tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8569719583017798476.post110324804133101042..comments2024-01-22T05:25:51.828-05:00Comments on How to be a (retired) Housewife: Food budgets and the recessionJoan Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11068492574250515332noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8569719583017798476.post-90497661144039377372008-01-20T13:16:00.000-05:002008-01-20T13:16:00.000-05:00Good News! There IS NO RECESSION! Oil prices are...Good News! There IS NO RECESSION! Oil prices are high because demand is skyrocketing in China and India, two countries that together make up in excess of 30% of the world's population. China is decentralizing its government and turning state property back over to the people. Amazing... you come back to the right a little bit and your economy starts working!<BR/><BR/>Anyway, oil demand has risen and we leave control of oil production to handful of arab Sheik's in OPEC and left-wing nutjob environmentalists who's opinions we somehow take seriously enough to stop us from tapping into our considerable domestic resources. Hence oil prices are up, fuel costs go up, transportation costs go up, prices go up.<BR/><BR/>You want to see a recession? Watch what happens if a lib makes it into the white house and raises taxes to pay for health care and other BS government entitlements.Jeff Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03040624035694809157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8569719583017798476.post-1914384227221631982008-01-20T12:04:00.000-05:002008-01-20T12:04:00.000-05:00For us, $140 a week would be pretty good if it inc...For us, $140 a week would be pretty good if it includes all paper products and toiletries. I think what drives up the cost for us is some more expensive items that we like, like higher-end shampoos and other toiletries as well as more expensive foods, such as coffee. Also, we are buying healthier foods, which tend to be more expensive.<BR/>One thing that has helped us a lot is simply eating less. If you do count the calories in a meal, you will often find that you are really eating 2-3 servings of something, rather than 1 serving. This goes far in saving on the cost of meat, pasta, and breads - things that I used to overeat. For example, one of the whole wheat tortillas that we buy has 200calories, so I only eat half of it because I'm adding a salad and tuna, which is plenty of calories.<BR/>I also agree with Karen that a full breakfast every morning is too much. Eat cereal - 1 serving only, not a full bowl - and one box will last you 2 weeks! I don't think you can get much better than that, budget-wise.<BR/>With both of us working, we would never be able to make everything from scratch (unless we wanted to spend our evenings and weekends in the kitchen), but I'm sure that's a great way to save money as well. <BR/><BR/>Good luck!<BR/>-LisaUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07924441703837062832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8569719583017798476.post-1980135221817585742008-01-19T22:49:00.000-05:002008-01-19T22:49:00.000-05:00yikes! $140 a week is a lot....Just out of curiou...yikes! $140 a week is a lot....Just out of curiousity I added up what I pay for groceries and it averages about $85. Same situation...just the two of us, and includes paper products, shampoo, etc. No pets or kids to feed though. I think my bill is lower for the following reasons:<BR/>1 - I buy almost exclusively store-brand....a few exceptions (it's gotta be Kraft mac and cheese!).<BR/>2 - I don't buy any prepared foods. Everything I make is from scratch.<BR/>3 - I don't make a full breakfast every day...we usually have oatmeal. I do make a big breakfast on weekends.<BR/>4 - All our lunches are leftovers...I never buy cold meat or other things just for lunch.<BR/><BR/>I do go shopping every day, which is supposed to make you buy more, but not in my case. I think I buy less than if I shopped for a full week and bought things I never ended out using.<BR/><BR/>Good luck with your budget reduction.....it's tough to cut down!<BR/>Karen :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com