Challenge: $100 weekly grocery budget

On the way home from our beach weekend, T proposed a weekly grocery budget of $100.  I quickly accepted the challenge!  (Eek!)

When I finally told T that I didn't want to return to work after the birth of our son and he agreed with the decision, I knew that our lifestyle would change.  I proposed a spending allowance, but T didn't like the idea.  Six months past before we discussed our budget again.  I'm not a big spender and was called a penny pincher growing up.  I've worked since I was 15 (or earlier...back when you had to have a worker's permit and rides to work).  Feeling like I wasn't contributing financially (coupled with a hearty case of the 'I wants'), I broached the budget subject.  The kid needs toys.  The kid needs clothes.  We need to eat.  The idea of a stricter budget seemed like a fun challenge.

Let's face it...I'm cheap.  T is cheaper.  To save coin, I plan weekly menus, hounding T for dinner ideas, wants, desires.  I shop sales ads.  I am, however, new to couponing!  Years ago for health and wealth, we eliminated some meat from our diet.  Some weeks I eliminate all meat, some all animal products.  I thoroughly enjoy creating and finding vegetarian and/or vegan dishes that are hearty, satisfying, and delicious.  With Lil'T's arrival, complicated recipes have largely been erased from my repertoire.  Another obstacle.  Inexpensive, healthy, AND easy.  :-) 

We spent Monday afternoon hammering out all the details.  The $100 excludes the cost of household needs and beer.  Our beer and wine budget has greatly decreased and is practically negligible anyway.  We are parents now.  Weeks run Monday to Sunday.  Lil' T eats homemade food whenever possible.  Which is all the time except for travel.  He's a boob man, so another food cost avoided.

This week's menu:
Thai Tofu over brown rice
Chicken and vegetable pasta
Sweet Potato and Chickpea Gumbo
Fish Tacos with Black Beans (T's birthday meal!)
Red Beans and Quinoa
Spicy Succotash
Yes, we will probably dine out once this week.

So far, so good.  $9 under budget.  But, I have depleted some food reserves.  The chicken, fish and gumbo were in the freezer.  Somehow, I'll need to stock up on staples in the coming weeks.