About Me

Denise

"Develop a plan that is so amazing, so glowing, that you are willing to walk blurry-eyed to work everyday to make the money necessary to reach the light." Sparky

I'm a freelance journalist and crafter who dreams of starting my own business-- a hometown Tiki bar. I am a former New Orleans Bourbon Street bartender.

The tiki challenge: I must find creative new revenue streams, apart from my career.

**Five year tiki goal: $40,000**
**2009 Tiki fund goal: $2,500**
$2427.43 to go

**Total tiki money: $3,032.74**

***Savings Goals for 2009***
$10,000 into savings/ EF
$2,000 into 529 plan
$2,000 to Roth IRA
$2,620 extra college fund
$600 into new car fund
Total: $17,200

Pay $3,000 extra on student loan. Balance: $0. PAID OFF
As much as possible to IRA

***Progress Report***
$7343 savings, $2657 to go
$1800 to 529 plan, $200 to go
$100 to Roth, $1900 to go
$400 to new car fund, $200 to go
$175 to IRA
$2,620 to extra college fund, GOAL MET
Total: $12,438, $4762 to go

Student loan extra: PAID OFF

**Non- financial goals**
Write a novel in a month
Lose 10 pounds
Grow 100 pounds of veggies

**Progress**
0 pounds lost-- pregnant!
4 pages written
53.54 lbs. veggies grown

My Pages

Grocery challenge success!

January 21st, 2009 at 06:55 am

Last summer, I embarked on a grocery challenge. Hubby and I were spending a whopping and ridiculous $948 a month on groceries and eating out.

I'm happy to say we have put ourselves on a budget and for last three months we have spent no more than $550 a month for groceries, eating out AND GAS! It's a miracle.

In part, I have Aldi to thank. I still can't believe I can get a cart full of groceries there for only $38.

Since it is going well, we are also reorganizing our food priorities. We are eating less meat and the meat we do buy is organic, grass fed, free range. It's more expensive, but we think it's worth it. Plus, when you are eating less of it you can afford to buy nicer varieties when you do eat it.

Posted in Grocery Challenge | 7 Comments »

7 Responses to “Grocery challenge success!”

lizajane Says:
January 21st, 2009 at 07:07 am

It's amazing the differences we can make when we really put our minds to things like this! Good job.
Petunia Says:
January 21st, 2009 at 07:26 am

Someday I hope to get my grocery budget whipped into shape as well as you have. Good work!
thriftorama Says:
January 21st, 2009 at 07:39 am

I never thought I could cut it in half, and then to be able to do that and pay for all of our gas out of the same fund? Yay!
swimgirl Says:
January 21st, 2009 at 07:41 am

Good job!
Koppur Says:
January 21st, 2009 at 09:48 am

Wow, great job!
thriftorama Says:
January 21st, 2009 at 09:50 am

It's really just been a matter of cooking more at home and shopping smarter. We never go to the store without a list now, and I always have something homemade and easy to heat up in the fridge. no more bare shelves has really saved us money.
baselle Says:
January 21st, 2009 at 07:22 pm

That's awesome, and if you are using what you take and not tossing, that's great for the environment and perhaps your garbage bill too.

Thrift-o-rama and the quest for a Tiki Bar

One girl's quest to shore up her personal finances and save for her own business

Grocery challenge success!

7 Responses to “Grocery challenge success!”

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