Budgeting Lessons

I am currently taking a money management class, and one of our semester long assignments is to keep track of all our transactions. This has led me to discover that food is our main expense. Thus, using our information from the last semester we set a budget. The first little bit of the semester it was hard to keep. We had to find a system that realistically would meet both of our eating habits, and healthily [if at all possible] while still not being to extravagant. We started with lists, but every time we would go to the ridiculously expensive grocery stores here, we would remember things we forgot to put on the list and didn't anticipate how much those would cost and if they would be in our budget. So then we started planning meals, so we knew exactly what we need and how much they cost. But doing weekly trips here still wasn't cutting it-it was close but not close enough. So finally, we came up with this. Every two weeks, we plan specific dinners out, with general things for breakfasts, lunches and snacks. We then make a list of what we need to make those, and then bi weekly we go to the awesome, amazing WINCO [cheaper then Costco, has more options in any size you want, employee owned, and open 24/7] and get it all [since we already know how much it costs], using our budget for two weeks. And guess what..IT WORKS!! Every week, we eat better, are more organized, and save a little bit more at a time. And since we aren't getting a car until next semester, this way we don't have to get rides off other people as often! I am very proud of us. It is a lot of work, but hopefully, we will keep learning and improving. Just for your viewing pleasure, I have included our dinner meal plans for this last little section so you can see what a good wifey I am so far [all from scratch-sauces, breads, you know it!]:

MONDAY: Asian chicken pizza

TUESDAY: Crispy Coconut Chicken, Salad and Potato Salad

WEDNESDAY: Chimi Churri-Marinated Chicken, Lime Cilantro Rice

THURSDAY: Bacon-Alfredo Pasta, Salad

FRIDAY: Fajitas with homemade tortillas, Rice

SATURDAY: White Chicken Chili, Rice

SUNDAY: Meatball Subs

MONDAY: Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos, Rice

TUESDAY: Chicken Caccitori

WEDNESDAY: Potato Soup and Homemade Bread

THURSDAY: Breakfast for dinner, Crepes, Bacon and Eggs

FRIDAY: Chicken Pot Pie

SATURDAY: Chicken Mango Skewers, Rice

SUNDAY: Sweet and Sour Meatballs, Rice

PS: In other news, Lester is head of his BB team and me and the other wives have been enjoying rooting them on. Also, Hillary and my friend Remmy are coming tomorrow morning and I can't wait!