March recap: Saving (or Losing?) for Italy

As it turns out, I am not doing well so far saving for Italy. Here's how much I spent in the month of March:

Groceries: About $135 - used to spend: $120/month, so lost -$15

Booze at home: $69.35 - used to spend: $80/month, so saved $10.65

Dining out: $96.35 - used to spend: $160/month, so saved $63.65

TOTAL SAVED: About $59

Cha-ching! Not really - but I have to stay positive, right? ;) I have definitely been spending less than I used to, but I am still not completely in-line with my new monthly goals. However, sitting down and reviewing my receipts has taught me a few lessons, which I plan to apply in the month of April and moving forward. I am determined to have a financially worry-free time while I'm in Italy, so I am buckling down today. Here's what I learned, and the actions I am going to take to avoid overspending in the future:

-Review grocery receipts every week; not just at the end of the month. Reflecting on how much I spent one week will put me into the next week with a clear idea of my budget. 

-Don't go to the grocery store hungry - it's dangerous, and I end up buying insanely unnecessary items.

-Make a grocery list/menu plan for the week. I used to be so good at this, and due to lack of time/patience lately, I've stopped. But preparing my meals for the week is extremely valuable, and keeps my wallet in check when I'm wandering the grocery store aisles.

-Use a basket vs. a cart: I normally am only shopping for myself and maybe one other person, so this tip's easier said than done. But if my arm's hurting and the basket's full, I won't keep walking around the grocery store for more items.

I still have quite a bit of time to save for this trip, but the sooner I get serious, the better off I'll be come vacation time.

How do you prevent overspending at the grocery store?

What's in my pantry?

What’s in my pantry? As a food writer, I get asked this question all too often – most people believe I have shelves full of gourmet products and delicacies. To be honest, I keep the items in my pantry (and fridge, and freezer) to a minimum. My friends can’t get over how empty my pantry always looks, but, to be honest, I have more than enough items to sustain me for at least a week (usually two). Items like pasta, mashed potatoes, etc. last me months at a time, as I normally cook for one. Since I do live on a budget, I am an avid coupon clipper and grocery-list-maker, which helps me to only buy items I need, without having excess products in my cabinets.

Just for fun, below is a list of food items currently in my pantry  - cutting down on quantity, by the way, also helps me buy quality products, vs. always having to buy store brand.

What's currently in my pantry:

-Trader Joe’s sweet & salty trail mix

-1 loaf of Pepperidge Farm Oatmeal Bread

-1 big box of Hannaford brand “Crispix”

-Half a box of whole wheat pasta

-Half a box of Market Basket brand orzo

-Box of instant mashed potatoes

-Huge box of Success Boil-in-bag Whole Grain Brown Rice

-Large jar of J.I.F. Extra Crunchy Peanut Butter

-1 bag of Stacy’s Sea Salt Pita Chips

-1 bag of Cape Cod Jalapeno & Aged Cheddar chips

-1 bag of Green Mountain Pumpkin Spiced coffee

*Note: I mention the size of some of these items, as the larger the product, the farther my dollar stretches. 

Now: Your turn! What’s in your pantry?