A Completely Home Grown Meal

[Sarah]

I've always enjoyed this thread!

ILG, I bet your monthly grocery bill isn't very much. Care to tell us about how much?

[ILG]

Originally Posted by Sarah

I've always enjoyed this thread!

ILG, I bet your monthly grocery bill isn't very much. Care to tell us about how much?

Hi Sarah,

Thanks for asking. I used to keep track better of what I spent monthly than I do now. I kept track for years but now I just know the process and stick to it. I am going to guess about $300.00 per month for four adults. I never buy red meat because we butcher our own venison. I do buy a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables but usually what is on sale. I use coconut oil but count that as supplement expense because I buy it with our vitamin supplements. I do ad match and shop sales. You can read more about my spending habits in my How to Save Money Thread.

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Well, I am thinking that the carbon filter is not allowing the emitting of smells, hindering fruit flies. I'm not getting them anymore. I am very happy that I am saving more for my compost. It is so hot here that I didn't always want to go outside to throw stuff, throughout the day, into my compost. So, I was throwing away probably half in the trash.

I'd get the pail when you can. It is working great for me.

I've also been brewing my own Kombucha and make sure I rinse off the outside of the bottles before putting them up. Haven't had trouble with fruit flies there either.

I've got a compost pile, and have been working hard at putting all my vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, and tea bags into it. I have been using an empty Folgers coffee can for my compost and trying to dump every day or so, but I have noticed an increase in small flies in my kitchen, so this compost can with the filter is probably what I need to get. How much did it cost you? I like the idea of the degradable bags in it too, so you can just throw it in the pile, and not have to clean the can out.

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by ILG

Hi Sarah,

Thanks for asking. I used to keep track better of what I spent monthly than I do now. I kept track for years but now I just know the process and stick to it. I am going to guess about $300.00 per month for four adults. I never buy red meat because we butcher our own venison. I do buy a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables but usually what is on sale. I use coconut oil but count that as supplement expense because I buy it with our vitamin supplements. I do ad match and shop sales. You can read more about my spending habits in my How to Save Money Thread.

Wow! $300 for the month! That is awesome... Does that include your cleaning supplies, toiletries, and household supplies as well, or just food? In our budget, because I make trips to Walmart, and buy other things there besides food, such as clothing, household items, cleaning supplies, etc., my total food/household items/toiletries etc. cost a month is around $800.00 for a family of 4. I probably could shave that down to about $600 a month by buying more generic brands, and using venison, but we ran out of venison earlier this summer. However, this winter, we plan on stocking up with lots of game, so that should cut down on meat costs.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by ILG

Hi Sarah,

Thanks for asking. I used to keep track better of what I spent monthly than I do now. I kept track for years but now I just know the process and stick to it. I am going to guess about $300.00 per month for four adults. I never buy red meat because we butcher our own venison. I do buy a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables but usually what is on sale. I use coconut oil but count that as supplement expense because I buy it with our vitamin supplements. I do ad match and shop sales. You can read more about my spending habits in my How to Save Money Thread.

Ahhhh, but are you still getting that weekly visit from the Schwan's man? LOL

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord

I've got a compost pile, and have been working hard at putting all my vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, and tea bags into it. I have been using an empty Folgers coffee can for my compost and trying to dump every day or so, but I have noticed an increase in small flies in my kitchen, so this compost can with the filter is probably what I need to get. How much did it cost you? I like the idea of the degradable bags in it too, so you can just throw it in the pile, and not have to clean the can out.

I paid $38, which included tax and the extra compost (50) bags. I would never use this pail without the bags. I want to rinse it out, but I don't want to wash it every time I use it.

I don't know why the image in my Account looks like it's shiny stainless, because it isn't. It is this pail by another supplier:

http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Home-S...s=compost+pail

[Sarah]

Originally Posted by ILG

Hi Sarah,

Thanks for asking. I used to keep track better of what I spent monthly than I do now. I kept track for years but now I just know the process and stick to it. I am going to guess about $300.00 per month for four adults. I never buy red meat because we butcher our own venison. I do buy a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables but usually what is on sale. I use coconut oil but count that as supplement expense because I buy it with our vitamin supplements. I do ad match and shop sales. You can read more about my spending habits in my How to Save Money Thread.

LOL...Actually, I got the two threads mixed up! But you already knew that, didn't you? lol...

[ILG]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

Ahhhh, but are you still getting that weekly visit from the Schwan's man? LOL

I have never gotten a visit from him, except once when he gave me a free gallon of ice cream and I waved bye-bye!

[ILG]

Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord

Wow! $300 for the month! That is awesome... Does that include your cleaning supplies, toiletries, and household supplies as well, or just food? In our budget, because I make trips to Walmart, and buy other things there besides food, such as clothing, household items, cleaning supplies, etc., my total food/household items/toiletries etc. cost a month is around $800.00 for a family of 4. I probably could shave that down to about $600 a month by buying more generic brands, and using venison, but we ran out of venison earlier this summer. However, this winter, we plan on stocking up with lots of game, so that should cut down on meat costs.

That's one of the problems with these types of questions, because they can be figured many ways. My cleaning supplies are usually freebies. A year or so ago, I got a tremendous deal on toilet paper....$2.00 per "bale" (as my husband calls them), so I haven't bought toilet paper in quite a while unless it's a true deal I can't pass up. I usually only buy shampoo and stuff like that on a super deal and then have a back stock in my basement. So, I do have a lot of stuff in the basement along those lines but haven't paid much for it. I like things as close to free as possible.

[ILG]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

I paid $38, which included tax and the extra compost (50) bags. I would never use this pail without the bags. I want to rinse it out, but I don't want to wash it every time I use it.

I don't know why the image in my Account looks like it's shiny stainless, because it isn't. It is this pail by another supplier:

http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Home-S...s=compost+pail

I got mine for 5 bucks on clearance. It does have a lid and I line it with used walmart bags for easy cleaning. Now that I am going to be around more, maybe I'll dig it out and try it again. Probably not until next year though since it's starting to get cold out already. Let us know the success (or not) with fruit flies on your model.