April Budget Results and Eating In Portugal

April Grocery Budget 
April grocery budget was reduced from the usual $450 to $250 due to being away for two weeks less previous months overspend of $2.57 for a final total of $247.43.  Actual Spent was $288.32.   $5.50 coupons used.  This category includes all over the counter medications, personal grooming items, soaps, cleaners and household items for two adults who eat at home 99% of the time.  The extra $200 was put into the travel fund to help pay for meals out.  No, we did not stick to that budget lol but spent far more.  We had lovely meals in reasonably priced restaurants excluding breakfasts which were included with our hotel every day.  We do not do five star dining at home, so don't on vacation either.  We did find some lovely restaurants and only one dud.

Instead of talking about what is left in the fridge for May groceries I am choosing to share some pictures of restaurant meals, produce and grocery stores we saw in Portugal.  May grocery budget will go back to $450 less overages of $40.89 = $409.11.  I shall have to tighten the fiscal grocery belt this month to meet that goal.  What I didn't count on was having a mostly empty fridge on return from holidays so we had to buy all fresh produce.

Deli Counter of El Corte Ingles, Lisbon.  Check out those legs (of ham) and no, that is not my hubby

Amazingly tasty salad with Portuguese beer - Sagres

Excellent Bacalhou (Salted Cod Fish) with ham

Ginjinha Cherry Liquor after lunch

Pasteis De Nata (egg custard tart - hubby took bite before I took picture)

Portuguese Pastelerias - basically bakery/deli - one on every street for Breakfasts

Old Salt Cod shop in the heart of Lisbon

Lisbon corner grocery where you could buy fruit, veggies and wine

Hair Budget $175 per year
Spent in April - $21.  My hairdresser was on her last day as a hairdresser ever and still did a great job.  I gave her a nice tip and wished her well in her new pursuit as a Vet assistant.  I also told her if she ever cuts hair out of her house to call us - meh - I hate finding a new hairdresser!  Left in the budget for the year = $135.77.

Fig Tree

Oranges everywhere!  We saw so many full orange trees

Easter bread (with egg center) in Pasteleria Window

Super Jumbo store, Cascais Portugal - Salt cod stand (bacalhau)

Clothing Budget $200 per year
This month I bought two shirts at the thrift store ($10.50) and a new shirt in Portugal ($22 CAD or 13 Euro) which I shall share in my next post.  Total spent this month $30.50  $133.64 left to go in the clothing budget for the year.  The shirt I bought on vacation is unlike styles in Canada and one of the only new items of clothing I intend to buy this year.

Our order.  Wine - mine - best bargain at 1.5 Euro!  It even tastes great! Super Jumbo, Cascais

Yes, I am that freak taking pictures in every store we went in.  The Super Jumbo checkout lady asked me to stop right after taking the picture above.  Too late!  Already taken. What I didn't manage to get were pictures of some of the amazing Pork dishes I ate.  I am not keen on fish so mostly ordered Pork and Pasta.  The best Pork dish was found in Tomar, pork medalions with figs and walnuts over rice.  It had kind of a sweet/sour sauce - so good!  One of the very best small restaurants I have ever eaten in was called Tertulia do Monte in Estoril.  They had both Portuguese and Italian food.  Best carbonara ever!  We ate there two nights in a row it was that good.  Another favorite was flaming sausage as Portugal has many different types of sausage - all tasty!  Most of our meals in restaurants cost between 7-12 Euro per person before drink or tip which based on Europe prices is very good.  I hope you enjoyed the pictures.  Cheers!