I mean, some things were complete non-needs. I did not NEED vegan sausage - but I got the one that was on clearance and it will make the jambalaya and red beans and rice better. I did not NEED king cake popcorn, FFS! But I was crabby at my body and at the lack of low/no sodium snacks at the store, that was a total impulse buy.
But, yeah, this is all part of moving expenses, really.
Yes! Having food I like to eat a) keeps me out of restaurants other than our once a week scheduled date and b) makes me less angry that I have to watch my diet for heath reasons.
Yes! So stop beating yourself up for it 
And you are also allowed an occasional treat. Once a week is not excessive.
Does this make you feel better on moving expenses? The foreign service figures it takes people at least $1300 to set up in a new location. (And they pay for all the shipping costs mover etc, that’s literally for set up when you get there).
Loving reading about all the food on here!
. Add me to the list of foodies… 
. You all made me miss my Iranian friend’s cooking. Since we moved I haven’t had a chance to indulge in the real thing.
As for money saving…I’ve been trying to stay out of restaurants. I try not to bake, but Hubby is buying baked goods and bringing them into the house. So looks like I may as well bake anyways. At least I can try to make it healthy? Is that possible? Oh well.
Otherwise we are doing well. I decided to not start seeds from scratch this year. It would require more time, effort, equipment and supplies, with mediocre results. I have a purple thumb. So I’m setting aside a couple hundred dollars for plants that have already been started, from the greenhouse.
We haven’t done any renovations for four months, so our household budget and savings is looking fine. My personal allowance is another matter…it’s being decimated. I think it’s time to negotiate an increase for both of us. $200CAD per month just isn’t enough for: clothing, haircuts, footwear, hobbies, gifts, charity, café snacks with friends, and running my small business! I am slowly, but surely whittling away at my small inheritance. I figure it’ll be gone in two months. The biggest drain has been my small business. 
. That will have to stop. It’s going to have to earn money or just become a hobby.
Taxes are done and handed in for 2021. I need to update personal and business books for 2022.
Needed a shower curtain. Spent $11 on one that is just fine instead of blowing $50 on the fancy one from the goth bedding and bath site I drool over. We put it up and it looks pretty good. Good job, me!
Catching up on this thread has me inspired to reboot meal planning and projected spending for the week! You’re all the best.
My son is back and we realized we have lots of turkey left from thanksgiving so will make fettuccine Alfredo and use some of the turkey. Those meals will be cheap.
Hahaha, that’s awesome!
Changing how you think about it, I mean! I hope you enjoyed the hell out of your fancy person vacation of comfort 
it sounds fun! It’s funny because I’m not a big believer that changing external language is hugely like, impactful in terms of equity or justice on its own – but I think changing internal language can make an absolutely massive difference in how we see things and feel, even if nothing else changes. And I think it can cause us to behave differently which in turn can actually improve the world!
I think it’s super common though, this like, word inflation (that’s what I call it in my head I’m sure there’s a real academic term, haha). I feel like its been ramping up for the last 10-15 years anyway and then the pandemic really pushed it over the edge. I find the framing really interesting, and how it impacts the way people see their lives even more so!
Totally agree about internal VS external language! So often external language changes completely skip the work of actually changing how situations are approached. I needed to actually believe that it would be OK if we spent money on comfort, instead of trying not to spend anything and make it through even though I had the resources available.
When ordering consumables online, do you all typically order enough of something to get the free shipping even if it results in a higher bill?
I typically do, but since we’ve been very spendy lately it feels gross to spend that much on, in my current example, coffee. But, it’s not like I won’t drink it eventually? I’m just blanching at a $70 coffee bill.
If it’s stuff I’ll use and it’s just a matter of timing, absolutely. (And I have the storage, and it won’t lose quality so much it defeats the purpose of buying nicer stuff…) It’s crazy not to then IMO. If you have the cash on hand so you can afford to buy in bulk at better prices, that’s an economic advantage worth harnessing.
That’s the thing though, it’s not a better price, I’m just not getting charged shipping. What I should be doing is sticking to grocery store coffee at less than $10/bag (I just paid $5 for a clearance bag) and not the fancy stuff. But, well, it’ll keep me mostly out of the coffee shop that is disconcertingly close to the new house and has delicious and expensive cold brew. And I did wait for a sale, which they have often.
Agree completely, and would add: part of this is knowing yourself. Are you (general you) someone who will buy a ton of something and get sick of it or forget about it and let it go bad? Or are you not sold enough on something that you don’t really want to drink the coffee for the next 2 months, but you’ll make yourself and you’ll hate it? There is some stuff I’ll buy in bulk but some I won’t, since it’s not worth risking tossing it.
That IS a better price. Shipping gets divided across quantity to change price per unit. It’s a transaction cost that adjusts the whole value.
1lb at $5 per lb plus $5 shipping = $10/lb
5lbs at $5 per lb plus $5 shipping = $6/lb
In this case, not a problem, I drink coffee daily and will not forget about it - or get sick of it ,because it’s good coffee!
Absolutely, “will I use it” is the very first question for me. I try so hard to avoid food waste. 
Obviously I am not you, but I can picture you drinking your fancier coffee that you buy in bulk to save money and keep out of the fancy coffee shop, thinking “hell yeah I am a financial genius,” looking at your happy cats and your plants that are growing early in the season in New Orleans, and patting yourself on the back. A good life!
It really does lift my spirits to have the good stuff. Tea, too.
I must know what this fancy coffee is! @TrisPrior whats the brand? What do you love about it?
