A New Year

You'd think that by now, at my age a season in life, that I would have the whole budget and money thingy under control. I should be sitting back letting the money roll on in and helping all the children with schooling, living, and surviving.

SURPRISE! I'm not. In fact, after making a detailed budget yesterday, I realized just how "house" poor we are. Most of our paychecks go straight into our home: mortgage, insurance, heating, electricity, water, etc. This will be a lean year (both in body and in finances). So, to start it all out I've decided to be extra thrifty this year. To start out with...we spend WAAAAYYYYYY too much money eating fast food or ordering in. I knew that was one thing that needed changing. While I was reading my friend Maria"s blog, she wrote about the "eat from the pantry" challenge.

What you do is take stock of every item in your pantry and freezer. Then, prepare a month's worth of menu ideas and only use those foods in the preparation. It sounds stinking hard to me but, I like a challenge now and then.

Here are my goals for the Eat From The Pantry Challenge:

1) Stop at the store a maximum of four times in January.

2) Only buy dairy (milk, eggs, cheese, etc.) and produce (fruits/vegetables).
2a) I am a Weight Watcher person and will be purchasing a few frozen dinners in addition...it's just easier for a busy teacher with a 30 minute lunch!)

3) Spend a total of $100 or less on groceries during the month of January.

4) With my savings, I will put it toward a debt I am trying to get rid of.

Would you like to join us in this Eat from the Pantry Challenge?

I would love to hear about your successes and struggles. Plus, I need prodding every now and then. However, I want to encourage you to make your own rules according to what works best for your own family's needs. Don't feel obligated to do things the way I've decided to do it; do what works for you!

If this is interesting you and you want to do it too, go here.

I know there may be people who are rolling their eyes right now thinking I'll never be able to do this :coughmelissacougherikacough: But you just wait and see.