If you are not a fan of chocolate like I am, you might be slightly confused by the concept of a chocolate budget… but if you love all things chocolate (like I do), then I’m guessing you understand where I’m coming from.
(Doesn’t this picture pluck at your heartstrings taste buds?)
My love for chocolate is quite democratic. I love artisan chocolates garnished with exotic or unconventional ingredients such as sea salt, bacon, or pepper, but I also will happily munch on peanut M&M’s or Hershey’s Kisses.
Every time I wander by a Godiva store, I am compelled to go in… it’s almost as if the Mother Ship is calling me home! I try not to buy anything, though, a small box of two truffles cost almost $5. Still, every month a bit of my budget goes to chocolate-related goodies: hot cocoa mix, candy, cupcakes, ice cream, or yogurt… you get the idea. Most of the times I head to Trader Joe’s for its offerings.
That’s why today was such a happy day. Last month, I gave my boyfriend a AAA membership for Valentine’s Day. To thank me for purchasing the gift membership, AAA gave me the option of a certificate for a free 1-pound box of See’s candies or… something else (I stopped paying attention after I read that chocolate is one of the choices).
So today CB and I went to a See’s store and picked out a customized 1-pound box filled with goodies (my favorite is dark chocolate so the dark nougats and the dark pineapple butter cream were especially delicious). Now I will try my hardest to make the entire box last longer than 3 days. No promises, though.
How much money do you spend on chocolates and chocolate-related goodies a month? And what is the one chocolate maker that I MUST try?
image source: flickr.com
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Do you have the Godiva membership card? You get one free piece of chocolate a month!
Since I've been shopping at Trader Joe's I've been spending a lot more on treats.
I don't… but maybe I should!
I spend at least $25 a month on chocolate between the baking, the random desserts, and candy. I have recently become a big fan of TCHO Chocolate. I like their different flavors of chocolate and also the convenient size of their "TCHO a Day"
I do not have a set chocolate budget per month as I tend to buy what I like from among the products that are on sale. My favorite drugstore brands are Cadbury, Dove, Lindt, and Toblerone, but one of my favorite chocolates of all time are the plain Mr. Goodbars. I love peanuts!
Peanuts are yum. Chocolate + crunch makes for a great combination.
Do you know about the godiva club. It can help your chocolate dollars go a little bit further. You can pick up a free piece of Godiva chocolate every month and get other special deals like free shipping, etc.
.-= One Frugal Girl´s last blog ..Saturday Night Link Love =-.
Abigail, I love mini-eggs. And now they have those bags of mini-eggs prominently displayed! My brain keeps telling me "No!", but it sure is hard to resist that temptation!
I suggest that if you ever happen to find yourself in Asheville, North Carolina, you stop in at The Chocolate Fetish. They're a small chocolate shop located downtown and are completely delish. Fortunately, you can also order online at http://www.chocolatefetish.com/
A box of 12 is $25 and you can assemble your favorites. The Ecstasy Truffles are where it's at. Worth every penny.
Yup, I can't calculate. I'm pretty sure I spend at least $30 a month on chocolates, but I'm thinking this will be higher. I'll try to track it next month and definitely link back. I'm pretty sure it will mortify everyone. LOL.
Chocolate and bacon!!?? Is it any good? I always buy chocolate on sale after holidays and stock up to last me a while. Then I hide it on myself. I am running low now though and no holidays are coming up. I was eating chocolate chips from the bag last night. A girls gotta do what a girls gotta do..
I like chocolate and I like bacon… so.. yes.
I am not above eating chocolate chips. No shame in that.
I don't keep track of how much I spend on chocolate a month, since it is part of my regular grocery budget, but yesterday I did buy some strawberry and royal milk tea flavored kitkats! And also some Cadbury Creme eggs (I finally found them at CVS and bought way too many). Those are my 'every day' chocolates. For the special occasions, I will eat from my Vosges stash (to die for). One chocolatier that I miss here in the US is Neuhaus. They are from Belgium and used to have shops all over town, but they've closed down a few years ago. I could seriously spend $50 in one go. Leonidas is so-so. And then I also love Trader Joe's chocolate mint pillows, but I haven't been able to find them!
I spend more than I care to add up, which should probably tell me something. Like, that I need to pay attention to how much I spend on chocolate!
My mom is trying to get healthier and so passed on a 1-lb See's GC to me. She's evil like that. I am completely addicted to their mint patties, but I got an assorted box just to throw in a little variety. And it was gone WAY too fast. Sigh.
Currently, Cadbury eggs rule my life. I had never tried them before but this year I realized, "Hey, I like Cadbury better than I like Hershey; and I like Hershey eggs so…" And it has been my undoing. Double sigh.
People keep talking about these Cadbury eggs… I think I'm going to have to hunt some down to try myself.
I like chocolate, but one of my favorite chocolates is the reeses peanut butter and chocolate easter eggs! it's the perfect proportion of peanute butter and chocolate!
11.96 a week for 4 Valrhona 85% cacao dark chocolate bars at Trader Joes. But it's my only vice and, depending on which article you read, good for my health.
85% dark is practically a health supplement.
That's what I tell myself. Don't feel bad!
I'll pick up some goodies once in a while, even after a holiday when they are marked down. And if I'm having a bad I'll go the closest store to pick up a chocolate bar, because I never deprive myself. I notice that Lindt bars are on sale this week, so I might just pick up a couple, however I don't know if I'm capable of having a chocolate stash that will last a while.
It does my heart good to know others enjoy chocolate as much as I do. However, I have found that my love for chocolate diminished a little once I began my mega vitamin regimen. Therefore, I can only presume that chocolate is a required nutrient and deserves recognition as such. Yea!
I have an extreme sweet tooth, although it's not very picky. I usually like to have some kind of candy in the house, but when I'm trying to be healthy, usually I try to keep it down to some hot chocolate or somethign!
Coastal Mist in Bandon, Oregon. I was a die-hard See's fan until I discovered Coastal Mist.