@speedy - We’re actually pretty tight trying to get by w/ $600/mo on groceries, and we’ll probably have to bump it up to $700 because it’s just too tight. I remember the days of sub-$100 budgets, but it certainly didn’t have children in the picture.

I am more aware now of where my money is going, and I find that I delay purchases and set aside extra money for things. Now I do not just go out and buy clothes. I think about buying something for a while, sometimes over a few weeks or months, and then I make the best purchase I can (which is not necessarily the cheapest option). For example, I held out for a month before buying socks, so that I could buy organic cotton socks made in the USA that were a bit pricier than the foreign-made stuff at the local big box retailer. When I make sure my purchases reflect my values, I do not have regret over what I am buying.

When I hear how much people spend on groceries, eating out, and entertainment, I am really surprised. Especially at people who not only watch TV, but PAY to watch TV. I guess that for people who have been spending a lot in the past, it would come as quite a shock to find out where the money goes.