Comments on: Living on a budget http://blog.aaziz.org/living-on-a-budget ramblings and opinions of a geek Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:20:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Tony http://blog.aaziz.org/living-on-a-budget#comment-24 Tony Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:48:14 +0000 http://blog.aaziz.org/?p=20#comment-24 The avatar is configured on http://www.gravatar.com/ -- make sure your registered email on their service matches the email associated with your comment. The avatar is configured on http://www.gravatar.com/ — make sure your registered email on their service matches the email associated with your comment.

]]> By: Aziz http://blog.aaziz.org/living-on-a-budget#comment-21 Aziz Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:44:33 +0000 http://blog.aaziz.org/?p=20#comment-21 Well, thankfully, she loves to cook and if I must say so, she's not too bad at it. She's got this whole plan about eating healthy and serving proper proportions. One of her ideas is to make a dish (lasagna, for example) and cut it up into pieces that are enough for a meal for the two of us. Each piece goes in a separate freezer bag/container and is frozen. Then we have something for another night where we (she) won't have to cook, or to bring for lunch. I think it's a great idea. She's also doing all the grocery shopping and whatnot, so I'm glad I don't have to worry about that. My only concern was how much it was going to cost me throughout the weeks. We've already planned $500 for stocking the cupboards & for hygiene items (not towels, etc), and fortunately she's also taking care of that. This is really our chance to shape our lifestyle how we want. No more excuses that her parents make too big meals or get upset if we don't eat it, or that there's no healthy food in the house. She's getting into this organic food thing, too. I've been bookmarking just about every site I come across that has to do with health or cooking. By the way Tony, this is MY blog, how the hell did you figure out to add an avatar. I can't find it :/ Also, if you'll pop on IRC sometime today if you're not busy and nickalert me, I've some other questions 'bout the blog software. Well, thankfully, she loves to cook and if I must say so, she’s not too bad at it. She’s got this whole plan about eating healthy and serving proper proportions. One of her ideas is to make a dish (lasagna, for example) and cut it up into pieces that are enough for a meal for the two of us. Each piece goes in a separate freezer bag/container and is frozen. Then we have something for another night where we (she) won’t have to cook, or to bring for lunch. I think it’s a great idea. She’s also doing all the grocery shopping and whatnot, so I’m glad I don’t have to worry about that.

My only concern was how much it was going to cost me throughout the weeks. We’ve already planned $500 for stocking the cupboards & for hygiene items (not towels, etc), and fortunately she’s also taking care of that.

This is really our chance to shape our lifestyle how we want. No more excuses that her parents make too big meals or get upset if we don’t eat it, or that there’s no healthy food in the house. She’s getting into this organic food thing, too. I’ve been bookmarking just about every site I come across that has to do with health or cooking.

By the way Tony, this is MY blog, how the hell did you figure out to add an avatar. I can’t find it :/ Also, if you’ll pop on IRC sometime today if you’re not busy and nickalert me, I’ve some other questions ’bout the blog software.

]]> By: Tony http://blog.aaziz.org/living-on-a-budget#comment-20 Tony Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:32:58 +0000 http://blog.aaziz.org/?p=20#comment-20 Personally I stay away from the packaged meals. Besides an obvious markup in price, I also find that the food quality (and quantity) is often greatly compromised, in favour of profits. I also find that cooking yourself from the raw ingredients is usually cheaper. At the very least, you get better quality ingredients (saving costs by eating healthier and staying healthier?). I would also agree with Laura's estimate; though I can't offer my expenses as my eating habits are sporadic. Other random expenses that you might come across are things like cleaning, hygiene products, etc. Are Windex and paper towels expensive? That largely depends on an OCD ;) Personally I stay away from the packaged meals. Besides an obvious markup in price, I also find that the food quality (and quantity) is often greatly compromised, in favour of profits.

I also find that cooking yourself from the raw ingredients is usually cheaper. At the very least, you get better quality ingredients (saving costs by eating healthier and staying healthier?).

I would also agree with Laura’s estimate; though I can’t offer my expenses as my eating habits are sporadic.

Other random expenses that you might come across are things like cleaning, hygiene products, etc. Are Windex and paper towels expensive? That largely depends on an OCD ;)

]]> By: Zeroth http://blog.aaziz.org/living-on-a-budget#comment-15 Zeroth Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:39:42 +0000 http://blog.aaziz.org/?p=20#comment-15 Laura's probably right. Of course, just remember, it may seem like its more expensive, but it is way cheaper to buy the raw ingredients and make your own meals(usually). This doesn't apply to pasta, or hamburger patties however. What I've found is that typically, the cheapo stuff is just as good as the name-brand stuff. A few cases where this is not true: packaged meals, pasta, pasta sauce. Veggies are much cheaper if you find a local store, or check out the foreign export stores. Some fantastic foods, at great prices usually. In my experience, shopping for myself, if I buy well, it only costs me about 200 a month to eat well. Laura’s probably right. Of course, just remember, it may seem like its more expensive, but it is way cheaper to buy the raw ingredients and make your own meals(usually). This doesn’t apply to pasta, or hamburger patties however.

What I’ve found is that typically, the cheapo stuff is just as good as the name-brand stuff. A few cases where this is not true: packaged meals, pasta, pasta sauce. Veggies are much cheaper if you find a local store, or check out the foreign export stores. Some fantastic foods, at great prices usually.

In my experience, shopping for myself, if I buy well, it only costs me about 200 a month to eat well.

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