Saturday, February 4, 2006 -
Faithfulness remembered

... Posted in Recipes and Food how-to

Ten years ago, we were in bad shape financially. I mean, realllly bad shape... next to no money coming in from anywhere, and the grocery situation was desperate. We had 2 little girls, and I was either pregnant with our son, or had just delivered. I remember at one point just praying.... "Lord, if you can clothe the lilies, and feed the sparrows, please provide some food...the cupboards are so empty..."  The Lord answered my prayer almost instantly... the doorbell rang, and it was an older couple we hadn't expected to see due to winter roads....their trunk was FULL of groceries. They had been out for a drive and "just decided to pick up a few things" for us. The Lord is faithful enough to answer a prayer almost before you pray it! These people were obeying the Spirit's nudging even as I prayed.

It was this woman and her sister who showed me the "trick" of making my milk budget stretch, and each time I do this, I am reminded of the Lord's protection and faithfulness. The "trick" is to use one of those big gallon juice jugs, well washed, and mix together regular whole milk and milk powder (reconstituted to fill the jug). Here in Canada our 4L bags of milk have 3 bags inside, about 1.33L each. You use one of those bags, and then roughly enough milk powder to fill a Tupperware gravy mixer thing, and fill up the rest with water. Works best if you do it at night, to let it mix well overnight. You do get used to the taste.

I had a discussion with a couple of ladies the other evening about how much money you really save by doing it this way. Their estimate was maybe 11 cents per litre-- I figured it had to be more, but since it's been awhile since I last figured it out, and prices have gone up, I didn't argue. Much...lol

ANYWAY......

Here's what I figured out, based on the jug being 3.78L, and assuming I get the proper measurements out of the bag of milk powder.

--2.5kg bag of milk powder is currently $19.99 (NoName, from Superstore, makes 25L milk). Per litre cost: $0.80

--4L whole milk is $5.99 (again, from Superstore) Per litre cost: $1.50

At 1.33L of whole per jug, and 2.45L powdered, it costs just less than $4 per jug. IF we use one jug per day, which is average (family of 7), that equals 113.4L per month. Based on the per-litre costs, using whole milk (or 2%, anything from the store, because it's all the same price here) exclusively, would cost us $169.82 per month. JUST for milk. Our mixed price would be (is) $119.40. That's a savings of $50.42!!! If we used only reconstituted milk, it would cost us $90.67.

I guess I'll just keep mixing my milk and using that 50 bucks for something else.

By the way, 10 years ago that same bag of milk was $11.99. Wow.

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Comments

Saturday, February 4, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Laurabc

I love your 'answer to prayer' story. It sent tingles up my spine!
That milk tip is a good one. Especially as my children get closer to their teens and start to get harder on the grocery budget! We already go through a crazy amount of milk.
I used to love powdered milk as a kid, but it's probably because we had goats milk and anything tastes better than that!

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Sunday, February 5, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by mycrazylife

That was a great story. God is so faithful even when we are so undeserving!

Great tip about the milk. If my oldest was still around I would have definitely tried it. She needed her own dairy farm! I think her husband will have to get a second job just to keep her in milk!

Blessings, Hallie

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Sunday, February 5, 2006 - Great Reminder of Our Provider

Posted by Mileshouse

We had a similar experience when we were newly married almost 15 years ago. I still tear up when I think how far that blessing has carried me in tough times.
Too bad south Louisiana is SOOO far away from you. We're purchasing some dairy cows in the coming months - Lord willing- when we decide which property to settle on and pending the sale of our home. I grew up in Belgium and drank a variety of milks as money allowed, but our standard was usually watered down dry milk. I admit I have a hard time drinking it now! Perhaps I should mix it with regular? Thanks for the tip.
Melanie

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