Frugal Kick in the Butt, Please...

[Luv2BeFrugal]

Ok, the last 5 weeks I was in a summer course that was absorbing ALL my time...ARGH. I didn't have time to cook, do dishes, etc. Barely was getting sleep (sleep, what's that?).

So, we started getting fast food, eating out (studying at the table at the restaurant), or getting take out. OH MY GOODNESS. I don't even want to total what we spent in the last 5 weeks!!! It makes me wanna

Yesterday Dh and I took the day to celebrate finishing that coursework. Ok, so that's nice. We each got a "value meal" (and I use that term loosely)...when I realized how much it was for that one meal for us ($15), all the last few weeks came flooding back to me.

I was so "in the zone" to get thru that class I evidently lost all ability to perceive the cost of anything!!!!!! I know better than to do that!!! What happened to me!!!

I have another 5 week class starting tomorrow (these are 15 week classes compacted into 5). I don't wanna plow through tons more cash, again!!

Thanks for letting me vent... Now how do I NOT do that again? Hanging out here usually keeps me "in line", but during the compacted classes I don't have surf time!!!

[freebs]

I would go to the grocery store and buy fast food. Get pizzas, burritos, fish sticks things like that that dont take alot of time to cook! Get the pans of lasagna and pair that with a salad and you could have several meals off of a family size lasagna. Put stuff in the crock pot so it will be done when you get home!

[itsahumanzoo]

I agree with the above poster. Although I don't buy too many convenience foods at the store, they are quite convenient when you're not home very much and you need a quick meal.

Also things like bags of frozen veggies and those seasoning mixes (like pot roast, taco, chili, etc) you can just throw it all in a crock pot with a big hunk of meat.

[MessyKat]

I agree with what Freebs said...get those easy to fix things. I found myself in a similar situation lately during a move. I had no time to cook and when I look back at what I have spent... well the only thing that comes to my mind is

While I hate to use those frozen meals because of all of the additives, you will be better off than doing fast food (especially cost wise).

You might want to try using your crockpot as well. That way the food cooks all day while you are doing what needs to be done. You could also microwave a potato, put some butter, sour cream, and maybe some canned chili on it and there you go...(okay, so that's not all that healthy...but if you buy it at Wendy's or some place they'll charge you anywhere from $3 - $5 for it.

Good luck with your classes, I've been there and I know what you are going though.

[dcompton]

No kick from here. Sometimes life happens, and I know how it is when suddenly there is no time to do anything. I too think a freezer full of convenience stuff would be a big help. Also the dry stuff life Hamburger Helper type things. Get some ground meat, cook it all up over a weekend, and freeze it in portions to use for things like that. All this is costlier than from scratch, but less than eating out. And if it all falls apart again, don't beat yourself up. There are only so many hours in a day, and getting through the classes is important.

[suki]

Add up what you've spent in the past five weeks and think about it for a moment... that's all the kick in the pants you'll need.

Definitely stock up on some convenience stuff. Do you have a salvage grocery? Mine carries a lot of convenience food.

[alarosalpn]

2 words...

Crock Pot..... On the weekend, prepare everything-cut up the veggies,meats,liquids,ect. Dump them into a big freezer ziplock bag and write the name of the meal on it.. Grab a bag out of the freezer in the morning and dump it in the crockpot,turn it on and out the door you go! When you get home, it's done.
I have done this many times and it is a great time saver during hte week.

[Mom2Many]

2 words...

Crock Pot..... On the weekend, prepare everything-cut up the veggies,meats,liquids,ect. Dump them into a big freezer ziplock bag and write the name of the meal on it.. Grab a bag out of the freezer in the morning and dump it in the crockpot,turn it on and out the door you go! When you get home, it's done.
I have done this many times and it is a great time saver during hte week.

I love that idea!

I'm in a similar spot. Luckily tomorrow is the last night of my weekly class...still have two meetings left for my online class though.

I like all the suggestions you've had so far. Good luck.

[inneedofhope]

sandwiches-- quick, easy, and can take it along, or opt with the dollar menu if you do go out.
Men can cook for themselves and maybe even for others, too. You don't have to be responsible for everything.

[larabelle]

2 words...

Crock Pot..... On the weekend, prepare everything-cut up the veggies,meats,liquids,ect. Dump them into a big freezer ziplock bag and write the name of the meal on it.. Grab a bag out of the freezer in the morning and dump it in the crockpot,turn it on and out the door you go! When you get home, it's done.
I have done this many times and it is a great time saver during hte week.

WOW great idea!!!

[Luv2BeFrugal]

Thanks ladies! Ok, I'm gonna try to get myself pulled together this coming weekend... I just finished chopping up some veggies... Gonna baggie up grapes and such, too.

I'm a pb addict and was using that for lunches a whole bunch, but dinners are where we ended up totally blowing the budget.

Dh was working full time and going to school part time through all that so neither of us had time to blink. He's back to full time work for the rest of the summer (no school) so he'll be able to help out more...I know that will make a big difference...

I'm going to buy a bunch of lunch meat and freeze it, then pull it out for sandwiches as we need it... Gonna make a pot of soup this weekend in my crock pot!

Good idea on the convenience foods in the freezer (esp since a lot of them come in their own cooking packaging). We haven't got a dishwasher and it sure can get tough to keep up on dishes when you're hardly home. We're going to resort to paper plates and plastic silverware for the next 5 weeks... I don't have time to keep up on all of it. I hate to do that though...it's so wasteful.

Thanks for the support! Now I just have to survive the next 5 weeks!

[Greebo]

Hey, don't feel too bad. The last few months, with all the work Mrs. G and I have been doing renovating these apartments, we've been eating like crap at Wendy's, Ihop, etc. Bad for my already far too ample waist, AND for the wallet.

We're trying to improve now that its hit home just how bad. It happens - just pick up and move past it.

[Mom2Many]

Hey, don't feel too bad. The last few months, with all the work Mrs. G and I have been doing renovating these apartments, we've been eating like crap at Wendy's, Ihop, etc. Bad for my already far too ample waist, AND for the wallet.

We're trying to improve now that its hit home just how bad. It happens - just pick up and move past it.

Mmmm...IHOP.

[Greebo]

Mmmm...IHOP.

NOOOOOO! Don't do it! Save yourself!!!!

Greebo leaps onto a stack of pancakes to take the blow and save Mom2Many!

[heartofmine]

Thanks ladies! Ok, I'm gonna try to get myself pulled together this coming weekend... I just finished chopping up some veggies... Gonna baggie up grapes and such, too.

I'm a pb addict and was using that for lunches a whole bunch, but dinners are where we ended up totally blowing the budget.

Dh was working full time and going to school part time through all that so neither of us had time to blink. He's back to full time work for the rest of the summer (no school) so he'll be able to help out more...I know that will make a big difference...

I'm going to buy a bunch of lunch meat and freeze it, then pull it out for sandwiches as we need it... Gonna make a pot of soup this weekend in my crock pot!

Good idea on the convenience foods in the freezer (esp since a lot of them come in their own cooking packaging). We haven't got a dishwasher and it sure can get tough to keep up on dishes when you're hardly home. We're going to resort to paper plates and plastic silverware for the next 5 weeks... I don't have time to keep up on all of it. I hate to do that though...it's so wasteful.

Thanks for the support! Now I just have to survive the next 5 weeks!

That sounds like a good plan. Make ahead some other items too that would be quick. You could even make ahead and put meals in those plates with separate compartments that can be heated like microwaveable dinners. Just label them and there you go.

Also consider some quick meals like spaghetti and garlic bread, omlets, and things like that.