Staring it in the eye

C.W

FIXED INCOME: £840

Monthly spend
Home £234.00
*£200 board
*£34 phone
Insurance £0.00
Eats, Drinks & Smokes £66.00
*My food bill:
*Cat food & litter: £20
*Vet: £46 (1st vaccination, worming - microchipping free with 2xjab package)
Transport & Travel £48
*£48 (bus pass up to 22/09)
Debt Repayments £296.34
*PP £176.34 (Paid £3,959.58/£9,000)
*£120 to Mum (£500 outstanding)
ESSENTIALS TOTAL £644.34
(TOTAL MINUS MY FOOD BILL AT PRESENT)

Savings & Investments £50.00
*Emergency fund/savings ISA £50
Fun & Frolics £80
*Socialising budget £40
*6-week fitness class £40
Health & Beauty £0.00
Clothes £0.00
Big One Offs £0
Odds & Sods £3.00
NON-ESSENTIALS TOTAL £133

OVERALL TOTAL £777.34 (Left of wages £62.66)

I thought the best way to go about this was work out what I needed to pay, what I wanted to do, and how much I wanted to save, then see what was left in order to continue with a meal plan. As much as I want to eat interesting food regularly, I would much rather eat much simpler meals (albeit varied and being mindful of what my body needs) than cut back on other areas of my life. So, as it stands, my food budget/unplanned expenditure needs to fall below £62.66 a month in order for me to save £50 a month *just in case*. I also need to pick up a cheap cat carrier.

I've rarely wear makeup or perfume so no expense there this month, my stepdad or Mum picks up basic toiletries so I don't need to buy them as board covers that, I have enough shoes and clothing so that nothing needs replacing this month.

This also does not take into account any income I may make from parties I do but I often feel I break even on them in the end anyway, from kit replens and such.

ZTD

C.W wrote: »

Some info on why organic maple: http://www.thenibble.com/reviews/nutri/matter/2006-08.asp

Wow, what a list of hand-wringing anthropomorphic "scare"
mongering. Unbelievable.

C.W wrote: »

I think though, if organic maple is too high in price, I'm not AS concerned about purchasing it since the risks are lower compared to other foods from what I can tell.

Most of the problems from non-organic food come from over-dosing, where dose is measured in terms of milligrams per kilogram. It's easy to overdose something like a chicken which weighs a couple of kilos, and eats constantly. It's a bit harder to achieve a recognisable dose of *anything* in a tree that's weighed in tons.

Especially in the case of maple syrup which is produced only a few weeks a year.

C.W wrote: »

What annoys me is that organic doesn't mean the best choice.

Whenever there is any "badge" created that means it's better than something else, then that badge is subverted pretty quickly. Apparently the fees for organic are quite substantial now, so "organic" certainly means "big" and "rich".

If you're that concerned, buy locally, and use your eyes. Look at what they're doing - do you agree with it? The farm I buy from, you know what the cows eat, because they're stood there behind the fence, eating it while looking at you...

C.W wrote: »

If it's not 100% organic, it can still contain GMOs. And products like UHT are a bit pointless being organic, in my opinion, and they're kind of devoid of nutrients anyway (most vitamins actually being added).

I can see your point about UHT. Makes about as much sense as organic margarine...

C.W wrote: »

Depends on how desperate we get... :P

There's better things to eat...

C.W

Lentils (already have for this month)
Beans
Firm tofu
Oats (already have for this month)
Quinoa
Bulgur wheat (already have for this month)
Pasta (already have for this month)
Lasagna sheets (already have for this month)
Rice (already have for this month)
Wholewheat wraps (already have for this month)
Broccoli
Kale
Watercress
Spinach
Peppers
Garlic
Onion
Kelp (or other seaweed)
Lemon juice
Mixed dried fruit
Mixed nuts *walnuts *almonds *cashew
Chia seeds
Sesame seeds (already have for this month)
Hummus
Nut butter
Eggs
Tuna (already have for this month)
Milk
Spices (already have for this month)
Chopped tomatoes/passata (already have for this month)




Notes for personal reference:
http://www.vegetariantimes.com/article/8-foods-every-vegetarian-should-eat/
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Vegetarianhealth/Pages/Vegetarianhealthqanda.aspx

ChopinonaBudget

You're looking hyper organised!

C.W

ZTD wrote: »

Wow, what a list of hand-wringing anthropomorphic "scare"
mongering. Unbelievable.

I don't doubt it. I can see the merits of being mindful of where our food comes from, how it is produced and so forth... but, as I've heard often on the wholefood forum I frequent, sometimes you just have to "pick your battles". Maple syrup is one I'll leave for someone else to argue over as I don't feel it's a pressing concern. Especially since I don't consume it often enough to have that big an impact on my health.

ZTD wrote: »

Most of the problems from non-organic food come from over-dosing, where dose is measured in terms of milligrams per kilogram. It's easy to overdose something like a chicken which weighs a couple of kilos, and eats constantly. It's a bit harder to achieve a recognisable dose of *anything* in a tree that's weighed in tons.

I agree. I tend to pick organic dairy when and where I can afford to, and some veg as I don't much like the idea of consuming pesticides. But again, it really comes down to what I can afford. I know some veggies are higher risk than others and I tend to work with that wherever my budget allows.

ZTD wrote: »

Whenever there is any "badge" created that means it's better than something else, then that badge is subverted pretty quickly. Apparently the fees for organic are quite substantial now, so "organic" certainly means "big" and "rich".

I don't doubt it! Especially when you see things have organic ingredients listed that are surrounded by not so pleasant ones. Bodycare is probably a good example. Organic green tea extract then being packed with sulfates and parabens in shampoo, for example... random much.

ZTD wrote: »

If you're that concerned, buy locally, and use your eyes. Look at what they're doing - do you agree with it? The farm I buy from, you know what the cows eat, because they're stood there behind the fence, eating it while looking at you...

My local farm is a big disappointment. You walk in and the shelves are full of the stuff you can get at the supermarket, just more expensive. It's not a dairy farm though so, if I was buying meat, I'd be fine (my mum and stepdad buy meat packs from there sometimes) but not much good for anything else. I'm not currently driving so travelling further afield isn't an option.

ZTD wrote: »

I can see your point about UHT. Makes about as much sense as organic margarine...

Another marketing wonder! All that work to make it sound healthier than butter.

C.W

ChopinonaBudget wrote: »

You're looking hyper organised!

Trying to be! I think it's the only way I can possibly get a handle on this. Fortunately I'm a big lover of lists, I just struggle to implement. I'm hoping that making it a public list will help me stay focused.

ChopinonaBudget

C.W wrote: »

Trying to be! I think it's the only way I can possibly get a handle on this. Fortunately I'm a big lover of lists, I just struggle to implement. I'm hoping that making it a public list will help me stay focused.

Ah, you are to lists what I am to spreadsheets

I agree with you with the publicness and the focus; it's why I keep a diary. No hiding!

ZTD

C.W wrote: »

Nut butter

What's that?

And don't say "nut butter" as to me (and my friends) it's a euphemism for something very rude...

ZTD

C.W wrote: »

I agree. I tend to pick organic dairy when and where I can afford to, and some veg as I don't much like the idea of consuming pesticides. But again, it really comes down to what I can afford. I know some veggies are higher risk than others and I tend to work with that wherever my budget allows.

Unfortunately, since I have a taste for unhomogenised milk, there is no organic choice.

Which is curious.

C.W wrote: »

I don't doubt it! Especially when you see things have organic ingredients listed that are surrounded by not so pleasant ones. Bodycare is probably a good example. Organic green tea extract then being packed with sulfates and parabens in shampoo, for example... random much.

Well that's another example of "Organic" being stretched way too far. "Shampoo" shall join the list of things I'm not going to consume, just below "T shirts"...

Be careful of parabens if you have sensitive skin. Guy I worked with was allergic to them and he used to develop amazing (in all the wrong ways) eczema in response. Parabens are in *loads* of stuff.

C.W wrote: »

My local farm is a big disappointment. You walk in and the shelves are full of the stuff you can get at the supermarket, just more expensive.

I know the kind. There's one not far from Newcastle like that. I wandered into the local food part one day and saw "Blueberries". From Poland...

There's one just up the hill from it which is a lot better. They sell some of their own stuff, but a lot more from local (as in very much closer than Poland) producers.

C.W wrote: »

Another marketing wonder! All that work to make it sound healthier than butter.

Well, there's even more marketing now with the "I can't believe it's not margarine" products.

C.W

ChopinonaBudget wrote: »

Ah, you are to lists what I am to spreadsheets

I agree with you with the publicness and the focus; it's why I keep a diary. No hiding!

We all have our quirks...