Posted in Austerity Program 2008

As my one or two faithful readers may remember, this year we have been trying extra-hard to live a life of thrifty-ness.  We even did this before it became "cool" due to our lovely economy.  Where is my bail-out, by the way?  Anyway, even though more and more people are fighting me for the boys size 7 jeans at the Salvation Army store, we are still managing to stick (mostly) to our program.  I will admit that my grocery budget has about doubled since the beginning of the year.  I used to squeak by on about $200/mo. (please keep in mind I am not counting the half cow that is in the fridge), but now we are close to $400/mo.  At any rate, apparently, this is still pretty cheap.

This week has been VERY atypical, as Monday we had leftover sloppy joes from the freezer (free), Tuesday we went out (hooray!) to Lone Star on Kids Eat Free night (I might add, kids no longer get a free ice cream with their meals, tragic!) (about $35), Wed. we ate at AWANA (we had to bring mac & cheese for 12, cost $2.50), Thursday we ate at my aunt's house (free), and tonight we are having bean & cheese burritos (about $6, with leftovers for tomorrow's lunch).  So even though we dropped a bunch of money at Lone Star, we made up for it the rest of the week.

As for our long-term plans, we are still on target to pay off all credit cards by spring.  I just paid another one off this month.  Hooray!  We do like to go out to eat, so we use the Amex to buy gas and use the Amex points to get gift cards for restaurants, then I pay off the card.  What a deal.

We did not go on vacation this year (waaaaaah!!!) which was very hard for me to accept.  But ultimately, it was best for us, even though poor over-worked Hub couldn't have gone on one anyway.  Maybe next year?  We are planning a 2 week vacation in May but it isn't set in stone yet.  I am not really sure we can afford it.  It's not worth it if I have to run up a credit card to do it!

We recently received 2 lovely boxes of great clothes for the kids from a dear friend (thanks!!!  you know who you are), so I rarely have to spend money on clothes.  I have been losing weight and I am lucky enough to have a friend who gave me some clothes to get me through for now, though I am going to have to get a belt!  (but I am NOT complaining!)

It is Christmastime, and I have been shopping all year long for the kids.  I started right after Christmas last year, and have been keeping a box for each child up in the spare room.  As I buy something, I put it in the box.  Some people say, "how do you know what they want?"  to which I say, "they want what I give them!"  But that's just me.  Maybe I am mean?  It's not like we don't listen to them (for example, K has her darling heart set on a snow globe (just in the last 3 or 4 months) so I did go out and find her one (on Christmas clearance (already!) last weekend for a mere $4).  Let's face it, it's a great year for thrifty shopping since retailers are desperate for our dollars!  I also braved the post-Thanksgiving crowds and got GREAT deals on Black Friday.

All in all, we had a pretty good austerity year.  I definitely am "the weakest link" as Hub is quite good at holding onto a dollar if necessary.  Me, not so much.  But even I am getting better.  I am trying to always remember, "do we need it?  or do I want it?"  "do we need it RIGHT NOW?"  "can I borrow it?"  We'll see what 2009 holds.

Posted in Austerity Program 2008

So I have been off the austerity program, and my bank account reflects it.  I cannot believe how much more everything costs now.  It is just staggering!  I do want to share this cool new free shareware I downloaded:

SimpleD Budget

I love this software!  I am a visual person and it has really allowed me to see where I am overspending.  It has nice pie charts and my favorite feature, a slide bar for adjusting amounts.  They didn't even pay me to say this!  But they could...

I definitely am spending on things that are unnecessary, like the gym.  But really, it is necessary if I expect to stay married and out of prison.  Believe me.  So factoring in that expense has been difficult, but things are working out.  There is just nothing extra now.

I've set the monthly food budget at $350.  I did not meet it in August; instead, I went over it by $100.  I learned with my nice new budget that I spend more money the more I go into our local Giant Eagle (which is like a Krogers or something).  But if I just do my shopping at Wal-Mart and Costco I can meet the budget.

I already went shopping for September.  I find that my biggest new expense is lunch foods.  I do not want to eat fast food, since it's (delicious) toxic poison, and also not part of either my austerity program, nor my getting-thin and fit program.  I bought a lot more mac & cheese and bread and such for the kids.  And, wouldn't you know, they must all be growth-spurting because I just cannot believe how much they eat!!!  It's gross.  S had 3 giant helpings of green beans last night, plus chicken, plus baked beans.  And woke up starving for more!

Which reminds me:

Green beans with tomatoes

fresh green beans (though you probably could use frozen), maybe about 1 lb or a little more
handful of cherry tomatoes, or other tomatoes, cut into cherry tomato size
tbsp of butter or margarine (oil probably okay here too, but not as tasty)
garlic to taste (i used powdered, shhhh)
pepper to taste
1/2 tbsp sugar
salt to taste
few generous shakes of dried basil, or fresh, chopped

Cook the green beans in boiling water, about 10 minutes, until done.  In skillet, melt butter, add spices/herbs/sugar.  Add tomatoes and cook until just getting soft.  Toss in green beans, coating them with the sauce.  Don't be too violent about it; you don't want to hurt your tomatoes.  Serve.

I don't even like tomatoes.  This is so good.  This little number was virtually free as I am tending my parents' garden while they are on vacation.  I used their green beans and tomatoes.  So really, it only cost me the butter.

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...

Posted in Austerity Program 2008

Man, can you believe the cost of food?  It's all over the news that prices have gone up.  Duh.  I've been noticing for a while, as I am sure you have too!  I went to the commissary with my mom today and while I did find some nice buys, I didn't find as many as usual.  WAH!  My grocery budget is non-existent right now.  I did find some chicken for cheap (pick-of-the-chick and bone-in breasts).  And I got a pack of pork chops.  I cannot remember the last time we had pork chops.  They were $5 for 8 of them (I don't remember the lbs) and I figured that's okay for a dinner.  We are also having corn on the cob (30 cents/piece) (I bought 8), and asparagus (free from my mom).  So all in all, a rather expensive dinner for our family, but cheap enough.  We about never have a slab of meat on the plate; usually it is mixed into a casserole or stir-fried with vegs or in a soup.  But I must be craving meat or something.  MMMMMM  (Sorry vegetarians)

I am not a very inspiring cheapskate today am I?  Hmmmm  Well my best advice today is to remember to eat with the seasons!  Asparagus is super cheap right now.  I promise that you will like it.  Do not buy the crap in a can!  Get some fresh asparagus, break the stems off (they will naturally break at the right spot), toss them with some olive oil and sprinkle on some garlic, salt and pepper.  Roast in the oven (350 is always good....) for, say, 15-20 minutes?  You want to eat it when it's just tender.  Oh so good.  Even the kids will like it.  Be brave.

And, it is lettuce time.  We all know how delicious a good head of lettuce can be!  See previous post for strawberry salad recipe.  The lettuce can be the star of a very thrifty dinner!  Maybe you only have 2 chicken breasts but a family of 6....  Grill the chicken, cube it, put it on the salad with a bunch of other veggies, seeds or nuts and some cheese.  They will be happy there's meat but only you will know just how little meat you put on it!  Extra cheap if you grow your own lettuce--it's so easy!

That's it for today!

Posted in Austerity Program 2008

I realize I am slacking re: austerity.  So here is how things are going.

We moved nearly all of our balance from one credit card to another.  So, yesterday I paid off the first card.  That makes 3 down in the last 2 years and 3 to go.  Our tax refund is earmarked for debt payoff.  I really believe that if we can get the debt paid off that we will feel rich!  Though we won't be allowed to live like it.

This month I am making a real effort to stay home.  As a result, I have saved one tank of gas, which saves us about $50.  That is huge!

I have been really being stingy with snacks.  I did go to Aldis and buy some snacks.  I spent about $7 on crackers and chips and such.  Most of them are in the basement for future months.  Believe me, my kids are not starving.  They just can't resist vanilla wafers if they see them.  And I admit my mom brought me some cheese the other day,  2 lbs. of american.  So that is a nice gift!  It saves me money and makes her happy.  I won't let her buy my kids clothes but she can buy them cheese!  I don't ever turn down free food.  I have a couple friends who give me things their families have rejected.  Most of the free items below are items that are rejected by other families.  Thank you!

So, a sample menu... Here is what we've had today:

Breakfast--cereal (free) with milk (traded for coffee)

Lunch--grilled cheese (cheese free and bread from Wonder outlet (about $1.25 but only used half)), apricot halves (free), baked beans (free), jello (40 cents) with chopped apricots (free)

Dinner--spaghetti ($1.50 lb for the kind I buy), homemade sauce (about a dollar), garlic bread (Wonder outlet (about $1.25)) with butter (50 cents for the amount I use) and garlic powder & parsley (minimal cost), broccoli ($1 for half a bag organic)

Today's beverages consisted of milk (see above) with strawberry syrup (free) and iced tea (practically free) and water (feels free)

That adds up to $6.40 spent on food today.  That is a little bit better than usual as I do not always have an abundance of freebies like I do right now.  But it isn't too far off the mark.  I will try to be better about posting our meals so you can see our cheapness in action.

So for those wondering how I do it, there it is.

Posted in Austerity Program 2008

I forgot to tell you all that Hub and I went to Red Lobster last Saturday for dinner.  We had gift cards.  Anyway, so he splurged and got the crab legs.  When they came, they were COLD.  Icy cold.  Barely on the warm side of frozen.  So he sent them back. (duh)  And, since this happened to him, they comped his meal!  So he got an almost $30 meal for free!  Now we get to go back again and use the rest of our gift cards.  The whole meal (2 dinners, 1 appetizer, and 2 sodas) ended up being $27.

Really, we are not usually this lucky.

Posted in Austerity Program 2008

Well, I spent $50 at Costco on food and about $30 on household stuff (separate budget item).  So I am feeling all proud of myself.  Tonight we went to Denny's for dinner.  It was kids eat free night and we had a 20% off coupon so our whole dinner with tip was $20.  Not that I am a huge Denny's fan...but it's fine enough.  See, when I embrace it, it really is fun.

My mom is watching the kids on Saturday so that Hub and I can go out on a date!  Can you believe it?  I cannot remember the last time we went out for a date.  We almost always have them at home.  I don't know what we're going to do.  We are such dorks.  My favorite date is dinner and the bookstore.  My librarian-ness rears its bookish head.

Posted in Austerity Program 2008

Yesterday I hobbled out with my mom and dad to the commissary.  Those of you lucky enough to have some military family know all about it.  It's the military grocery store.  Not the fanciest of places, but definitely a great place to shop.  (Dad was in the Navy, FYI)  So, I happened to be standing at the meat case, musing, when the man started to pull the chicken and re-sticker it because it was 2 days before the expiration date.  SWEET!  So, I got 4 packs of boneless skinless chicken breast and 1 pack of bone-in chicken breasts for, ahem, $7.  I am not joking.  This is a fine example of why you need a freezer if you don't have one already!  I bought them all up and brought them home.

And, for those of you keeping tabs, we have spent $101 this month on groceries.  Did I mention that I shop for a whole month at a time?  I don't think I did.  Hub gets paid at the end of each month so I don't do weekly shopping, other than getting milk or such.  I still have Costco ahead....  I am not sure I can get out of there under $100.  I guess I should only spend $80 so I have $20 for running to the local store for milk and eggs and produce mid-month.  I will have to be mighty selective.

You didn't know budgeting could be so exciting, did you!  Try it.  You'll like it!

Posted in Austerity Program 2008

Yeah right but for us stay-at-homes, sometimes it's the only sport we have.

I paid the bills tonight, according to the budget that Hub and I revised last month.  Ah.  It was good and bad.  I hate debt.  I wish I had been smarter when I was young and broke and would've realized THEN that I can go without.  Oh well, I am paying for it now, literally.

I made up the grocery list for Hub because I think he's going to the store tomorrow or Tuesday.  I will let you know how that goes.  It's the regular grocery store and Wal-Mart list and I'll still have Costco later in the month.  I am crossing my fingers that we can stay around $200 this month!  It is a game I am playing because if I don't think of it like that, it'll get me down!  I did have 2 cheap-o frozen pizzas on my list (for my own convenience for lunches with the kids) and Hub graciously reminded me that they were not tasty and very expensive.  So I am going to make up a big batch of pizza dough one day and freeze them in little batches.  Then it won't be quite as much work when the kids are whining.  Plus, they LOVE to make pizza.

Posted in Austerity Program 2008