New Blender - and I didn't break the bank! (yet)

The failing blender issue has been temporarily resolved. We ended up getting a $100 KitchenAid 5-speed Custom Blender (KSB560) a brick and mortar Bed, Bath and Beyond for $80 with a 20%-off coupon. I've not tried it yet, but the reviews online are favorable. I do hope that this holds up better than by my poor Oster, which will be given as comfortable a retirement as a blender can receive. Goodwill will take blenders that work, and it'll probably serve the average user much better than it will serve me. It's the least I can do, especially after asking the Oster do things at a frequency it was never designed to handle.

Holy Bleep! (on Vitamixes)

I've been looking around at blenders to replace my poor Oster blender, which is starting to go. I've heard from multiple sources (the blogosphere, Consumer Reports) that Vitamix makes the best blender on the market and will last for a long time. I knew it would be pricey because it's institutional/professional chef quality - not to mention durable - but the base model, the Vitamix 5200, the time of this writing, is $449.00! That's enough to make any grad student gulp in terror. I guess I could just buy another Oster, but I don't want to have to buy another blender in 4 months (since I've been slacking) because I've been using it (abusing it?) the way I have. At the rate I'm going through blenders, I'll go through 2 $40 blenders a year. That's $80 on blenders a year. At that rate, it'll take me 5.625 years to get to $450. I feel great when I stick to the diet, and it helps tremendously, but I'm paying quite a bit for food as it is. That much on a blender - even a good blender - is a lot of money. Yes, spend it on food or spend it on the doctor, but sheesh - this better work!

Finances, Edition #5

Today's finances are a double whammy to make up for getting a week behind. I think I'm getting the hang of how to do this diet at least semi-cheap, which means cutting back on the strawberries and the blueberries and going more with the fruits on sale. These past two weeks, the kiwis, the peaches, and the nectarines have been on sale, and, with those, you get more fruit for less money. I don't understand why the kiwis are so cheap - just $.79 each - when they source them from New Zealand (!).

7/2/10

2 1lb packages organic strawberries @ $3/package = $6
2 packages organic blueberries @ $3/package = $6
2.64 lbs organic bananas @ $1.29/lb = $3.41
organic raw almonds = $3.65
bunch of carrots = $1.99
6 kiwi fruit @ $.79/ea. = $4.74
organic rice puffs = $2.19
organic millet puffs = $2.19
C20 coconut water = $1.39
2 15oz cans organic garbanzo beans @ $1.39/can = $2.78
2 15oz cans organic diced tomatoes @ $2.39/can = $4.78
2 15oz cans organic black beans @ $1.39/can = $2.78
1.03 lbs organic white peaches @ $2.29/lb = $2.56
1.11 lbs organic lemons @ $2.49/lb = $2.76

Total = $49.61

7/10/10

2 15oz cans organic black beans @ $1.39/can = $2.78
2 15oz cans organic pinto beans @ $1.39/can = $2.78
3 15 oz cans light organic coconut milk @ $1.99/can = $5.97
1 jar organic sunflower seed butter = $6.99
organic raw almonds = $5.45
1.11 lb organic lemons @ $2.99/lb = $3.32
1.85 lb organic nectarines @ $1.69/lb = $3.13
2.33 lb organic yellow peaches @ $1.69/lb = $3.94
6 organic kiwi @ $.79/lb = $4.74
1 bunch organic cilantro = $1.49
1 bunch organic parsley = $1.29
3 organic avocados @ $.99/each = $2.97
1 bunch organic spinach = $2.49
1 plant organic basil = $2.99
2.22 lb organic bananas @ $1.29/lb = $2.86

Total = $54.58

Finances, Edition #4

I enjoy my weekly grocery store trip. There’s something about all the colorful food that makes me briefly forget about my worries. I also adhere to my family’s food-money philosophy: “You either spend money on food or you spend money on medical bills”. While I knew that my food bills would increase when I started buying all-organic fruits and vegetables, I didn’t think they would increase as much as they did - to $60, $80, sometimes $100 a week. To draw attention to the cost of good food, I’m keeping a cumulative tally of my weekly grocery bill and the tab from any time I eat out.

I realized I missed a week, so I owe you this receipt from two weeks ago as well as yesterday's receipt. Two weeks ago was an expensive week, mostly because I ran out of spices, tea tree oil, and grains - at the same time!

1.31 lb Organic Lemons @ $2.49/lb = $3.26
1 Bunch Organic Carrots = $1.99
Organic Tea Tree Oil = $11.49
1.62 lb Organic White Onion @ $2.49/lb = $2.99
2.37 lb Organic Red Seedless Grapes @ $2.99 = $7.09
Organic Raw Hemp Seed = $9.44
Organic Raw Hemp Seed = $4.44
1.05 lb Organic Millet @ $1.29 lb = $1.35
2 Packages of Organic Blueberries @ 2 Packages for $5 = $5
10oz Organic Girl Baby Spinach = $6.99
1.25 lb Organic Short Brown Rice @ $1.99/lb = $2..49
.76 lb Organic Raw Buckwheat Grits @ $2.39/lb = $2.49
Organic Cumin = $5.59
Organic Tumeric = $4.39
Organic Curry Powder = $4.99
Raw Blue Agave = $11.99
1.51 lb Organic White Jasmine Rice @ $2.29 /lb = $4.82
.76 lb Organic Amaranth @ $2.39/lb = $1.82
4 Mangos @ 4 for $5 = $5
2 1lb Packages Organic Strawberries @ 2 packages for $6 = $6
3.35 lb Organic Bananas @ $1.29/lb = $4.32

Subtotal = $108.01
Tax = $1.09
Total = $109.10

Finances, Edition #3

I enjoy my weekly grocery store trip. There’s something about all the colorful food that makes me briefly forget about my worries. I also adhere to my family’s food-money philosophy: “You either spend money on food or you spend money on medical bills”. While I knew that my food bills would increase when I started buying all-organic fruits and vegetables, I didn’t think they would increase as much as they did - to $60, $80, sometimes $100 a week. To draw attention to the cost of good food, I’m keeping a cumulative tally of my weekly grocery bill and the tab from any time I eat out.

I did some more cutting corners last week, although early this week, I blew it because pesticide-free strawberries, organic blueberries, and organic mangos were on sale for the best prices I've seen where I live.

5/28/10

Organic Kidney Beans (15 oz): $1.39
Organic Black Beans (15 oz): $1.29
Organic Light Coconut Milk (15 oz): $2.39
3 Organic Lemons, $2.49/lb: $2.27
4 Organic White Peaches, 3.99/lb: $4.27
Organic Raw Hemp Seeds: $5.68
Organic Deget Dates: $2.04
1 lb pesticide free Strawberries: $3.00
1 lb pesticide free Strawberries: $3.99 (Interesting. The strawberries were supposed to be on sale - 2 for $6.)
4 Organic Mangos, 1.25 ea.: $5

Total: $37.41

Then, when I went back to grab something to eat before going on a nice drive, I saw that there were more strawberries, blueberries, and mangos for the taking, and they looked better than the ones I'd picked through the last trip.

5/31/10

4 1lb boxes of Pesticide-Free Strawberries: $12
4 boxes of Organic Blueberries: $12
4 Organic Mangos, 1.25 ea: $5
AmaZake Rice Drink (by Grainaissance), Original Flavor: $2.49
Peanut Butter Cookie: $1.99

Total: $33.65

Week's Total: $71.06

Blog Total: $192.17

Finances, Edition #2

I enjoy my weekly grocery store trip. There’s something about all the colorful food that makes me briefly forget about my worries. I also adhere to my family’s food-money philosophy: “You either spend money on food or you spend money on medical bills”. While I knew that my food bills would increase when I started buying all-organic fruits and vegetables, I didn’t think they would increase as much as they did - to $60, $80, sometimes $100 a week. To draw attention to the cost of good food, I’m keeping a cumulative tally of my weekly grocery bill and the tab from any time I eat out.

Updates from my vacation (minus the confession entries).

Brown rice bread: $4.99
Fudge Brownie: $1.59
Frozen Channa Masala: $3.99
Mango White Tea: $1.59

Total: $12.16

Organic Blueberry Juice: $3.99
Organic Black Beans: $1.39
Organic Kidney Beans: $1.39
Organic Spinach: $3.49

Total: $10.26

Vanilla Hemp Milk: $3.29
Tea: $1.79

Total: $5.08

Vacation Total: $27.50

Now that I'm back, I have to get more creative and calculating in how I spend the few dollars I am making. I met a friend at the natural foods store today and got down and dirty with cutting corners.

Organic Hass Avocados: $.99 ea X 3 = $2.97
Organic Cantalope: $1.49/lb X 5.4 lb = $8.05
Organic Kiwi: $.79 ea X 6 = $3.95
Organic Red Leaf Lettuce: $1.99/head X 1 head = $1.99
Organic Green Leaf Lettuce: $1.99/head X 1 head = $1.99
Organic Carrot Bunch (5 carrots): $1.59/bunch X 1 bunch = $1.59
Organic Deglet Dates: $2.16
Organic Amaranth (bulk): $2.39/lb X 2.01 lb = $4.80
Organic Chocolate Coconut Macaroons: $3.99

Total: $31.49

Blog Total: $121.11

Finances, Edition #1

I enjoy my weekly grocery store trip. There’s something about all the colorful food that makes me briefly forget about my worries. I also adhere to my family’s food-money philosophy: “You either spend money on food or you spend money on medical bills”. While I knew that my food bills would increase when I started buying all-organic fruits and vegetables, I didn’t think they would increase as much as they did - to $60, $80, sometimes $100 a week. To draw attention to the cost of good food, I’m keeping a cumulative tally of my weekly grocery bill and the tab from any time I eat out.

Carrot Bunch x 2: .99 x 2 = $1.98
Head of Broccoli @1.99/lb: $.98
Whole Cucumber @ 1.99/lb: $1.29
Family Size Container of Spinach: $6.99
Bananas @ 1.99/lb: $4.79
Lemons @ 1.99: $2.59
Nutiva Chocolate Hemp Bar: $2.49
1 lb of Strawberries x 4: 2.50 x 4 = $10
Raw Hemp Seeds (.14 lbs): $3.46
Coconut Oil (31 oz): $20.99
Canned Pinto Beans (15 oz): $1.39
Canned Garbanzo Beans (15 oz): $1.39
Canned Black Beans (15 oz): $1.39
Canned Coconut Milk (15 oz): $2.39

Total: $62.12

Blog Total: $62.12

Ironically, this was the best week I’ve had in a long time. I normally spend $20/week on frozen mixed berries and $2/bunch on carrots, but strawberries and carrot bunches were on sale this week. If I hadn't needed coconut oil, I would have spent $41.13, a record low.