How I Solved the “Food Problem”

I haven’t cooked in nine months. It wasn’t my intention to go this long without cooking so much as a bowl of quinoa, but here I am.

How to Help People Affected by the Government Shutdown

The best way to help seems to be by making donations to food banks and other charitable organizations.

The Cost of Eating Clean, Bro

I never thought that Eat Clean Bro would be something that I would want to partake in, until my boyfriend started a new job working the night shift at a lab.

Why I’m Constantly Returning to the Supermarket

At least once per transaction, I catch something — last week it was a jar of peanut butter, on sale for $3.99, that rang up at $5.49.

Buying Safe Passage at the Rendezvous Café

A hospital is a strange land, but if you respect their customs, perhaps your husband will make it out — of course he will come out alive.

How a Family of Four Lived Without a Refrigerator for a Month

The refrigerator died two days after I bought groceries.

When Laziness Beats Frugality: Signing up for a Meal Box

If the alternative is several take-out, fast-food, and sit-down meals, then is absolutely a less-expensive and healthier way to go.

Less for Your Money

Am I the only one noticing that many food items are shrinking their portions while raising the price?

Throwback Thursday: Impress Your Loved Ones With a Ham

Ham looks hard but is actually quite easy. And cheap.

This Week in Pods

Move over, clamshells. It’s POD TIME.

The Billfold Goes to the Archives: Community Cookbooks

These books are meant to be used, in a way that I suspect the few hefty, glossy cookbooks I personally own are not.

Throwback Thursday: The Cost of Being Vegan

Before I was vegan, I used to buy half-moon cookies for a dollar.

In Praise of Velveeta

I get why people, whether they are chemists or not, are a little scared of Velveeta.

Throwback Thursday: Which Halloween Candy Is the Most Expensive?

Tootsie Child’s Play Candy Assortment, aka “stop pretending Tootsie Rolls are chocolate, you aren’t fooling anybody:” $8.98 for an unstated number of candies, or 15 cents per ounce.

Did We Successfully Reduce Our Grocery Spending?

Is it possible to save enough on the monthly grocery bill to make a real, long-term difference to the rest of our finances?

An Open Thread About Tipping on a Muffin

Some counter service staff also dislike these tip prompts, especially when they have to explain to a confused customer why the iPad is asking them to tip on a muffin pulled out of a display case. 

Going From the Best Food to the Cheapest Food

I can no longer afford fruits but sometimes I do treat myself to bananas when I’m feeling particularly rich.

August Grocery Spending: Single Mom With a Toddler Outside DC

Overall, I spent $362.79 on groceries in August — more than I hoped to spend, but less than my average based on the past year.

The Cost of a Night at Minibar

The meal we experienced was unlike any other dinner we’ve had before, or will have again for a long time.

The Cost of Eating a Multicultural Diet in Seattle

In my household, we shop in different stores for different items.

August Grocery Spending: How Do I Avoid Making So Many Trips to the Supermarket?

My grocery-shopping concern is about the time I spend at the store, not the money.  

Tracking Abundance in Our Grocery Budget

I’ve started tracking these freebies in my budget, creating a line-item for everything we receive that costs $0 — and it’s helping me change the way I think about my budget overall.

Tallying Up My August Grocery Spending

First, let’s go over what I eat in a day.

Our Average Grocery Spending and What We Hope to Change

Is it possible to save enough on the monthly grocery bill to make a real, long-term difference to the rest of our finances?

It’s Olive Garden’s Never Ending Pasta Pass Day!

Who’s going to try to sign up?