by Claire
As I sit down to type this at 10 pm CST, I have a refrigerator and freezer full of this week’s meals. I did this today after I spent the majority of my weekend scrapbooking with an old friend. Wow did I need that! My beloved hobby of preserving my kiddos’ photos had also fallen by the wayside as I worked to be married to Steve. There was very little money spent (I needed adhesive) as it has been so long since I’ve worked on the albums that it was as though “everything old is new again!” I challenged myself to use the bulk of what I have before buying any new, fun stuff. That’s hard b/c all the fun stuff IS tempting! Another interesting thing to note is that I have very few pictures from 2010 through 2012. That bums me out b/c it is yet another reminder of all that this relationship was sucking out of me! Thankfully I still hit the major milestons in the kids’ years and caught a few “random’ events too which is all they really need. The time with girlfriends energized me to come home and prepare lots of food!I also made a quick stop to use coupons to get toothpaste and body wash for basically 50% off.
I really have to swing back to strict this month on food and I am confident that when I do that, the budget benefits. If I have food that doesn’t require much thinking during the week, I will have more money in my pocket at the end of the week! That is an awesome feeling. It reminds me that like all things, we are all better off with a little planning. Not over the top, control freak, gotta know all that is coming but instead a general roadmap.
I look forward to the day that my budget planning feels as solid as my meal planning. I’ll get there. For now I will look forward to my grilled chicken salad I have on the menu for lunch tomorrow. 🙂
Born and raised in Texas. I’ve at least driven through every state in the US courtesy of a roadtrip loving Dad.
I’m single with two children and a good parenting relationship with their father.
I am a “life is just half full of funny” kinda gal. Humor is my saving grace and I am thankful for it every single day. I have a strong Catholic faith and am thankful for that foundation.
I read a lot for a living but still enjoy a good book. I love biographies but in recent years have found the need for fun fictional books–sadly, for a long time I just didn’t enjoy fiction!
I love live theatre of any kind–from local productions to Broadway.
I love to scrapbook and pride myself in my kids’ albums.
I love being a mom but also love my career. I’m blessed to have found a balance allowing me to be at everything my kids need and want me to be at–while also having a career.
Favorite Quotes: Well behaved women rarely make history.
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. -James Bryant Conant
Poor planning in regards to food can quickly derail the budget at our house. We REALLY need to get more organized and cook ahead. Good intentions!
I’m moving the weekend of Dec. 21st and am going through the process of trying to eat everything in the house as I will be staying in a hotel type rental with no stove/oven for a couple months, and thus no reason to simply transport food which needs to be cooked. OH MY GOODNESS, this is a challenge. Hopefully, like you, it will also cut the food expenses. Eventually the food pairings are going to be “creative”.
I have the month’s main meals posted always. I began this when I was on an unpleasant medicine that involved some memory loss and I have kept right on doing it. The main ingredients are in kitchen and freezer and I can pick what meal we fancy. It has certainly saved us money and I try to have 2-3 good home made soups to hand for when I am too tired or just plain lazy.
Our onlypick up meals = a very cheap and good Italian restaurant where 1 portion feeds us both amply and even with a dessert on top of main item which comes with bread and salad only costs $14.50 or we do pick up Chinese food at about the same cost.
This is Chantal AKA Erika W writing!