, etc.)the food spending would drop significantly.

    And I implore you, don't buy an Elantra=money pit. ;-)

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    1. Aww, but I really want the Elantra! :(
      I do buy chips once every few months, but that's to have them as meal pieces (hotdogs and chips, anyone? Or a dinner sandwich with chips?). But really, when you put $5 worth in meat vs $5 in junk food... it's hard to choose junk food with an honest hand.

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  3. We bought a used 2010 Honda Civic with ONLY 10K miles on it.........and I freaking love it! Great on gas. Easy to get around/park. Great car! It will last forever as long as you do the regular maintenance on it. Last Honda I had for 15 years! Can't go wrong with a Honda or Toyota, really. Although Hyundai has come a long way and you can't beat their warranty if you are buying brand new.

    Husband/I are like you - we can eat the same thing for 3-4 days, we don't care. I'll make a casserole and we'll eat it till it's gone. Another favorite is Zararains beans & rice - we put in soft tortillas and then throw whatever we have in them - chopped veggies, cheese, sour cream, salsa. One of our favorite meals ~ with a beer, of course! ;-) I agree, if you quit buying all the xtra sweets/snacks your bill drops dramatically. Win-Win - you save money and keep the pounds off!

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  4. Well you know I cook enough for three or four meals for us. And then they either go into the freezer rotation or get eaten that week. But we have cut out all soda, chips and other crap. I do spend more on veggies, fruit and such but I think it outweighs the cost of the crap we used to buy.

    My cousin has a Fit and loves it. It just is not good in the snow but we get slammed more often then you so it might not be a factor. Just remember when you go in to be firm, know what you are willing to pay and be ready to walk out if you have to. Just pretend we are all there with you..and that we look really mean :)

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    1. No pressure, right? Haha. Thanks, I appreciate the back up! I know I wont spend more than what I intend to.

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  5. I use to only spend about $100 on food when I was single. A pint of ice cream would last me a month. ANd instead of coming up with recipes, I would simply eat chicken and veggies every night for dinner. Then I got married...and there is a whole list of things I cant buy because my husband will eat it so fast that I won't even get a bite.

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    1. Ain't that the truth! At my parents house, when more of us kids were still at home, Ice cream for a month? Na-ah! You'd be lucky if you saw more than the empty container by the week's end. Last time I did buy ice cream it lasted me roughly a month. Chips, however... they still don't last very much, even with me alone.

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  6. That's the way I eat too Tanner. I make a big pot of soup on Sunday and eat it every day for lunch. Last night I made a huge tray of fried (potatoes, sweet potato, carrots and turnips) and it'll last for several dinners. And yes, it does save a ton of money!

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    1. Sweet potatoes, yum! Can I come over? I'll help you shovel!

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