This week we want you to take a peek into our checkbook to get a feel of what your finances could look like should you choose to downsize your commitment to the office and upgrade your commitment to a sustainable lifestyle. What we will be listing will be only things that are necessary for running the home, not expenses such as insurance, entertainment, hair care products, or automobiles.
Let’s look at our winter grocery bill. Keep in mind that because of the resources that we have developed, we only need to make a trip to the grocery store once every 4 weeks or so. Also, in the following list, necessary items that are missing are probably already in the cooler at home (meat, dairy, eggs, berries, vegetables). Please make note that most of our listed items are usually certified Organic, as this will explain why some things might seem expensive. We should note that buying mostly Organic groceries is more affordable when you don’t need to buy much from the store.
Here is an average, monthly winter grocery list for 2 adults:
- natural laundry detergent $14 (we get dirty)
- natural dish soap $10 (lots of cooking means lots of dishes)
- 2 boxes salad greens $12
- 1 lb celery $3
- bananas $3
- 5 lbs flour $7
- 2 lbs sugar $5
- 1 lb salt $3
- cinnamon $4
- paprika $3
- black pepper $3
- all-purpose seasoning $5
- ketchup $3.50
- mustard $4
- vinegar $6
- mayonnaise $6
- BBQ sauce $5
- coffee $18
- cooking oil $9
- olive oil $10
- oatmeal $3
- dry beans $4
- maple syrup $9
- rice $6
- corn starch $3
- baking soda $2
- fresh ginger $3
- lemons $3
- bread $18 (we don’t make our own)
- tortillas $6
- burger buns $12
TOTAL =$202.50
- Average monthly LP gas bill (mostly for hot water and cooking, and we don’t run the furnace unless we are out of town) : $40
- Average monthly electric bill (we run more freezer space than the average home, pump a lot of water for livestock and the garden, and we require a cattle-tank heater for water in the barn throughout the winter): $130
(Expenses related to owning chickens and cattle with be discussed in future blogs)
We hope this has been helpful for you to gain insight as to what your expenses could look like.
Stay tuned for next week’s blog about the details of what to expect if you want to own a milk-cow and/or raise your own beef, titled: “Keeping a Cow”.