Comments on: The $25 Challenge – Final Summary http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2010/07/21/the-25-challenge-final-summary/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:31:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Ben http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2010/07/21/the-25-challenge-final-summary/comment-page-1/#comment-45292 Ben Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:14:41 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=1928#comment-45292 Certainly it's all worth it if you can keep up a lower level of spending over time, driving down the average cost of a meal. The Challenge is a good kick-start to what will turn out to be the main event. Don't compromise on the healthy food (but I know you won't). Wish you luck! Certainly it’s all worth it if you can keep up a lower level of spending over time, driving down the average cost of a meal. The Challenge is a good kick-start to what will turn out to be the main event.

Don’t compromise on the healthy food (but I know you won’t). Wish you luck!

]]> By: Canadian Dream http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2010/07/21/the-25-challenge-final-summary/comment-page-1/#comment-45258 Canadian Dream Sun, 25 Jul 2010 19:21:00 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=1928#comment-45258 @Ben, Actually just did the restock shopping today. Total bill $200 which is below the average by about $100 (and that does include the items I stocked up on since they were on sale). So yes we did shift some consumption, but overall we did reduce our food bill during the exercise. I did design the experiment in such a way as to not be too much of a shock to the system. That was intentional in order to get buy in on this experiment from my wife and in order to make sure I would be willing to keep parts of the experience going forward. It should be interesting to see our food bills for the next six months to determine if we can keep up a lower level of spending. Tim @Ben,

Actually just did the restock shopping today. Total bill $200 which is below the average by about $100 (and that does include the items I stocked up on since they were on sale). So yes we did shift some consumption, but overall we did reduce our food bill during the exercise.

I did design the experiment in such a way as to not be too much of a shock to the system. That was intentional in order to get buy in on this experiment from my wife and in order to make sure I would be willing to keep parts of the experience going forward. It should be interesting to see our food bills for the next six months to determine if we can keep up a lower level of spending.

Tim

]]> By: Miss T http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2010/07/21/the-25-challenge-final-summary/comment-page-1/#comment-45196 Miss T Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:30:53 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=1928#comment-45196 Congrats on completing your challenge and under budget. We too have tried something similar and it is inspiring to see how well you can do. Congrats on completing your challenge and under budget. We too have tried something similar and it is inspiring to see how well you can do.

]]> By: George http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2010/07/21/the-25-challenge-final-summary/comment-page-1/#comment-45194 George Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:23:46 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=1928#comment-45194 In addition to #2, you can also include most of the convenience foods like the boxes of Kraft macaroni & cheese or Rice-A-Roni or Hamburger Helper. In addition to #2, you can also include most of the convenience foods like the boxes of Kraft macaroni & cheese or Rice-A-Roni or Hamburger Helper.

]]> By: dabcan http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2010/07/21/the-25-challenge-final-summary/comment-page-1/#comment-45188 dabcan Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:02:14 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=1928#comment-45188 re: junk food --- remember that junk food is also taxed, so you pay even more than the sticker price for these items! (not to mention possible long term effects on health...) re: junk food — remember that junk food is also taxed, so you pay even more than the sticker price for these items! (not to mention possible long term effects on health…)

]]> By: Ben http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2010/07/21/the-25-challenge-final-summary/comment-page-1/#comment-45184 Ben Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:33:31 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=1928#comment-45184 I'm not sure about this exercise. There's been no real effort to reduce the true cost of each meal. Starting with a house full of food, it's not hard to avoid buying groceries for a period of time, and give the appearance of eating cheaply. Robbing Peter to pay Paul. Rather than a smooth grocery bill over several months, it's been made lumpy with this exercise. While this month's grocery bill will be low as household food stores previously purchased are consumed, next month's will be higher than average as the household restocks its supplies. The $25 budget challenge which relies heavily on phase-shifting food purchase and consumption. It is satisfying to eat through the freezer once in a while though, and see the monthly grocery spending nice and low. This does have a net benefit because after a long time in the freezer, even frozen food can become unedible. Overall, unless fundamental changes are made to what the household eats, there's no net savings over time. However, the 5 points listed above do actually represent ways to save money on food over time. I’m not sure about this exercise. There’s been no real effort to reduce the true cost of each meal. Starting with a house full of food, it’s not hard to avoid buying groceries for a period of time, and give the appearance of eating cheaply.

Robbing Peter to pay Paul. Rather than a smooth grocery bill over several months, it’s been made lumpy with this exercise. While this month’s grocery bill will be low as household food stores previously purchased are consumed, next month’s will be higher than average as the household restocks its supplies. The $25 budget challenge which relies heavily on phase-shifting food purchase and consumption.

It is satisfying to eat through the freezer once in a while though, and see the monthly grocery spending nice and low. This does have a net benefit because after a long time in the freezer, even frozen food can become unedible.

Overall, unless fundamental changes are made to what the household eats, there’s no net savings over time. However, the 5 points listed above do actually represent ways to save money on food over time.

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