I can’t believe I’ve survived The Food Budget Challenge for an entire month! This means it has been one whole month since I’ve been to Earthfare and had a sip of my beloved kombucha. I’ve been certain to bring my lunch to work every day, and I’ve started clipping coupons and actually using them. So far, the most difficult aspect of being on a food budget has been convincing Stephen we need to cook dinner using ingredients on hand rather than grabbing Chipotle or Thai.
Here are my previous food budget posts, if you’re interested:
Here’s what I bought last week:
Fruits and veggies galore: oranges, Rome apples, yellow apples, onions, roma tomatoes, turnips, and strawberries.
I also bought unpictured cucumbers, lemons, okra, sweet potatoes, red potatoes, and even more apples + oranges.
Price- $16.50
Chick-fil-A breakfast. I received these coupons in the mail a few weeks ago. I gave the free Chick-fil-A Spicy Chicken Biscuit coupon to Stephen, and I got the Free Chic-N-Minis.
I also bought a small coffee since the minis were only free with purchase of a drink.
This bought my breakfast total to $1.35…not too shabby! This, folks, is the way to use coupons.
Let’s take a look at how NOT to use coupons.
Stephen’s coupon required absolutely no purchase in order to get his free biscuit. However, he decided to go ahead and buy a coffee as well as hash browns, bringing his total to $4.75.
Stephen, by purchasing extra items, did exactly what Chick-fil-A hoped he do when utilizing his coupon.
Note: I realize Stephen only spent $4.74–not a particularly exorbitant amount of money. I’m simply making a point here. Be careful when you use coupons. Sometimes they make you spend more money than you originally intended.
Saturday night, Stephen and I went out to dinner with another couple. We ate at an upscale Asian place.
My stir-fry looked something like this.
Price: $12.00 (that includes a 20% tip)
Weekly Total: $29.85 <—My lowest yet!
February Total: $187.67<——I came in under $200 and spent $150 less than last month!!
Looks like the 1st month of my budget challenge has been a success. 
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Switching gears, Stephen and I had a really busy weekend. Usually, we spend our weekends relaxing and preparing for the week. But this weekend, we decided to have FUN.
I’ve been wanting to go to the zoo for some time now. The last time we went, the Beijing Olympics were on tv. (Only an Olympics obsessed person like myself would be able to recall this fact.)
I have mixed feelings about zoos, but I do love seeing all the animals. Especially……the TREE KANGAROOS!!
Have you seen these cuties before??? Stephen and I just can’t get over their adorableness.
They moved around so much, it was difficult to get a good picture.
The two ‘roos were having a good ole time playing together. One kept following the other around and grabbing onto its friend’s tail. Other observers were convinced it was a strange mating ritual. I beg to differ. I’d rather not think about my beloved tree kangaroos in that way.
We also saw a really cute Black Footed Cat.
Is this thing vicious? Please tell me no. It’s so wide-eyed, and it’s only the size of a housecat!
Of course the koalas were also cuddle-worthy.
Look in the mama’s pouch! Don’t these pictures just make you want to “ooooh” and “awwww”?
Does this make you want to “ooooh” and “awww” too?
Thought so!
Ok, one final soft, furry critter left to share…
Meerkats!
This guy was on watch while his buddies performed manual labor.
Is it just me, or do you all agree…?
Tiffany’s Lincoln is definitely part meerkat.
***
I just finished watching Temple Grandin, and it was SO good! FINALLY, a good movie!
Question: What’s your favorite animal to see at the zoo?
