Discouraged - Raw $ Expense [Archive]

Maverick

10-09-2005, 08:30 AM

Well, I watched Alissa's DVDs, read parts of her book, made my shopping list, went to the store, came home broke! :(

I was pretty pumped last few days, until I went to the store last night with my shopping list. By the time I got to the car, I was so stressed out, my back ached from the tension. I have never had that happen before.

I have started juicing again, and been buying some nuts and seeds to snack on etc., so I thought I knew what to expect, but I was shocked. I spent nearly $250.00. :eek: Granted this is organic food, but all I could think of coming home is, there is no way I can afford to do this every week, and buy groceries for some people in my family that will not eat all raw.

I came home and did a search on this site, and see what some others have said and some of the suggestions etc. I was hoping to make some of Alissa's fudge ball and turtles etc. just to keep on hand and take with me, but there is no way . . . I think I seen a post on here that said they estimated that it would be $40.00 a batch! :eek:

I am fortunate that I already have all the recommended kitchen appliances, or I would running the other way as fast as I could.

Since, I have a dehydrator already, I thought it would be cool to make some my own snacks to take to work etc., I checked out the Lara bars at the store and they are $2.00 a piece. Not on this budget. Especially with the gasolone prices up, and this Winter's Ohio utility bills around the corner.

Sorry for the long rant, but I am still in a little bit of shock. I am going to stick out this week, and make all the first weeks recipes etc.

I did see where some of you have posted about just keeping the diet simple, and that may be a temporary solution, but I am not sure about the long term. :confused:

When I used drink vegetables juices a lot, it gave me a lot of benfits that I have heard this diet gives a person, and now I started drinking fruit smoothies, I have to question is this diet right for me? or should I just try to be 75% raw and accept that it is way better than the SAD diet?

Edit: I was planning on joining the local gym since the weather is changing here in Ohio, so I had thought about spending part of my budget on the physical part of my being, but now I am thinking it still may be a good idea about the gym, but not stress out about affording the 100% raw food.

Just thinking out loud.

Signed,
Discouraged Neewbie

SamuelWilson

10-09-2005, 08:48 AM

You are definitely doing the right thing going raw. You just need to find recipes that are geared more towards your budget and then later on you can expand when your situation permits.

One tip, I recommend, is buying carrots at Sam's for juicing. Carrot juice is a good anchor as far as vegetable juices go. It is very filling and nutritional. Also, buy the large bags of apples. Things like this will give you the volume you need to help you stay satisfied.

You can make corn chutney, this is a fairly inexpensive meal. It is actually Alissa's avocado chutney recipe with the avocado left out and an additional cup of corn added to replace it.

sport

10-09-2005, 08:49 AM

I have to say that if I had a choice I would put my budget into raw and not the Jym. You can walk and hillclimb and do other exercise for free. I have found that at this stage I am spending far less on groceries than I used to before going raw.

Jo-anne

10-09-2005, 09:07 AM

This is what we have been doing and works well for us, we cut back on other things, such as going to the movies, we saved heaps just by watching new release DVD's, and only hit the movies maybe once a month as a treat....Sport also mentioned walking rather than hitting the gym, which is another good example.

I dont know about you Maverick, but when I was on SAD food, I would also order take out a few nights per week and not really think much about the cost factor, now this was on top of my usual weekly shopping, if I added up how much I REALLY spent I would probably faint!

Its so strange how the mind works, just the other day I was at the supermarket and spotted some very delicious looking mangoes but because they are only just coming into season they were selling for AUD$3.50 each, which is a lot, but you know what, I stood there thinking NO WAY am I going to spend that much on one mangoe so I walked off, I then walked through the confectionery isle and stood right in front of the chocolate displays, the cadbury I used to buy back in my SAD ol days, and all of a sudden it hit me!!!! ouch!!! when I used to buy cadbury chocolate bars which were practically the same cost as the one mangoe, why did I have no problems buying the chocolate, and sometimes I wouldn't even know how much they were selling for, I would just grab it off the shelf amongst other items and purchase them at the counter, but not the mangoe..... the poor lil ol mangoe just sat there, not sure about you, but my perspective on things was pretty warped to say the least! I now think about it this way........buying this organic produce no matter the cost is an INVESTMENT in my HEALTH!

Carlene

10-09-2005, 09:25 AM

Jo-Anna, I'm with you. I think the grocery bill just hurts because it is so much at once. Fruit goes bad quickly at my house so I shop at least twice a week, that helps the sticker shock. I run into the same mango problem you have, but for me it is blueberries. I love them, but in AZ they are like 3.99 for about a quarter cup. How do you rationalize that? Well, I think the same thing. Gee I wouldn't think anything of running to 7-11 and picking up a soda for $1.29 (SAD days) or buying movie popcorn $5.50. Why is $3.99 so bad for something I enjoy and something healthy? So in the raw world 2 big apples may cost $1.99, but then one frozen Healthy Choice is $2.50. Each is a meal, you pick. I can't even get bones for my dogs that cheap.

Jo-anne

10-09-2005, 09:35 AM

Another thing I have been doing is freezing most of my fruits as they tend to go bad after a few days and after spending so much on them I don't want to waste em. I use the frozen fruit in our smoothies and keep a little aside so we can also have fresh juicy fruit on hand. I have like 8 large pyrex containers in the freezer and they are always full.

A couple of strawberries, one banana, juice of one orange and a handful of blueberries (yep I like them to lol) makes a lot of smoothie and its cheaper than the shop bought smoothies which is full of yuckky milk blahhhhh

calee

10-09-2005, 09:53 AM

Hello and welcome to the board!

I don't know where you are in Ohio, but I know that whe I was visiting my dad in Beachwood, there was a Trader Joe's there. The Larabars are (I believe) $1.29 there. That's what I pay at the TJ's here in California. That's a lot more affordable that $2.00. I find that I'm just as happy to snack on a few nuts and raisins as I am the bars. But I do keep a Larabar in my purse and desk drawer for emergencies when I'm not close to food and it's time to eat! I keep it very simple and eat mostly fresh fruit and veggies, but even that's expensive in the organic world. I tend to go to the farmer's market right before they close because they start marking down the prices on everything.

Good luck and I hope you stick around. It's really worth it!

swiddweas

10-09-2005, 10:34 AM

Maveric, this has happened to me, also. It's very easy to spend even 300.00 per week on food. Wanting to remain raw, I decided to buy things in bulk on a rotating basis. Every week I buy a case or two of something.For example,one week I buy a box of Organic Medjool dates (75.00). The next week, a box of Organic Almonds (150.00), a box of macadamia nuts at 17.00 per pound. This last week I bought two cases of frozen Organic strawberies and bluberries on sale. Try if you can to buy the cases on sale. At the very least, ask if there is a ten percent discount if you buy a case. I usually have very good luck with that. I found shopping like this saves me money as the stores mark up the shelved foods way more then buying a case. For example, the Medjools are 4.00 cheaper per lb. buying a case. That is a huge savings, specially if you need alot of dates!.

You have got a huge start by having all the machines you need. Wow. I wish I could boast that. lucky you.

I figure it this way. Eaither pay for your health now, or pay big time later (health problems, Dr. bills, ect.) think of it as health insurance. Its easier that way to keep doing the raw thing.

I also dehydrate any fresh foods I am not going to use up in time before they go bad. This way, no money wasted.

pattE

Rawkinlocs

10-09-2005, 10:42 AM

Maverick, first read this thread: http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6872

Second, if buying ALL organic is killing your pockets, then don't! Buy some organic (like those foods they say get the worst of the pesticides i.e. strawberries, green leafies, etc.) and the rest conventional...for now

If you're only feeding yourself, halve the recipes!

The things you bought, are they ALL things that are going to be gone and used up in a week's time...a month's? Or were some of them staple things that might have cost a bit, but you won't need to buy more for a while - whereas fruits and veggies will need to be replaced more often like every week or twice a week depending.

Where did you shop? Don't shop all at one spot! I am a bargain hunter for most things. I will go to Fred Meyer for 1 jar of raw almond butter because at my co-op, it's $13 and at Fred Meyer, it's $7.99!

Having a family of 6 of us, I had to learn how to shop and NOT come home broke. You can do this, but it will take time.

But I also like what everyone else here said...esp. the part about not thinking twice to pay a certain price for a candy bar back in the day, but getting bent outta shape because a mango costs about the same.

There is definitely mind renewal that has to take place as well when we decide upon this lifestyle.

But read that thread I linked you to...there were some great responses there...esp. RawPriestess'!

====
Also, making fudge balls should not cost $40 a BATCH! Maybe $40 the intitial time you buy everything to make them (and it's more than likely the almond butter that takes it over the top) but again, halving recipes if you live alone will be your best bet with SOME things.

sweetgoddess

10-09-2005, 11:08 AM

Maverick, I understand how you are feeling. I recently spoke to someone about this. But you are making it too complicated for your circumstance.

My family ( a husband, daughter, me, a dog, a cat and 2 pets rats) decided we wanted to live simpler and closer to nature. We moved to Montana and all of us live off of one $8 an hour job! And we eat raw food.

First what you have to do is prioritize. We do not get the newspaper, we use prepaid calling cards for our long-distance, we do not have cable ( not watching tv is a huge energy booster and really changes lives, truly)

Our priorities are communication, spirituality and love, raw living food, good water, fresh air, exercise and nature, a sanctuary feeling in our home.
For amusement we read and research, walk, laugh, chat, play games, occasionally watch a movie, plan dreams and do have the internet.

As far as food goes, here are some tips.

If buying all organic, which is of course preferrable, is costing too much and makes you rethink being raw-DONT DO IT!

There are some exceptions to this. You always want your greens organic, top priority. Strawberries, cantelope, apples are next ( if possible)
Thick skinned fruit/veggies that you can peel do not have to be organic. Here is an example. At half the price, I buy conventional bananas because I do not eat the peel and can rarely afford the organic. When I can afford it, I do it. Same with cucumbers, zuchinni, avacados etc.
You have to work from where you are on this. Conventional raw produce is better than no raw produce.

I never buy macadamias. Cashews substitute nicely and are less expensive.
I make my own almond butter in the food processor by processing almonds with a squueze of honey and oj. WAY less expensive! ( Keep stopping and starting to preserve your motor)

I have a general basis of foods. Example. I have smoothies in the morning ( my whole family does.) Bananas, frozen strawberries ( these are raw) and either spinach, kale or mixed greens. This is cheap. A big jumbo bag of strawberries costs me $7 and lasts a week for 3 people. A bag of organic spinach costs me $3 and the bananas another $3. So there is $13 for breakfast for 3 people for a week. Not bad. These can be frozen into popsicle molds. Kids love them.

I buy the store brand cold-pressed olive oil as its what I can afford.

I make our own flax crackers ( very inexpensive ) and cookies/bars. Walnuts and raisins are fairly inexpensive in large quantities so I use those. Throw equal parts walnuts and raisins in your processor, add whatever you want. I like carob, cinnamon, agave or honey and sometimes coconut.

Alissa's walnut fudge is a cheap cookie to make. Her date nut torte is inexpensive also. Raw ice cream is so cheap to make! Raw apple crisp very inexpensive.

Dinner is often salad ( i buy the huge tubs of organic mixed greens and herbs which lasts a week for $6 ) I make our own dressing. At first when my family didnt eat raw, I made theirs with Newmans organic bottled dressings and a side of toasted sprouted grain garlic toast. They were soon hooked on salads and I was able to change them around.

Raw Stir-fry is inexpensive also.

There is always some kind of fruit on special which make great snacks.
Now this is how I normally eat.

Once in awhile I want different so then I will make a recipe.
Alissa's pasta and marinara are cheap. Soups are cheap. Grawnola and almond milk with chopped bananas arent too pricey, wraps are cheap....etc

I tried eating recipes daily at first and it discouraged me a lot, as I couldnt afford it. I remember those days of leaving the store stressed and depressed with a headache to boot.

But there is always a way. Keep it as simple and inexpensive as you can. Look around for a co-op, discover which stores run cheaper.

Come up with a basic food module that fits your budget and that you can enjoy and then once in awhile, play with the pricier dishes.

I hoped I helped you somehow. I know exactly how you are feeling, but 9 months later, I am here still raw and doing it with joy. So it can be done!

Warmly~
Carmel

Rawkinlocs

10-09-2005, 11:17 AM

We moved to Montana and all of us live off of one $8 an hour job! And we eat raw food.

WHOOP! There it is!!

Great post SG! I'm gonna have to try that almond butter recipe you put in here.

GlimR

10-09-2005, 11:28 AM

Amazing post Carmel......you put the gist of the whole thing right out there in an easy to do and understand plan........puts things into such clear perspective...thank you~ *hug*

sport

10-09-2005, 12:17 PM

I just walked to my local supermarket to buy a twin pack of organic avocados for my main meal and paid 2.49 for them. I mashed one up and added some olive oil and apple cider viniger to it and had it on flax crackers with tomato. When I was finished I wanted more so did the same thing with the second one. I was thinking that I was being extravagant when I realised. It is my main meal on Sunday. Most people are sitting down with a steak or such at far greater expense so I just enjoyed it and let myself off the hook.
I would be prepared to sacrafice a lot to eat raw. In fact I can not think of anything I would not do without. I realise that it would be harder to say that if I had to feed kids but I would wear sackcloth and live in a hovel if I had to.

Autumn

10-09-2005, 02:10 PM

Do you have friends that you can go in with to buy larger quantities from the farmer's mart (at cheaper prices)? Try to shop at the end of the day to see if you can get better prices (It's been my experience that they'd rather sell at a reduced rate than load it all back up). Ask the farmer if he/she knows anyone who would be willing to split bushels with you. (Perhaps someone has asked them before, too!) For a while here in Montgomery, we had an organic farm sale every other week. Ask around, especially at seed stores. Those people know all the farmers.

At the regular supermarket, stick with local, in-season produce (cheaper). Buy only what you will eat (to reduce waste/cost). Buy in quantity those items that are on sale (even if it means rotating/eating maybe a selection of 8 items for a week rather than 15). Stock up on the cheaper, filling foods-apples, bananas, pears, carrots. THEN shop for extras or more expensive goodies, or just one or two items you've never tried before. When I first went raw, I thought I had to have *everything* in my kitchen at all times. Now I make due with what I have. I don't buy one of every single thing when I go shopping. There are weeks that I don't have a single nut in the house (except me).

Try not to waste anything. Save your pulp for crackers/cookies. Save bits of leftovers for soup, blended salads or other recipes. Freeze what you can for later.

Someone mentioned this before, but I want to expand on it. Before raw, most of us were conditioned to think of fruit as a snack, or a dessert, or part of a meal. Veggies were side dishes for the most part, or a salad we ate before the meal. When we start thinking that fruits and veggies are the whole *meal*, they seem a lot less expensive!

HTH,
Autumn

rawpriestess

10-09-2005, 02:19 PM

I wrote this in another thread about eating frugally, so I just cut and pasted it here for you. (this is the one thar Rawkinlocs suggested you read)
************************************************** ********
I think one thing to remember about eating raw, is it isn't just the food.

What I mean is this, when you eat SAD food, you have electricity for a stove, toaster, microwave, oven, hot water for dishes, dish soap, scrubbing implements, tin foil, etc.

When you eat raw, you don't even really need a fridge.

When you eat raw, you no longer need aspirin, tylenol, midol, tagamet, tumms, decongestants, sleep aids, etc.

You don't need deoderant, soaps, shampoos, creams, lotions, hair spray, etc.

I can't even begin to tell you how little we spend at the grocery store, you wouldn't believe me.

All of our monthly stuff that we buy for our home cleaning, our self, our food, etc, is about $100 total for a month, and that is counting the winter, when we must buy food, because we can't grow it all.

that also includes, dog and cat and bird food, and my hubbies cigarettes too.

We spend no money on doctors, dentists, chiropractors, massage therapists, hair care, body care, cleaning products, etc.

We live very frugally, and it's all because we are raw and loving it. And my hubby isn't 100% yet.

So, please look at the total raw picture, when thinking of the cost, don't just look at the food costs.

And by the way, oranges were $1.69 a pound in our store, organic were only $1.29 a pound, grapefruit were $1.79, organic were $1.29, pineapple was $3.99 each, organic was $2.99 each, so many times the organic was cheaper than the non-organic.

Also, I buy nuts in bulk from costco, they are raw, as they do sprout. They are much less expensive than from the health food store.

I also go wild foraging for herbs, greens, flowers(to eat) seeds, nuts, berries, etc. This really helps with the food too, plus it's fun to find food and just pop it in your mouth, makes you feel like you will never be hungry again, and you will always be able to survive, even in the mountains, because that is where we live.
************************************************** *******
Also, as the winter aproaches, we choose to eat more heavy foods, more nuts and pate's more warmed soups and nutmilks etc. So instead of fresh fruits, we are eating more veggies and nuts. This is a natural transition as the seasons dictate.

My hubby rides his bike for exercise almost daily, but also brings home wild edibles from his rides for our dinner. So right now he is bringing home, blackberries, raspberreis, strawberries (wild), wild mountain lettuce, wild mustard, walnuts, hazelnuts, mushrooms, apples, and pears, chamomile and mint, thistle and heal all, then we can get into his bag of medicinals, and I can't begin to type all that out, but he needs a bigger basket for sure. LOL

NoGMO!

10-09-2005, 03:19 PM

hi Maverick,

when I first started eating raw - I could barely afford $5 to $10 per day to eat- actually that still happens from time to time- OUCH!

bbuuuut- I was raw - all by myself with two raw philosophy books but no big recipe books (one small very simple but good Anne Wigmore recipe book- which I found by accident)

no special appliances, no people to talk to about raw in person or online (quite unlike I have now, years after the change- now it's just a bonus :p ) -

actually , at the time even the "health" food store had not heard much about raw, and acted like I was being extreme and splitting hairs when requesting special "raw" nut butters- (which I rarely could buy.)

anyway... I was able to orchestrate simple fresh fruit or veg medleys to my liking and complete daily satisfaction for atleast a year or two til I ever bought anything special like juicers or dehydrators.

With the exception of coffee, and seldom alcohol bev (which would be a whole other thread) I was 100% raw.
I lived off unique, colorful, "anything goes salads", olive oil was the only pricey thing I bought $3.99/each. as condiment, or I would just use avacados for variation... when on sale.

I would buy whatever greens were on sale and whatever fruit was on sale (usually apples, bananas, oranges, mangos)- the ocassional raisins, dates, figs when affordable and rarely nuts- since they were way out of my price range-

I didn't have any kind of processor (just a big knife, a spoon, a fork and three pyrex dishes) for a looooong time -
but I looked and felt so changed for the better (light and brand new) - that I was sold forever! I felt I had made a GREAT discovery and wasn't letting it go, no matter what.

I now spend about $400. per month on groceries for me only. If I ate SAD vegan, (as I was vegan for years before and would never undo the veganism aspect) I imagine I would still need $300 to get by -

it's worth the extra 25% or so for raw. I have NOT had a cold or the flu since the mid nineties. I have more control over my health- that's money well spent! ;)

P.S>
those delightfully decadent but naturally expensive pies and candies and gourmet dishes do NOT have to be your mainstay- in FACT as much as I enjoy them, they would make sick if I over did it and ate that only every single day- sooo, my advice would be to make those on special ocassions or for transitional needs now and then.

good luck to you! - you can have a raw lifestyle if you really want to :)

sweetgoddess

10-09-2005, 05:41 PM

you can have a raw lifestyle if you really want to That is Perfect!!

ReneeSC

10-09-2005, 06:15 PM

P.S>
those delightfully decadent but naturally expensive pies and candies and gourmet dishes do NOT have to be your mainstay- in FACT as much as I enjoy them, they would make sick if I over did it and ate that only every single day- sooo, my advice would be to make those on special ocassions or for transitional needs now and then.
( from NoGMO )

Those wonderful dishes we often talk of here, and are so easy and fun to make once you get the hang of the equipment and its' querks, are _not_ 3 meals a day of food FOREVER!

I know that when I went on my initial 30 Day Challenge, going "cold cucumber", I wanted anything and everything in Alissa's book because I thought I was starving to death. Intellectually I knew that was a lie, but my body was freaking OUT! It calmed down after a few days, but for a week I was in the throws of many a weird symptom. I was in the kitchen for HOURS. I was in the stores shopping for food - for hours!! ( I don't have to now. I go frequently, but I don't stay forever ). I lost over 3 dress sizes - and I ate like a HORSE! (I exercised, though, but not like a feind)

Our first healthfood store bill just days before my 30 Day Raw round.... 365.00 ( and that's with a husband and two teenagers ). But, I had 3 other places to shop, also. It was expensive. But that's because we went full-bore into .50 of what we could find. It took me another month before I was able to get co-op lists, price out the farmer's market, understand the relationship between different-skinned fruits and veggies and pesticides/chemicals/fertilizters - and money.
Everything about this way of LIVING ( remember that.. its your LIFE, not just the way you're EATING. We're learning now not to divorce the two anymore ), is a process and will have its own challenges and its own victories.

That initial expense of nuts and oils .. etc. ... held us for weeks! We learned where to shop and when. ( it's going to be a local learning curve with you - everyone's area is different ).

Smoothies ( even juices ) will release, liquid nutritionists say, up to 60 percent MORE nutrition out of the foods than just masticating them yourself and swallowing. This is especially true, and I can attest to this 100 percent myself , if your digestive tract is foul, ineffective, or slow - or you've learned a bad habit of not chewing thoroughly. Let the machine "chew" it for you, you just make it to taste and swallow. Ugh! Hits the spot!
We've smoothied in the morning.. forgot to eat the rest of the day..and were not truly "hungry" until the evening. I wouldn't recommend that to anyone, but that has happened to us before.

You can do it, you're just going to have to be really creative as you go along. After a while, it won't be as "effort-FULL", but just another part of your new and evolving life.
Don't worry if you start battling yourself about this money issue for a while. It might be a necessary part of your emotional/mental "detox". I'm not bandying that word around like a irrepressive child and a lit sparkler. I mean this. I JUST went through this myself.... and I thought I was losing my mind. ( LOL) I did not realize it was another part of my being _healing and changing_. It was like being in a really scary vortex and I couldn't get out of it. Once the dust cleared, I was like.. "Wow.. what was THAT??"

Change can be really shocking. But, Alissa's made is EXCEPTIONALLY easy to see the results of others who have gone before us, and have done fabulously with just a few kitchen gadgets and fresh produce. Keep READING and encourging yourself by seeing the results everyone else is having.

*My results have only been stated, because I'm having computer program difficulties.

Amberly

10-09-2005, 06:36 PM

I was shocked to notice my bank account has drained too. (NO I don't keep up with it as I spend it). Before I went raw my boyfriend bought practically all of the food, so I rarely had to spend anything in that area. When I went raw I began eating so much more fruit and vegetables that I began having to buy it myself. He realizes now that I am only eating raw so he is buying a little more fruit and veggies, but the other stuff (Bragg's, Larabars, Tahini, etc.) I buy myself. Also, I don't save on electicity because I never pais that in the first place. Since I am working only part time and going to school, you can imagine that I am eating my whole pay check. The thing that keeps me going is the hope that once I am raw for a while I will begin to eat less.

twinee1

10-09-2005, 06:51 PM

I am the odd one out here. My food bill has gone down as has my supplement.

This may be because I was consuming Chicken Breast Turkey Breast and the better cuts of Protein..Beverly Nutrition Whey Powders...and Protein Bars. Good, fresh Local Produce AND FRUIT is MUCH less expensive.

ReneeSC

10-09-2005, 07:03 PM

Our's definitely went up. We had months worth of ( things we won't discuss ) here in the freezer a la someone being grateful to my husband.
My kids were ill ( as I know many of you know now ), and while they'd vomit up a lot of what they ate, what they were able to keep down wasn't expensive.

We'd figured out how to eat ( albeit nastily ) SAD with relative inexpense comparitively. So, since I'd already been through the *search and procure" method SAD, I just went after it RAW way.

It's been a great experience.

T - Maybe you adjusted down to raw consumption faster than some of us ( maybe even way more than some of us, namely myself, who was not fat burning prior to the switch ).
You look wonderful, BTW: I just saw your recent competition photos! WHOO HOOO!! on the win!

*When I was 21, fresh out of military training - and doing 1,000 push-ups per day, I wa asked if I wanted to join the body sculpting circuit. I never did it, but I've often wonderded if I could return my body to such a state!
You've proven - YES!
So, that's what I've been working on lately... and when I get up from here, I'm going into my first round of Lotte Bourke.

Essensual

10-10-2005, 12:47 AM

I used to weight train 3 times a week and do cardio 2 times a week on a workout plan called "Body for Life". (Got great results, then got sidetracked)...but all of my workouts were at home as with my budget gym membership is out of the question.

Now, 3 months raw, I have lost 28 lbs and the only excercise I am currently doing is the 5 tibetan rites. And that is when I get up early enough and remember to do them.

I have to say that if I had a choice I would put my budget into raw and not the Jym. You can walk and hillclimb and do other exercise for free.

MAK

10-10-2005, 08:59 AM

I used to weight train 3 times a week and do cardio 2 times a week on a workout plan called "Body for Life". (Got great results, then got sidetracked)...but all of my workouts were at home as with my budget gym membership is out of the question.

Now, 3 months raw, I have lost 28 lbs and the only excercise I am currently doing is the 5 tibetan rites. And that is when I get up early enough and remember to do them.

Way to go.
It is time to put a new picture of the slimer you ;-)))))

Maverick

10-10-2005, 11:52 AM

Thanks for the encouragement and the ideas everybody, but I don't think it's worth the bother. :(

Just kidding!!! :D Actaully, I feel a lot better about things, and I am just going to try this one day at time, until I find my stride with the raw lifestyle.

I spent most of yesterday in the kitchen firing up the dehydrator.
Thanks for the information regarding the food co-ops. I am not familar with the concept at all, so I am going to do a little research on them.

I will post more later when I have more time.

Thanks again!! :)

calee

10-10-2005, 09:44 PM

No fair teasing us like that! :rolleyes:

I'm delighted to hear you're researching and getting more involved.

Welcome to the raw lifestyle!

MoniDew

10-10-2005, 09:51 PM

I don't know if the matter of dual-meal expenses was addressed here or not, but I have that issue...does anyone else?

dual-meal meaning that my family is non-raw, meating-eating, SAD, and I am struggling-desperately-to-be-raw. I have to somehow afford the expense of two seperate diets in our family budget, and ours is way too tight as it is!

PS, I would love to be the type to move to Montana and live on one $8 hour job, fresh air, exercise, and raw. To me, that sounds absolutely blissful. But my family would say NO WAY! :p

TimmyC

10-10-2005, 10:13 PM

MoniDew. I'm with you. It's that way in my family. We have increased our grocery spend.

However, the SAD eaters are still sad, and they're eating all my raw stuff too. It won't last for long I'm sure as they'll come over to the raw side, but when I buy bananas one day, I want them to be around the next day.

It's like this IMO. When I used to eat pizza I hated mushrooms...so when we'd all order pizza I made sure to let the mushroom eaters know that they need to eat their pizza first without eating my choice of pizzas. You see the mushroom eaters in my family got more food as I didn't like the mushrooms. Crazy thinking I'm sure, but same thing applies to raw. Either we're going to buy raw for everyone, or they stick to their sad food, and leave mine alone. :) I'm very protective of it now.

Sometimes I feel selfish...that's probably bad. But it's all in fun at my house (now). :). I know we're just transitioning. Sometimes it's hard though. Anyone else have these feelings?

Beanie

10-10-2005, 10:30 PM

There is an answer to this problem. You could do what I did. Both of my jobs are presently in the food industry. One for a raw company and one at the coop on the weekends. Half my vegetables I get for free from produce that is not good enough to sell. The rest of my food I get for 20% off or more. I juice a lot with carrots, an apple, celery, ginger, and a handful of greens. Its costs little. I've been using more often sunflower seeds instead of pine nuts and macademia and cut back on nuts in general. I don't eat much prepared raw foods either. I have 5 guinea pigs and a bunny to feed too and we all eat mostly organic. Yes, I am working 2 jobs, and going to school.....not to mention struggling staying raw, but otherwise I could not afford it either. Its still expensive, but I am spending half the amount or less on food than I used to!

Rawkinlocs

10-10-2005, 10:37 PM

Tim,

I feel ya! I had that same issue before my husband and I decided to just go all for it and stop buying SAD foods. I used to get mad when my kids would eat all my fruit or nuts, etc. and then I'm left with nothing while they still have their SAD foods. I WANTED them to eat the healthier raw stuff, but at the same token I got selfish and wanted my raw food to myself.

But after a while of transtioning, and after talking to my kids about raw, benefits, etc. we decided to stop buying the SAD junk. That was when my husband also got rid of our stove.

After that, after we moved here to WA, my family and I had began incorporating cooked foods back in (we didn't cook anything, but would buy cooked snack foods, bread, etc.) and just recently my husband (after feeling quite ill from eating that stuff) decided no more!

So, we're back to buying only raw foods. But yes, buying raw plus SAD can be a challenge. The kids have adjusted...for the most part...my oldest son is still the biggest challenge, but he'll drink smoothies and eat fruit here and then he goes to his best friends' and eats whatever he eats there.

VFayeS

10-11-2005, 12:20 AM

Thanks to Maverick for posting her cost concerns, and for everyone else for responding. I'm in Week 2 of being raw, and even though I've purchased most of my food from the health food store for the past several years, I never purchased such a large amount of fruit, vegetables, and organic nuts before. $25 for two jars of almond butter! (what I went thru during week 1), and much more than that for other nuts. However, I see that I can relax my organic standards on some of the produce, and shop around for better deals. I appreciate everyone weighing in on this issue. Also, I used to get carry-out several times a week, and at least one $4+ Starbucks coffee drink almost every day. I'm sure it probably averages out. Great ideas/philosophies. I'm particularly impressed with SweetGoddess!

SamuelWilson

10-11-2005, 12:25 AM

VFayeS, you can still have your coffee drinks. Make some brazil milk, it taste like a coffee drink. Rawkinlocs brought it to my attention.

Jo-anne

10-11-2005, 12:31 AM

ooohhhh Maverick you had me goin there :rolleyes:

Good Luck with the Raw!!!!! :)

rawpriestess

10-11-2005, 02:04 AM

Raw can be complicated or easy, it's just like cooked, I love to cook, and when I was SAD, I would grind my own hamburger, make my own donuts, make everything from scratch, I used to cater parties and big church socials, I loved it, but I never used canned or packaged anything.

I thought that was not creative at all.

And making raw is the same for me, it's not a big deal to me to make my own spices, as I did this when I was cooked, I never liked the kind in the jars, way too expensive and old tasting, I liked fresh if at all possible, I also made my own jams, ketchup, and condiments, I have the best mayo recipe in the world, but it takes one raw egg, so it isn't vegan.

But, I could make it simple or complicated, it was all up to me, So some days we eat fresh grapes and oranges and that is it, some days we eat raw barley burger patties with rawviolies and marinara sauce, and apple pie (all raw of course) for dinner, with nutmilkshakes and nuts and dehydrated fruits for snack, other days, we just walk around the gardens and pick what is there and eat that, or my hubby goes out in the meadow and picks wild edibles and we eat that, whatever berries or greens are growing is what we eat, but it doesn't have to be expensive or complicated.

It is all up to you.

I go to the grocers and buy 25 pounds of carrots for $5, or I can buy 1 pound for $1, what a difference,

I can buy one pound of dates for $8 or I can buy a 5 pound box for $15, what a difference,

I can buy 1 pound of almonds for $15, or I can buy 3 pounds for $10 at Costco, and they sprout, so they are raw.

Anyway, you can get along pretty reasonably, but there are trade offs, my hubby spends about 8 hours a day either working in our gardens, or gathering wild edibles, that is a full time job, and I'm in the office writing my books, so that is one of our trade offs.

Each person has choices, and you can choose what ever you wish.

When it comes to living a pain free, drug free life, there is no way that I will ever go back to where I was before.

make the choice today, to make this a perfect raw day, and really look at where you spend your money.

we don't have TV, cable, radios, MTV, albums, tapes, Cd's, we don't go to the movies, we don't go to shows, we read, or garden as our activity and exercise, we don't belong to a gym, we don't subscribe to any magazines, we don't go out, we don't drink, we don't buy clothes and shoes, and hair and nail products, we don't buy new cars, or toys, like fancy boats and motorcycles. we spend our money on our food, and our home and that's it.

If you look at my check book, you will see the mortgage and utilities and that is it. no credit cards, nordstroms, cable companies, shoe stores, video places, doctors, dentists, carpenters, plumbers, we do it all ourselves.

Again, your lifestyle is exactly that, a chosen lifestyle, my mom couldn't live without a cigarette in her mouth, a tab in her hand, and ice cream in the freezer, a TV dinner in front of her, while she watched TV, she chose to die 20 years ago, and I miss her, but that is not who I am,

I'm a raw foodist, nudist, tree hugger, bare footin' babe of the 60's and proud of it, I go nude most days, unless I'm cold and then I have one house dress that I love to wear, I can afford more, but why?

In fact, I think I live too much like a regular person, and we are moving to a desserted island within the next year or so, just because we can see the smoke of our neighbors woodstoves, they are too close.

Get out of the city, and live more freely, you will be amazed at how little you really need to get by.

I wear the same pair of Birkenstocks for 5 years now, just get them resoled, cost $60 new, and about $50 a year to repair, and that is it, I don't even own any other shoes anymore.

But I used to have to have dozens of high heals, sneakers, hiking boots, dancing shoes, ballet shoes, and slippers, night slippers, deck shoes, and they all had to be in black, and white, and brown, and green, and blue, so I had to have at least 5 pairs of each kind, and all the sox and nylons to go with them, oh yes, and my areobics shoes, and work out shoes, and and and, now look how simple it is, one pair, for summer or winter, that's it.

PS, Dragggon has two pair of shoes, but he's a man, so needs one pair of shoes and one pair of boots, but that's okay. :o)

so easy, so simple. just like your food can be, it's all about choices.

And the choices are yours. no one elses.

ebonysea7

10-11-2005, 08:02 AM

Yeah, rawpriestess. Where you are is what I'm working towards. My first move was to leave NYC and move to Maryland (less stressful; not to mention less expensive). But I know I'm going to want to take it even further than that. I recently saw a movie, Off The Map, where the people were living way off the beaten path. Very simply and with little money. That's where I'm headed.

In the meantime, I'm struggling with buying food for two lifestyles as well but the ideas I've gotten here have been most helpful.

Thanks to everyone.

/gfj

rawpriestess

10-11-2005, 08:50 AM

YES, I just saw that too, very wonderful and very much like our lifestyle, we hardly ever use electricity, except for our computers, and hot water heater, we grow our own foods, we go naked most of the time, except I do wear clothes like she did, I just didn't get them at the dump, LOL, and we make our money as artists, I HAD TO SEE THAT MOVIE, IT IS SO US.

The big difference is we make a ton of money at what we do, they didn't.

But I totally agree with their philosophy of life. I loved that movie.

And Draggon does look just like Sam Eliott, how cool is that? He's been mistaken for him more than once, when we travel. LOL

I do not however look like -- Gosh what is that actresses' name, Joan something? She was in face off, as John Travolta's wife too. Can never remember her name. Ah well. She did the part well, I need to lose a couple of pounds first.

rawpriestess

10-11-2005, 09:00 AM

Also, I wanted to add, that Victoria Boutenko, has stated that a person can live on $72 worth of sprouted seeds for one year and be totally healthy, so she says cost should not be an option.

We sprout some, but not alot of food, mostly in the winter, when we can't forage too much in our gardens, as I don't think Dragggon could live if he didn't have something to grow.

I have to walk outside at least once a day barefoot, or I can easily go nuts.

When we travel, we have considered taking dirt with us, because sometimes we are in a city, with NO dirt anywhere, no grass, nada, so we have to walk around to find a piece of it. LOL

Seems strange I know, but we miss Mama Earth, when we aren't playin' in her. :o)

tvillemom

10-11-2005, 09:42 AM

My family of 5 lives on a strict one-income budget. They are all SAD eaters (but enjoy tasting everything I make :D ) So going RAW, I have to be very careful to get the most BANG for my $$. I look for foods that go a long way....carrots, apples, frozen strawberries, bananas.(oh yeah, I can only afford a couple of organic items!) I guess before RAW I ate NON-processed foods, so I ate alot of salads, and such. The only thing I've added to MY budget is about $40/month in nuts/seeds, not to mention a few extra veggies. That's the only way I can make it....I REFUSE to stress my family out financially on something that is my decision. I guess I will add that our grocery bill has gone up slightly every week, but only $10-$30 depending on what else is needed. I KNOW for sure you can simplify your menu, gourmet meals are nice, occasional, but not necessary.....everyone's tips here have been great. It's nice to see how everyone else "lives" on RAW!
Wendi
PS. One thing I have learned is that sprouted grains are EXTREMELY cheap, and very nutritious! My favorite is buckwheat.

TimmyC

10-11-2005, 03:32 PM

Rawkinlocs,

I'm glad I'm not the only one LOL.

Oh we can buy our fruits and veggies pretty cheap at the farmer's market, I just hate having to go 28 miles to get there after my family eats my stash :).

Thanks for your post. It made my day:)!

Tim

Maverick

10-11-2005, 04:17 PM

RP, our 25lb bags of carrots are $23 something, where do you get them so cheap? . . .

I have the same question, It's about the same here. Sometimes you can get a 25lb bag on sale for $19.99 :(

vegggeeemom

10-11-2005, 04:20 PM

Wowzers! I got my energy back early this morning! After a long time of feeling my energy zapped away, it has returned.
I have a new found energy that I don't think that I've had before.
I was talking on the phone with a friend (Rawadventures) today and just started laughing so hard. I could not stop and there was no reason for it!
I felt like I was in high school all over again cutting up in class! LOL
Then I was on im with a friend and just lost it. Just kept typing LOL LOL over and over again and my sides were hurting from laughing so hard!
I am so glad to have gotten through the hard times. I endured and I made it to the top of the mountain. (I keep using that analogy).
So, don't get discouraged if you are tired, weary, discouraged, sad, lonely whatever the case my be in your situation.
Keep on keeping on and you WILL reap such wonderful and healthy benefits!

Pam

Elizrawbeth

10-11-2005, 05:11 PM

Hi Maverick,

My food bill was outrageous when I first started and I thought the same thing, that I would not be able to keep things up...As time went on I learned two things,

1. I have never been one of those people who stops at fast food, had coffee lattes and snack, I never drank sodas, etc, and so when you figure the amount of money that you save because of the choice to go raw, I personally think it is justifiable.

2. I have been raw for about 4 months now and loving it, but I am just learning to be concious of all the food I am throwing out because I bought too much and it went bad. I think raw food takes planning in the beginning. And then, I think a few things at a time, so there is not so much in the fridge to spoil. Maybe you should plan your menu and do more specific shopping to avoid unecessary expense.

Someone else made a post just recently on this site about that and she made some good comments, like we save on electricity, gas, plastic wrap, tin foil, time, I can't remember all that she said but it was good. I think it may have been raw priestess, but I don't remember where I saw it.