Who are these kids...and why are they calling me "MOM"?

Jun. 3, 2008

Eat, drink and be CHEAP

Posted in Austerity Program 2008

Oh, the sound of the kids screaming.... No, I am not talking about what's happening at your house--I am talking about mine!

Let's talk about my austerity program because I really need to pep myself up about it. We decided (sadly) to pass on the visit to my sister's house in Missouri. Today between gas and groceries I spent $300 at the Costco enterprise. Wah! This is the end of that time of year (post-tax refund) when I do a lot of bulk buying. The cow is half paid for. I bought a bunch of flour and baking items at the Amish country last weekend. Yet I still can't help feeling...broke. I think it's my gas tank. It's starting to mess with my head. So anyway, I am going to try very hard not to step foot inside a grocery store for the remainder of the month. I think I can do it. (Tell me I can do it.) We have fruit, milk, eggs and bread. The only thing I don't have in abundance is carrots, really. But I have some canned carrots. I know, not the same and even, well, kinda gross. But in a soup or something it'll be okay. Right? Right. I am so psyching myself up for the canned veggies. Ick. Yeah, so we really have plenty of food, I just need the discipline to cook it. So in an attempt to organize my thoughts, here is the menu for the rest of the week:

TUESDAY
Dinner: pasta with chicken and alfredo with salad (personally, I am not a fan of alfredo anything so I will only have a tiny bit, so this one turns out to also be good for my weight loss plan (thanks, Losin' the Fat Suit!)
This meal is a bit costly as it's pre-made. I know, anyone who knows me just gasped, didn't they. It isn't FROZEN, just pre-made by the lovely staff at Costco. Because really, I am going to clean today and not have the energy to make a real dinner; I'll just be so busy. Really. So it was $13 for 3.5 lbs and obviously (or not) we'll be eating it for days. By "we" I mean Hub will be eating it in his lunch.

WEDNESDAY
Breakfast: rhubarb muffins (must cook/freeze rhubarb before it goes icky), make extra to freeze
Lunch: some sort of canned soup (them) and salad (me) with fruit
Dinner: spaghetti with MORE salad (you know, before the lettuce goes....)
Let's see... I will estimate the cost of this whole day at about $5 since the rhubarb and soup are free and I make my own super cheap spaghetti sauce. Oh wait, I am putting meat in it, so let's bump to $6.

THURSDAY
Breakfast: pancakes
Lunch: pb&j, plums, and some sort of snacky treat--maybe pretzels (we'll be hiking)
Dinner: salmon with bulghur pilaf and steamed asian veggies (do not be impressed, they are frozen in a bag)
*sigh* another pricey day due to the salmon. So total for today is about $20. Wah. Alas, worth it for the delicious fish...

FRIDAY
Breakfast: leftover muffins, yogurt
Lunch: baloney and cheese (them) and turkey bacon and cheese (me), watermelon, cookies (beach day)
Dinner: Pot roast (crock pot)
Total cost about $10, if we eat the whole roast.

This does not include drinks. I am a mean mom so the kids only get water, and occasionally I give them milk. Most of these days are low in the calcium department so I guess I'll have to shell out the milk. And I am trying to go off the caffeine, so I am only drinking water or decaf tea, with the occasional full strength tea as I am weaning off the goods. I feel like a drug addict.... Got any caffeine man? Got a Mt. Dew? Huh, do ya? My point is, the cost for drinks for this week is minimal. But I guess if they go through a half gallon of milk, that'll be $3 for that (organic) and let's say I drink a TON of tea, that would add a dollar. I love tea. It's cheap. Like me.

So thanks for helping me organize my thoughts a little bit... So Thursday you saw we are going hiking; I am looking forward to that. A lot of the flowers are blooming now. Friday we are going to a state park to go to the beach and the kids are counting the days! They are so thrilled. Me, not so much, as I will have to wear my suit. But it's okay. This is what kids do to a body....I just have to keep telling myself...

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Comments

Jun. 3, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by OhPumpkinshellz

I like cheap. Cheap is good. I have been doing the Costco thing too, but not really meal planning. I need to do that.

I am such a soda and coffee freak, but I really need to do more water around here. I am a little afraid of what might happen to my poor family if I stopped the coffee this week. Did you see the exorcist?

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Jun. 3, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by momto4beauties

Well, aside from planning the meals out so well, you sound like me! ha ha! Oh...and you're a Pens fan..Uck! Just kidding...even though the WINGS will win!! ha ha! I guess we'll see. Anywhooo...hope kickin the caffiene is going good for ya. I just did that earlier this year and totally can relate to that withdrawal stage. Mine involved some major migraines. I too am a tea drinker..hot tea, cold tea..doesn't matter. I love them both. Lipton Cold Brew is my favorite, as it's quick and easy. I'll be visiting your blog more often...you were crackin' me up! Have fun at the beach!!

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Jun. 3, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Lachney1

Do you ever cook snap beans? I was wondering if you have a way of cooking them, where they don't taste like they are full of water. I would rather eat them from a can. Yeah, I know how you feel about that. LOL!!! I can cook butter beans and other kinds of fresh beans, but I can't cook snap beans, where they will taste really good. I would like to know how to cook them where they look and taste like the canned kind. I'm also trying to figure out a way to fix mac & cheese, using whole cheese, that I grate myself. The cheese keeps coming out stringy in my macaroni. It doesn't taste that good either. I don't like boxed mac & cheese. That powder is just disgusting. I do like Walmart's brand, that has a packet of melted cheese. That mac & cheese is so good.

I don't plan my menus. I tried that once, but either my dh or I would change our minds about what we wanted to eat that day. That would throw off the whole menu, so I just quit.

I really admire you for working so hard to take care of your family and trying to save money. I try to do the same things too. My dh works for commission, so when all the prices go up, our pay is still the same. We have to learn to make do on less.

Blessings,
Penny

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Jun. 4, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by jsgay97

I salute you! I'm trying really hard to nix my eating out habit. I was doing fine until it started getting hot. I hate cooking when it's hot, and I hate turning on the AC. Oh, well. You can do it! And so can I, I think. 8)
Jennifer
PS Use the canned veggies in casseroles. They aren't as obvious that way.

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Jun. 5, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by diamondsintherough

Okay, I am going to tell you that you can go the rest of the month without another trip to the grocery store, but I don't really believe it! What will you do for milk and fruit for the next three and a half weeks?? Do you buy a lot of milk at once and freeze it? Or do you used dried? :oP
You owe me email. ha ha!

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Diary of my mothering/homeschooling adventures. Mother of 4 little blessings who are trying my patience everyday. Enjoy my tales of insanity. (Here I am pre-children. I don't have anything current.)