Pretend I am a blank slate... :eyes:

I have purchased a copy of the TWG from a mama here and it is on the way.

I am a 'frugal' person but DH is a 'spender/justifier/add-on' person.

Family of meat eaters, Dh European born raised meat, gravy, potatoes, veg, bread.

Me trying to lose weight, behaving as best I can.

Two picky eaters that I am working to convert.

:help:

I am here to learn.

*edited to add* We are Canadian so none of the USA stores/ companies etc can apply to us which makes part of the process a bit difficult. :lol:

What are your goals? Do you currently cook from scratch? Whole foods? Do you want whole foods, or are you aiming simply to save money? Are you trying to be "crunchy" or simply frugal?

Do you sew?

Do you have any dietary limitations/allergies?

Do you own your own house, rent, etc.? Do you have land or an area where you could grow veggies?

I posted to you in sisters, and want to help you! Could you post the budget you guys came up with? We could delete it in a few days quick if you're worried about privacy. It just sounds like you need specific guidance.

What about groceries? Could you take away your husband's debit card and give him $100 a month in cash as spending money or anything drastic like that? He won't like it, I know! LOL. Give him cash with the grocery list? I know guys hate being bossed around, and feel emasculated when women parent them about money, but what are the options? Things obviously need to change.

We are meat eaters too. And we eat well on a low amount of money, but a reasonable amount of work is involved. With you working, it might be tricky to do the extra amount of prep, but I'm sure we could figure some kind of compromise out. I just got a brand new BC government report on food costs I could post from that talks about budgeting for food and what are average prices based on family size if you're interested.

Hugs,

Kerri

What are your goals? Do you currently cook from scratch? Whole foods? Do you want whole foods, or are you aiming simply to save money? Are you trying to be "crunchy" or simply frugal?

Do you sew?

Do you have any dietary limitations/allergies?

Do you own your own house, rent, etc.? Do you have land or an area where you could grow veggies?


I cook alot from scratch. I work full time M-F and am out of the house from 7:20am - 5:45pm so I do the best I can. Usually some sort of chicken or beef, starch (potatoes or rice or pasta) and steamed veg. Spaghetti and home made meat sauce, make my own bread/ buns on weekends (relaxing).

At this point if I can't afford to be organic except a few things I try to buy organic on. (fruits/ lettuce).

I am learning to improve my sewing, been a LONG time and I have a sewing machine and serger and am going to practice making DS' track pants this weekend to see how I do.

Own our house $1531/mo for mortgage I darn well better own. :lol: Not alot of land for veggies (little back yard, huge front/ street yard) and poor ground conditions (exceeding hot in summer) and probably cheaper to buy veg in summer than anything. I do plan on putting planters in for herbs and tomatoes as I used to do at old house. Basically .3 arcres city lot.

Just moved to new town/ area.

I posted to you in sisters, and want to help you! Could you post the budget you guys came up with? We could delete it in a few days quick if you're worried about privacy. It just sounds like you need specific guidance.

What about groceries? Could you take away your husband's debit card and give him $100 a month in cash as spending money or anything drastic like that? He won't like it, I know! LOL. Give him cash with the grocery list? I know guys hate being bossed around, and feel emasculated when women parent them about money, but what are the options? Things obviously need to change.

We are meat eaters too. And we eat well on a low amount of money, but a reasonable amount of work is involved. With you working, it might be tricky to do the extra amount of prep, but I'm sure we could figure some kind of compromise out. I just got a brand new BC government report on food costs I could post from that talks about budgeting for food and what are average prices based on family size if you're interested.

Hugs,

Kerri


Kerri, suggestions more than welcome!

I posted budget in sisters (little more private).

Taking DH's debit card worries me because what about in emergency/ etc he has to come home to get it. kwim? Giving him cash is going to have to happen.

I give him a grocery list and he buys more stuff to "stock up" on what is on sale.

I don't know if your heat and electric are set because you're on a payment plan or because that is what you will always pay?

Electricity--
unplug, turn off, turn down. Wear warmer clothes and turn down the thermostat a couple of degrees. I have been doing this this week--dropped from 68 to 66 (and the 68 was a drop from our usual last year of 70). I keep checking on the kids to see if they're cold, and no one has complained (except DH who turns it up when he gets home...). When you are away from home, turn the heat to 65 or less.

Food--
Do a search for crock pot recipes! You can prep the night before, stick in the fridge, then pop in the crock pot before you leave for work.

If you can tell us more about what you eat for other meals, maybe we can help more.

Clothes--sewing isn't always cheaper than buying used, for sure, especially when you consider your time. However, being able to repair things and alter things is definitely priceless! I also like to sew special items like Christmas pj's. And, if you have any kind of sewing stash or access to someone else's it is definitely time to use it!


Use cloth towels, napkins, rags, handkerchiefs.

I'll add more as I think of them...

Oh, and on the grocery thing--can you convince him to stick to your list or give him a certain amount of money for "stocking up"?

Also, can you stash some emergency money for him in his car?

One thing that I am starting to do that may help you is I make a weekly menu, and then prepare things on Sunday and put them in my fridge so all I have to do is finish the cooking. Like once a month cooking (google that term, and you will find boat loads) but only a week at a time.

Another thing may be crock pot meals. Things like that will be done when you get home from work.

First thing I advise any one to do... make a list of all of the pantry/cuboard items you have. Then make a list of the meals you like to make your family. That should start you on a path of planning that won't take a whole lot of brain power to do. ;) I always like steps with less brain power... it makes the end goal not seem so terribly far away.

Val

I don't know if your heat and electric are set because you're on a payment plan or because that is what you will always pay?

Our electricity and gas are on equal payment plan payment schedules, that is what they do here. So it is $100 a month (or within $3 of that amount) for 1 year and after 1 year they assess your usage and if it is over you get a credit to next year and if it is under you owe for last year and they up your coming year's usage fee. kwim? Oh the fun of having a monopoly here of Teresan (gas) and BC Hydro (electricity)

Decreasing the electricity wont do anything for this year, it is based on last years numbers, but it would effect as of Jan 1 09 :vent: They base it on last years numbers.

Part of my *iss off is that we got the electric bill and they have it at $397.59!!!!!! I am on the phone w/ Hydro right now to talk to them but I am sure what it is going to be is that at the end of the year they look at the payments and the actual amount and you get a bill for the difference. I amg oing to tell them they can't get it in one lump. Not a freakign chance.

Oh am I mad. DH already paid 197.59 on it so we still owe $200.

Just pay a little extra each month. $120 instead of $100 until it's paid off. Why is your electrical so high? Our hydro is under $50 a month. We were paying a really high average because the previous owners were growing weed downstairs, but once I brought it to their attention that we were using alot less than the $200 monthly the other guys were, they lowered it to our average instead.

Kerri

Just a note on this thread because I know that privacy of finances is a bit different from other discussion. I added a private discussion subforum here, if you qualify and want to be added it is a joinable usergroup in your User CP (upper left hand of this page)

~jo