Okay, so I am starting some new things...lifestyle changes, one might say but not really. I have been thinking of over abundance and what we really need. With the economy the way it is, thrift and paring down only makes sense. Since I can't bring myself to really clear out all the "stuff" overflowing from closets and cabinets, I am starting with food. It sure costs a lot more than it used to for a lot less. There has to be a way to eat healthy, inexpensive food that we like. So that is my first step. I am going to record meals and costs in an effort to bring them down, way down. I know this has been blogged about numerous times and I enjoy reading these blogs. Yet none seem to fit my circumstances. Most of the time it is just Hubby and myself and we have been spoiled by the "if I want it, buy it" bug. We often visit and cook for daughter and son in law also. So I am planning meals for two or four. If you expect to see some amazing savings, keep looking. This is going to be a process and I expect it to take awhile to master in a way that makes me happy. To make things a little more complicated, we spend about half the time in a camper (less storage and counters and very few grocery stores) and the rest in a conventional house (extra fridge and freezer and lots of temptations). Here goes!


Thursday Night Dinner (for 4)

Stuffed Peppers
Turnip Greens
Corn Muffins
(we already had cupcakes and fruit but we are not big dessert eaters)

1 lb. ground chuck $4.14
Yellow Rice .44
Tomato Sauce (2 8 oz cans) .88
4 Green Peppers (I cut the peppers in
half sideways) 2.00
Glory Brand Turnip Greens .99
1/2 chopped onion, 1 egg, 1/3 cup
milk and seasonings on hand .50

Grand Total $8.95

Hmmm, I don't know. That is $2.24 per person, food we all really like and super easy so I guess I am satisfied. There was one stuffed pepper left for someone's lunch which is a little bonus.


Wednesday Night Dinner (for 4)

Frittata
Hash Browns
Sausage Links
Biscuits
Strawberries
Raspberries

Eggs $ .90
Cheese 1.00
Hash Browns 2.79
Sausage 3.00
Biscuits 1.00
Fruit 6.00
Milk, condiments, onion, seasonings etc. 1.00

Grand Total $15.79

That is a bit, a bit too much. The fruit did it but we are still enjoying it and I won't mind if I don't have to throw any away, haahaa. I could have made the potatoes and biscuits but I was hurried and lazy. All in all, $3.92 per person can be improved on but I won't complain this time.



Tuesday Night Dinner (for 4)

Pork Chops
Baked Potatoes
Frozen Lima Beans
Rolls

Pork Chops ($11.93 buy 1 get 1 free) $5.96
Potatoes (out of 10 lb bag) 1.75
Lima Beans 1.79
Rolls (out of bag) 1.58
Oil, seasonings, sour cream, etc. 2.50

Grand Total $13.58

That is $3.39 per person which is pretty good. The thing is, I don't want to spend almost $100 a week on dinner and that is where this is heading. There are other meals and snacks and drinks to be added in, which makes the grocery tab skyrocket.


The three meals listed add up to $38.32. This is going to be interesting. I might mention that I used no coupons on these dinners. I usually do but sometimes what you get is cheaper without them. For instance, I could have used coupons for tomato sauce but Publix brand was still cheaper and even though I will pay for Ro-tel canned tomatoes, sauce is sauce is sauce. Stay tuned for better shopping and more interesting meals.

I sometimes browse through blogs. There are so many interesting people out there and some really stupid ones, also. I have even bookmarked some because they show great insight or writing abilities or something that leads me to return. Occasionally, I even return to the really bad ones in hope of I don't know what. At the moment I am truly impressed with Jordan's View.Check it out


My blogs on the other hand are very family and friend oriented. They offer little to the casual browser unless they like to look at pictures of people they don't know. That is why it surprises me to have recurring visitors from outside my circle. Do they like the pictures or the little entries that accompany them? I don't know. I just hope they enjoy the visits into my world.

Looking at the World Without Rose-colored Glasses

Sometimes it is a beutiful place and then you get the news. Oops, it isn't so great anymore.