I challenged myself to a budget of $300 this month. Wouldn't you know it, we have a 1/2 a pork ready this weekend so there goes $150! (but it'll last about 6 months.). So my budget is blown. I have about $94 left for the month ..lol.
Let the games begin.
The plan.
1. Inventory the pantrys and freezers.
2. Make a menu based on what's on hand FIRST.
3. Extend Menu with minimal new ingredients required will need to be picked up.
This is going to be fun! This will get my frugal juices flowing now. I've been lazy about it. Now I want to do this.
The family stats:
2 adults
1 teen
2 kids
1 preschooler
Rental kids:
3 toddlers.
Any other month I'd just say that's a yearly budget thing, but it came unexpected, and this month I'm down 2 kids for the daycare, and have 900 and sport fees due, so my freedom account has been depleted. There's some in the EF but I don't want to touch it.
For today, I HAD to get margarine, there was none, no butter, no shortening, nothing. A necessity is a necessity. So we have margarine.
Today I wanted garlic toast with supper, so I baked italien bread and made garlic spread. Delish!
Dh wanted me to get some turnovers for his lunch, so I made apple streudal. Never made it before, but it is amazing! Apples were frozen from my tree last year. It turned out amazing.
LOL.. I have a about 1/5 of a side of beef left as well. But my pantry has dwindled I have no sugar, 3 cups of flour, no shortening, minimal pasta, no potatoes or carrots, no powdered milk But yeah, a BIG expense here is usually meat, so I don't need to worry about that. Most of my $94 will be replenishing staples..lol Oh well, c'est la vie.
Today, the plan is inventory, once the sleeping teens haul their butts outta bed. DS had a buddy sleep over last night. They wanted chips. I have NONE. It was a last minute thing. So I seasoned some pita bread and grilled it and had hummus. DS doesn't like hummus, but liked the bread, the other teen chowed down, loved it. WHEW. Once I know what I have, I'll make my menus with on hand stuff, and then decide beyond the staples that need replenishing, what needs to be picked up. Hopefully NOTHING...lol
Streudal yesterday was a big hit with dh. It served as breakfast this morning, and he brought to work for coffee break It'll definitely be made again.
Today I think I'll do a batch of pumpkin bread...nope, no flour..lol. OH, I have wholewheat flour, so I'll use that with the little flour i have left. That'll make 3 or 4 loaves. I'll freeze them for the next couple weeks for dh work and ds school.
I went out today to get a few staples. Bill cam eto $44. redeemed some pc points, new total was 24. So I'm doing ok, Still have $70, but have some staples now.
i was really disappointed. I was going to get powdered milk, and it worked out to be $1 MORE per gallon. SO, I'll just be making sure thirsty kids are drinking water, saving milk for cereal. They get their daily requirements very easily. I can't believe that powdered is more.
Pork was more than anticipated, so my budget is even smaller now well, really none existant...gotta like a challenge.
I have a monthly budget set at $300. The pork was $240, Picked up the first trip $56 before I knew about the pork, then $24. SO... I busted teh budget! Oh well. I'm giving myself $40 for the rest of the month. Since truthfully, the meat would be part of my yearly budget, not my regular monthly. BUt it is still a lean month and I don't want to burst at the seams falling behind on other things.
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