The FV Fairy strikes again!!! (long)

**Lady_V** · 04-15-2007, 12:42 PM

<My day until about 10 minutes ago...

I have been worried since Friday when I realized I had $11 for the week, and not sure how I would feed df & dd.

Well... I was reading through my emails and thinking about DD and .. freecycle popcorn maker, still in box with manual. DD Loves Popcorn and the microwavable stuff is not only getting to be expensive, but it is also unhealthy...

Figuring I had better grab it before someone else does, I dressed for the beautiful New England spring weather (it's snowing right now) and decided since I was out, I was going to take my $10 and find something at the grocery store to keep our tummies fed for the week.

I walked in to the grocery store and said my frugal prayer...
I need to keep my family fed
and now that has been said
help me find the sales today
I only have ($$) to pay.

Stop laughing... it works!!!

While I was there, I saw "THE LOOK" on the face of another shopper. Young woman with 2 small ones in tow. She was near tears because she was trying to keep HER tummies fed too. Thats when I heard the whisper 'do something, say something'. So, I said a frugal prayer for her too... and then I made contact and told her she had beautiful kids. We got in to the normal grocery chit-chat and (those whispers again) then I asked her if she had ever heard of the Frugal Village. -nope- (tadah, out came the cards... oh ya, DD and I took a cereal box, painted the printed side and made small cards with the website on it and stickers on the back). I gave her the baby food coupons that I had and told her if she ever felt like she needed help, she didn't even have to register, she can just read what has been said to get help.

The FV fairy decided I had enough worry for the week...

Anywho... this is what I walked out with...
1/2 turkey ($5.23) *gulp*
1 pkg tomatoes (.57)
1 box mac & cheese (.40)
1 pkg cornbread mix (.34)
1 pkg pork liver (.60)
1 eggplant (.60)
1/2 gal milk (1.50)

Total - 9.24

I will boil the turkey to salvage any piece I can.. any "ugly" pieces will go to the food processor to make a turkey-loaf for Monday. Turkey and tomatoes with mac & cheese on Tuesday... Wednesday is leftover day... Thursday will have us feasting on this fun dish I make, cornbread with turkey and refired beans cooked in the over. DF's lunches will come from the dinners and DD and I will have turkey sand, turkey salad or turkey soup for the week... I will have feathers by Friday, but...

**Sari** · 04-15-2007, 01:13 PM

Sounds like a good plan, and how nice of you to reach out to the other lady.

**mcphlips** · 04-15-2007, 01:30 PM

You can do it!! Great job being frugal!
I'll be thinking of you this week.
<gobble gobble>

**Dancing Lotus** · 04-15-2007, 01:32 PM

Thank you for sharing that story. Sometimes I worry and it helps to know that others have the same troubles and it works out for them too.

**FrugalMomof3** · 04-15-2007, 01:33 PM

Wow that's great and you even came out with change, how sweet of you to help that lady out as well.

**acidcookie** · 04-15-2007, 01:41 PM

That was super sweet of you to help her as well. I love stories like this.

**JerryG** · 04-15-2007, 02:14 PM

The prayer!! I'm gonna start doing that! As of today, I have 11.62!! Yikes!

**Libby** · 04-15-2007, 02:24 PM

Originally Posted by Lady_V

I will have feathers by Friday, but...

I love this line the most of your adventure to the grocery store. Are you going start doing the headbob automatically and gobble?

Sorry I couldnt resist!

Thats great that you're not also helping someone else but spreading the word of the site and encouraging her to be frugal and assuring her that shes not alone in this battle. She will now have a place to turn to for help like the rest of us. WTG!

**Marie78** · 04-15-2007, 02:27 PM

That was so sweet of you to share coupons and the fv website with the woman who needed help. You did an amazing job stretching your money too, it sounds like you are going to make some great meals this week and you still came in under $10. Your story and stories like yours inspire me to shop more economically

.

**frugalfriend** · 04-15-2007, 02:32 PM

Your story warmed my heart!

I knew you could do it!

You're an inspiration!

**Laurie in Bradenton** · 04-15-2007, 03:26 PM

Reaching out to someone eles took alot of compassion and a kind heart. Shows you haven't gotten so wrapped up in your own problems not to spot someone eles in need!
Just as a thought do you have any boxes of jello in your cabinet? Nothing brightens up a meal like a bowl of jello. Especially for kids. We often have jello in one of a hundred different ways. Its a standard snack here because my dented cans store sells it for .10 a box.

Laurie in Bradenton

**yankeegal** · 04-15-2007, 04:17 PM

You will do just fine this week-I have total faith in you.

**Amanda W** · 04-15-2007, 04:44 PM

That was so sweet of you, and I love the sticker idea!

**auntie2many** · 04-15-2007, 05:12 PM

How kind of you to reach out to the woman at the market and to share coupons and this web-site with her. You were able to purchase a lot with the money that you had available and your meals sound good too. I agree that you can add some jello if you have any, and the family will feel like they had a real treat after dinner.

I love your prayer too. I prayed something similar a few weeks ago when my budget was slim and only had a small amount to spend on groceries that week. The prayer was answered too.

May you be blessed today.

auntie