Saying hello from Illinois!!

**mystic65** · 02-05-2008, 01:54 PM

Hi everyone! I,ve been signed on to this site since October, then forgot it until today. I,m a widow and retired nurse living on a fixed income. It gets really hard sometimes. I think to myself at times," This is what I worked 30 years for?" Things are so expensive right now, but food seems to be the worst and you gotta eat. I seldom eat out, but its hard buying and cooking for one person. Anyone got any ideas?

**wwe11** · 02-05-2008, 02:51 PM

Hi and welcome to FV.

**StaceyS** · 02-05-2008, 02:56 PM

Hi Mystic!
It is hard cooking for one! I do it (when I'm not at my boyfriends house) without having a fridge for the leftovers! I am an experienced canner so I decided to actively can individual meals for myself. Over the holidays I canned single serving jars of ham and they have been invaluable to add flavor to my bean/lentil dishes. Sometimes my meals are quite "boring" for lack of a better word. I've been known to just eat stewed tomatoes/okra for dinner. Maybe add a little rice.
But, if you have a fridge/freezer, just save the leftovers for a later meal.
Oh, and I have found that if I only have a small sauce pan and a small fry pan, I'm not tempted to "over-cook".

**Ceashels** · 02-05-2008, 04:23 PM

Hi and welcome.

My Mom has a difficult time cooking for one as well and ends up cooking an item and freezing it in individual servings for future use. Her freezer is stocked with lots of little containers and she just pulls out meal combinations meat in one container, starch item in another, veggies in another. It is like a mix and match.

**Darlene** · 02-05-2008, 04:33 PM

I eccho what Ceashels said but want to add~ Have people over for dinner, rotate locations. It's much more fun to eat with others.

Welcome to the Village!

**FrugalMomof3** · 02-05-2008, 06:02 PM

Hi there and

I also agree with freezing food that isn't eaten for leftovers or invite a friend over.

**jvera** · 02-05-2008, 06:18 PM

Welcome to the village!

**mom2matty** · 02-05-2008, 06:35 PM

Hi and Welcome!!

**Marie78** · 02-05-2008, 06:36 PM

I used to make regular meals for 4 and then freeze portions for later dinners or lunches. I really saved a lot of money doing things this way and I didn't use to have a huge appetite, so I always seemed to have enough food in the house.

**Mom23boys** · 02-05-2008, 07:53 PM

Hello and welcome to the Village.

**sumdumsurfer** · 02-05-2008, 10:07 PM

Welcome!

I will not post advice, since I have just started here - but everyone has been so helpful I wanted to pass it on!

(My food expense is out of control, too - I'm going to try some of these suggestions)

Cheers,
sumdumsurfer