Lucie’s Grocery Challenge: What I Learned

When my husband and I agreed that for the month of May we’d spend no more than $100 each week on all of our food and beverages, I had no idea how it would turn out.  This kind of budgeting was totally new for us, and I had no idea if it was realistic here in pricey Southern California. 

So I was thrilled that we made it!  Granted, we squeaked through last week with just $0.08 to spare, but we did it.  And while it wasn’t always easy, I learned a lot. 

Here are the Basics of the Challenge:

• We spent no more than $100 per week on all food and beverages for both of us. 
• Anything we ate or drank counted- whether it was a quick pick-me-up from the coffee shop, groceries, take-out, or meeting friends for beers. 
• Non-food grocery items (like charcoal, Pur water filters, aluminum foil) didn’t count.  But anything we would eat or drink (tea bags, olive oil, etc.) counted towards the $100. 
• Sales tax didn’t count.

How We Made it Work: 

• We eliminated eating out.  The most illuminating experience of the challenge?  Seeing just how much we saved by cooking at home.  Even simple Chinese take-out costs $15, which would make several meals worth of chicken and vegetables to eat at home.   
• Shopping stores that promote high-quality, low-cost products like Trader Joe’s and Fresh & Easy.  Thanks to a friend’s suggestions, I also found a local Armenian market and was amazed by the savings there.  In my experience, exploring non-traditional sources for groceries is the fastest way to trim your food budget. 
• Buying whole foods.  I’ve always heard that each time a food item is chopped, cooked, or otherwise prepped for you, you’re adding cost and calories and subtracting nutrients.  Buying non-prepared food items helped us get the most for our money, and we never felt deprived. 

What Was Hard About the Challenge:

• I have to be honest, it cramped our social life a bit.  People kept asking us out for drinks or dinner, and we kept having to explain.  We actually entertained at our home a couple of times and were able to offer drinks and hors d’oeuvres for well within our budget.  One night out, though, would have totally thrown us off track. 
• Not having a fully-stocked pantry made cooking more challenging.  I couldn’t always dash out to the store for missing ingredients, so I often had to get creative, which was fun- but also time-consuming. 

What I Hope We’ll Keep Doing:

• We were definitely over-buying at the grocery store.  Because we started shopping “smart,” it actually took very little to feed us all week long.  I plan to continue focusing on whole foods, fresh vegetables, and versatile items (like rice, peas, lentils, and eggs). 
• We were way too dependent on dining out.  It had become a crutch.  While I certainly appreciate a well-prepared, well-served meal (and can’t wait to visit some of our favorite local places), we now know that we can often eat better if we eat at home.  I hope we’ll save our dining out dollars for special treats and places that really deserve them.   
• Our social life apparently revolves around eating and drinking.  I guess getting together with friends is simply synonymous with going out for dinner, but I wish we had a more expansive view of socializing.  I’m still working on this one, so I’d love to hear your suggestions.  How do you spend time with friends outside of restaurants and bars?   

Lucie Amberg is also a contributor to Powder Room Graffiti.