Only $25.00 for the week

**Guest57** · 10-14-2008, 01:45 AM

Well, I had to purchase groceries for this week and we were extremely short on funds! I had to get enough for 3 meals/5 days...I ended up buying these Betty Crocker complete meal things in a box...I know, not the most nutritious, but they came complete with meat, etc. I bought 5 at $3.00 a piece and so I still had enough left over for lunches and a couple of gallons of milk that I could use along with my stash of cereal!! This was an almost petrifiying experience for me...I suddenly saw how life would become if something doesn't change with our economy!! I have a dh and 2 teenage dd's...how do the rest of you do it? Am I the only one who sometimes ends up with much more month left than money?! And something else I'd love to know...when is it okay to take from your stash?!?! Do you use it as a supplement to your other purchases or is it strictly saved for the emergency day?!?!

**Holly** · 10-14-2008, 06:19 AM

I take from my stockpile to supplement when I have only a $25.00 week for groceries.
That's what its for to me the hard times and emergencies.
JMHO

**freebs** · 10-14-2008, 06:56 AM

I haven't bought real groceries in 4-5 months just the gallon of milk a week, a 5 dozen box of eggs and some bread. We have been eating out of my stockpile for that long. We have just been able to pay bills with cutting of hours and things i only buy mark down milk so I'm getting it at $1.99 a gallon. I think the last few months i have only spent $25 for the whole month. last month i resorted to the change jar to purchase needed items. nothing is more embarrassing then standing in line with a Ziploc bag full of change and paying for your $5 worth of groceries with it......lol. But i did get a great deal a gallon of mark down milk at 1.99 minus a .50 coupon, a jar of hellman's mayonnaise and got a jar of relish a can of tuna and a loaf of bread for free!!

**baxjul** · 10-14-2008, 08:16 AM

I hear you! Every month the grocery bill is going higher, and the amount of groceries bought is going lower.

**Dancing Lotus** · 10-14-2008, 08:19 AM

Originally Posted by baxjul

I hear you! Every month the grocery bill is going higher, and the amount of groceries bought is going lower.

Me too, and my stockpile is almost gone. When I only have 25 that would be a time to brake into the stockpile.

**Jenna_Army_Wife** · 10-14-2008, 10:51 PM

Originally Posted by baxjul

I hear you! Every month the grocery bill is going higher, and the amount of groceries bought is going lower.

Isn't that the truth ...

My stockpile of peanut butter, frozen veggies, diced tomatoes, etc ran out over the past few months and it stinks! I have lots of free Ragu pasta sauce pouches though; I use those in many meals!

I would dip into the emergency fund, as this constitutes one - food is a necessity!

For other cheap meal ideas, what about making casseroles that you can have leftovers for the next day? A pan of pasta, even without meat if necessary. A rice and frozen veggie dish. Or grilled cheese and soup.

**LynnLC** · 10-14-2008, 11:15 PM

I agree with Jenna. Use the EF if you need food. It's a "need" not a "want.

**Karla** · 10-15-2008, 01:44 AM

It just keeps getting tougher and tougher doesn't it? We will also have a reduction of pay due to loss of overtime...don't get me wrong I'm glad to have it, but the overtime is how we make it.
Most bills are set so, one of the few areas to cut is the food budget...but that is also what your stockpile is for or yes some ef money.
As said you need to eat...its not just a want.

**Cricketlegs** · 10-15-2008, 09:23 AM

Food is getting higher but seems to have the opposite effect on us.

The more it went up the less prepackeged stuff I got the futher the money goes.

The past 4 months my grocery budget has been $150 and I have been coming home with 3 bags of flour, 2 bags of sugar etc.

Funny but true.

I don't even sweat $150 as a monthly budget anymore..I get everything I need and then some.

Now, I make my own laundry soap, I refuse to buy paper towels,I make my own cleaners and I have $30 for my HBA stockpile(which is at a year so I will move that $30 to dog/cat/bird/fish/hermitcrabs stockpile)

I am about to try for a years stockpile.

**faw42077** · 10-15-2008, 10:01 AM

You are definitely not the only one who has more left than money. It is getting harder and harder with food prices going up.

I agree with some of the others, food is a "necessity" and if you need it, take a dip in your EF to help get you by.